The PlateProof blog
Allergen compliance, in practice.
Plain-English guidance on allergen due diligence, evidence, and proving what your kitchen checked — without the jargon.
24 June 2026
Cross-contamination you can't photograph: the allergen risk with no packet
Some allergen risk has no label to read — the shared fryer, the unwashed scoop, the dusting of flour. Here's what the FSA expects, and why it comes down to process and a named sign-off.
Read →23 June 2026
9 or 14? US and UK allergen rules, side by side
The US declares 9 major allergens; the UK and EU require 14. Here's what differs, why sesame became the US's 9th in 2023, and what it means if you cater across both.
Read →23 June 2026
Natasha's Law, explained: what the allergen labelling rules actually require
Natasha's Law changed how prepacked food must be labelled in the UK. Here's what PPDS means, what has to go on the label, and how it fits the wider allergen duty — with primary sources.
Read →23 June 2026
“Contains” vs “may contain”: getting precautionary allergen labelling right
“May contain” isn't a disclaimer you can sprinkle on everything. Here's the difference between a 'contains' declaration and precautionary allergen labelling — and when each is actually justified.
Read →23 June 2026
What an inspector checks for on allergens — and how to be ready
When an environmental health officer inspects, allergens are part of it. Here's what they actually look at, and the records that make the difference.
Read →16 June 2026
How to prove allergen due diligence (when an inspector asks)
Allergen due diligence isn't only what you know — it's what you can show. Here's what the law expects and what good evidence looks like.
Read →15 June 2026
The allergen matrix: what it is, and where it falls short
An allergen matrix is the standard way to show allergens across a menu. Here's what the rules require — and the evidence gap a grid alone leaves.
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