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Peanut and shellfish allergies while traveling Germany

I am just wondering the best way to approach eating out with food allergies while in Germany and Austria. I do not know how common peanut butter or shellfish is there or how food allergies are handled.
There are six in our party and three with allergies to peanut butter and shellfish (shrimp, crab, etc)
Someone had recommended that we have premade cards written or typed with our food allergies in German and English ready to hand to waiters or employees of deli or bakeries.
Any advice? Thank you!

Posted by
4268 posts

It couldn’t hurt, you could also have the translations on your phone.
We took our daughter to Prague, vienna, budapest and Croatia with no problems. She is also allergic to peanuts.

Posted by
9222 posts

Peanuts are used in some baked goods/pastries and if you go to an Asian restaurant, peanut oil and peanuts are going to be common. Regular restaurants, it is not going to be a problem. This is not a common ingredient here.
Shellfish is also not common unless you are at a seafood restaurant. Many restaurants may have fish on the menu, but it usually salmon or farmed freshwater fish.
Take your cards, learn how to use your google translate app. You shoudn't have any problems. In most large cities, the wait staff is going to speak enough English to understand your concerns and pay attention to your allergy card. People in Germany have allergies too, so it is not an unknown problem, just that it is seldom with peanuts.

Posted by
4046 posts

I've seen a fair number of printed menus in Germany that are coded for allergic ingredients in dishes offered. Though, as you know, always good to double check!

Posted by
3008 posts

German kitchen is wideley free of these ingredients - of course you shall stay away from any Krabbenbrötchen (bread roll with crab) which is beloved at the coastline.

In Germany food allergies are widely spread, often in combination with pollen allergy. So it is not new for all people in gastro business.