Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Ban labels from saying "may contain" regarding allergens

Closed 168 signatures

What the petition asks

The government should require food manufacturers to clearly declare whether their products contain peanuts and other common triggers of anaphylactic reactions. This bill should ban the vague phrase “may contain…”, which we think puts lives at risk.
Food manufacturers can legally use the vague phrase “may contain peanuts,” leaving consumers uncertain if products contain life-threatening allergens. We think this ambiguity is unfair and dangerous. We think companies use it as a legal shield to avoid responsibility for allergic reactions — even deaths — that clear, accurate labelling could help prevent. We think this practice puts lives at risk and must be banned to protect consumers. No one should be left guessing what’s in their food. We deserve transparency.

Timeline

15 Sep 2025 Petition opened for signatures
15 Mar 2026 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 168
Status Closed
Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened 15 Sep 2025
Closed 15 Mar 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 9 Aug 2026.