Labelling food additives in German hospitality: required statements, footnotes and examples

Last updated: 12 November 2026 · Catering Cat editorial team

For non-prepacked food in Germany, certain additives must be declared with fixed statements such as “mit Farbstoff” (with colouring), “mit Konservierungsstoff” (with preservative), “mit Geschmacksverstärker” (with flavour enhancer) or “mit Phosphat”. The legal basis is the Lebensmittelzusatzstoff-Durchführungsverordnung (LMZDV). The information is given the same ways as allergen information – card, menu, notice or electronically – and on the same medium as the allergens.

Which rule applies?

In Germany, the declaration of additives in non-prepacked food is governed by the “Lebensmittelzusatzstoff-Durchführungsverordnung” (LMZDV), in force since June 2021. It covers food for consumers and for mass caterers – restaurants, canteens, bakeries and catering included. A similar list used to be in the older Zusatzstoff-Zulassungsverordnung, which many older guides still refer to.

These statements are required

The statement refers to the additives used to make the dish – including additives in bought ingredients such as sausages, sauces or baking mixes. Sulphur dioxide and sulphites are also one of the 14 major allergens and must be declared as an allergen above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l.

Additive	Required statement (German)
Colours	mit Farbstoff (with colouring)
Preservatives	mit Konservierungsstoff or konserviert (with preservative / preserved)
Antioxidants	mit Antioxidationsmittel (with antioxidant)
Nitrate or nitrite (curing agents)	mit Nitritpökelsalz, mit Nitrat or both (with nitrite curing salt / nitrate)
Flavour enhancers	mit Geschmacksverstärker (with flavour enhancer)
Olives with ferrous gluconate or lactate (E 579, E 585)	geschwärzt (blackened)
Fresh fruit and vegetables with glazing agents (e.g. E 901–905, E 914)	gewachst (waxed)
Meat products with phosphates (e.g. E 338–341, E 450–452)	mit Phosphat (with phosphate)
Sweeteners (except table-top sweeteners)	mit Süßungsmittel(n) (with sweetener(s))
Aspartame (E 951) or aspartame-acesulfame salt (E 962)	enthält eine Phenylalaninquelle (contains a source of phenylalanine)
More than 10 % added polyols (e.g. E 420, E 421, E 965)	kann bei übermäßigem Verzehr abführend wirken (excessive consumption may have a laxative effect)

How to declare them

The same way as allergens: a card at the food, the menu or drinks list, a notice or an electronic offer with a pointer.
If allergens are on the menu, additives must be there too – the information must not be split across different media.
Footnotes are common on menus (e.g. “Bratwurst ¹ ²” with “¹ with preservative, ² with phosphate”), provided they are clearly referenced.
Alternatively, all additives may be listed with their class name and specific name or E number in a notice, a written record or an electronic offer, if guests can access it directly and easily and a notice at the food or on display points to it.

Practical tips

Additives often come with bought products: sausages, ham, sauces, dressings, desserts, drinks. Check suppliers' product data sheets.
Keep additive numbers and allergen letters clearly separate and display both legends.
Update the information immediately when recipes or suppliers change.
Breaches can be fined as an administrative offence under the German Food and Feed Code (LFGB).

How Catering Cat helps

In Catering Cat you enter additives per dish yourself – they are deliberately not derived automatically, because what matters is the products actually used. Additives can be shown on the buffet card next to ingredients and allergens, so everything is on the same card.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to declare all additives?

For loose food, certain groups must be declared with fixed statements, e.g. colours, preservatives, antioxidants, flavour enhancers, sweeteners or phosphate in meat products. Alternatively, all additives can be listed with class name and specific name or E number in an easily accessible way.

Are footnotes allowed on the menu?

Yes, footnotes or endnotes are common on menus and drinks lists if they are clearly referenced. The explanation must be legible on the same menu.

Does “geschwefelt” (sulphured) have to be on the menu?

Sulphur dioxide and sulphites are one of the 14 major allergens and must be declared as an allergen above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l – e.g. for dried fruit or wine in sauces.

Does this apply to drinks?

Yes, the rules apply to food supplied loose, which includes drinks served open. Some additional labelling rules apply to drinks – when in doubt, ask the local food authority.

More about these allergens

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Catering Cat supports the management of allergen information and does not replace a legal review.