Allergen Icon Sheet Builder｜Free Allergen Label Generator for Food Service
This tool helps restaurant owners and food service managers create clear, professional allergen information labels. Simply enter a product name, select the allergens it contains, and generate a downloadable image for your menus, displays, or buffet signs to ensure customer safety and transparency.
💡 Tool Overview
- Live Preview: Instantly see a preview of your allergen label as you type the product name and select ingredients.
- 8 Major Allergens: Covers the legally specified list of major allergens based on Japanese food labeling standards (Egg, Milk, Wheat, Buckwheat, Peanut, Shrimp, Crab, Walnut).
- High-Resolution PNG Output: Generates a crisp, print-ready PNG image suitable for both digital menus and physical labels.
- Private & Secure: Your data is processed entirely within your browser. No product names or allergen information are sent to or stored on any server.
🧐 Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the "8 Major Allergens" based on?
A. This list is based on Japan's Food Sanitation Act. These eight ingredients—egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, and walnut—are designated as "Specified Raw Materials" because they are known to be frequent causes of severe allergic reactions, and their labeling is mandatory for pre-packaged foods in Japan.
Q. Can I add other allergens like soy, fish, or tree nuts?
A. This tool is specifically designed to generate labels for the 8 legally mandated allergens in Japan. It does not currently support adding custom allergens or those on the "recommended for labeling" list.
Q. What size is the downloaded image?
A. The image is designed at a 400x240 pixel aspect ratio and is exported at a 3x resolution (1200x720 pixels). This ensures the text and icons remain sharp and legible when printed or used on high-resolution digital displays.
📚 Fun Facts: Japan's Approach to Allergen Labeling
Japanese food labeling regulation is known for its detailed, two-tiered system to protect consumers. The allergens handled by this tool belong to the first tier, called "Specified Raw Materials" (特定原材料). This is a list of 8 ingredients for which labeling is legally mandatory due to the high frequency and severity of the allergies they cause.
There is also a second tier, a list of 20 ingredients called "Items Recommended for Labeling" (特定原材料に準ずるもの), which includes items like soy, cashews, beef, and sesame. While not legally required, the government strongly encourages businesses to display this information. This tool focuses on the mandatory 8, which provides a baseline of compliance and safety. The list itself is dynamic; for example, "walnut" (くるみ) was officially added to the mandatory list in March 2023.