If you run a restaurant, cafe, bar or hotel kitchen, your menu is no longer just a list of dishes and prices. In 2026 it is also a legal document. Depending on where you trade, it may need to show allergens, calories and every mandatory charge, and it has to be the same on the door, on the table, in the QR menu and on delivery apps. This guide puts the rules for the UK, the EU and the US side by side, so you can see what applies to you in a few minutes.
All three regions require you to give customers accurate allergen information (the UK and EU by law for 14 allergens; in the US through state and local rules). Calorie labelling is mandatory only for large businesses: 250+ employees in England, 20+ locations in the US. Hidden fees are under pressure everywhere, especially in the UK since April 2025. And yes, QR menus are allowed, as long as people who can't use them have another way to get the information.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules vary by country, state and city, so check with your local food authority or a lawyer for your specific situation.
What changed in 2025–2026
Four updates matter most for menus right now:
UK vs EU vs US: menu rules at a glance
Here is the side-by-side view. The sections below explain each row in plain language.
| Topic | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇪🇺 EU | 🇺🇸 US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allergens | Mandatory for loose food: 14 allergens. Can be given verbally, but FSA best practice (2025) is written info plus a conversation. | Mandatory for non-prepacked food: 14 allergens (Annex II, Reg. 1169/2011). Each country decides how it must be shown. | No federal menu allergen law (FALCPA covers packaged food). 2022 FDA Food Code recommends written notice; California SB 68 requires it for chains. |
| Calories | England only: businesses with 250+ employees must show kcal, portion size and "adults need around 2000 kcal a day". | No EU-wide requirement for restaurant menus. | Chains with 20+ locations: calories on menus and menu boards, plus full nutrition info on request. |
| Prices & service charges | Mandatory service or cover charges must be in the headline price (DMCC Act, from April 2025). Optional ones can be shown separately. | Prices must include taxes and any additional charges must be clear (Unfair Commercial Practices Directive). Details vary by country. | No federal restaurant fee rule. State rules vary; California allows mandatory fees only if clearly shown on the menu with their purpose. |
| Digital / QR menus | Allowed. FSA says paper or digital is fine, but offer an alternative for people who can't use the digital version. | Generally allowed; national rules may add conditions. | Allowed. Under SB 68 a QR or digital menu is OK only with a written alternative on site. |
1. Allergens: the rule that applies to almost everyone
Allergen information is the one area where nearly every food business has a duty, whatever its size. The differences are in which allergens count and how you must share the information.
UK: 14 allergens, and written info is now the expected standard
UK businesses selling loose (non-prepacked) food must provide information on the 14 allergens: celery, cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs, mustard, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, and sulphur dioxide/sulphites. The law lets you give this information verbally, as long as you signpost customers to ask.
In February 2025 the Food Standards Agency published best practice guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It recommends that written allergen information is always available, ideally without the customer having to ask, and that staff ask every customer whether they have allergen requirements. The guidance is not law, but it shows what inspectors and customers now expect. Food that is prepacked for direct sale (PPDS), such as sandwiches made and packed on site, has needed a full ingredients label with allergens emphasized since October 2021 under "Natasha's Law". For a deeper look, read our UK restaurant menu rules guide.
EU: same 14 allergens, national rules on format
Across the EU, Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 makes allergen information mandatory for non-prepacked food, including in restaurants and cafes. The list of 14 allergens in its Annex II is the same as the UK list. What differs is the format: under Article 44, each member state can set national rules on how the information is given, for example whether verbal information is enough or something must be in writing. If you trade in more than one EU country, check each one. Our guide to the EU 14 allergens on restaurant menus covers the list item by item.
US: 9 major allergens, rules set by states
The US recognizes 9 major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Sesame became the ninth on January 1, 2023. Federal allergen labeling law covers packaged food, not restaurant menus.
