Yong Jae Lee
May 13, 2026 Β· 10 min read
Written and reviewed by Yong Jae Lee Β· Content follows Australian Dietary Guidelines
Since February 2024, all packaged food in Australia must declare allergens in Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) format. This guide shows you what to look for, where to find it, and how to read 'contains' vs 'may contain' without standing in the supermarket aisle for 20 minutes.
The first month after my kid's nut allergy diagnosis, I spent more time in the Woolworths packaged-snack aisle than I did at home.
Then in February 2024, Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) became mandatory across Australia and New Zealand. The whole game changed. Allergens now appear in a specific, standardised place on the label, in plain English, in bold, and the differences between "contains" and "may contain" are defined by regulation.
What PEAL Is
Plain English Allergen Labelling (PEAL) is a 2021 amendment to FSANZ Standard 1.2.3, mandatory for all packaged food sold in Australia from 25 February 2024.
Headline changes:
1. Declared allergens use the standardised plain-English name.
2. The declaration appears in a Summary Statement directly under the ingredient list, on the same panel, in bold.
3. "Contains" is regulated β intentional ingredient.
4. "May contain" statements are *voluntary* but follow industry best-practice.
5. Some allergens were renamed for clarity.
Mandatory Declared Allergens
| Allergen group | Plain English term |
|---|---|
| Peanut | "peanut" |
| Tree nuts | each named individually: "almond", "cashew", "hazelnut", "pecan", "pistachio", "macadamia", "walnut", "Brazil nut", "pine nut" |
| Milk | "milk" |
| Egg | "egg" |
| Fish | "fish" |
| Crustacean | "crustacean" with type (prawn, crab) |
| Mollusc | "mollusc" with type |
| Wheat | "wheat" |
| Gluten-containing cereals | "wheat", "rye", "barley", "oats", "spelt" |
| Soybean | "soybean" |
| Sesame | "sesame" |
| Lupin | "lupin" |
| Sulphites | "sulphites" when β₯10 mg/kg |
Tree nuts are now individually named. Tree-nut allergies are often allergen-specific β a child allergic to cashew may tolerate almond.
Where to Look
1. In the ingredient list β bold
> Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, sunflower oil, milk solids, salt, raising agents...
2. In the Summary Statement directly below
> Ingredients: wheat flour, sugar, sunflower oil, milk solids, salt, raising agents, may contain traces of peanut and tree nuts.
>
> Contains: wheat, milk.
The Summary Statement is the 30-second read.
"Contains" vs "May Contain"
"Contains [allergen]" β regulated, intentional
The allergen is deliberately in the product. If your child is allergic, unsafe.
"May contain [allergen]" β voluntary, cross-contamination risk
The allergen is not an ingredient, but the product is made in a facility where the allergen is also handled. Voluntary statement following VITAL (Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling) guidance.
ASCIA and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia both recommend anaphylactic patients avoid "may contain" products entirely. Make this decision *with your child's clinical immunology/allergy specialist*.
30-Second Scan Routine
1. Find the Summary Statement (3s) β directly below ingredient list
2. Scan for your child's allergens (5s) β listed in "Contains:"?
3. Check "may contain" (5s) β apply risk tolerance
4. Sanity-check ingredient list (10s) β skim for bold
5. Decision (7s) β trolley or shelf
Hidden Allergens
Wheat hidden as
Milk hidden as
Egg hidden as
Soybean hidden as
PEAL: even soy lecithin must trigger "Contains: soybean" if derived from soy.
What PEAL Did Not Change
1. Restaurants and unpackaged food
Only packaged food at retail is subject. Restaurants, school canteens, bakeries β not.
2. Imported products
Imported packaged food at Australian retail must comply with PEAL.
3. Allergen-free certification
"Made in a nut-free facility" claims on the front β not regulated by PEAL. Follow ACCC consumer protection rules.
Australian Lunchbox Decisions
For nut-free schools
Scan for "peanut" and individually-named tree nuts. Check "may contain" β most Australian schools accept items with cross-contamination warnings, but check your school's policy.
For dairy-free children
Watch for "milk". Many "vegetable-based" spreads still contain milk solids β PEAL bold formatting catches them.
For gluten-free (coeliac)
"Contains: wheat, rye, barley, oats" should all be absent. Coeliac Australia Endorsement Logo is a stronger claim.
References
Informational only β not personalised medical/allergy advice. For diagnosed allergies and anaphylaxis management, always work with your child's clinical immunology/allergy specialist.
Plan Allergy-Safe Lunches
The Aussie Lunchbox Planner lets you tick allergens to avoid and filters the menu library accordingly.
References & Sources
About this article
This article was written and reviewed by Yong Jae Lee, a Senior Product Designer based in Australia. Aussie Lunchbox is a solo project β every article is researched, tested at home with my own kids, and aligned with Australian Dietary Guidelines. If you spot an error or have a suggestion, please contact us.
