Is a Contains statement always required by FDA?

FDA allergen source names must be disclosed either in the ingredient list or in a Contains statement. Many operators still use a Contains line because it is easier to review and buyers often expect it.

Does the tool list each tree nut by species?

Yes. The output uses species-level prompts such as almond, cashew, pecan, or walnut instead of a generic tree nuts statement.

How does the may-contain prompt work?

The widget compares entered exposure data to VITAL 4.0 ED05 reference doses where available. Shared line or at/above-threshold facts generate a may-contain statement. Shared equipment or shared facility facts generate a validation prompt.

Is the output final legal label advice?

No. The calculator is a label-prep aid. Final review remains the operator's responsibility and may require QA, supplier documentation, lab testing, regulatory review, or legal counsel.

Tools/Allergen statement calculator

Build an allergen statement before labels go to print.

Enter ingredients, choose allergen sources, and mark shared-equipment facts. The output separates the US Contains line, Canadian bilingual Contains/Contient line, may-contain prompt, and review notes so the label file has a clean QA trail.

Big 9

FDA major allergen prompts

EN/FR

Canadian bilingual output

ED05

VITAL 4.0 may-contain check

1. Label market

Pick where this label sells.

Serving size

grams

Sold in QuebecAdds a French-prominence review note for Bill 96 artwork checks.Optional free-from claim check

2. Ingredients

Choose the allergen sources.

Ingredient 1Preset

Preset note: Flour, enriched flour, bread flour, cake flour, semolina.

Ingredient 2Preset

Preset note: Butter, cream, ghee unless the supplier has a specific exemption.

Ingredient 3Preset

Preset note: Whole egg, egg yolk, dried egg, egg wash.

3. Shared equipment and may-contain

Mark only plausible cross-contact.

This is intentionally not a blanket may-contain generator. Shared-line or at/above-ED05 facts generate a precautionary statement. Shared facility and shared equipment generate a review prompt unless you add threshold data.

Goat milk

ED05 2 mg

Sheep milk

ED05 2 mg

Duck / quail / goose egg

ED05 2 mg

Fish species

ED05 5 mg

Crustacean shellfish

ED05 200 mg

Molluscs

ED05 20 mg

Almond

ED05 1 mg

Brazil nut

ED05 1 mg

Cashew

ED05 1 mg

Hazelnut / filbert

ED05 3 mg

Macadamia

ED05 1 mg

Pecan

ED05 1 mg

Pine nut

ED05 not in widget

Pistachio

ED05 1 mg

Walnut

ED05 1 mg

Heartnut

ED05 not in widget

Sheanut

ED05 not in widget

Peanut

ED05 2 mg

Triticale

ED05 5 mg

Soybeans / soy

ED05 10 mg

Sesame

ED05 2 mg

Mustard

ED05 1 mg

Added sulphites >=10 ppm

ED05 not in widget

Ingredient allergens are removed from this list so the cross-contact prompts stay focused on unintended allergen presence.

Output preview

Paste-ready statements.

US / FDA

Contains: wheat, milk, egg.

Canada / CFIA bilingual

Contains: wheat, milk, egg.

Contient : blé, lait, œuf.

May-contain / shared equipment

May contain: No priority allergen source selected.

Peut contenir : No priority allergen source selected.

May-contain logic

No precautionary allergen statement was generated from the selected cross-contact facts.

Label review notes

Check: Confirm wheat or triticale if the supplier specification uses a blend.
Check: Milk-derived ingredients such as butter, whey, casein, and cream trigger milk.
Check: Egg wash used only on top still counts as an ingredient allergen.
Check: Canada also treats gluten sources as declaration triggers.
Check: Includes whey, casein, butter, cream, cheese, and lactose carriers unless a valid exemption applies.
Check: Includes albumen, yolk, dried egg, and egg wash.
Check: US output is based on FDA major-allergen source names. Replace generic fish or shellfish prompts with species before printing.
Check: Canadian output uses prescribed source-name prompts and includes Canada-only triggers such as mustard, molluscs, triticale, and sulphites.
Check: Quebec sale selected: French must be no less visible, legible, or permanent than English on final consumer-facing artwork.

Disclaimer: this calculator is a label-prep aid, not legal advice. Final label review, supplier verification, artwork approval, and any regulator or legal sign-off remain the operator's responsibility.

Big 9 prompts

Cow milk / dairy, Chicken egg, Fish species, Crustacean shellfish, Almond, Brazil nut, Cashew, Hazelnut / filbert and Macadamia

Canada adds

mustard, molluscs, triticale/gluten prompts, and added sulphites at 10 ppm or more

May-contain rule

shared line or at/above ED05 recommends; shared equipment/facility prompts validation

Need this saved?

Free gets the statement. Plan Keeper keeps the recipe and label history.

The public calculator is for quick label prep, printing, and copy/paste review. Saved ingredient specs, versioned labels, supplier evidence, cross-contact logs, and repeat reviews belong in Plan Keeper when the label keeps changing. Pro raises limits for larger label libraries; Enterprise is custom.

Save in Plan Keeper ->Read bakery allergen workflow

Rules checked

The page copy was checked against FDA FALCPA, FDA's January 2025 final Edition 5 allergen guidance, CFIA ingredient/allergen guidance, and the VITAL 4.0 update on June 5, 2026.

Data shape

The widget uses 17 Big 9 source prompts, Canadian priority prompts, and 17 ingredient presets. It does not call an AI service.

Output limit

This is a deterministic label-prep screen, not a legal sign-off. Keep supplier specs, sanitation proof, and any threshold data with the label review file.

How it works

The calculator keeps the decisions separated.

Ingredient allergens

Direct ingredients drive the Contains and Contient statements.

Cross-contact facts

Shared line, shared equipment, and ED05 data drive the may-contain prompt.

Review notes

Species naming, Quebec prominence, refined oil, and supplier-proof reminders stay visible.

Source links used for the rule prompts.

FDA FALCPA FDA Edition 5 notice CFIA ingredients and allergens Allergen Bureau VITAL 4.0