Eating out with a food allergy: the practical guide

Eating out at a restaurant with an allergy is possible: it just takes a little more preparation than for everyone else. Here are the habits that make the difference.

What the law requires of restaurants

Since 1 July 2015, every restaurant in France must inform its customers about the presence of the 14 regulated allergens in its dishes. The information must be in writing and available without having to ask for it: on the menu, on a sign or in a clearly indicated document (the well-known “allergen chart”).

Before you go

• Choose a restaurant that publishes its allergens. On askadèle, you can see in advance which dishes suit your profile: search for your town.
• Call outside the rush hours (mid-afternoon) to explain your allergy and ask what is possible.
• Prefer short menus and homemade cooking: it is easier to know what is on your plate.
• On askadèle, some restaurants offer “Let them know before you come”: you announce your visit and your allergies, and the restaurant confirms.

At the restaurant

• Say so as soon as you arrive, before ordering, and specify whether the allergy is severe.
• Show your allergy card: it clearly lists what you cannot eat, and askadèle offers it in more than 20 languages (see the translated allergy card).
• Ask for the allergen chart, then check with the waiter: a dish can change depending on deliveries.
• Ask questions about how the food is cooked, not only about the ingredients.

Pitfalls in the kitchen

• The shared fryer (breaded foods, fritters, fish);
• the griddle or frying pan used for other dishes;
• ready-made sauces, bases and stocks;
• toppings added at the last minute (nuts, grated cheese, croutons);
• desserts and bread, often bought in from outside.

Depending on your allergy, our guides explain where peanuts, milk and wheat or gluten are hiding.

Always be prepared

Carry your emergency treatment with you if it has been prescribed, and do not stay alone if you feel unwell. In case of a severe reaction: use the prescribed treatment and call 15 (the SAMU, the French emergency medical number) or 112.

Did you have a good experience?

Leave a review on askadèle: you help other families and you encourage the restaurant. If it is not registered yet, use “Ask this restaurant to publish its allergens”. Are you a restaurant owner? Publish your allergen menu for free.