Allergen information
Allergens and our coffee
Coffee isn't one of the 14 allergens listed in UK law. Here's what that means, and how we keep the risk of cross-contact as low as we can at our roastery.
Are there allergens in coffee?
Coffee is not on the UK government's list of allergenic ingredients. The 14 allergens that must be declared are:
- Cereals containing gluten, such as wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt
- Crustaceans, such as crabs, lobsters, shrimps and prawns
- Eggs
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Soya
- Milk
- Nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamias
- Celery
- Mustard
- Sesame seeds
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites, above 10mg per kg or litre
- Lupin
- Molluscs, such as mussels, oysters, squid and octopus
This covers not only the ingredients used in a product, but anything still present in the final product, even in an altered form.
What's in our coffee
100% arabica
We use 100% arabica coffee, and it's listed on every bag.
Caffeine
Caffeine isn't a listed allergen, but unless it's decaf, our coffee isn't intended for people who are sensitive to caffeine. Coffee is generally not recommended for infants or young children.
Our other products
Flavoured products, hot chocolate and syrups may contain milk, soya or nuts. Always check the individual product page for full allergen information.
How we minimise the risk
We can't guarantee that our coffee never comes into contact with allergens, but we do everything we can to minimise the risk.
- We're an accredited member of SALSA, so we follow its standards for food safety and traceability.
- No staff or visitors may eat or drink anything other than water in our production areas.
Frequently asked questions
Is coffee an allergen?
Coffee is not on the UK government's list of allergenic ingredients.
What allergens must be declared in the UK?
The 14 UK-regulated allergens are cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soya, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide and sulphites, lupin and molluscs.
Does Modern Standard Coffee contain any allergens?
All our coffee is 100% arabica. Caffeine is present unless a product is decaffeinated — it isn't a listed allergen, but our coffee isn't intended for anyone sensitive to caffeine unless it's decaf. Some other products may contain milk, soya or nuts.
Can you guarantee your coffee never comes into contact with allergens?
We can't guarantee that, but we do everything we can to minimise the risk. We're SALSA-accredited and only water is permitted in our production areas.
Is coffee suitable for children?
Coffee is generally not recommended for infants or young children.
Questions about allergens?
Get in touch and we'll help. For general guidance on allergens, the Food Standards Agency is a good place to start.