Allergen labeling

The rules requiring packaged foods to name major allergens such as milk, eggs, wheat and nuts in plain language.

Allergen labeling: A plain bakery bun with sesame seeds scattered on its crust beside a few whole almonds and an egg in its shell
  • Measurement, dietary and professional terminology

In the United States, packaged foods must declare the major food allergens on the label. The FDA lists nine: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame, the last added by the FASTER Act and required on labels since January 1, 2023.

The declaration can take one of three forms: the allergen named by its common or usual name in the ingredient list, a Contains statement placed next to the ingredient list, or the allergen in parentheses after an ingredient, such as tahini paste with sesame in parentheses. Ingredients made from an allergen source also require the declaration.

Baked goods are a frequent case, since flour, butter, eggs, nut meals and seeds are common ingredients. The FDA advises people with allergies to read the label every time, even on familiar products, because recipes change, and to contact the maker when unsure.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. The FASTER Act: Sesame Is the Ninth Major Food Allergen, U.S. Food and Drug Administration