Allergen matrix template: how to build one

An allergen matrix lists every menu item down the side and the major allergens across the top, so servers and cooks can answer guest questions consistently.

The 9 major U.S. food allergens

Milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Sesame became the ninth on January 1, 2023 under the FASTER Act.

Steps

1. List every menu item, including sauces, dressings, fryer items and sub-recipes.
2. Check every ingredient label - don't rely on memory.
3. Mark "contains" vs "may contain" (shared fryer oil, shared grills, shared prep).
4. Re-check whenever a supplier, brand or recipe changes and date the sheet.
5. Train staff to use it and to involve a manager for allergy questions.

Not legal advice. These are blank templates. Values are cited from the U.S. FDA Food Code 2022, a model code that states and counties adopt with changes. Follow your local health department - its rules take priority.

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