Allervibe
Eating with a food allergy in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Québec
France is generous with written allergen information — restaurants must display it, not just answer questions — but butter, mustard, celery and nuts run through classic cooking in ways a menu never spells out. A card in French lets you ask the chef the precise question in a kitchen where English may not reach.
What labels and restaurants will tell you
- The EU 14 allergens must be highlighted on packaged food. France additionally requires restaurants and takeaways to make allergen information available in writing without being asked (décret 2015-447).
- Belgium and Switzerland apply the same allergen list; Québec follows Canadian priority-allergen rules, which add mustard and sesame but do not regulate celery.
- "Traces éventuelles de…" warnings are voluntary and unregulated.
Where the common allergens hide
- Mustard is in vinaigrette, mayonnaise, rémoulade and many sauces — France is where mustard allergy is most common.
- Milk: butter in nearly every sauce and pastry; cream in gratins; cheese courses.
- Nuts: almond in frangipane, macarons and financiers; hazelnut in praline; walnut in salads.
- Celery in stocks, soups and charcuterie; egg in mayonnaise, quiche and most desserts.
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 French 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 French?
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 · Spanish · Italian · Portuguese · Dutch · Polish · Croatian · All languages
