How to Read Japanese Food Allergy Labels

Quick answer

How to Read a Japanese Allergy Label

Japanese packaged food must list 9 mandatory allergens (shrimp, crab, walnut, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, peanut and, since 2026-04-01, cashew); 20 more are recommended but voluntary. Look for the allergen line after 原材料, and check the full ingredient list if your allergen is only on the recommended list.

Why Japanese Labels Are Different

Japan has one of the world's most comprehensive allergen labeling systems, regulated by the Consumer Affairs Agency (消費者庁). Unlike the US or EU, Japan splits allergens into two tiers. As of 2026-04-01 there are 9 mandatory allergens that must appear on labels, and 20 recommended allergens that manufacturers are encouraged, but not required, to declare — 29 in total.

The 9 Mandatory Allergens (特定原材料)

These must legally appear on packaged food sold in Japan:

🥜 Peanuts (落花生 / らっかせい)
🦐 Shrimp (えび)
🦀 Crab (かに)
🌾 Wheat (小麦)
🥛 Milk (乳)
🥚 Eggs (卵)
🍜 Buckwheat (そば) — yes, buckwheat/soba counts as a top allergen in Japan
🌰 Walnuts (くるみ) — added to the mandatory list in 2023 (notice of 2023-03-09; transition period ended 2025-03-31)
🌰 Cashews (カシューナッツ) — moved from recommended to mandatory on 2026-04-01

Cashew has a transition period until 2028-03-31, so products made under the old rules may still be sold without cashew in the mandatory allergen line. If you have a cashew allergy, check the full ingredient list (原材料) for カシューナッツ rather than relying on the allergen summary alone. Source: Consumer Affairs Agency — allergen labeling (verified 2026-09-24).

The 20 Recommended Allergens (特定原材料に準ずるもの)

These are voluntarily declared by manufacturers. You'll often see them on labels, but you can't always count on them:

Almonds (アーモンド), Abalone (あわび), Squid (いか), Salmon roe (いくら)
Oranges (オレンジ), Kiwi (キウイフルーツ), Beef (牛肉), Sesame (ごま)
Salmon (さけ), Mackerel (さば), Soybeans (大豆), Chicken (鶏肉)
Banana (バナナ), Pistachios (ピスタチオ), Pork (豚肉), Macadamia nuts (マカダミアナッツ)
Peach (もも), Yam (やまいも), Apple (りんご), Gelatin (ゼラチン)

Recent changes: macadamia nuts were added and matsutake mushroom (まつたけ) was removed in 2024; pistachios were added on 2026-04-01, when cashews moved to the mandatory list.

How to Read the Label

Look for the allergen summary box, usually at the bottom of the ingredient list. It often appears as:

「アレルギー物質を含む食品」(Foods containing allergenic substances)

Followed by the allergen names in parentheses after each ingredient, or as a consolidated list at the end like: 「（一部に小麦・乳成分・卵を含む）」meaning "Contains some wheat, dairy, and egg."

Key Symbols and Phrases to Know

含む (fukumu) — contains
不使用 (fu-shiyou) — does not use / free from
原材料 (gen-zairyou) — ingredients
アレルギー表示 (allergy hyouji) — allergen labeling
製造工場では○○を含む製品を製造しています — manufactured in a facility that also processes [allergen]

When in Doubt, Ask

Labels only help when there is one. Restaurant dishes, bakery counters and market stalls are not covered the same way as packaged food, and recommended allergens may not be listed even on packaged items. In those cases, ask staff and show a Japanese allergy card listing exactly what you cannot eat.

Sources

Consumer Affairs Agency — Food allergy labelling (Japanese)
9 mandatory and 20 recommended allergens (as of April 2026)
Consumer Affairs Agency — April 1, 2026 notice (cashew becomes mandatory, pistachio added) (Japanese)
Cashew moved to the mandatory list; transition period to March 31, 2028

Sources checked: September 24, 2026

Researched and fact-checked by the TravelSafe Japan team against the sources above. AI tools helped with drafting; every rule, number and date was checked by an editor. General information, not legal or medical advice. Spotted an error? Tell us · How we verify