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How to read allergen labels on Japanese packaged food
Convenience stores and supermarkets are where travelers eat most often, and Japan’s packaged-food labeling is among the clearest in the world. Once you know five phrases, you can check a bento, rice ball or snack in seconds, even without reading the rest of the label.
Quick answer: Find the box or parentheses reading （一部に〜を含む） (“contains … in part”) near the ingredient list. The eight mandatory allergens are 卵、乳、小麦、そば、落花生、えび、かに、くるみ.
Where to find the allergen line
Look at the back or underside of the package for 原材料名 (genzairyoumei, ingredients). Allergens are shown either in parentheses after each ingredient, or in one line at the end, like （一部に小麦・卵・乳成分・大豆を含む）. Some packs use a separate small table with the allergens ticked. At a konbini, bento labels sit on the front or lid.
Mandatory vs recommended
The law requires eight items to be declared (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, walnut), and the list is updated from time to time. A second, recommended group, such as soy, sesame, salmon, mackerel and abalone, may be declared but does not have to be. The ingredient list is therefore the real backstop: scan for 大豆, ごま, 魚 and 〜エキス (extract). These rules cover packaged food. Restaurants, bakery counters and market stalls are not held to the same label format.
Shared factory notices
A voluntary line such as 同じ製造ラインで〜を含む製品を製造しています means the product shares equipment with an allergen. Wording varies by manufacturer. If you are highly sensitive, treat it as a warning and skip the product. For severe allergies, see the cards in our allergy card builder.
In a pinch, point your phone camera at the label. On-device translation can read the text offline, but compare what it says with the vocabulary below.
Allergen label phrases in Japanese
| Japanese (kana) | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| げんざいりょうめい（原材料名） | genzairyoumei | ingredients |
| アレルゲン | arerugen | allergen |
| いちぶに〜をふくむ（一部に〜を含む） | ichibu ni ~ o fukumu | contains ~ in part |
| たまご（卵） | tamago | egg |
| にゅうせいぶん（乳成分） | nyuuseibun | milk ingredients |
| こむぎ（小麦） | komugi | wheat |
| そば | soba | buckwheat |
| らっかせい（落花生） | rakkasei | peanut |
| えび・かに | ebi, kani | shrimp, crab |
| くるみ | kurumi | walnut |
| おなじせいぞうラインで（同じ製造ラインで） | onaji seizou rain de | on the same production line |
| エキス | ekisu | extract |
A card to keep with your konbini haul
When you shop for yourself, the label is your friend. When you eat out, use a card. This one is for multiple allergens, so cross out what you do not need.
私は卵・乳・小麦・そば・ピーナッツ・えび・かに・くるみにアレルギーがあります。
I have an allergy to egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanuts, shrimp, crab and walnuts. (Cross out the ones that are not yours.)
これらが入っている料理は食べられません。
I cannot eat any dish that contains these.
原材料とアレルゲンを教えてください。
Please tell me the ingredients and allergens.
少量でも命に関わります。
Even a small amount can be life-threatening.
ご協力ありがとうございます。 Thank you for your help. · japanmust.com
Printing tip: set the page to “fit to page”, or take a screenshot and show it on your phone. Delete the last line if your allergy is not severe.
Allergy safety: this is travel information, not medical advice. Restaurants often cannot guarantee an allergen-free meal, and cross-contact in kitchens is common. Carry any prescribed medication and a doctor’s letter, and check current Japanese rules for bringing medicine into the country.
Frequently asked questions
Does “乳成分” mean milk?
Yes. 乳成分 means milk-derived ingredients, such as butter, cheese or whey, and it is how milk usually appears in the allergen line.
Are konbini bento and onigiri labeled?
Yes. Packaged bento, onigiri and sandwiches carry the same allergen labeling as other packaged foods, usually on the front or lid.
Do restaurants follow the same rules?
No. The packaged-food label rules do not apply to restaurant dishes or unwrapped bakery goods, so ask staff and show a card.
What does “may contain” look like in Japanese?
It varies, but a common wording is 同じ製造ラインで〜を含む製品を製造しています, meaning the product shares a production line with the allergen.
Related guides
Read any label with your camera
Japan Interpreter translates Japanese text from your camera with no WiFi, so labels and menus are one photo away.
Japan Interpreter: offline camera and text translation for Japan. Allergen flags help, but never replace asking the restaurant.