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Phrases to ask about ingredients and allergies

Culinary Adventures: How to Order Food & Drinks in Japanese Restaurants: Phrases to ask about ingredients and allergies
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Here are useful phrases to ask about ingredients and allergies when ordering food or dining out:

  • General questions about ingredients:
    • “What ingredients are used in this dish?”
    • “Does this dish contain any [ingredient]?”
    • “Can you tell me if there are eggs/nuts/dairy/gluten in this?”
    • “Is this meal safe for someone with a [specific allergy]?”
  • Allergy-specific polite questions:
    • “I’m allergic to [ingredient]. Can you check if there’s any in this?”
    • “Could you please tell me if this contains [ingredient]?”
    • “Does this contain any traces of [allergen]?”
    • “Can I have this without [ingredient]?”
    • “So, just to check, this has no [allergen], right?”
    • “Could you double check this is free from [allergen]?”
  • Expressing the importance of allergies:
    • “My [family member] has an allergy to [ingredient] and cannot come in contact with it, even traces.”
  • Showing gratitude:
    • “Thank you so much for checking.”
    • “I really appreciate your help.”

Politeness and clarity are very important when asking about allergens. Starting questions with “Could you please” or “Would you mind” shows respect and consideration, and specifying the allergen clearly helps avoid misunderstandings. 1, 2, 6

In German, for example, one might say: “Ist in diesem Gericht Soja?” (Is there soy in this dish?) when asking about a specific allergen. 8

These phrases ensure a polite, clear, and safe conversation about food ingredients and allergies in restaurants or food services.

References

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