// food allergen labeling
Japan's 29 statutory food allergens
Japanese food labels recognize 29 allergens: 9 items whose labeling is required by law (特定原材料, tokutei genzairyō) and 20 items whose labeling is recommended but voluntary (特定原材料に準ずるもの). This page lists every item with its reading and — the part that actually defeats people — the alternate notations manufacturers legally use on labels.
Mandatory — 特定原材料 (9 items)
Labeling on pre-packaged processed foods is required by law (Food Labeling Standards).
| Label name | Reading | Romaji | English | Equivalent notations (代替表記) | Extended notations, examples (拡大表記) | Watch out for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| えび | — | ebi | Shrimp / prawn | 海老、エビ | えび天ぷら、サクラエビ | Certain ingredients made from unsorted seafood may carry the exceptional notation "魚醤（魚介類）" (fish sauce, mixed seafood) instead of naming shrimp/crab individually. | Mandatory |
| カシューナッツ | — | kashū nattsu | Cashew | — | — | Mandatory since 2026-04-01. During the transition period (until 2028-03-31), packages labeled under the old rules — with no cashew declaration — remain legal and are still on shelves. | Mandatory |
| かに | — | kani | Crab | 蟹、カニ | 上海がに、カニシューマイ、マツバガニ | Mandatory | |
| くるみ | — | kurumi | Walnut | クルミ | くるみパン、くるみケーキ | Moved to the mandatory list in March 2023. | Mandatory |
| 小麦 | こむぎ | komugi | Wheat | こむぎ、コムギ | 小麦粉、こむぎ胚芽 | Mandatory | |
| そば | — | soba | Buckwheat | ソバ | そばがき、そば粉 | Mandatory | |
| 卵 | たまご | tamago | Egg | 玉子、たまご、タマゴ、エッグ、鶏卵、あひる卵、うずら卵 | 厚焼玉子、ハムエッグ | "卵白" (egg white) and "卵黄" (egg yolk) must still carry an explicit egg declaration. Mayonnaise must also declare egg — the old exemption was abolished. | Mandatory |
| 乳 | にゅう | nyū | Milk | ミルク、バター、バターオイル、チーズ、アイスクリーム | アイスミルク、ガーリックバター、プロセスチーズ、牛乳、生乳、濃縮乳、乳糖、加糖れん乳、乳たんぱく、調製粉乳 | 乳化剤 (emulsifier), 乳酸 (lactic acid) and 乳酸菌 (lactic acid bacteria) contain the character for milk but are NOT milk. Conversely, coconut milk and cocoa butter contain no milk despite their names. | Mandatory |
| 落花生 | らっかせい | rakkasei | Peanut | ピーナッツ | ピーナッツバター、ピーナッツクリーム | 落花生 and ピーナッツ are the same item — labels may use either. | Mandatory |
Recommended — 特定原材料に準ずるもの (20 items)
Labeling is recommended by Consumer Affairs Agency notice but voluntary — these may be present yet unlabeled.
| Label name | Reading | Romaji | English | Equivalent notations (代替表記) | Extended notations, examples (拡大表記) | Watch out for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| アーモンド | — | āmondo | Almond | — | アーモンドオイル | Added to the recommended list in September 2019. | Recommended |
| あわび | — | awabi | Abalone | アワビ | 煮あわび | Recommended | |
| いか | — | ika | Squid | イカ | いかフライ、イカ墨 | Recommended | |
| いくら | — | ikura | Salmon roe | イクラ、すじこ、スジコ | いくら醤油漬け、塩すじこ | すじこ (sujiko, salted whole roe sac) counts as the same item. | Recommended |
| オレンジ | — | orenji | Orange | — | オレンジソース、オレンジジュース | Recommended | |
| キウイフルーツ | — | kiui furūtsu | Kiwifruit | キウイ、キウィー、キーウィー、キーウィ、キウィ | キウイジャム、キウイソース、キーウィジャム、キーウィーソース | Watch for the many katakana spelling variants. | Recommended |
| 牛肉 | ぎゅうにく | gyūniku | Beef | 牛、ビーフ、ぎゅうにく、ぎゅう肉、牛にく | 牛すじ、牛脂、ビーフコロッケ | Recommended | |
| ごま | — | goma | Sesame | ゴマ、胡麻 | ごま油、練りごま、すりゴマ、切り胡麻、ゴマペースト | Recommended | |
| さけ | — | sake (sāmon) | Salmon | 鮭、サケ、サーモン、しゃけ、シャケ | 鮭フレーク、スモークサーモン、紅しゃけ、焼鮭 | "マス" (masu, trout) is NOT an accepted equivalent — products like カラフトマス must declare salmon separately, e.g. "カラフトマス（さけを含む）". | Recommended |
| さば | — | saba | Mackerel | 鯖、サバ | さば節、さば寿司 | Recommended | |
| 大豆 | だいず | daizu | Soybean | だいず、ダイズ | 大豆煮、大豆たんぱく、大豆油、脱脂大豆 | 枝豆 (edamame), もやし (bean sprouts) and 黒豆 (black soybeans) do NOT count as equivalent notations — they must carry a separate soy declaration. | Recommended |
