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Allergens on food labels — what to trust

U.S. law requires the top 9 allergens to be called out in plain language. 'May contain' and 'processed in a facility with' are voluntary and not standardized.

Reviewed by Dr. Maya Iyer · RD, MPH
Last reviewed 2026-02-25 · corrections log

The Big-9

Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame (added 2023). Always in the ingredient list OR the 'Contains' line.

Personal risk & the FoodPulse Label Scanner

Our scanner flags Big-9 matches. It does NOT guarantee absence of cross-contact — always read the manufacturer label for medical decisions.

Sources
  • FDA FALCPA + FASTER Act
  • FoodPulse Label Scanner methodology