Allervibe
Eating with a food allergy in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia
Croatia is in the EU, so packaged food and restaurants follow the 14-allergen rules; neighbouring Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia have similar labelling laws for packaged food but no restaurant duty. Croatian is understood across the region, and a card in it works in a konoba where the menu is in three languages and the cook speaks one.
What labels and restaurants will tell you
- Croatia: the EU 14 allergens on packaged food, and allergen information available in restaurants (many menus mark dishes with numbers 1–14).
- Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia: allergen declaration on packaged food is required by national labelling rules aligned with the EU; restaurants generally have no obligation.
- Trace warnings ("može sadržavati tragove") are voluntary.
Where the common allergens hide
- Fish and shellfish: the coastal default — brodet, black risotto (cuttlefish), grilled squid, mussels (dagnje), anchovies.
- Milk: sir i vrhnje, cheese in burek, cream in sauces; kajmak in Bosnia and Serbia.
- Nuts: walnut in orahnjača and most sweets, almond in Dalmatian desserts, hazelnut in spreads.
- Egg and wheat: štrukli, fritule, burek pastry, breaded meats; celery in soups and stocks.
How to use the card
Hand it over before you order, not after the food arrives, and wait for the person who cooks — not just the one who takes the order — to read it. If a dish is doubtful, the safest answer is a different dish, not a modified one. For packaged food, scan the barcode with Allervibe: it reads the ingredient list in the local language and checks it against the same allergens on your card.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Croatian allergy card free?
Yes. Pick your allergens, add a name if you want one, and print. No account, no app, no email.
Who translated the card?
The allergen names and the card wording are the same translations used inside the Allervibe app, reviewed by native speakers. They use the legal allergen terms, not slang, so a cook or waiter recognises them at once.
What size is it?
Credit-card size (85.6 × 54 mm), so it fits a wallet or phone case. Print two and keep one in your passport.
Can I make one in a language other than Croatian?
Yes — the language picker on this page offers fourteen languages, and you can print a card in each.
Cards in other languages
Japanese · Thai · Vietnamese · Greek · Turkish · German · French · Spanish · Italian · Portuguese · Dutch · Polish · All languages
