EU rules list 14 allergen groups that must be highlighted in the ingredients. Here is how to find them on vending products.
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 lists 14 groups of substances causing allergies or intolerances that must be highlighted in the ingredients list, for example in bold, or – where there is no ingredients list – given after the word "contains" (Article 21 of the regulation). They include cereals containing gluten, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, sesame, and celery, among others. For packaged vending products, allergen information is on the label.
The 14 groups
- Cereals containing gluten.
- Crustaceans.
- Eggs.
- Fish.
- Peanuts.
- Soybeans.
- Milk.
- Tree nuts.
- Celery.
- Mustard.
- Sesame seeds.
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites.
- Lupin.
- Molluscs.
How to find them on the label
Allergens are highlighted in the ingredients. "May contain" notes are voluntary – their absence does not mean no risk. If the label is not visible through the glass, check the information at the machine or ask the operator.
Example devices
The page on snack vending machines (publisher's site) describes snack machines.
FAQ
Must a machine display allergens? For prepacked food sold from a machine, the rules do not require information before purchase as they do for online sales (Article 14(3) of Regulation 1169/2011), but all information, including allergens, must be on the product label.
Is this article legal advice? No. It is a general overview.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Regulations change – check the current rules or consult a lawyer before deciding.
Basis: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, in particular Annex II.
Legal status: based on the regulations in force at the time of the last editorial review; this article is reviewed periodically.