Demo tool — not a safety guarantee
Formulations change, scientific names can be missed, and no tool replaces careful label reading and manufacturer verification.
Tool · Labels
Product ingredient checks.
A systematic way to check labels for the UK 14 major allergens. Know what to look for, what to avoid, and when to call the manufacturer.
Quick checker
Paste an ingredients list. Find the allergens.
We'll highlight matches against the UK 14 major allergens. This is a demo — always verify with the actual product label and the manufacturer.
What to look for
Direct names and hidden ones.
Direct nut ingredients
Should be in bold or in the allergen statement.
- Almonds, almond oil, almond extract
- Brazil nuts
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts, filberts
- Macadamia nuts
- Peanuts (legume, often grouped)
- Pecans
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
Hidden names
Less obvious terms to watch for.
- Marzipan (almond paste)
- Nougat (often almonds/hazelnuts)
- Praline (usually nuts)
- Nutella (hazelnuts)
- Amaretto (almond)
- Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur)
- Nut oils (almond, walnut, etc.)
Unexpected sources
Spirits filtered through almond shells
Some gins (e.g. Bombay Sapphire) are filtered through almond shells — trace almond protein can remain. Check with the manufacturer.
Wine fined with fish products
Many wines use isinglass (fish swim bladders) for fining. Trace amounts may remain. Check labels if you have a fish allergy.
Pet food allergens
Dog/cat foods may contain peanut butter or lupin (e.g. THE PACK No-Fishy Dishy). Handling can leave residue on hands.
Cross-contamination
Understanding "may contain".
In the UK and EU, manufacturers must label the 14 major allergens. But "may contain" warnings are voluntary — and confusing.
- The product doesn't intentionally contain nuts.
- But it's made in a facility that also handles nuts.
- There's a real risk of cross-contamination.
- It's also a legal protection for the manufacturer.
Whether you avoid them is a personal risk decision. Many with severe allergies avoid them entirely; others verify with manufacturers. Talk to your allergist.
Free-from labels
What they really mean.
- "Nut-free" — doesn't contain nuts as an ingredient.
- "Made in a nut-free facility" — the gold standard; no nuts processed there.
- "Suitable for nut allergy sufferers" — marketing language. Always verify.
- Some "free-from" products still carry "may contain" warnings if shared facilities are used.
When in doubt, contact the manufacturer. Most have customer service teams who can confirm their production processes.
In cosmetics & perfumes
Scientific names to know.
Cosmetics, hair dyes, perfumes and personal care items use scientific names for allergens. Common ones to recognise:
Tree nuts
- Amygdalus dulcis / Prunus amygdalus (Almond)
- Anacardium occidentale (Cashew)
- Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil nut)
- Corylus avellana / maxima (Hazelnut)
- Juglans regia (Walnut)
- Macadamia integrifolia / ternifolia
- Pistacia vera (Pistachio)
- Carya illinoinensis (Pecan)
Peanuts
- Arachis hypogaea (peanut oil, extract)
Sesame
- Sesamum indicum (sesame oil, seed extract)
Soy
- Glycine soja / Glycine max (soybean oil, lecithin)
Wheat / gluten
- Triticum vulgare / aestivum (Wheat)
- Hordeum vulgare (Barley)
- Secale cereale (Rye)
- Avena sativa (Oats)
Milk
- Lac (milk protein, lactose)
- Casein / Caseinate
- Whey
Egg
- Ovum / Ovalbumin
- Lecithin (may be egg-derived if not soy)
- Lysozyme
- Livetin
Fish
- Collagen / Marine collagen
- Omega-3 / Fish oil
- Gelatin / Isinglass
- Fish scale extract
- Cod liver oil
- Salmon DNA
- Caviar extract
Crustaceans
- Chitin / Chitosan
- Astaxanthin (from shrimp/krill)
- Krill oil
- Crustacea (general)
Molluscs
- Pearl extract / Pearl powder
- Mother of pearl (nacre)
- Abalone extract (Haliotis)
- Snail mucin (Helix aspersa)
- Mollusca (general)
Celery
- Apium graveolens (seed oil, extract)
Mustard
- Brassica nigra (Black)
- Brassica juncea (Brown)
- Sinapis alba (White)
- Armoracia rusticana (Horseradish)
Lupin
- Lupinus albus (White)
- Lupinus angustifolius (Blue)
- Lupinus luteus (Yellow)
Sulphites
- E220 Sulphur dioxide
- E221 Sodium sulphite
- E222 Sodium hydrogen sulphite
- E223 Sodium metabisulphite
- E224 Potassium metabisulphite
- E225–E228 (sulphite group)
Remember: always check the full ingredients list on cosmetic products. Allergens can hide in fragrances, oils, extracts, protein derivatives — even in chitin (crustacean shells) or pearl powder (molluscs). When in doubt, contact the manufacturer or avoid the product.
When to call
Contacting the manufacturer.
Sometimes the label isn't clear enough. Reach out when:
- The ingredients list is unclear or uses technical terms.
- There's a "may contain" warning and you want to know their actual risk management.
- A "nut-free" claim needs confirmation.
- You've had a reaction and need to report it.
- Packaging has changed and you want to verify safety.
Tip: most manufacturers publish allergen info on their websites or run a customer service line. Keep a note of products you've verified as safe.
Important: this tool and information are for guidance only. Always read labels yourself and, when in doubt, contact the manufacturer or avoid the product. Ingredient formulations change — check labels even on products you've used before.