Agriculture and food / Free editable template

Allergen matrix template

An allergen matrix lets any member of staff answer "does this dish contain..." from one chart. This example lists twelve dishes against the 14 allergens that UK law requires businesses to declare, with a filled dot for contains, an orange ring for may contain from shared equipment, a recipe version and sign-off line, and a short checklist for keeping it accurate.

This is a planning example, not food-safety advice or a HACCP plan. Follow your local food-safety law and an approved HACCP plan.

No account needed · Opens as your own editable page

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Allergen matrix example showing twelve dishes against the 14 uk allergens, contains and may contain symbols, recipe version, sign-off and upkeep checklist
Everything in this example is editable. Replace the labels, move the shapes and adapt the layout to your work.

How to use this template

  1. Work from recipes and labels

    Build each row from the recipe and the labels of every ingredient you buy, including sauces, stocks and garnishes.

  2. Mark contains and may contain

    Use one symbol for allergens in the recipe and another for cross-contact risks such as a shared fryer.

  3. Review on every change

    Update the chart before a new recipe, supplier or substitute ingredient goes on the menu, and date each review.

Questions about this template

How do I add a new dish to the matrix?

Copy a dish row, rename it and mark each allergen column as contains or may contain. Update the recipe version line so staff know the chart is current.

Do I need an account to use it?

No. Open the template and edit it in your browser. Your work saves on this device. An account is optional if you want to sync your workspace.

Can I export the finished diagram?

Yes. Use Export in the editor to save a PNG, SVG or PDF, or download an editable .epicdraw backup.