The score
How the Allergy Confidence Score works
Every score is for one food at one place, from 0 to 100. It adds up three parts, and it only appears when something on file actually mentions that food. Otherwise it says Unknown.
The three parts
Menu — up to 40 points
How often the food you avoid, or a common hidden source of it, turns up on the menu we have on file. Rarely is near the top of the range; often is near the bottom.
Visitor notes — up to 40 points
What people with the same food allergy said after eating there: did staff understand, was the kitchen checked, was there an allergen menu, was there a reaction, would they go back.
Kitchen checks — up to 20 points
Whether an allergen matrix, staff training record or separate prep area is on file. With nothing on file, this part is zero.
What the number means
- High — 80 to 100.
- Mixed — 50 to 79.
- Low — 0 to 49.
- Unknown — nothing on file mentions that food, so there is no score.
If you are eating with other people, SafePlate scores each food in your party and shows the lowest one. One risky food is enough to pull the whole place down.
Places without a menu on file
Most places come from OpenStreetMap, and we do not have their menu. For those, the score is a cautious estimate from the map listing. The card always says which clue it used, and that clue is not a check of the kitchen.
| Map tag says only food free from it | Menu 40, visitor notes 8, checks 12 — a score of 60 (Mixed) |
|---|---|
| Map tag says food without it is offered | Menu 28, visitor notes 8, checks 4 — a score of 40 (Low) |
| Map tag says choices without it are limited | Menu 16, visitor notes 8, checks 0 — a score of 24 (Low) |
| Map tag says no food without it | Menu 6, visitor notes 4, checks 0 — a score of 10 (Low) |
| The cuisine often uses it (for example peanuts in Thai food) | Menu 12, visitor notes 8, checks 0 — a score of 20 (Low) |
A cuisine pattern is about that style of food in general, not this particular kitchen. A Low score from a cuisine clue means “ask carefully”, not “this restaurant is unsafe”.
How your own reviews move it
When you leave a review for a food, it adjusts the visitor-notes part of that food’s score, which always stays between 0 and 40. Reviews are saved on your device.
| Staff understood | +4 yes, +1 partly, −8 no |
|---|---|
| Kitchen was checked | +4 yes, −4 no |
| There was an allergen menu | +3 yes |
| Reaction | +3 none, −12 mild, −24 severe |
| Would go back | +4 yes, −1 maybe, −6 no |
Food hygiene ratings are different
In the UK, a place without an allergy score may show its Food Standards Agency hygiene rating instead. That rating is about cleanliness. It is not an allergy score.
Questions people ask
What does the Allergy Confidence Score mean?
It is a number from 0 to 100 for one food at one place, made of three parts: the menu (up to 40), visitor notes (up to 40) and kitchen checks (up to 20). 80 or more shows as High, 50 to 79 as Mixed, and under 50 as Low.
Why do so many places say Unknown?
SafePlate only shows a score when something on file mentions that food. If there is no menu, visitor note or map tag about it, the score stays Unknown rather than guessing.
Is a High score a promise that a meal is safe?
No. It is guidance only and not medical advice. SafePlate does not call any kitchen allergen-free. Always tell staff about your allergy and confirm with the kitchen before you order.
Search for a place. This is not medical advice. Always tell the venue and confirm with the kitchen.