Allergen Disclosure for Online Ordering and Delivery Platforms
SB-68 doesn't just apply to your printed menu. It covers every ordering channel — your website, DoorDash, UberEats, kiosks, and drive-thru displays.
The Digital Menu Requirement
SB-68 explicitly states that allergen disclosure applies across "all ordering formats including printed menus, menu boards, drive-thru displays, kiosks, websites, mobile apps, and online ordering platforms."
If a customer can order food from you through any digital channel, that channel needs allergen information accessible before they complete the order.
Third-Party Delivery Platforms
DoorDash
DoorDash's merchant portal allows you to add allergen tags to individual menu items. You can also include allergen information in item descriptions. If the platform doesn't support structured allergen fields for your account, add a note in your restaurant description linking to your full allergen disclosure page.
UberEats
UberEats has a dietary/allergen tagging system in the restaurant manager dashboard. Each item can be tagged with allergens from a predefined list. Use these fields — customers can filter by allergen, and it satisfies the "accessible before ordering" requirement.
Other Platforms (Grubhub, Postmates, etc.)
Platform support varies. At minimum, include allergen information in your item descriptions (e.g., "Contains: milk, wheat, eggs" at the end of each item description). It's not elegant, but it's visible to the customer before they add the item to their cart.
Your Own Website / Online Ordering
If you run online ordering through your own site (Toast, Square Online, Clover, or a custom system), you have full control. Options:
- Per-item allergen tags — Add allergen icons or text under each menu item in your online ordering system.
- Allergen filter — Let customers filter the menu by allergen ("hide items containing peanuts"). Some POS online ordering systems support this.
- Link to disclosure page — A prominent "View allergen information" link at the top of your online menu that links to your full disclosure (the page MenuComply generates for you).
The Challenge: Keeping Multiple Channels in Sync
The hardest part of digital allergen disclosure isn't the initial setup — it's keeping 4-5 different platforms updated when your menu changes. A recipe change needs to be reflected on your printed menu, your website, DoorDash, UberEats, and your in-store kiosk simultaneously.
This is where a single source of truth helps. Maintain your allergen data in one place, then update each platform from that reference. Don't try to manage allergens independently on each platform — you'll inevitably have mismatches.
Delivery-Specific Considerations
- No server interaction — Delivery customers can't ask a server about allergens. The digital listing IS their only information source.
- Modifications may not be communicated — If a customer adds a note ("no peanuts please"), it might not reach the kitchen clearly through the delivery platform.
- Packaging labels — Consider adding an allergen sticker or note to delivery containers for items with common allergens.
Start With Your Source of Truth
MenuComply gives you a single, accurate allergen disclosure you can reference when updating any platform. Upload your menu once, verify allergens, then use that data to populate DoorDash, UberEats, your website, and your printed materials — all from one source.