Allergen statement on a food label: how to write the "Contains" line
Put the word Contains, then the name of every major allergen in the food, right after or next to the ingredient list. Or name the allergen inside the ingredient list instead.
Two ways to declare
In the ingredient list
Name the allergen in parentheses where it appears: "whey (milk)". Common names that already contain the allergen, like "nonfat dry milk", are enough.
A Contains line
A separate line right after, or next to, the ingredient list: "Contains: Milk, Soy".
If you use a Contains line, it must list every major allergen in the food, even ones already named in the ingredient list.
The wording rules
Capital C. Bold and punctuation are your choice.
Say which tree nut, fish or shellfish. "Tree nuts" alone is not enough.
Do not shrink the line.
"Soy" or "soya" can stand in for soybeans.
Things that trip people up
- The nine major allergens are milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy and sesame. The full list is in the allergen labeling guide.
- A processing aid that carries an allergen, like wheat flour dusted on a belt, still has to be declared.
- "May contain" lines are not a substitute for the Contains line. FDA says the allergen law does not cover them, and they must be truthful and not misleading.
Get the Contains line built for you
BatchFacts writes it from your ingredient names. Check it against your own labels.
Source: FDA, Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergen Labeling (Edition 5, January 2025), fda.gov/media/117410, sections C and D, read Oct 21, 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice. Check the current FDA guidance.