Allergen 9 of 14 · Mu
Mustard: in the dressing, the mayo and the spice tin
Mustard hides in emulsions and blends: mayonnaise, vinaigrette, cheese sauce, piccalilli, curry powders and Indian tempering.
Checked against the official guidance on 18 September 2026
What the law covers
Annex II lists “mustard and products thereof”: seeds, powder, leaves and prepared mustard.
Where it hides in a UK kitchen
| Where | Why |
|---|---|
| Mayonnaise and salad cream | Most commercial mayonnaise contains mustard; salad cream always does. |
| Vinaigrettes and house dressings | Mustard is the usual emulsifier. |
| Cheese sauce and rarebit | Mustard powder or English mustard is classic. |
| Curry powders and tadka | Mustard seeds are fried at the start of many Indian dishes. |
| Piccalilli, honey-mustard glaze, some sausages | Mustard-based or seasoned with it. |
In the free matrix builder, typing any of these ticks mustard automatically: Salad cream, Mustard, Piccalilli. These prompt a label check instead, because it depends on the recipe or the brand: Curry powder, Mayonnaise, Tartare sauce, Marie Rose sauce, Caesar dressing, Vinaigrette, Horseradish sauce, Cheese sauce, Vegan mayo, Ploughman's lunch, Welsh rarebit, Caesar salad.
Cross-contact to think about
- Shared dressing bottles and squeeze bottles.
- Spice blends mixed in the same grinder.
Where your risk assessment finds a risk you cannot control, mark the dish “may contain” on the matrix. Don't use it as a blanket statement: when “may contain” is justified.
On a PPDS label
NOT ENOUGH
Dressing
CLEAR
Dressing (rapeseed oil, white wine vinegar, mustard, honey, salt)
Bought-in or house dressing: its ingredients go in brackets.
Make a PPDS label with allergens emphasised automatically →
Mistakes we see on matrices
- Mayo-based sauces ticked for egg but not mustard.
- House dressing changed without updating the salads.
Mustard: questions from kitchens
Is mustard cress an allergen?
Only if it is actually mustard. Many punnets sold as “salad cress” are rape seedlings; check the pack.
Official sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II — substances or products causing allergies or intolerances — legislation.gov.uk (version applying in Great Britain).
- Allergen guidance for food businesses — Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK), updated 17 July 2026.
- Food allergen labelling and information requirements: technical guidance — Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK), published 23 August 2023, revised March 2025.
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 21 — labelling of allergens — legislation.gov.uk.
All sources opened and checked on 18 September 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.