Ban labels from saying "may contain" regarding allergens

168
signatures
closedDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsOpened 15 September 2025Closed 15 March 2026

Background

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.

Additional details

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.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.

Source: UK Government & Parliament Petitions service. Petition ID: 737338.