Australia: Finding Allergen Information on Packs and Menus

Begin with the actual kind of food you are buying

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) sets allergen declaration rules used in Australia. The path to the information depends on how the food is sold: a labelled package, a food that is exempt from a full label, or food supplied by a café or takeaway. The Australia destination guide gives a broader starting point. ^{[1, 2]}

The same ingredient can appear in a supermarket product and in an unpackaged bakery item. Do not assume the bakery will display a packaged-style ingredient panel. Ask how its required allergen information is supplied and who can check the recipe. ^[2]

Read the ingredient list and the ‘Contains’ statement together

The plain English allergen labelling rules have applied since 25 February 2024. For applicable packaged foods with an ingredient list, required allergen names are bold in the list and repeated in a bold summary beginning ‘Contains’ in the same field of view, directly next to that list. FSANZ uses required names such as milk and specific tree nuts. ^[1]

Check the entire current package. The declaration identifies a regulated allergen when present as an ingredient, additive or processing aid, but you may still need to know the precise recipe for other sensitivities. A ‘may contain’ statement is precautionary information about possible cross-contact, a different kind of statement from ‘Contains’. ^{[1, 3]}

If you see an older photo of a label online, use it only to locate the product. Read the pack actually being sold. Imported goods and changed formulations make a current check essential.

For unpackaged food, ask for the declaration

FSANZ says that when a food does not need to bear a label, including café or takeaway food, required allergen declarations must be displayed in connection with the food or provided to the purchaser on request using the required names. A blank menu symbol is not the same as a checked ingredient answer for your particular order. ^{[1, 2]}

Ask about bought-in sauces, bread, dressings and toppings as well as the main dish. For a meal assembled from several items, ask how staff keep the order and service utensils distinct. The restaurant questions guide can help you make the request specific.

If staff cannot retrieve the required information or explain a changed ingredient, do not treat a guess as confirmation. Ask for a manager or the cook, or select another option.

A traveller’s two-part check

First, find the regulated declaration for your allergen in the food’s current label or the business’s displayed/on-request information. Second, ask about preparation and possible cross-contact for the exact serving. The labelling rules do not establish that a kitchen has controlled every transfer route. ^{[1, 2]}

Keep the product name, venue, date and answer together when planning a return visit, then recheck. For a translation or a less familiar local ingredient name, an allergy card can support the conversation but is not certification of a meal.

This guide covers Australia’s current framework at the source-check date. It does not replace an individual action plan or the current text of the Food Standards Code.