How to Read Japanese Allergen Labels
Japan requires packaged food to label nine allergens, including cashews since April 2026, and recommends 20 more. The lists, what "same factory" means, and why restaurants differ.
Which foods must be labeled
Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) requires packaged processed foods to state when they contain a mandatory allergen. The list is set based on the number and severity of cases in a national survey.
Sakai City's guidance explains that, apart from packaged processed foods and additives, there is no labeling obligation. Restaurant dishes and deli food made in-store and sold unpackaged do not have to carry allergen labels. The CAA publishes materials and videos for restaurants and take-out businesses on sharing allergen information.
The nine mandatory allergens
The list as of April 2026:
| Japanese | Reading | English |
|---|---|---|
| えび | ebi | Shrimp / prawn |
| かに | kani | Crab |
| くるみ | kurumi | Walnut |
| 小麦 | komugi | Wheat |
| そば | soba | Buckwheat |
| 卵 | tamago | Egg |
| 乳 | nyu | Milk |
| 落花生(ピーナッツ) | rakkasei | Peanut |
| カシューナッツ | kashuu nattsu | Cashew nut |
Walnuts were added by an amendment to the Food Labeling Standards dated March 9, 2023. Cashew nuts were added on April 1, 2026, with a two-year transition period. Yamanashi Prefecture's guidance gives the end of the transition as March 31, 2028.
During the transition, some products containing cashews may still have no cashew label.
The 20 recommended allergens
Almond, abalone, squid, salmon roe (ikura), orange, kiwi fruit, beef, sesame, salmon (sake), mackerel, soybean, chicken, banana, pistachio, pork, macadamia nut, peach, yam (yamaimo), apple and gelatin.
Pistachio was added in April 2026. Macadamia nut was added in March 2024, when matsutake mushroom was removed. Labeling for these is only recommended. Any of these 20 may be present without being labeled.
If you avoid gluten, note that barley and rye are on neither list. Look for barley (大麦) in the ingredients themselves.
How to read the label
Allergens are normally shown next to each ingredient (individual labeling). As an exception, they can be listed together at the end (collective labeling).
| Style | Example |
|---|---|
| Individual | ハム(卵・豚肉を含む) ham (contains egg, pork), マヨネーズ(卵・大豆を含む) mayonnaise (contains egg, soybean) |
| Collective | At the end of the list: (一部に卵・豚肉・大豆を含む) (partly contains egg, pork, soybean) |
When an ingredient name clearly means the allergen, such as 玉子 or たまご for egg, the "contains egg" note can be left out.
What "made in the same factory" means
Even food made without a mandatory allergen can pick up traces during production (cross-contamination). The CAA recommends a caution statement when cleaning and other measures cannot rule this out. Its example reads: "This product's factory also makes products containing [allergen]."
This caution is recommended, not required. Vague statements such as "may contain" on their own are not permitted. The absence of a caution statement does not show there is no risk of cross-contamination.
At restaurants, ask
At restaurants, confirm ingredients verbally or in writing. Also ask about shared seasonings, sauces and frying oil. Follow your doctor's advice on what you can eat.
Sources
Details can change. Please check with the restaurant before you go. If you have allergies or a medical condition, follow your doctor's advice. Religious rulings are left to certification bodies and to you.