Under Australia's Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) requirements, food businesses must declare 11 mandatory allergens using their plain English names. This guide breaks down every single one — what they are, where they're commonly found, and exactly how they must be declared on your labels.
1. Peanuts — Peanuts must be declared as 'peanut' or 'peanuts' on the label. This includes peanut oil (unless highly refined), peanut butter, peanut flour, and any derivative. Common in confectionery, baked goods, satay sauces, and Asian cuisine.
2. Tree Nuts — Each tree nut must be declared by its specific name: almond, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pistachio, walnut, and Brazil nut, among others. Generic terms like 'tree nuts' are not sufficient — the specific nut must be named.
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View Compliance Kits3. Milk — Dairy allergens must be declared as 'milk'. This covers all forms including cream, butter, cheese, yoghurt, whey, casein, and lactose. Even trace amounts in processed ingredients require declaration.
4. Eggs — Must be declared as 'egg'. This includes whole egg, egg white, egg yolk, and egg-derived ingredients like albumin, lysozyme, and egg lecithin. Common in baked goods, pasta, mayonnaise, and many processed foods.
5. Wheat — Must be declared as 'wheat'. Note that wheat is distinct from the broader 'cereals containing gluten' category. Products containing wheat must specifically name wheat, not just 'gluten' or 'cereal'.
6. Soybeans — Must be declared as 'soy' or 'soybean'. Found in tofu, soy sauce, miso, edamame, soy lecithin, soy protein isolate, and many processed foods. Soy lecithin (322) is one of the most common hidden sources.
7. Fish — Must be declared as 'fish' along with the specific species where known. Includes fish sauce, fish oil, anchovy extract, Caesar dressing, and Worcestershire sauce. Each species should be named where possible.
8. Crustaceans — Must be declared as 'crustacean' with the specific type named (e.g., prawn, crab, lobster). Common in Asian sauces, seafood flavourings, and processed foods containing shellfish extracts.
9. Molluscs — Must be declared as 'mollusc' with the specific type named (e.g., oyster, mussel, squid, scallop). Oyster sauce is one of the most common hidden sources in commercial food production.
10. Sesame Seeds — Must be declared as 'sesame' or 'sesame seed'. Found in tahini, hummus, bread products, salad dressings, and many Middle Eastern and Asian foods. Sesame oil also requires declaration.
11. Lupin — Must be declared as 'lupin'. Lupin flour is increasingly used as a gluten-free alternative in baked goods and pasta. It's particularly common in European-style breads and is a significant allergen that many businesses overlook.
For each allergen, PEAL requires the plain English name to appear in the ingredient list wherever that allergen occurs, and in a separate allergen summary statement (the 'Contains:' statement). The allergen name must be in bold or otherwise emphasised to stand out from surrounding text.
Getting every allergen declaration right across your entire product range is critical. Our PEAL Compliance Kit includes a comprehensive allergen mapping tool that walks you through every product, every ingredient, and every required declaration.