Do catering companies need allergen disclosure?

Catering-only operations may be exempt from SB-68 as nonpermanent food facilities. However, many event venues and corporate clients now require allergen disclosure from caterers as a contractual obligation, regardless of the law.

How do you handle allergens at a buffet?

Place allergen cards next to each dish identifying which of the 9 major allergens are present. Use separate serving utensils for allergen-free items. Consider a separate allergen-free section for guests with severe allergies.

Should catering proposals include allergen information?

Yes. Including allergen details in your proposal demonstrates professionalism and helps the event planner accommodate guests with allergies before the event — reducing last-minute changes and on-site risks.

Allergen Disclosure for Catering and Private Events

Why Catering Is Different

In a restaurant, a customer can ask their server about allergens. At a catered event, there's often no one to ask. Guests approach a buffet line, see food they don't recognize, and have no way to know what's in it without clear labeling.

This makes catering operations more dangerous for allergy sufferers than restaurants — less information, less control, and social pressure to eat what's served.

Buffet Service

Best practices for buffet allergen disclosure:

Table cards per dish — Small tent cards next to each item listing the dish name and allergens present (e.g., "Chicken Marsala — Contains: milk, wheat").
Allergen icons — Color-coded icons on each card for quick visual identification.
Separate serving utensils — Prevent cross-contact by ensuring each dish has its own spoon/tongs that guests don't swap between dishes.
Allergen-free section — For events where you know guests have allergies, consider a physically separate area with guaranteed allergen-free options.
Staff briefing — At least one catering staff member at the buffet who can answer allergen questions in real time.

Plated Dinners

For plated service, disclosure happens earlier — at the menu selection stage:

Menu cards on the table — Include allergen indicators on the printed menu at each place setting.
RSVP allergen collection — Ask for dietary restrictions during the RSVP process. Prepare alternatives in advance.
Kitchen communication — Mark allergen-modified plates clearly (different colored plate ring, flag, or label) so servers deliver the right plate to the right guest.

The Proposal Stage

Smart catering companies include allergen information in their proposals:

List allergens per menu item in the proposal document
Offer allergen-free alternatives for each course
Ask the client to collect guest dietary restrictions
Specify your allergen handling procedures

This differentiates you from competitors and reduces last-minute chaos when an event planner discovers — the day before — that three guests have nut allergies.

Corporate Clients Increasingly Require It

Many corporate event planners now require allergen documentation from caterers as part of their vendor selection process. They're managing liability for their own organization — if an employee has a reaction at a company event, the company faces questions about due diligence in vendor selection.

Having professional allergen disclosure ready wins contracts. Not having it loses them to competitors who do.

Build Your Catering Allergen Disclosure

MenuComply works for catering menus — upload your standard offerings, verify allergens, and generate a printable chart you can include in proposals or display at events.

Try MenuComply free →