Allergen Matrix Software · UK

Allergen matrix software that stays accurate automatically

FoodCore generates a live allergen matrix for your full product range — updated automatically as recipes change. No more maintaining a separate spreadsheet that drifts out of date.

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An allergen matrix is a table showing which of the 14 major allergens are present in each product you sell. It's a legal requirement for food businesses to be able to provide allergen information to customers on request, and many businesses display a matrix in their shop, on their website, or share it with wholesale customers.

The problem with allergen matrices is keeping them accurate. Most small food businesses maintain theirs in a spreadsheet — a grid with products across the top and allergens down the side. Every time a recipe changes, the spreadsheet needs to be updated manually. Miss an update and you're providing inaccurate allergen information to customers, which is both a legal risk and a serious safety issue.

FoodCore solves this by generating the allergen matrix automatically from your recipe data. Allergens are tracked at the ingredient level — when you add an ingredient to FoodCore, its allergens are recorded. Those allergens flow through to every recipe that uses the ingredient, and from there to the allergen matrix. Change a recipe and the matrix updates automatically. There's no separate spreadsheet to maintain.

This is particularly important for businesses with large or frequently changing menus — caterers, meal prep businesses, bakeries with seasonal ranges. The allergen matrix is always current because it's generated from the same data that drives your recipes and labels.

How FoodCore keeps your allergen matrix accurate

One source of truth for allergen data across your entire product range.

Automatic matrix generation

FoodCore generates an allergen matrix for your full product range automatically. Every product, every allergen, always current. No manual updates required.

Updates when recipes change

Change an ingredient in a recipe and the allergen matrix updates automatically. You're never providing customers with allergen information that doesn't match what's in the product.

All 14 UK allergens tracked

FoodCore tracks all 14 major allergens required under UK food law: celery, gluten-containing cereals, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide/sulphites, and tree nuts.

Sub-ingredient allergen tracking

If you use compound ingredients — bought-in sauces, spice blends, pre-made pastry — FoodCore tracks their sub-ingredients and allergens. Your matrix reflects what's actually in each product.

Shareable allergen information

FoodCore's allergen data can be used to generate allergen summaries for individual products — useful for responding to customer queries, briefing staff, and providing information to wholesale customers.

Linked to food labels

The same allergen data that drives the matrix also drives your PPDS food labels. One source of truth means your labels and your matrix are always consistent.

Who is this for?

FoodCore is built for small UK food businesses — not enterprise kitchens with IT teams.

Cafés & delis

Displaying an allergen matrix for your menu is best practice and increasingly expected by customers. FoodCore keeps it accurate as your menu changes.

Caterers

Providing accurate allergen information for events is a legal requirement. FoodCore's allergen matrix gives you a reliable, always-current reference for every dish you serve.

Bakeries

A bakery allergen matrix is useful for customers with allergies, for wholesale accounts, and for staff training. FoodCore generates it automatically from your recipe library.

Meal prep businesses

Weekly menus with rotating recipes mean allergen information changes regularly. FoodCore keeps your matrix current without manual updates.

FoodCore vs Spreadsheet allergen matrix

Why small food businesses switch from manual methods to FoodCore.

Feature Spreadsheet allergen matrix FoodCore
Matrix accuracy ✗ Depends on manual updates ✓ Always current — auto-updates with recipes
Update process ✗ Find spreadsheet, edit, save, redistribute ✓ Automatic — no action required
Sub-ingredient allergens ✗ Manual research per ingredient ✓ Built in
Consistency with labels ✗ Must update separately ✓ Same data source as labels
Time to update after recipe change ✗ 15–30 mins per product ✓ Instant — automatic
Risk of providing wrong allergen info ✗ High — spreadsheet drift ✓ Low — always reflects current recipes

Common questions

Do I legally need an allergen matrix?

UK food law requires you to be able to provide allergen information to customers on request. You are not legally required to display a matrix, but you must be able to tell customers which allergens are in your products. A matrix is the most practical way to do this for businesses with multiple products.

How does FoodCore keep the allergen matrix accurate?

Allergens are tracked at the ingredient level in FoodCore. When you add an ingredient, you record its allergens (or import them via barcode scan). Those allergens flow through to every recipe that uses the ingredient, and from there to the allergen matrix. Change a recipe and the matrix updates automatically.

Can I share the allergen matrix with customers?

FoodCore's allergen data can be used to generate allergen summaries for individual products and your full range. You can use this information to create a printed or digital allergen matrix to share with customers.

Does FoodCore also generate individual food labels?

Yes. The same allergen data that drives the matrix also drives your PPDS food labels. FoodCore generates Natasha's Law compliant labels with allergens highlighted in bold, directly from your recipes.

What if a customer has an allergy not covered by the 14 major allergens?

FoodCore tracks the 14 allergens required under UK food law. For customers with allergies to other ingredients, you would need to provide that information separately. FoodCore's full ingredient lists for each recipe can help with this.

Related features & guides

Food labelling software →Natasha's Law software →PPDS label software →Recipe management →UK labelling requirements guide →

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