# Help Center ## Allergen Information Food allergens are substances that can cause an immune reaction in sensitive individuals. Reactions range from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Accurate allergen labeling is both a legal requirement and a duty of care for food businesses. Bitesized supports the 14 allergens defined by EU Regulation 1169/2011, which is the most comprehensive standard and covers all allergens required by US FALCPA and other regulations: - Celery - Cereals containing gluten - Crustaceans - Eggs - Fish - Lupin - Milk - Molluscs - Mustard - Nuts - Peanuts - Sesame - Soybeans - Sulphur dioxide ## Dietary Restrictions Dietary restrictions are lifestyle, religious, or ethical choices that are distinct from allergens. While allergens are about food safety, dietary restrictions reflect personal or cultural preferences. - **Vegan** — No animal products of any kind, including dairy, eggs, and honey - **Vegetarian** — No meat or fish, but may include dairy and eggs - **Halal** — Prepared according to Islamic dietary law - **Kosher** — Prepared according to Jewish dietary law ## Managing Allergens on Your Menu When creating or editing a menu item, you can tag it with allergens and dietary restrictions using the selectors in the item editor. Allergens appear with amber badges and dietary restrictions appear with neutral badges. 1. Open any menu and click on an item to edit it 2. Click the "Allergens" dropdown to select which of the 14 allergens apply 3. Click the "Dietary" dropdown to select applicable dietary labels 4. Save your changes — allergen and dietary information will appear on the public menu automatically ## Allergen Notice You can display a prominent allergen notice at the top of your public menu. This banner reminds guests to inform staff about any food allergies or intolerances before ordering. To enable the allergen notice: 1. Go to **Settings** > **Menus** 2. Toggle on **Allergen notice** 3. Click **Save** When enabled, a notice will appear on your public menu reading: "Before placing your order, please inform your server if anyone in your party has a food allergy or intolerance." ## Service Charge You can configure a service charge percentage that will be applied to customer bills. When set, a notice is automatically displayed on your public menu so customers know before ordering. To configure the service charge: 1. Go to **Settings** > **Menus** 2. Enter a percentage in the **Service charge** field (0–100) 3. Click **Save** When the value is greater than 0, a notice will appear on your public menu reading: "A service charge of X% will be added to your bill." Set the value to 0 to disable the notice. ## Filtering Menus Customers viewing your public menu can filter items using the filter bar that appears below the menu tabs. The filter bar only shows allergens and dietary options that are present in your menu. - **Allergen filters are exclusionary:** Selecting an allergen (e.g. "Peanuts") hides all items containing that allergen. This helps customers quickly find safe options. - **Dietary filters are inclusionary:** Selecting a dietary label (e.g. "Vegan") shows only items that match. Multiple selections narrow the results further. ## Accessibility Bitesized menus are built to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), so every guest can browse your menu regardless of ability or assistive technology. Accessibility matters because a significant portion of the population relies on screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive tools to use the web. An inaccessible menu means lost customers and, in many jurisdictions, potential legal liability under disability discrimination laws such as the ADA, the UK Equality Act, and the European Accessibility Act. Every public menu page includes the following accessibility features: - **Screen reader support** — Semantic HTML landmarks, proper heading hierarchy, and ARIA attributes ensure screen readers can navigate and announce menu content correctly - **Keyboard navigation** — All interactive elements, including menu tabs, filter buttons, and the filter sheet, are fully operable with a keyboard alone - **QR code alternative access** — Every QR code is accompanied by a visible, clickable URL so guests who cannot scan a QR code can still reach your menu - **Allergen and dietary badges** — Allergen and dietary information is presented as text, not icons alone, so it is accessible to all users - **Filter sheet accessibility** — The filter sheet opens as an accessible dialog with a descriptive label, supports Escape to close, and wraps every checkbox in a label for easy interaction ## Regulatory Overview Allergen disclosure requirements vary by jurisdiction: - **EU Regulation 1169/2011** requires declaration of 14 allergens on all food sold or provided, including restaurants - **US FALCPA** (Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act) covers 9 major allergens for packaged foods; restaurant requirements vary by state - Many US states and local jurisdictions have their own allergen disclosure laws for restaurants **Disclaimer:** Bitesized is a tool to help you manage and display allergen information. It does not constitute legal advice. You are responsible for ensuring your allergen declarations are accurate and compliant with all applicable local, state, and national regulations. Consult a legal professional for compliance guidance specific to your jurisdiction. ## FAQ ### What is the difference between allergens and dietary restrictions? Allergens are safety-critical — they identify substances that can cause immune reactions or intolerances. Dietary restrictions are lifestyle or religious choices like vegan or halal. Both are important, but they serve different purposes. ### Will existing menu items be affected? Existing items will continue to work as before. Any legacy dietary labels that have been replaced by allergen tags (like "Gluten-Free") are handled automatically. You can add specific allergen tags to your items at any time. ### Do customers need an account to use allergen filters? No. The filter bar on the public menu is available to all visitors without any login or account required. ### Can I customize the allergen notice text? Currently the allergen notice uses a standard message. We may add customization options in the future. You can toggle the notice on or off from Settings. ### How does the service charge work? When you set a service charge percentage in Settings, a notice is displayed at the bottom of your public menu informing customers that the charge will be added to their bill. Set the value to 0 to disable it. ### Which allergen standard does Bitesized follow? We support the EU-14 allergen list, which is the most comprehensive widely adopted standard. It covers all allergens required by the US FALCPA and other regional regulations.