An allergy chef card is a small printed card that lists the foods you must avoid, written so a server can pass it straight to the kitchen. To make one, list each allergen in plain words, add the forms it hides in, state how serious the reaction is and ask the kitchen to prevent cross-contact. Then hand it over every time you order, alongside a spoken conversation rather than instead of one.
The card does one job well: it stops your message being shortened or misheard on its way from the table to the person cooking.
Key takeaways
- Keep the card short: allergens, hidden forms, severity and one clear request.
- Use plain food words that a busy cook will recognise at a glance.
- Hand it over before ordering and ask for it to go to the kitchen.
- Translated cards help abroad, but have a fluent speaker check the wording.
- A card supports the conversation with staff; it does not replace it.
Why an allergy chef card helps
Orders pass through several hands. You tell a server, the server types or writes a ticket, the ticket reaches the pass, and someone at a station reads it while doing three other things. Each step is a chance for “severe sesame allergy” to become “no sesame seeds on top”.
The US charity FARE describes its food allergy chef cards as cards that outline the foods you must avoid, for handing to a chef or manager. Paediatric allergy guidance from NHS Scotland’s CYANS network on eating out makes a related point: ask the server to note your allergy on a separate slip that looks different from ordinary orders, and talk to a manager or the chef where you can. A card does exactly that in a form you control.
How to make an allergy chef card, step by step
- List every allergen you must avoid. Use the everyday name first: “peanuts”, “milk”, “sesame”. If you avoid a group, name it plainly, such as “all tree nuts, including almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts and pistachios”.
- Add the hidden forms. Write the ingredients a cook might not connect with your allergen: butter, cream and cheese for milk; tahini for sesame; nut oils, pesto and praline for tree nuts. Our comparison of major food allergens in the UK, EU and US is a useful checklist of the groups to think about.
- State the severity simply. “I have a severe allergy. Even a small amount can make me seriously ill.” Avoid medical jargon the reader may not know.
- Ask for cross-contact control. “Please use clean pans, utensils and surfaces, and do not use shared fryer oil.”
- Add a thank-you line. A polite close reminds the reader that a person is relying on them.
- Keep it to one side of a card. Use a large, clear font with the allergens at the top in bold.
- Print several copies. Some get kept in the kitchen. Keep one in your wallet, one in your bag and a photo on your phone.
A template from a national allergy charity is a good starting point, and you can then adapt the wording to your own allergens. If a clinician has given you specific instructions, such as avoiding “may contain” foods, make sure the card reflects them.
What to write: a sample layout
The table below shows a layout that works for most single or multiple allergies. Replace the examples with your own.
| Section | Example wording |
|---|---|
| Heading | Food allergy: please read and show the chef |
| Allergens | I am allergic to PEANUTS and SESAME |
| Hidden forms | This includes peanut oil, groundnut oil, satay sauce, tahini, sesame oil and seeds |
| Severity | A very small amount can cause a serious reaction |
| Kitchen request | Please use clean equipment and do not use shared fryer oil |
| Close | Thank you for helping me eat safely |
How to use the card at the table
Timing matters. Hand the card over when you first sit down, before anyone orders, so the server can check with the kitchen before you choose. Say the key line out loud as well: “I have a severe peanut and sesame allergy, here are the details for the chef.”
Then ask for the card to go to the kitchen, not just to be read at the table. When your food arrives, confirm it is the allergy order before you start. The CYANS guidance suggests asking for your meal to be brought separately and checking that a dish is safe before eating it. It also warns against assuming a dish that was safe last time is still safe, because recipes and chefs change.
UK guidance from the Food Standards Agency, published as food allergy and intolerance advice for consumers, says restaurants and cafés must provide allergen information, either on the menu or by prompting you to ask staff, but they are not required to offer you an alternative meal. The same guidance advises that if you have any doubt about the staff understanding your needs, you should not eat there. A card makes the conversation easier; it does not oblige a kitchen to cook for you.
For a fuller script on the spoken side of this, see our guide on how to tell staff about a food allergy at a restaurant.
Using translated cards abroad
A translated card can be invaluable where you do not speak the language. FARE offers its chef cards in several languages, but notes that slight differences may exist because of the nuances of translation and regional dialects. Before you rely on one:
- Ask a fluent speaker, ideally from the region you are visiting, to read it back to you in English.
- Keep the English and translated versions in the same order so you can point to each line.
- Check local names for your allergens, since the same food can go by different words in different regions.
Planning the rest of a trip with allergies is covered in more depth in our allergy section.
Frequently asked questions
Does a restaurant have to accept my chef card?
There is no rule that a kitchen must follow a customer’s card. In the UK, businesses must give accurate allergen information, but they do not have to make you a different dish. If staff seem unsure, it is safer to eat elsewhere.
Should I list intolerances on the same card?
You can, but separate them clearly from allergies so the kitchen knows which items are serious. Mixing the two can make every item look equally urgent or equally minor.
Is a phone screen as good as a printed card?
A printed card can be left with the kitchen, which a phone cannot. Keep a photo on your phone as a back-up and use it to show the wording if you forget the card.
Make yours before you need it
Write your card at home, when you have time to think about hidden forms and wording, and ask your allergy clinic or GP to look it over if you are unsure. Print a few copies, keep your prescribed medicines with you as advised, and use the card every time, even at places you know well.
