Food Allergies in Europe
Traveling to Europe with a passenger who has a peanut allergy. I understand peanuts are not as prevalent in Europe as the US, but I was wondering if anyone has had experience dealing with this or other serious food allergies.
In the US, there are strict requirements on food labeling that include key allergens. I recall some of the best food in Europe were from fresh bakeries that had little more than a bag around the bread; certainly no labels.
Do these shops (and restaurants, for that matter) have good allergen understanding (particularly for those who are not native speakers)? I would say it's a mixed bag here in the US, but improving.
Best Answer
You need to be forward with the allergy, don't be shy and ASK.
Have an "allergy translation card" (*) with you and/or with the person with the allergy.
You need to have it with translation in the different languages that you will come into contact with in Europe.
(*) google for that
Pictures about "Food Allergies in Europe"
Are food allergies common in Europe?
Allergy to most foods, except soy and peanut, appeared to be more common in Northern Europe. In summary, the lifetime self-reported prevalence of allergy to common foods in Europe ranged from 0.1 to 6.0%.What nationality has the most allergies?
Practice Fusion's Research Division found that Caucasians, who have the highest rate of allergies in our data, are about 3 times more likely to have allergies than Asians, who have the lowest rate.What is the most common allergy in Europe?
Mustard- This allergen is prominent in Europe (Specifically Spain and France) and Canada. The most common form of mustard is in a jar but it is also commonly used as a mustard powder or mustard seed.What countries have the most food allergies?
Along with the U.S., Germany, Italy and Norway had the highest prevalence of food sensitivity -- with about 22 percent of people from each country showing antibodies against some type of food. The lowest rates were seen in Iceland (11 percent), Spain (11 percent), France and the UK (each around 14 percent).People with food allergies [What Europe does for you]
More answers regarding food Allergies in Europe
Answer 2
When you look at ingredients, the ones which were classified as allergens are now bolded.
This includes some americanisms like milk listing as ingredients 100% milk (bolded) with a note that this contains milk :)
Answer 3
A friend of mine who has a long list of allergies and intolerances makes her own translation list for each country where she is going.
With a diverse list like Pork and Chicken (but no other meats) Apricots, several nuts but not all, some spices, apples and milk in all its shapes, she will have to talk with the staff in restaurants wherever she eats.
She even has a list of foods which she can safely eat, so the staff in the restaurants can suggest from that list, also translated into the language of the country she is going at that time.
But as a food and travel lover she still travels and eats out wherever she goes. It is a bit of googling (or finding a native of the needed language) before traveling, but it works for her.
With only one item, you can make your own list in all languages as well as a picture version, like a picture of a peanut with a big cross over it. Or in a road sign. I found several when googling 'no peanut' in images. But I did not find one I think I may copy here on the site.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Luciann Photography, Rachel Claire, Anna, Mark Neal