August 6, 2026
Why allergy notes belong in the recipe
A practical approach to recording substitutions without hiding what they change.
A substitution is not a footnote when it changes whether someone can safely eat a dish. That information should live beside the ingredient it affects, where it can be seen before cooking starts.
On this site, every recipe declares its status for dairy, gluten, and eggs. That status describes the recipe exactly as written. Alternative ingredients are documented separately because a swap can change both allergens and dietary labels.
Labels are still the source of truth
Brands reformulate and facilities differ. A recipe can identify the ingredients to check, but the package label remains the final check for allergens and cross-contact warnings.
These notes are a record of how I cook—not medical advice. When the stakes are uncertain, verify with the manufacturer or an appropriate medical professional.