UPDATE
Oct 22, 2025
What UK operators need to know about the ADDE Act
What UK operators need to know about the ADDE Act
When it comes to food-allergy safety and transparency, we at Ingredifind believe the world is on the cusp of a major shift. In October 2025, the state of California enacted the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (the “Adde Act” or sometimes called the "Addie Act") via its Governor. This landmark law requires large multi-location restaurants (those with 20 or more locations nationally) to begin listing the top nine allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame) for every menu item from July 2026 onwards.
Why does this matter – and why do we believe it heralds something bigger for foodservice operations everywhere, including the UK?
What the ADDE Act requires
From July 2026, qualifying restaurants must:
Clearly identify the top nine allergens for every menu item (whether on printed or digital menus).
Display that information in a comprehensible way, either directly on the menu or via a QR/digital menu format.
Update those allergen disclosures whenever recipes or ingredients change.
Continue to offer verbal communication for allergy-conscious patrons, along with written accuracy.
At present, the law does not require “may contain” or explicit cross-contact statements, though we believe such language may well feature in future enhancements.
Why this change is important and far-reaching
Although this is US state legislation, it signals a powerful trend: regulators and hospitality operators alike are increasingly recognising that written, standardised allergen disclosure is no longer optional. For us at Ingredifind, this emphasises that the time has come for food businesses to shift from reactive allergen reporting to proactive, integrated allergen-management systems.
In the UK, many operators are already familiar with the changes brought by Natasha’s Law (for pre-packed foods) and the updated guidance from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in March 2025 for out-of-home allergen information. These regulatory developments align with the expectations behind the Adde Act, and they highlight how food-service regulation is converging globally.
How Ingredifind helps you stay ahead
We designed Ingredifind with precisely this future in mind. Our system brings together ingredient-level tagging, automatic allergen and diet detection, and customer-facing menus (via QR codes or digital formats) so you can meet the growing regulatory demands. With Ingredifind, you can:
Track every ingredient in every dish so that when a recipe changes, allergen information updates seamlessly.
Offer your guests transparency and confidence: they see exactly which allergens are present, and which dishes suit them, without guesswork.
Free your team from manual spreadsheets and ad hoc updates, giving them more time to focus on guest service rather than compliance headaches.
Looking ahead: what this means for the UK & beyond
While the Adde Act sets American precedent, the ripple effects are clear: legislation such as Owen’s Law (proposed in the UK) could follow a similar trajectory: demanding written, consistent allergen disclosure at point-of-order across all dining venues. When that happens, restaurants that already have robust systems in place (such as Ingredifind) will be well-positioned.
By July 2026, U.S. restaurant groups will have to adapt in earnest, and many are already preparing. In the UK, a forthcoming review of the FSA’s March 2025 guidance (expected March 2026) may bring further change. Creating an allergen-safe dining environment is no longer just about meeting minimum standards, it is becoming a competitive differentiator.
The landscape a year from now
Imagine this: next year at this time, dozens of major chains in the U.S. will be live with full dish-by-dish allergen disclosures under the Adde Act. In the UK, operators who adopt forward-looking platforms like Ingredifind will lead the way in giving guests confidence, reducing risk, and building loyalty from diners with allergies or dietary restrictions.
We encourage you to consider:
Will your business be ready when further allergen regulation arrives?
Could you turn compliance into an advantage? (supporting your guests, enhancing trust, and strengthening your brand)
At Ingredifind, we don’t view allergen labelling as simply a regulatory burden. We believe it’s an opportunity to make dining out safer, more inclusive and trustworthy for everyone. If you’d like to explore how our system can help you keep up with regulation and serve your guests better, let’s chat.
When it comes to food-allergy safety and transparency, we at Ingredifind believe the world is on the cusp of a major shift. In October 2025, the state of California enacted the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (the “Adde Act” or sometimes called the "Addie Act") via its Governor. This landmark law requires large multi-location restaurants (those with 20 or more locations nationally) to begin listing the top nine allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame) for every menu item from July 2026 onwards.
Why does this matter – and why do we believe it heralds something bigger for foodservice operations everywhere, including the UK?
What the ADDE Act requires
From July 2026, qualifying restaurants must:
Clearly identify the top nine allergens for every menu item (whether on printed or digital menus).
Display that information in a comprehensible way, either directly on the menu or via a QR/digital menu format.
Update those allergen disclosures whenever recipes or ingredients change.
Continue to offer verbal communication for allergy-conscious patrons, along with written accuracy.
At present, the law does not require “may contain” or explicit cross-contact statements, though we believe such language may well feature in future enhancements.
Why this change is important and far-reaching
Although this is US state legislation, it signals a powerful trend: regulators and hospitality operators alike are increasingly recognising that written, standardised allergen disclosure is no longer optional. For us at Ingredifind, this emphasises that the time has come for food businesses to shift from reactive allergen reporting to proactive, integrated allergen-management systems.
In the UK, many operators are already familiar with the changes brought by Natasha’s Law (for pre-packed foods) and the updated guidance from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in March 2025 for out-of-home allergen information. These regulatory developments align with the expectations behind the Adde Act, and they highlight how food-service regulation is converging globally.
How Ingredifind helps you stay ahead
We designed Ingredifind with precisely this future in mind. Our system brings together ingredient-level tagging, automatic allergen and diet detection, and customer-facing menus (via QR codes or digital formats) so you can meet the growing regulatory demands. With Ingredifind, you can:
Track every ingredient in every dish so that when a recipe changes, allergen information updates seamlessly.
Offer your guests transparency and confidence: they see exactly which allergens are present, and which dishes suit them, without guesswork.
Free your team from manual spreadsheets and ad hoc updates, giving them more time to focus on guest service rather than compliance headaches.
Looking ahead: what this means for the UK & beyond
While the Adde Act sets American precedent, the ripple effects are clear: legislation such as Owen’s Law (proposed in the UK) could follow a similar trajectory: demanding written, consistent allergen disclosure at point-of-order across all dining venues. When that happens, restaurants that already have robust systems in place (such as Ingredifind) will be well-positioned.
By July 2026, U.S. restaurant groups will have to adapt in earnest, and many are already preparing. In the UK, a forthcoming review of the FSA’s March 2025 guidance (expected March 2026) may bring further change. Creating an allergen-safe dining environment is no longer just about meeting minimum standards, it is becoming a competitive differentiator.
The landscape a year from now
Imagine this: next year at this time, dozens of major chains in the U.S. will be live with full dish-by-dish allergen disclosures under the Adde Act. In the UK, operators who adopt forward-looking platforms like Ingredifind will lead the way in giving guests confidence, reducing risk, and building loyalty from diners with allergies or dietary restrictions.
We encourage you to consider:
Will your business be ready when further allergen regulation arrives?
Could you turn compliance into an advantage? (supporting your guests, enhancing trust, and strengthening your brand)
At Ingredifind, we don’t view allergen labelling as simply a regulatory burden. We believe it’s an opportunity to make dining out safer, more inclusive and trustworthy for everyone. If you’d like to explore how our system can help you keep up with regulation and serve your guests better, let’s chat.
