Do I Need an Allergen Matrix?

An allergen matrix is not explicitly required by name in UK food law, but in practice it is the most widely recommended and expected method for documenting and communicating allergen information. The Food Information Regulations 2014 require food businesses to provide accurate allergen information for all food they sell, and an allergen matrix is the most efficient way to achieve this. During an EHO inspection, the officer will ask how you manage allergens and will expect to see a documented system — an allergen matrix is the standard they are looking for. An allergen matrix is typically a grid or chart with your menu items listed down one side and the 14 legally declarable allergens across the top. For each dish, you mark which allergens are present, which may be present due to cross-contact risk, and which are absent. This gives your staff a quick, visual reference when a customer asks about allergens, and it gives the EHO confidence that you have a systematic approach to allergen management. Without a matrix, you are relying on individual staff members remembering the allergen content of every dish, which is both unreliable and impossible to verify. The matrix must be kept up to date. Every time you change a menu item, recipe, ingredient, or supplier, the matrix must be reviewed and updated. Supplier ingredient changes are a particular risk — manufacturers can reformulate products without prominent warning, introducing new allergens into ingredients you thought were safe. Regular reviews of supplier specifications and cross-referencing against your matrix are essential. Many businesses review their allergen matrix weekly as part of their food safety routine.