Food Allergies Abroad: Communication Cards and Restaurant Tips

The EU allergen regulation is genuinely helpful for celiacs. Every restaurant in France has to tell you which dishes contain gluten. The compliance is better than I expected in Paris, though smaller towns were less reliable. Always ask even when the menu has allergen symbols.

Adding to the country-specific section: Southeast Asia is extremely challenging for shellfish allergies because shrimp paste is in everything and often not visible. Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia use it as a base ingredient. Allergy cards in Thai and Vietnamese were essential for me.

We require all students with food allergies to meet with our office before departure. The number one thing that prevents emergencies is the allergy card. Students who carry and use them have significantly fewer incidents than those who try to communicate verbally in a language they are still learning.

Japan was surprisingly manageable for dairy allergy. Traditional Japanese cuisine is almost entirely dairy-free. The challenge is Western-influenced dishes and bakeries. Konbini (convenience store) onigiri and bento are generally safe. The allergen icons on Japanese packaging are genuinely clear once you learn the seven symbols.

The Equal Eats card in Spanish saved me multiple times. One restaurant in the Gothic Quarter almost served me a dish with pine nuts in the pesto. I showed the card, the waiter checked with the kitchen, and they flagged it before it reached me. That card cost 10 dollars and is worth a thousand.

From the restaurant side: we genuinely want to help. The best thing you can do is tell us clearly, show us the card, and give us time to check. What makes it difficult is when someone mentions an allergy casually after ordering, when the kitchen has already started prep. Tell us first, not last.

Latin America is under-discussed for food allergies. Peanuts appear in mole sauces in Mexico, in some Brazilian dishes, and in Peruvian cuisine. Allergy awareness varies hugely by country. Argentina was easy. Peru and Mexico required constant vigilance and card usage at every single meal.

Soy allergy in Japan is genuinely one of the hardest combinations. Soy sauce is in almost everything. My allergy card in Japanese was critical and I used it 3-4 times per day. The university cafeteria staff were incredible once I explained it to them. They created a separate preparation area for my meals.

For anyone with gluten issues: download the Find Me Gluten Free app. It works globally and users review restaurants for gluten-free safety. Saved me dozens of times when I could not read the menu or communicate my allergy effectively.