Nutrition and Allergen Information

The FDA Food Labeling Regulations are changing the way restaurants approach disclosing nutrition and allergen Information. It may seem like a hassle, but don’t think of this legislation as a burden. It’s designed to keep guests safe.

Also, improving the way you communicate this valuable information to customers is an opportunity to increase your appeal. By making this info easy to access, you can attract a growing group of health-conscious eaters, and improve the experience for all guests.

Download your complimentary copy of our guide. You’ll learn how you can improve both information accuracy and the guest experience. Plus, how the right tools can ease the burden on your staff, too.

Contents

• Introduction
• Hungry for Information
• Get the Right Information
• Develop the Right Dishes
• Give Customers the Information They Want
• When Accuracy Really Counts
• Menu Personalization
• Enhance Your Brand
• Drive Sales
• Confident Staff
• Build Trust
• Summary
• About Fourth’s Recipe & Menu Engineering Solution

Introduction

Your restaurant may already be working within allergen labeling laws, and new regulations from the FDA are changing the way restaurants approach disclosing nutritional information.

This legislation should not be seen as a burden. Improving the way you communicate nutritional and allergen information is an opportunity to increase your appeal to health-conscious diners and to enhance the experience of all guests.

Hungry for Information

Consumers are accustomed to seeing nutritional and allergen information on packaged foods and now expect the same transparency when dining out—whether on menus, websites, apps, or other digital channels.

Research shows that two-thirds of consumers want to know the nutritional information of every dish when eating out. Governments are also focused on combating obesity, with many diners actively trying to eat healthier when visiting restaurants.

This shift presents an opportunity for food service operators to attract health- conscious customers by offering healthier choices and making nutritional information easy to access.

Get the Right Information

To communicate nutritional and allergen data effectively, operators must ensure information is accurate and current. There are several ways to achieve this:

• Use laboratory analysis: Accurate but costly and time-consuming, and may not reflect last-minute substitutions.
• Ask suppliers to upload data: Suppliers can enter nutritional and allergen information directly into systems like Fourth’s Recipe & Menu Engineering solution.
• Download from reliable databases: Information can be sourced from trusted repositories such as the USDA.

Develop the Right Dishes

With accurate data in place, chefs can design menus that appeal to healthy eaters. Fourth’s Recipe & Menu Engineering solution allows nutritional and allergen data to flow directly from ingredients into recipes as they are created.

This enables the development of healthier and allergen-free menu options that remain affordable for guests and profitable for operators.

Give Customers the Information They Want

Fourth enables operators to share clear nutritional and allergen information with guests both before and during their visit. Details can be published simultaneously across websites, apps, digital displays, and POS systems.

When Accuracy Really Counts

For some guests, nutritional and allergen information is not just helpful—it is essential. Food allergies can have serious or life-threatening consequences, making complete accuracy and reliability imperative.

Menu Personalization

Fourth’s system integrates with websites and apps so guests can filter out dishes containing ingredients they wish to avoid. Variations, add-ons, and substitutions are supported, with nutritional data updating automatically based on selections.

Enhance Your Brand

Providing detailed nutritional and allergen information reassures customers and reinforces brand competence. Guests who can review menus in advance are more likely to arrive confident, relaxed, and ready to spend.

Drive Sales

Clear and reliable allergen communication builds trust. Guests with food sensitivities often influence group dining decisions, making transparency a competitive advantage.

Confident Staff

Staff benefit from instant access to accurate information, eliminating guesswork during busy shifts. Regardless of location count, every site uses the same up-to-date data source, improving consistency and guest experience.

Build Trust

One guest with a severe nut allergy explained that advance information reduces anxiety and embarrassment while reinforcing confidence in the restaurant’s competence and care.

Summary

The demand for nutritional and allergen information is permanent. Forward-thinking operators will treat transparency not as a compliance burden, but as a business opportunity to attract, reassure, and retain guests.

Fourth’s Recipe & Menu Engineering solution helps create enticing dishes, deliver critical information, and build confidence that increases guest loyalty and spend.

About Fourth’s Recipe & Menu Engineering Solution

Beyond allergen and nutrition management, the solution supports portion planning, cost control, and purchasing strategy:

• Real-time menu and supplier updates across all sites
• 1–3% margin uplift through accurate ordering and cost control
• Accurate cost calculations for dishes, menus, and cycles
• Insights into low-performing dishes through analytics
• Efficient planning of menu cycles with the right variety and pricing
• Part of the fully integrated Fourth Platform for hospitality