Austin Allergen Labeling Compliance Checklist for Food Operators

FDA & Texas Allergen Labeling Requirements

The FDA Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires facilities to clearly identify the "Big 8" allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy. In Texas, the DSHS adopts and enforces federal FDA food code standards for retail food establishments. All prepackaged foods must list allergens in plain language on labels, either in the ingredient list or in a "Contains" statement. Austin Public Health inspectors verify that allergen information is accurate, legible, and accessible to consumers. Missing or misleading allergen statements result in critical violations.

Menu & Point-of-Sale Disclosure Checklist

Austin food service establishments must disclose major allergens on menus or menu boards for all ready-to-eat foods and beverages. This includes deli items, salads, sandwiches, sauces, and desserts. Allergen information must be visible before purchase—either printed on menus, available via QR codes linking to ingredient sheets, or displayed at the point of service. Train staff to know which items contain the Big 8 allergens and to communicate this information to customers upon request. Document all allergen training in staff records; Austin inspectors frequently ask to review training logs and employee knowledge during unannounced inspections.

Common Violations & Prevention

Frequent allergen violations in Austin include: unlabeled bulk bins or self-serve items lacking allergen warnings; cross-contact failures where allergen-free items are prepared in shared equipment without proper cleaning; missing or illegible ingredient supplier documentation; and staff unable to answer customer allergen questions. Prevent these by maintaining supplier ingredient statements for all received products, implementing color-coded utensils or dedicated prep areas for allergen-sensitive items, and conducting quarterly allergen training. Keep written procedures for cleaning shared surfaces and equipment. Austin Public Health's inspection form explicitly checks for documented allergen controls; missing documentation is cited as a non-critical deficiency that can escalate if repeated.

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