Planbee helps home cooks explore ingredient swaps. It is not allergen advice, medical guidance, or a substitute for reading product labels and talking with a qualified professional when allergies or intolerances are involved.
Substitutes are not allergen-safe
A swap that works in the kitchen does not mean it is safe for someone with a food allergy or sensitivity. Ratios, method notes, and flavor notes describe cooking behavior, not whether an ingredient is free of a specific allergen.
Always read labels
Manufacturers change formulas, processing lines, and advisory wording. Before you cook for anyone with dietary restrictions, check the exact product you plan to use, including blends, seasonings, and prepared foods that may contain unexpected ingredients.
Cross-contact and shared equipment
Even when a substitute ingredient looks allergen-free on its own, cross-contact can occur in home kitchens, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities. Shared utensils, fryers, cutting boards, toasters, and bulk bins are common sources of trace exposure.
Hidden allergens in common swaps
Some widely suggested substitutes can still introduce allergens or closely related proteins. Examples include:
- Nuts and seeds. Tree-nut butters, nut flours, and some seed products may not be safe for nut allergies.
- Soy. Soy milk, tofu, textured vegetable protein, and many packaged foods use soy-derived ingredients.
- Gluten. Wheat flour is obvious, but gluten can also appear in oats, sauces, thickeners, and malt flavoring.
- Dairy. Butter substitutes may still contain milk proteins, and lactose-free does not always mean dairy-free.
- Egg. Binders and leavening swaps may rely on egg whites, egg powder, or egg-containing mixes.
This list is illustrative, not complete. Your product and your guest's needs determine what is safe.
What Planbee does not provide
Planbee does not store allergy profiles, dietary restrictions, or medical histories. We do not certify foods as allergen-free and we do not provide personalized medical or nutrition advice. Use swap pages as starting points for recipe testing, not as safety guarantees.
Contact
Questions about this disclaimer or the site can be sent to info@getplanbee.app.