Publishing a menu that stays true to what the kitchen serves.
What allergen information does a UK restaurant have to give? It must tell guests which of the 14 allergens each dish contains. The regulations allow any means the operator chooses, including orally, so at the table the answer can be spoken if a written sign says staff can be asked. Online and phone orders need it at two stages: before the purchase is completed and at delivery. Prepacked-for-direct-sale food has needed a full ingredients label, with allergens emphasised, since 1 October 2021; food made to order, or placed into packaging at the consumer's request, is not PPDS. Written information plus a conversation is Food Standards Agency best practice, not law.
What must a restaurant's online menu show in the UK? Under the Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order 2003, a price subject to VAT shall be inclusive of the tax, and restaurant food is standard-rated at 20%, so a dish costed at £10 before VAT is shown at £12. Any additional charge, like a cover charge or a minimum spend, must be shown at least as prominently as the price, and when a dish is no longer available its price must be withdrawn as soon as is reasonably practicable. For online orders, the CMA says the customer must get the total price: a £12 cheeseburger with a £2.49 delivery fee is £14.49. Sold online, allergen information on the 14 specified allergens must be given before the purchase is completed and when the food is delivered; the FSA's best practice, not law, is to put it on the main menu or no more than one click away.
A menu PDF can open on a phone and still be hard to use. Test loading, zoom, text size, links and the route back to current booking information before publishing.
See how to keep allergen information aligned before purchase and again at delivery with a two-stage check.
