The full list of declared allergens in Australia under FSANZ Standard 1.2.3, plus the PEAL plain-English names and 'Contains' statement rules food businesses…
Australia's declared allergens are the foods and ingredients that, by law, must be declared whenever they are present in food. Under the FSANZ Food Standards Code (Standard 1.2.3), the list generally covers gluten-containing cereals, crustacea, molluscs, fish, egg, milk, peanut, soy, sesame, tree nuts, lupin and added sulphites (10 mg/kg or more). Under Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL), each must be named in bold using set plain-English terms, plus a 'Contains' summary statement. Key takeaways: Australia's declared allergens generally are: gluten-containing cereals, crustacea, molluscs, fish, egg, milk, peanut, soy, sesame, tree nuts, lupin and added sulphites (10 mg/kg or more).. Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) requires each allergen to be named using specific plain-English terms in bold in the ingredient list and in a separate 'Contains' statement.. PEAL split some groups out — molluscs, fish and crustacea are now declared separately, and each gluten cereal and each tree nut must be named individually.. New PEAL-format labels have generally been required since 25 February 2024, and the two-year stock-in-trade period for older labels ended around 25 February 2026, so packaged food on sale should now comply.. Unpackaged and made-to-order food still needs allergen information displayed or available on request.. What are the declared allergens in Australia? Declared allergens are the foods and substances that Standard 1.2.3 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code generally requires to be declared whenever they are present in food — including as an ingredient, a compound ingredient, a food additive or a processing aid. These are the allergens most commonly linked to severe reactions in Australia and New Zealand. The current list, following Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL), is below. Because requirements can vary in how they are enforced, confirm specifics with FSANZ and your state or territory food regulator. Cereals containing gluten — wheat, rye, barley, oats and their hybridised strains (for example triticale). Crustacea (such as prawns, crab, lobster). Molluscs (such as oysters, mussels, squid). Fish. Egg. Milk. Peanut. Soy (soybean). Sesame. Tree nuts — almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pine nut, pistachio and walnut. Lupin. Added sulphites in a concentration of 10 mg/kg or more. What Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) changed PEAL amended Standard 1.2.3 to make allergen declarations clearer and more consistent. Rather than allowing technical or scientific names buried in an ingredient list, it prescribes specific plain-English 'required names' and a standard format. It also broke some broad groups into their individual parts so consumers get precise information. PEAL commenced on 25 February 2021, with new-format labels generally required from 25 February 2024. Each gluten-containing cereal must be named specifically (for example 'wheat'), not just declared as 'gluten'. Molluscs must be declared separately from crustacea, and fish separately again. Each tree nut must be named individually (for example 'cashew', 'almond') rather than grouped as 'tree nuts'. Allergen names must appear in bold in the statement of ingredients. A separate summary statement beginning with the word 'Contains' must list the allergens present. The required plain-English names and the 'Contains' statement Under PEAL, allergens must be declared twice on a label that carries an ingredient list: in bold within the statement of ingredients, and again in a summary 'Contains' statement. The Code prescribes the exact 'required name' to use for each allergen (for example 'milk', 'egg', 'soy', 'wheat', 'peanut', 'sesame') so wording is consistent across products. Bold declarations in the ingredient list make each allergen easy to spot. The 'Contains' statement sits near the ingredient list and repeats the allergens in bold. Prescribed names avoid confusion — for example 'milk' rather than 'casein' or 'whey' alone. Where a food has no ingredient list (some small packages), allergen information is provided in another prescribed way. Gluten cereals and tree nuts: the specifics Two groups trip businesses up most often. For gluten, the declared cereals are wheat, rye, barley, oats and their hybridised strains — each named specifically where present. Some highly refined derivatives (for example certain wheat-derived glucose syrups and distilled alcohols) may be treated differently under the Code, but you should confirm how the requirement applies to your exact ingredient before leaving anything undeclared. Gluten cereals to name specifically: wheat, rye, barley, oats (and hybrids such as triticale). Tree