Allergies in Austria

It might help to have a little more information. How many cities are you staying in and what are they? Have you traveled to Europe before and, if so , how did you deal with the allergies on that trip?

Our schedule is open at this point. Would like to stay in Vienna, Salzburg and the rest is in flux. We appreciate smaller towns. Our travels internationally since 2000 amount to more than a year, most of it in Europe. I didnt have most of these allergies back then. I use a card translated into the local language that I hand to waiters, but that doesn't always work. Sometimes they think the MSG allergy is the same as a gluten allergy, so because they can provide gluten free food, they say...'oh no problem. MSG sends me to the hospital, gluten doesn't.

So Ive found that places that are "allergy-friendly" or knowledgeable are best when I can't do self-catering. We enjoy good food and appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks for the information. So the basics for me are that I too travel with a card but find that it's not often helpful. My number one helpful thing is to generally stay at apartments so I can cook my own food. Are you considering apartment stays at all? Second, I take a Zyrtec every day while I travel as it gives me a little food allergy protection. I have my Benadryl and I have my Epipen. I assume you already carry these three things with you. Third, I limit what I eat to some pretty boring but safe things. I buy a lot of my food...even take away lunches...in the grocery store so that I can read labels at my leisure. I've not done a lot of research on foods outside my specific allergy, but potatoes seems manageable. MSG is harder, I would think.

I don't really have any restaurant suggestions for you - those are random stops for me. I eat A LOT of cheese pizza when I travel but that won't work for you. I stayed at this apartment in Vienna - http://www.pension-sacher.at/en. Full kitchens and a great location right by St. Stephen's. The only other tried and true apartment I have in Austria is in Innsbruck so I'm not including it.

Thanks for your help & passing along the apt. info....great location...looks nice.

By law, all restaurants in Austria must post allergy info. I am not sure if your particular allergies are covered, but here is the chart indicating how these allergens are coded:

https://www.wko.at/Content.Node/branchen/oe/Gastronomie/Lobbying---Branchenthemen/Service_Dokument_Liste_Gesundheit_Kennzeichnungsplichten.pdf

It is in German, but with google translate you should be able to figure it out. So, for example, each restaurant will have the corresponding letter code (A, B, C, D, etc) next to menu items that include that allergen. If the main menu doesn't have this, ask for it.

Overall, most restaurants here are sensitive to food allergies and will try to assist. That said, there is never a 100% guarantee.

As for farms, I searched "allergiefrei bauernhofurlaub" which means allergy free farm vacation and came up with this:

http://www.roterhahn.it/de/urlaub-auf-dem-bauernhof-in-suedtirol/ferienwohnungen-und-zimmer/bauernhofurlaub/bauernhof-fuer-allergiker

Best of luck.

Many thanks, Emily! It's wonderful to have that chart. I think it will be very helpful.

Many European restaurants seem to have allergy keys listed on menus now. The key will be at the bottom of the menu and the corresponding letters will be listed next to each menu item.

It should be required by law to post it, but many smaller places do not post it. Anyplace with frequent non-German speaking tourist should have it posted. This is from
https://www.wko.at/Content.Node/branchen/oe/Gastronomie/Lobbying---Branchenthemen/Weiterfuehrende_Infos_Allergene.html
google translate will give you an ok approximation

Here is the symbol legend:
glutenhaltiges Getreide (Gluten) A
Krebstiere (seefood) B
Ei (egg) C
Fisch (fish) D
Erdnuss (nuts) E
Soja (soy) F
Milch oder Laktose (milk) G
Schalenfrüchte (nuts) H
Sellerie (celery) L
Senf (mustard) M
Sesam (Seame) N
Sulfite (sulfites) O
Lupinen (lupins, clover?) P
Weichtiere (muscles I think?) R

Hi,

If you are allergic to what is called here MSG, the word is "Geschmackverstärker."