Japan Food Allergen Labels in 2026: 9 Mandatory + 20 Recommended Items
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Japan / Food & Kitchen / Food Safety
Japan Food Allergen Labels in 2026: 9 Mandatory + 20 Recommended Items
This one is really important because Japan's allergen list changed in 2026. If you have allergies, please use the current official list — not an old travel blog screenshot.
As of April 2026, Japan has 9 mandatory + 20 recommended allergen items.
The Consumer Affairs Agency added cashew nuts to the mandatory specified-ingredient list and pistachio to the recommended list in 2026.
The 2026 change
The current CAA handbook lists nine mandatory specified ingredients: shrimp, cashew nut, crab, walnut, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk and peanut. It also lists twenty additional recommended items.
特定原材料 under the current April 2026 handbook.
特定原材料に準ずるもの.
Cashew moved to mandatory; pistachio joined the recommended list.
If you have a food allergy, use the current manufacturer label and current CAA guidance. Do not rely only on this article or on old product photos.
The 9 mandatory items
The April 2026 CAA handbook lists: shrimp, cashew nut, crab, walnut, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk and peanut.
The 20 recommended items
The current recommended list includes almond, abalone, squid, salmon roe, orange, kiwi, beef, sesame, salmon, mackerel, soybean, chicken, banana, pistachio, pork, macadamia nut, peach, yam, apple and gelatin.
What changed in 2026?
The CAA announced that cashew nuts became a mandatory specified ingredient on April 1, 2026. Pistachio was added to the recommended group.
If allergies are relevant to you, I would always open the manufacturer's current Japanese product page before importing. Packaging transitions can make marketplace photos lag behind the rule change.
Official sources
CAA — current allergy information
Official current page
CAA — April 2026 allergen handbook
Current handbook
Bottom line
Japan's allergen system changed in 2026. For current shopping, the number to remember is 9 mandatory + 20 recommended, but the exact current label on the product remains essential.