nuts to name individually: almond, Brazil nut, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, walnut. Coconut is generally not treated as a declarable tree nut allergen under the Code, though some customers still avoid it. Check how the Code treats any refined derivative before relying on a reduced declaration. Sulphites, lupin and molluscs — the ones people forget Beyond the familiar 'top' allergens, three declarations are easy to miss. Added sulphites must be declared when present at 10 mg/kg or more — common in dried fruit, some wines, sausages and processed potato. Lupin, a legume increasingly used in flours and health foods, is a declared allergen. Molluscs are now their own declaration, separate from crustacea. Added sulphites: declare at 10 mg/kg or more (they are also numbered additives 220–228). Lupin: a legume that can cross-react with peanut in some people. Molluscs: oysters, mussels, scallops, squid, octopus and similar. These are frequently overlooked when reformulating recipes or changing suppliers. Unpackaged and made-to-order food PEAL's format rules focus on packaged food that carries a label. But allergen information is still required for food that is not required to be labelled — for example food sold unpackaged, made and packaged on the pr
How to declare allergens on a food label
Work from verified supplier specifications, not memory. Include compound ingredients (an ingredient made of other ingredients) and processing aids, because allergens in those must also be declared.
Check each ingredient against the full declared allergen list — gluten cereals, crustacea, molluscs, fish, egg, milk, peanut, soy, sesame, tree nuts, lupin and added sulphites (10 mg/kg or more).
Declare each allergen using its required name (for example 'wheat', 'milk', 'cashew') rather than a scientific or trade term. Name each gluten cereal and each tree nut individually.
Make each declared allergen stand out in bold within the statement of ingredients so it is easy to find and read.
Place a separate statement beginning with 'Contains' near the ingredient list, listing every declared allergen present in bold.
Consider whether unintended cross-contact is possible. Any precautionary allergen statement (for example 'may be present') should be based on a genuine risk assessment, not used as a blanket disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How many declared allergens are there in Australia?
Following Plain English Allergen Labelling, the declared allergens are generally grouped as: gluten-containing cereals, crustacea, molluscs, fish, egg, milk, peanut, soy, sesame, tree nuts, lupin and added sulphites (at 10 mg/kg or more). Because PEAL requires each gluten cereal and each tree nut to be named individually, the number of specific names you may need to use is larger than the group count.
What is PEAL?
PEAL stands for Plain English Allergen Labelling — amendments to Standard 1.2.3 of the Food Standards Code. It requires declared allergens to be shown using specific plain-English names, in bold in the ingredient list, and in a separate 'Contains' summary statement. The aim is clearer, more consistent allergen information for consumers. Confirm current details with FSANZ or your regulator.
Is coconut a declared tree nut allergen in Australia?
Coconut is generally not treated as a declarable tree nut allergen under the Australian Food Standards Code, and it is not on the list of tree nuts that must be individually named. Some consumers still choose to avoid it, so many businesses list it voluntarily. If you are unsure how it applies to your product, confirm with FSANZ or your food regulator.
When did PEAL become mandatory?
PEAL commenced on 25 February 2021 with a three-year transition period, so new-format labels have generally been required since 25 February 2024. A further two-year stock-in-trade period, letting older labels sell through, ended around 25 February 2026. Packaged food on sale should now use the plain-English required names, bold declarations and a 'Contains' statement. Confirm current dates on the FSANZ website.
Do I have to declare allergens on food I make and sell unpackaged?
Food that is not required to carry a label — such as unpackaged food, food made and packaged where it is sold, or ready-to-eat food served in a venue — still needs allergen information available. It must generally be displayed with the food or provided to the customer on request. Train staff to answer accurately from verified ingredient records.
At what level do sulphites have to be declared?
Added sulphites must generally be declared when present in a concentration of 10 mg/kg or more. They are common in dried fruit, some processed meats, wine and processed potato products, and appear as additive numbers 220 to 228. Below that threshold they may not require declaration, but always confirm the current requirement with the Food Standards Code.