For restaurants, the FDA's 2022 Food Code calls for informing consumers in writing about major allergens in unpackaged food. The Food Code is a model that states and cities adopt on their own schedules, so whether this applies to you depends on your local health code. The biggest new rule is in California: SB 68, in effect since July 1, 2026, requires restaurant chains with 20 or more locations to give written notice of which of the 9 major allergens each menu item contains. Chains can use a digital format like a QR code, but must also provide a written alternative on site.
2. Calorie labelling: mostly for large businesses
Calorie rules are narrower than allergen rules. If you are an independent restaurant, they probably don't apply to you yet, but it helps to know the thresholds.
England: 250+ employees
Since 6 April 2022, the Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021 require businesses with 250 or more employees to show the energy content in kcal and the portion size next to each relevant item, plus the statement "adults need around 2000 kcal a day". The same applies to websites and apps where customers order. Some items are exempt, including drinks over 1.2% alcohol and items on the menu for fewer than 30 days a year. If a business ignores an improvement notice, it can face a fixed penalty of £2,500.
Scotland and Wales have not introduced mandatory menu calorie labelling. Scotland consulted in 2022 and announced a pause in 2023, and Wales consulted on the idea but has not brought in calorie rules. Wales did bring in separate rules on promoting less healthy food, which took effect on 26 March 2026 for businesses with 50 or more employees.
EU: no EU-wide rule
There is no EU-wide requirement to show calories on restaurant menus. Regulation 1169/2011 makes nutrition declarations mandatory mainly for prepacked food, and leaves non-prepacked food to national measures. Some countries or chains choose to publish calories voluntarily.
US: chains with 20+ locations
The FDA menu labeling rule, in force since May 7, 2018, applies to restaurants and similar businesses that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations under the same name with substantially the same menu. Covered chains must show calories for standard items on menus and menu boards, provide written nutrition information on request, and display the statement that "2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs vary." Full details are in our FDA menu labeling guide.
3. Prices, service charges and hidden fees
Price transparency is the fastest-moving area. The direction is the same everywhere: the price a customer sees should be the price they pay.
UK: mandatory charges belong in the headline price
Since 6 April 2025, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 bans drip pricing. The Competition and Markets Authority's final price transparency guidance (CMA209, November 2025) names a restaurant menu, including a digital menu reached by scanning a QR code, as an invitation to purchase. It also lists "mandatory cover or service charges at a restaurant" as charges that must be included in the total price. A genuinely optional charge can be shown separately, but calling a charge optional doesn't make it so if customers have to pay it.
Two older rules still matter. The Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order 2003 asks venues to display prices where customers can see them before entering, and to show extra charges at least as prominently as food prices. And since 1 October 2024, the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 requires employers to pass all tips, gratuities and service charges to workers fairly and in full. See our guide to service charge and hidden fee rules.
EU: clear total prices, national details
EU consumer law, mainly the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), treats hiding key price information as misleading. When you invite customers to buy, the price should include taxes, and any additional charges should be made clear. How service charges and tips are handled is largely set by each country, so the details differ between, say, France, Spain and Germany.
US: a patchwork of state rules
There is no federal rule on restaurant fees. The FTC's rule on unfair or deceptive fees, finalized in late 2024, covers only live-event tickets and short-term lodging. States fill the gap. In California, the "honest pricing" law (SB 478) bans hidden mandatory fees, and a follow-up law (SB 1524) lets restaurants and bars keep a separate mandatory fee only if it is clearly and conspicuously displayed on the menu, with an explanation of its purpose. Other states and cities have their own rules, so check locally before adding any automatic charge.
4. Are QR and digital menus allowed?
Yes, in all three regions. No law in the UK, EU or US that we reviewed bans QR menus. Regulators now treat them as real menus, which means the same rules apply: correct prices, mandatory charges included, and allergen information that is easy to find.
The one consistent condition is a backup for people who can't use them. The FSA guidance says businesses using a digital format should have an alternative way to access the information. California's SB 68 requires a written alternative if a chain shares allergen info digitally. A printed allergen matrix behind the counter, or a few printed menus, is usually enough. Read more in our QR code menu legal requirements guide.
