How to convey nut allergy
We will be traveling to a spanish speaking area and will be dining in many establishments where it would be imperitive we be able to communicate the severity of my daughter's allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. I would like to know what I would need to say to communicate this to the wait staff/chef. Specifically what I say here in a restaurant is : My daughter has a severe allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. If she eats anything with nuts in them or anything that has touched nuts or been prepared with nuts, she could die. Can you recommend anything on the menu and/or does your restaurant cook with any nuts or nut oils? Thank you!
8 Answers
-My daughter has a severe allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. If she eats anything with nuts in them or anything that has touched nuts or been prepared with nuts, she could die. Can you recommend anything on the menu and/or does your restaurant cook with any nuts or nut oils? Thank you!
-Mi hija es alérgica a los frutos secos. Si ella come algo que contenga algún ingrediente procedente de los frutos secos puede morir. ¿Puede usted comentarle/sugerirle(to suggest) al cocinero que prepare alguna comida exenta de frutos secos o de aceites de frutos secos? ¡Gracias!
You can look at this list or more information in the following page (bilingual spanish-english)
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/comunes/nut_allergy_esp.html spanish version
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/nut_allergy.html english version
Estos son algunos alimentos que hay que evitar:/Here are some to avoid
Maní/cacahuete It is the same thing
? mantequilla de maní, maníes y aceite de maní /peanut butter, peanuts and penut oil
? frutos secos mixtos, maníes confitados, maníes de copetín y caramelos de maní /mixed nuts, candied peanuts, beer nuts and peanut brittle
? frutos secos triturados en salsas /crushed nuts in sauces
? alimentos asiáticos (por ejemplo, satay y pad thai) /Asian foods (for example, satay and pad thai)
? pesto (una salsa italiana hecha con frutos secos) /pesto (an Italian sauce made with nuts)
? mazapán (una pasta elaborada con almendras molidas y azúcar) /marzipan (a paste made from ground almonds and sugar)
? barras de alimentos concentrados, barras de energía y barras para deportistas/health food bars, energy bars and sports bars
? todos los pasteles y pastelitos con ingredientes desconocidos, en particular el pastel de zanahorias o el pastel o torta de calabaza y los panecillos con frutas y frutos secos /all cakes and pastries with unknown ingredients, particularly carrot cake, pumpkin cake or pie, and fruit and nut rolls
? pastillas o cubitos de caldo y salsa inglesa/ bouillon and Worcestershire sauce
? bombones y turrones /praline and nougat
? muesli y cereales con frutas para desayunos/ muesli and fruited breakfast cereals
? platos vegetarianos preparados con frutos secos y algunas hamburguesas vegetarianas o de soja /vegetarian casseroles prepared with nuts and some veggie burgers or soy burgers
? ensaladas preparadas y aderezos para ensaladas/prepared salads and salad dressing
? mezcla para salsas elaboradas con jugo de carne asada/ gravy mixes
? golosinas con frutos secos (M&Ms, Snickers, barras Hershey con frutos secos, los chocolates Kisses de Hershey con almendras, barras con frutos secos salados, y otros) /candy with nuts (M&Ms, Snickers, Hershey bars with nuts, Hershey almond kisses, salted nut rolls, and others)
Mi hija tiene una alergia muy severa al maní/cacahuate y a todo tipo de nueces. Si ella come cualquier cosa que contiene, o ha tocado, o ha sido cocinado con aceite de maní/cacahuate o aceite de alguna nuez, ella se puede morir. Puede recomendar algo en el menú, o me puede decir si el restaurante usa maní/cacahuates o cualquier tipo de nueces, o aceites de estos productos, en la preparación o cocción de las comidas? [I would also add, "Es súmamente importante saber esto, ya que se trata de vida o muerte." Meaning, it's extremely important to know this, since it's a matter of life and death.] Gracias!
Good luck!
Yes, I was just going to say that even if the person presents a printed card, it may not work, because such allergies are not as well known in other countries, and the cook may just say to himself, "No, this dish doesn't have any peanuts in it." That is, even if they are trying to help you, they may not understand. Therefore, if it is that serious, I would recommend bringing your own food for your daughter to eat at restaurants, or only ordering things that you are fairly sure are safe. My son has nut allergies, though not as severe as some, and many parents just can't seem to remember not to bring snacks with peanuts to group events.
I have heard that the experts are at a loss to explain the sudden rise in the incidence of nut allergies, especially in the US. We are obviously doing something to make our children allergic, since these allergies were very rare when I was a child, and are now very common. But they are not common in all countries, hence my warning above.
Also, although "frutos secos" is indeed the correct way to refer to such foods, I wonder if some Spanish speakers might interpret it as dry fruit.
I also have a fatal peanut allergy, and i never knew how to say it properly in spanish! this forum was very helpful! thanks to everyone that replied (and to the poster for posting the question!) This information could potentially save my life!
quick question: is "aceite de cacahuete" acceptable for peanut oil? (THAT STUFF is particularly dangerous because so many cultures cook with it, and often times, the waiters are unaware of its presence in some dishes)
i have a severe allergy to tree nuts and peanuts as well and will be traveling to Mazatlan this summer on a mission trip. This stuff is just what i needed, thank you so much.
OMG...THANK you so much for taking the time to reply for me. You have no idea how much this helps us and potentially could save her life. Many thanks! God Bless!
Yes, important to know Thu country. Then we will be able to supply some sentences which you could print and then even SHOW to the people. A wrong pronunciation might cause mayor damage.
I also have a food allergy to wheat. I have Celiac disease. In your daughter's case I think you probably need to not only be able to say it but maybe have something printed to show to people in restaurants. Even in our own language people do not understand the severity of food allergies. Please let the people on this forum know the countries you will be visiting and what exactly you want to say and someone will translate it.
