Tri-State Allergen Model

Atlee uses a tri-state model for allergen tracking. This guide explains the three states, when to use each, and how they affect diners.

The Three States

Contains (Red)

Use when: The item definitely contains this allergen.

Examples:

• Cheese pizza → Contains Milk
• Pad Thai with peanuts → Contains Peanuts
• Bread basket → Contains Wheat, Gluten

What diners see:

• Red allergen badge on the item
• Item flagged when filtering for this allergen
• Clear warning before ordering

When to mark Contains:

• Ingredient is present in the recipe
• Cross-contamination is likely (shared fryer, grill)
• Supplier confirms allergen presence

Safe (Green)

Use when: The item is verified safe for diners with this allergy.

Examples:

• Grilled chicken breast → Safe for Gluten
• Fresh fruit cup → Safe for Milk, Eggs
• House salad (no croutons) → Safe for Wheat

What diners see:

• Green “safe” indicator when filtering
• Item appears in filtered results
• Confidence that it’s been verified

When to mark Safe:

• Recipe verified to not contain the allergen
• No cross-contamination risk
• You’re confident in the safety

Important: Only mark Safe if you’re certain. When in doubt, leave as Unconfirmed.

Unconfirmed (Gray)

Use when: You haven’t verified the allergen status.

Examples:

• New menu item not yet reviewed
• Imported items pending verification
• Items with unclear supplier information

What diners see:

• No badge displayed
• Item excluded from “safe” filter results
• Indication that status is unverified

When to use Unconfirmed:

• Haven’t reviewed this allergen yet
• Supplier information is unclear
• Recipe may vary or change

Visual Summary

┌─────────────┬────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┐
│ State       │ Color          │ Diner Experience            │
├─────────────┼────────────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│ Contains    │ Red badge      │ Warning displayed           │
│ Safe        │ Green badge    │ Shown as safe option        │
│ Unconfirmed │ Gray/hidden    │ Not guaranteed safe         │
└─────────────┴────────────────┴─────────────────────────────┘

How Diners Filter

When a diner selects allergens to avoid:

1. Items marked Contains for that allergen are flagged/hidden
2. Items marked Safe for that allergen are highlighted
3. Items marked Unconfirmed show a warning that status is unknown

Filter Modes

Diners can choose how to handle unconfirmed items:

Setting Allergen Status

On Individual Items

1. Navigate to Menus > Items
2. Click on an item to open the edit panel
3. Go to the Allergens tab
4. For each allergen, click to cycle through states:
   • Click once → Contains (red)
   • Click again → Safe (green)
   • Click again → Unconfirmed (gray)
5. Click Save

Bulk Updates

To update allergens on multiple items:

1. Select items using checkboxes
2. Click Bulk Actions in the toolbar
3. Choose Edit Allergens
4. Set the status for each allergen
5. Click Apply

Derived Allergens

Allergens can be “derived” from:

Ingredients

When you add ingredients to an item, Atlee suggests allergens:

Ingredient: "Parmesan cheese"
→ Suggests: Contains Milk

Combos

A combo’s allergens derive from its components:

Burger Combo contains:
- Burger (Contains: Wheat, Gluten)
- Fries (Contains: None)
- Soda (Contains: None)

→ Combo Contains: Wheat, Gluten

Variants

A variant parent’s allergens derive from all options:

Pizza (Variant Parent) options:
- Cheese Pizza (Contains: Milk, Wheat)
- Pepperoni Pizza (Contains: Milk, Wheat)
- Veggie Pizza (Contains: Milk, Wheat)

→ Pizza Contains: Milk, Wheat

When to Update

Update allergen status when:

1. Recipe changes - Ingredients added or removed
2. Supplier changes - New vendor may have different allergens
3. Cross-contamination status changes - New equipment or procedures
4. Community flag received - Diner reports incorrect information
5. Quarterly review - Regular verification schedule

Common Questions

Should I mark “Contains” for cross-contamination?

Yes. If an item is cooked in a shared fryer with allergen-containing items, mark it as Contains. Err on the side of caution.

What if an item sometimes has an allergen?

Mark it as Contains. If it’s optional, note that in the description: “May be prepared without gluten upon request.”

How do I handle “may contain traces”?

Mark as Contains. The tri-state model doesn’t have a “traces” option because it’s safer to warn diners than to risk a reaction.

Can I reset all allergens to Unconfirmed?

Yes. In Allergens > Settings, use the Reset Allergens option to clear all confirmations and start fresh.

Best Practices

1. When in doubt, mark Contains - Safety first
2. Only mark Safe when verified - Don’t guess
3. Document your sources - Keep verification records
4. Review regularly - Quarterly audits recommended
5. Train staff on meanings - Everyone should understand the model