Your 5-minute menu compliance checklist
Go through these seven points with your current menu in front of you:
- 1List every item — Include specials, seasonal drinks, sauces, sides and anything written on a chalkboard.
- 2Map the allergens — Check each item against the 14 UK/EU allergens (or the 9 US majors). Read supplier labels for sauces, syrups and bread.
- 3Check your thresholds — 250+ employees in England, or 20+ locations in the US? Then calorie labelling is likely mandatory for you.
- 4Audit your fees — Any automatic service, cover or "kitchen" charge? In the UK it belongs in the headline price; in California it must be shown on the menu with its purpose.
- 5Sync every channel — Door menu, table menu, QR menu, website and delivery apps should show the same prices and allergen info.
- 6Plan a non-digital backup — Keep a printed allergen matrix or menu for guests without a smartphone.
- 7Brief the team — Staff should ask about allergies, know where the info is and when to check with the kitchen.
The real risk: menus that don't match
Most compliance problems aren't about not knowing the rules. They happen when information drifts apart. A supplier changes a sauce recipe and the allergen sheet isn't updated. Prices go up on the printed menu but not on the QR menu. A new service charge appears on the bill but not on the menu.
A digital menu helps because you update it once and every QR code shows the new version straight away. With MenuMan, for example, you can upload a photo of your existing menu and AI turns it into a multilingual QR menu with suggested allergens, calories and ingredients. You review and confirm every suggestion, because only your kitchen knows exactly what goes into each dish. The free plan includes 10 AI credits. If you are comparing tools, our roundup of the best QR code menu apps for 2026 is a good starting point.
Whatever tool you use, AI suggestions are a starting point, not a guarantee. Check every allergen against your recipes and supplier labels before you publish. Try MenuMan free.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to put allergens on my menu in the UK?+
Not printed on the menu itself. UK law requires you to provide allergen information for the 14 allergens, and you can give it verbally if you signpost where to get it. But the FSA's 2025 best practice guidance recommends written allergen information plus a conversation with every customer.
Is a QR code menu legal for restaurants?+
Yes, in the UK, the EU and the US a digital menu is generally allowed. The safe approach is to keep a non-digital alternative, such as a printed menu or allergen matrix. The FSA recommends this, and California's SB 68 requires a written alternative if allergen info is digital-only.
Do small restaurants have to show calories?+
In England, only businesses with 250 or more employees must. In the US, the federal rule covers chains with 20 or more locations. There is no EU-wide calorie rule for restaurants, and Scotland and Wales have not introduced mandatory menu calorie labelling.
Can I add a service charge to the bill?+
It depends where you are. In the UK, a mandatory service or cover charge must be included in the headline price. A genuinely optional one can be shown separately. In the US it depends on state and local law; in California, mandatory fees must be clearly shown on the menu with an explanation of their purpose.
Which allergens do I need to list in the US?+
Nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Sesame became the ninth on January 1, 2023 under the FASTER Act.
Official sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers (EUR-Lex) ↗
- European Commission: Food information to consumers legislation ↗
- Directive 2005/29/EC on unfair commercial practices (EUR-Lex) ↗
- FSA: Allergen information for non-prepacked foods, best practice (2025) ↗
- FSA: Allergen guidance for food businesses ↗
- The Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021 ↗
- CMA: Price transparency guidance (CMA209) ↗
- The Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order 2003 ↗
- UK Code of Practice on fair and transparent distribution of tips ↗
- Scottish Government: Mandatory calorie labelling consultation ↗
- FDA: Menu labeling requirements ↗
- FDA: 2022 Food Code release ↗
- California SB 68 (2025): bill text and status ↗
- California SB 1524 (2024): restaurant fee disclosure ↗
Bottom line: get your allergen information in writing, check whether you cross a calorie threshold, put mandatory charges in your prices, and keep every version of your menu in sync. Do those four things and you are ahead of most of the market.
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