Home · Fix Guides · Allergen Disclosure — Missing or Insufficient Consumer Advisory
PFPriority Foundation · FDA Food Code 3-602.11 · 10 days (Priority Foundation)

How to fix: Allergen Disclosure — Missing or Insufficient Consumer Advisory

The menu lacked required allergen disclosure for dishes containing the major food allergens, or staff could not identify allergen-containing items when asked.

What this violation means

FDA Food Code 3-602.11 requires that food establishments provide consumer disclosure about major food allergens — the Big 9: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. This includes written menu disclosures, verbal notification capability, or both. Inspectors verify that the menu identifies allergen-containing items or includes a written advisory directing customers to ask staff, and that kitchen staff can accurately identify which dishes contain which allergens. Allergen failures have resulted in fatalities and carry significant legal exposure.

Step-by-step: how to fix this before re-inspection

1Add a written allergen advisory to your menu: "Please inform your server of any food allergies or dietary restrictions"
2Create a written allergen matrix listing all menu items and which of the Big 9 allergens they contain — share with all staff
3Train every front-of-house and back-of-house employee to identify allergen-containing dishes and to escalate allergen requests to a manager
4Establish a cross-contact prevention procedure for allergen accommodation requests (separate equipment, clean surfaces)
5Document staff allergen training with sign-off sheets

What the inspector rechecks at re-inspection

WHAT THE INSPECTOR CHECKS

Inspectors do not just look at the surface. For this violation, expect them to verify:

☐Reviews menus for allergen disclosure statements or per-item allergen notation
☐Asks kitchen staff to identify which dishes contain the major 9 allergens
☐Checks for a written allergen matrix or reference guide available to staff
☐Verifies that substitution or modification procedures exist for allergen requests
☐Looks for a consumer advisory statement directing guests to notify staff of allergen needs

How to prevent this violation from recurring

Review your allergen matrix whenever the menu changes
Include allergen awareness in new employee onboarding
Post allergen information in the kitchen for quick staff reference

Related violations to check

Consumer Advisory for Undercooked Food Missing→Date Marking of Ready-to-Eat Food→No Employee Illness Reporting Policy→
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This document is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee a passing re-inspection score. Always verify requirements with your local health department. Fix steps are based on FDA Food Code 3-602.11; individual jurisdictions may have additional requirements.

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