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Key Italian Food Allergy Phrases
It can be scary going to a country where you don’t speak the language if you have a severe allergy. I have an allergy to bees (api) and wasps (vespe). It is pretty easy for me to avoid areas where bees and wasps hang out and I always make sure I carry my EpiPen and a few Benadryl with me. So far, I have not had a problem getting my EpiPen through airport security.
Food allergies can be tricky because different ingredients are commonly used in different countries such as hazelnuts and almonds in Italy. You need to be particularly careful because your waiter may not know exactly what is in the meal you are ordering.
I always suggest writing your allergy on an index card in both English and Italian; make several copies in case you lose one. Be sure to have a native speaker verify that you have written everything correctly. And don’t forget your EpiPen and Benadryl when you travel.
Here are some common food allergies and their Italian translations.
I am allergic to peanuts:
Sono allergico ai noccioline americane
I am allergic to hazelnuts:
Sono allergico ai nocciole
I am allergic to almonds:
Sono allergico ai mandorle
I am allergic to nuts:
Sono allergico ai noci
Hazelnuts and almonds commonly use in Italian cooking in everything from pasta to coffee so you will need to be particularly careful with these allergies.
I am allergic to seafood:
Sono allergico ai frutti di mare (generic)
I am allergic to shrimp:
Sono allergico ai gamberetti
I am allergic to prawns:
Sono allergico ai gamberi
I am allergic to clams:
Sono allergico ai vongole
I am allergic to mussels:
Sono allergico ai cozze
And if it happens that you need help….most doctors, hospital medical personnel and pharmacists have some knowledge of the English language.
When in doubt order a pizza margherita or pasta with plain tomato sauce. You can’t go wrong there unless you have an allergy to wheat in which case you may need to try a different country, one that does not consider pasta to be one of the main food groups.
Posted by Jackie on April 26, 2008
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