Eating out with food allergies in the UK
What UK diners can expect from the 14-allergen restaurant disclosure rules, Natasha's Law, and staff questions.
At a glance
- What UK diners can expect from the 14-allergen restaurant disclosure rules, Natasha's Law, and staff questions.
- Verify peanut, tree nut, wheat/gluten, dairy, egg before ordering.
- Check the official source because rules and food-service practice can change.
- Log what staff said and what happened later so the next visit starts with better evidence.
The rules at a glance
As of the last review, UK restaurants and food businesses must provide information on the 14 regulated allergens for non-prepacked food. You can legally expect an answer. Natasha's Law, introduced in 2021, requires full ingredient labeling on food prepacked for direct sale, such as grab-and-go sandwiches.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Rules change; always verify with the Food Standards Agency or another official source.
What this means at the table
Ask how the restaurant provides its allergen information. It may be on a menu, in a folder, or through trained staff. Then ask the kitchen question that matters for your order: shared fryer, shared grill, sauce, garnish, or clean utensils.
A legal duty to provide allergen information does not remove the need to discuss cross-contact. It gives you a stronger baseline for asking the first question.
UK restaurant questions that often matter
- peanut
- tree nut
- wheat/gluten
- dairy
- egg
- sesame
- fish
- shellfish
Ask where the 14-allergen information is kept, then ask the kitchen question for your order. For peanuts and tree nuts, ask about desserts, satay-style sauces, toppings, and shared equipment. For gluten or celiac disease, ask about shared fryers, gravy, batter, and prep surfaces.
For grab-and-go food prepacked for direct sale, read the full ingredient label. For food served from a counter or kitchen, ask how the business provides allergen information and whether staff can check the exact item.
Official resources
If something goes wrong
The emergency number in the UK is 999. Follow your personal anaphylaxis plan and ask your allergist about medication or follow-up care.
Gulpp is free
Track your restaurant allergy history
Gulpp lets you log what you ate, what you asked, and whether symptoms showed up later. Your report can become the first evidence for the next diner.
Start a free logMedical disclaimer
This guide is general information for restaurant planning. It is not medical advice. For emergency symptoms, call local emergency services. For personal diagnosis, medication, or action-plan questions, talk with your allergist.
Read the medical disclaimer