Egg Allergen | The UK 14 Main Allergens

Eggs are a versatile ingredient that can be found in many different foods, such as cakes, mousses, pasta dishes, and many more.

There are many different food allergens, but those classified as the ‘14 main allergens’ are the most common. Food Businesses are legally required to inform customers if these allergens are present in their food. Eggs are classed as one of the 14 main food allergens.

The 14 main allergens are celery, cereals containing gluten (such as barley and oats), crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs, and lobsters), eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs (such as mussels and oysters), mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (if the sulphur dioxide and sulphites are more present than 10 parts per million) and tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts).

Eggs are one of the most prevalent allergens among babies and young children; however, while most young children or babies with an allergy to eggs will outgrow it as they develop and get older. However, in rare circumstances the allergy might persist until adulthood.

Allergic Reactions to Eggs

The severity of the reaction can vary based on the amount of egg consumed and how it is cooked. Allergic reactions are most commonly triggered by the protein section of the egg, which is the egg white.

Eggs do not need to be consumed to cause an allergic reaction, and it can be caused by touching a raw egg or the eggshell in some individuals with high sensitivity to eggs.

Egg Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms of an egg allergy can occur within a few minutes or a few hours. Symptoms may include:

Itchy rashes, or hives
Dizziness, which may resulting in fainting
Swelling of the mouth, tongue, face, or other region
Wheezing and difficulty breathing
Diarrhoea and/or vomiting
Abdominal pain

In cases of severe reactions, Anaphylaxis may occur and can be potentially fatal. Common symptoms include:

A swelling of the throat, making it especially difficult to breath or talk
Shock, following a severe drop in blood pressure
A rapid pulse
Severe breakouts of rashes, hives, or swelling
Severe diarrhoea and/or vomiting
Dizziness, possibly resulting in loss of consciousness

Food Labelling for an Egg Allergy

Eggs are one of the 14 main food allergens. Therefore, food businesses must display the ingredient in bold, highlighted, or in a contrasting colour if present in the food product

Many of those with an egg allergy can consume cakes if the egg is thoroughly cooked due to the structure of the egg protein being changed by heat which makes it less prone to induce allergic reactions. However, it is best to consult with an immunologist before trying them.

Egg Allergy Foods to Avoid:

This is not an exhaustive list, but some of the most common foods containing eggs are:

Meringues
Hollandaise Sauce
Mayonnaise
Biscuits
Sponge cakes
Quorn
Most pastas
Chips
Ice cream
Pancakes & Waffles

Ingredients to Avoid with an Egg Allergy:

Again, this is not an exhaustive list but these are some of the most commonly listed egg proteins listed in ingredient labels.

Lysozyme
Albumin
Avidin Globulin
Apovitellin
Ovovitellin
Ovomucoid
Ovalbumin

Egg Substitutes

Eggs in recipes for baked goods generally play one of two roles: binder (to hold the ingredients together) or leavening agent (to help it rise). Depending on the function of the egg, it can often be substituted with other ingredients such as oil, mashed banana, fruit puree, or baking powder.

Commercial egg substitutes can be bought in health food shops and can sometimes be useful. There are egg free recipe books available and a wide range of recipes can be found online.

14 Food Allergen List

Find out more about the allergens businesses must declare under UK Food Law. The 14 main allergens are:

If one or more of the 14 main allergens are present in a businesses food product, they are legally required to provide this information in their allergen labelling. This is due to legislation such as the Food Information Regulations and the subsequent 2019 amendment commonly known as Natasha’s Law if selling PPDS food.

Failure to do so can result in severe consequences including risking customers’ health and safety, possible recalls of food products (costing businesses) damage to their business’s public reputation, potential litigation, and possible closure of business. Find out more about the consequences that face food businesses if they do not adhere to the law here.

LiberEat - Allergen Error Detection Software

Food allergen rules and regulations continue to change and evolve. Food businesses in production, hospitality, catering, and retail must be vigilant when working with ingredients, products, and dishes containing allergens and exercise due diligence when providing ingredient and allergen information to consumers. Successful allergen management is a big part of food safety professionals’ creating a culture of care and excellence within their teams.

LiberEat offers a second line of defence for food businesses by detecting errors, allergens, and other harmful ingredients with our proprietary Allergen Error Detection Technology. Food businesses can apply this technology directly to identify errors in allergen communications, preventing the risk of injury to consumers 24/7, 365 days of the year so that errors are detected, diagnosed and rectified quickly. We know this helps you protect your brand reputation and enhance customer trust in your brand.