Goods and labelling · EU · AT · DE

Allergen information

For non-prepacked food, such as dishes sold without pre-packaging, you must give information on the 14 major allergens they contain. In Austria this is governed by the allergen information ordinance, in Germany by the LMIDV. Both allow oral information, but then require trained or instructed staff and a written basis.

Legal basis

EU — applies in Austria and Germany: Reg. (EU) 1169/2011 Art. 44: allergen information is mandatory for non-prepacked food too; Member States decide how it is given. Annex II lists the 14 major allergens.12
AT — Austria: Allergeninformationsverordnung: information without being asked and easily accessible; a clearly visible notice that information is available orally is enough. Oral information only from trained staff, and the training must be documented; the basis is written documentation. The letter code A–R is a recommendation, not law.345
DE — Germany: LMIDV § 4: in writing on a sign, menu, notice or electronically; footnotes are allowed. Orally by sufficiently instructed staff if there is a written record that guests can also see on request.67

What the inspector wants to see

Where is the allergen information, or where is the notice about oral information?47
Austria: who gives oral information, and where is the training documented?4
Show the written documentation, including for the dish of the day.478
How do you prevent cross-contact on equipment?9

Common mistakes

The recipe changed, the allergen list did not.47
Austria: oral information given by untrained temporary staff.4
Daily specials without allergen documentation.8

Practise, read, print

Practise · 6 minCross-contamination & allergens

Sources

We read every source in the original on the date shown and checked it against the text: EU law in its German-language version, the links lead to the English one. All sources and what has changed (in German)

1Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, Art. 44(1)(a) in conjunction with Art. 9(1)(c) · checked 23 September 2026
2Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, Annex II, points 1–14 · checked 23 September 2026
3AT — applies in AustriaAllergeninformationsverordnung, the allergen information ordinance, Federal Law Gazette II No. 175/2014, Austria, § 2 (1) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
4AT — applies in AustriaAllergeninformationsverordnung, the allergen information ordinance, Federal Law Gazette II No. 175/2014, Austria, § 3 and § 4 · in German, checked 23 September 2026
5AT — applies in AustriaMinistry of Health recommendation on the allergen letter code (7 October 2014), Austria, pp. 2–4 · in German, checked 23 September 2026
6DE — applies in GermanyLebensmittelinformations-Durchführungsverordnung (LMIDV), the food information implementing ordinance, Germany, § 4 (2) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
7DE — applies in GermanyLebensmittelinformations-Durchführungsverordnung (LMIDV), the food information implementing ordinance, Germany, § 4 (3) and (4) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
8AT — applies in AustriaAustrian Economic Chamber (WKO), handbook on hygiene in hospitality (as of July 2025), Austria, pp. 69–70 (allergen information) · in German, checked 23 September 2026
9Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, Annex II, Chapter IX, point 9 · checked 23 September 2026

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