Allervibe
Eating with a food allergy in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
German-speaking countries are among the most allergy-literate in Europe — menus in Austria carry letter codes for the 14 allergens, and German restaurants must keep written allergen records. A card in German still helps: it saves the conversation in a busy Gasthaus and covers Switzerland, which follows its own, similar law.
What labels and restaurants will tell you
- Germany and Austria apply the EU 14-allergen rules; Austrian menus typically use letter codes A–R (A gluten, C egg, G milk, H nuts…) with a legend on the menu or wall.
- German restaurants and bakeries must be able to give allergen information in writing or by trained staff (LMIDV). Ask for the "Allergenkennzeichnung".
- Switzerland is not in the EU but its food law lists the same allergens and requires restaurants to give allergen information on request.
Where the common allergens hide
- Celery is in most soups, stocks and sausages — "Sellerie" is one of the most frequently declared allergens in German food.
- Nuts and marzipan in Christmas and coffee-house baking; hazelnut in spreads and pastries.
- Milk: butter, cream and cheese in sauces, Spätzle and Knödel; Quark in pastries.
- Mustard and sulphites (wine, sauerkraut) are common and declared.
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 German 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 German?
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 · French · Spanish · Italian · Portuguese · Dutch · Polish · Croatian · All languages
