FDA Allergen Labeling Guide for Food Products

The FDA requires declaration of nine major food allergens on packaged food labels. Since the FASTER Act (2021), sesame joined milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.

Two approved formats

Option 1: Parenthetical after the ingredient List the allergen in parentheses immediately after the ingredient name in the ingredient list.

Example: wheat flour (wheat), butter (milk), eggs

Option 2: Contains statement Add a separate line after the ingredient list: Contains: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy

Both formats are FDA-compliant. You cannot use only a Contains statement without a complete ingredient list.

Cross-contact and advisory labels

Statements like "may contain traces of nuts" are voluntary and not regulated by FDA mandatory allergen rules. They are allowed but must not replace proper allergen declaration when an allergen is an intentional ingredient.

How NutriSpec helps

When you add ingredients to a recipe, NutriSpec scans USDA allergen profiles and flags all nine major allergens. The system can generate both parenthetical and Contains formats automatically.

Common mistakes

• Listing "dairy" instead of milk (FDA requires specific allergen names)
• Forgetting sesame in spice blends or tahini-containing products
• Omitting fish allergens in Worcestershire sauce or anchovy paste

Generate an allergen-aware label · Read FDA label requirements