January 2026 · 3 min read
Every listing on SpoonZoom goes through a direct verification process. Here is exactly how it works, and what our badges mean in practice.
SpoonZoom does not pull data from review sites, menus, or third-party sources. Every piece of dietary information on this site was provided directly by the restaurant. We reach out via Instagram or email, introduce what we are building, and ask if they would like to be listed. If they agree, we send them our survey.
Our survey asks about 19 dietary categories: gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, egg-free, shellfish-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal, tree nut-free, soy-free, fish-free, sesame-free, allium-free, sulphite-free, mustard-free, celery-free, lupin-free, low-FODMAP, and kosher. For each one we ask how far the kitchen can go, on a three-level scale from accommodating requests up to the strongest guarantee that category allows, such as a fully separate preparation area for an allergen or full certification for halal and kosher. We also ask specific practical questions, for example, whether they use a shared fryer (a key risk for gluten-free diners) or whether plant milk is available for drinks.
Every listing shows exactly one of three badges. Confirmed means the restaurant completed our full survey directly, and the dietary tags on their listing reflect what they told us. Partly confirmed means the information came from the restaurant itself, either their own menu or a reply to our outreach, but they have not yet completed the full survey, so treat those details as a starting point rather than the complete picture. Not confirmed means the listing comes from public sources only: nobody at the restaurant has confirmed anything with us yet, and no dietary claims should be assumed. We believe this distinction matters: showing unconfirmed information as if it were fact could put someone with a serious allergy at risk.
Menus change. Kitchens change. Ownership changes. We follow up with confirmed restaurants periodically to confirm their information is still accurate. If you visit a SpoonZoom-listed restaurant and notice something has changed, please let us know via the notes field on our restaurant survey form.