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Food allergen list: EU 14, US 9 and the hidden names on labels

Thirteen food families cover the allergen lists of the US, the UK, the EU and the Gulf (crustaceans and molluscs share one guide), plus fragrance for skincare. Each guide names every label word Bravoora reads as that family and says where a pack must declare it.

By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 7 sourcesHow we check

A label answer names each person and the printed word that decided it.

The app's label result over the photo of a pack: an answer for each person at home, with the printed ingredient that decided it, then the next pack or the full answer.

Allergen guides: the 13 food families and fragrance

Tap a family for its guide: what it is, where it hides, every name on the label, and the rules by market.

41 guides · 328 E-numbers

Milkwhey powder=milk109 label namesUS: must declareEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareGlutenbarley malt extract=gluten80 label namesUS: partlyEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareTree nutshazelnut paste=tree nuts53 label namesUS: must declareEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declarePeanutsarachis oil=peanut12 label namesUS: must declareEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareSesamebenne seeds=sesame22 label namesUS: must declareEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareEggsalbumin=egg28 label namesUS: must declareEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareSoysoy lecithin (E322)=soy34 label namesUS: must declareEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareFishanchovy paste=fish23 label namesUS: must declareEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareCrustaceans and molluscsoyster sauce=shellfish27 label namesUS: partlyEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareMustardDijon=mustard8 label namesUS: not requiredEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareCeleryceleriac=celery6 label namesUS: not requiredEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareLupinlupin flour=lupin6 label namesUS: not requiredEU and UK: must declareGulf: must declareSulphitesE223=sulphites48 label namesUS: partlyEU and UK: partlyGulf: partlyFragrance (parfum)Linalool=fragrance allergen35 label namesSkincare

Fragrance is the skincare family: EU rules name the fragrance allergens a cosmetic label must list by name.

Which label names belong to an allergen family?

Whey, casein, lactose and ghee are milk; semolina, durum wheat, spelt, bulgur, couscous and barley malt extract are gluten; marzipan and gianduja are tree nuts; arachis oil is peanut; tahini is sesame; albumin is egg; tofu and tempeh are soy.

The checker files each of these words under its family, so a milk profile still catches whey.

Whey=MilkTahini=SesameSemolina=GlutenCasein=MilkAlbumin=EggsDurum wheat=GlutenLactose=MilkGhee=MilkSpelt=GlutenBulgur=GlutenCouscous=GlutenBarley malt extract=GlutenMarzipan=Tree nutsGianduja=Tree nutsArachis oil=PeanutsTofu=SoyTempeh=Soy

Which allergens must be declared, market by market?

The EU and UK name 14 allergens that must always be declared. The US names 9, since sesame was added on 1 January 2023. The 2013 English text of the Gulf standard GSO 9 lists 14 groups, the same groups as the EU.

From the guide to reading an allergen label. Sources checked 22 September 2026.

Allergens that must be declared, by market (sources checked 22 September 2026)
MarketAllergens that must be declaredGood to know
EU and UK14: cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites (10 mg/kg or more), lupin, molluscs46Emphasised inside the ingredient list, for example in bold4. In the UK, Natasha’s Law extends full ingredient labelling to food prepacked for direct sale7.
United States9: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame5Sesame became the ninth major allergen on 1 January 2023 under the FASTER Act. Declared in the ingredient list or in a “Contains” statement5.
UAE, Saudi Arabia and the GCC14 groups in the 2013 English text of GSO 9: cereals containing gluten (wheat, barley, oats, rye, spelt), crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts (written “walnuts”), milk including lactose, sulphites at 10 ppm or more, celery, mustard, sesame, molluscs (written “clams”) and lupin1The current edition is GSO 9:2022, with Amendment 1 approved on 22 April 202523. Labels must be in Arabic, and any second language must match it1.
The international referenceThe 2024 revision has one list that must always be declared and a second list set by region or country8. Reports of the revised text say sesame joined the first list and soy moved to the second9.The international food standard is a reference that countries write into their own rules; it does not apply to a pack by itself.

Read the full guide: How to read a food label for allergens: EU, UK, US and Gulf rules

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