Food allergy label guides

Updated October 10, 2026

Shopping with a food allergy, or for someone who has one? These guides explain what US food labels must tell you, what they don't, and how to spot an allergen hiding behind another name. Each one shows where SafeScan can do the checking for you.

Free tool: Allergen ingredient checker · Choosing an app? See our comparisons

Allergen basics

The 9 major food allergens (US): what labels must show

The list, the labeling rules, and the foods they don't cover.

Sesame allergy: what changed on US food labels in 2023

The ninth major allergen, and the names it hides behind.

Reading labels

Food scanner says "product not found"? What to do

Scan the label instead of the barcode.

How to read a food label for allergies: a 5-step check

A routine for every product, every time.

What "may contain" means on a food label

Advisory labels are voluntary. Here's how to read them.

Hidden ingredients

Hidden names for egg on ingredient labels

Albumin, lysozyme, meringue and other egg names.

Hidden names for milk on ingredient labels

Whey, casein, ghee and the false alarms to ignore.

Hidden names for soy on ingredient labels

Edamame, miso, TVP and soy lecithin.

Hidden names for wheat on ingredient labels

Spelt, semolina, farro and other forms of wheat.

Diets

What "gluten-free" means on a US food label

The 20 ppm rule, and why it's voluntary.

How to check if packaged food is halal

Certification first, then the ingredients to question.

How to check if packaged food is vegan

The animal ingredients that hide in plain sight.

Family & eating out

How to use an allergy card when eating out

What to include, and when to hand it over.

Grocery shopping for a child with food allergies

A routine for parents and caregivers.

Choosing an app

Best food allergy apps for iPhone (2026)

Scanners, restaurant finders and single-allergen apps.

Let SafeScan read the label

Scan a barcode or the ingredient list and SafeScan checks every ingredient against your allergy profile, including the 9 major allergens, extended allergens and diets like vegan, halal and kosher.

Download on the App Store

Free to download for iPhone and iPad. No account needed, and your profiles and scan history stay on your device.