| 鶏肉 | とりにく | toriniku | Chicken | とりにく、とり肉、鳥肉、鶏、鳥、とり、チキン | 焼き鳥、ローストチキン、鶏レバー、チキンブイヨン、チキンスープ、鶏ガラスープ | Hides in stocks: チキンブイヨン (bouillon), 鶏ガラスープ (chicken-bone broth). | Recommended |
| バナナ | — | banana | Banana | ばなな | バナナジュース | Recommended | |
| ピスタチオ | — | pisutachio | Pistachio | ピスタチオナッツ | — | Added 2026-04-01, reflecting its close cross-reactivity with cashew. Being on the voluntary list, it may be absent from labels. | Recommended |
| 豚肉 | ぶたにく | butaniku | Pork | ぶたにく、豚にく、ぶた肉、豚、ポーク | ポークウインナー、豚生姜焼、豚ミンチ | Recommended | |
| マカダミアナッツ | — | makadamia nattsu | Macadamia nut | マカデミアナッツ | — | Added March 2024. Note the spelling variant マカデミアナッツ (makademia). | Recommended |
| もも | — | momo | Peach | モモ、桃、ピーチ | もも果汁、黄桃、白桃、ピーチペースト | 黄桃 (yellow peach) and 白桃 (white peach) also count. | Recommended |
| やまいも | — | yamaimo | Yam (Japanese yam) | 山芋、ヤマイモ、山いも | 千切りやまいも | Recommended | |
| りんご | — | ringo | Apple | リンゴ、アップル | アップルパイ、リンゴ酢、焼きりんご、りんご飴 | Recommended | |
| ゼラチン | — | zerachin | Gelatin | — | 板ゼラチン、粉ゼラチン | Recommended |
Equivalent notations (代替表記) are limited by regulation to exactly the forms shown. Extended notations (拡大表記) are official examples — other forms exist.
What the labeling duty covers
- It covers pre-packaged processed foods and additives (plus some fresh foods using allergen-derived additives).
- It does NOT cover unpackaged food (bulk/weighed sale), restaurant and delivery food, or alcoholic beverages.
- Small packages (labeling area ≤ 30 cm²) may NOT omit allergen labeling.
Recent changes to the list
- 2026-04-01
- Cashew moved to the mandatory list; pistachio added to the recommended list. Transition period runs until 2028-03-31.
- 2024-03-28
- Macadamia nut added to the recommended list; matsutake mushroom removed.
- 2023-03-09
- Walnut moved to the mandatory list.
- 2019-09-19
- Almond added to the recommended list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 特定原材料 and 特定原材料に準ずるもの?
特定原材料 (tokutei genzairyō) are the 9 allergens whose labeling is required by law: shrimp, cashew, crab, walnut, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, and peanut. 特定原材料に準ずるもの are 20 further allergens whose labeling is only recommended by government notice — declaring them is voluntary, so they can be present yet absent from the label.
Which allergens must be labeled by law in Japan?
Nine: shrimp (えび), cashew (カシューナッツ), crab (かに), walnut (くるみ), wheat (小麦), buckwheat (そば), egg (卵), milk (乳), and peanut (落花生). The duty applies to pre-packaged processed foods; restaurant food and bulk sales are exempt.
When did cashew labeling become mandatory?
On 2026-04-01 cashew moved to the mandatory list (and pistachio joined the recommended list). A transition period runs until 2028-03-31, during which old-rule labels without a cashew declaration remain legal — so packages on shelves today may not show it.
Does 乳化剤 (emulsifier) mean the product contains milk?
No. 乳化剤 (emulsifier), 乳酸 (lactic acid) and 乳酸菌 (lactic acid bacteria) contain the kanji for milk but are not milk. Conversely, coconut milk and cocoa butter contain no milk despite their names. The accepted equivalent notations for milk are limited to ミルク, バター, バターオイル, チーズ and アイスクリーム.
Can the 20 recommended allergens be missing from a label?
Yes. Labeling of the recommended 20 (almond, abalone, squid, salmon roe, orange, kiwifruit, beef, sesame, salmon, mackerel, soybean, chicken, banana, pistachio, pork, macadamia, peach, yam, apple, gelatin) is voluntary. Absence from the label does not guarantee absence from the food — with a severe allergy, confirm with the manufacturer.
Source
The item lists and all notations on this page are transcribed from the following primary source.
MoguMogu helps you read Japanese food labels. This page is a reference to the statutory list. App Store · Android is in closed testing