Traveling abroad with a food allergy: how to prepare an allergy card for your child

Talk to your doctor before you go

This is the most important step. Once your plans are set, take your child to a follow-up appointment and go over these points with the doctor:

• Whether your child’s allergens or the severity have changed
• What to do and which medication to use if your child eats something by accident abroad
• Whether to bring an extra supply of prescribed medication as a backup
• Whether you need a diagnosis or medication letter in English

This article is only a general preparation checklist. Always follow your child’s doctor’s instructions for managing the allergy.

What to put on an allergy card

An allergy card is a small card you can hand straight to restaurant staff, stating clearly in the local language what your child can’t eat. We bring one on paper and one as a screenshot on our phones. It covers:

1. Which foods your child is allergic to (name specific ingredients, such as peanuts, shrimp, eggs)
2. How serious it is, for example: “Eating this causes a severe allergic reaction that needs emergency medical care”
3. Other things to avoid, such as food fried in the same oil, or the allergen in sauces or stock
4. A request: “Please check that this dish doesn’t use any of the ingredients above. Thank you.”

Packing medication and documents

• Keep prescribed medication in your carry-on, not in checked luggage
• Keep medicine in its original packaging with the prescription, and add the doctor’s letter in English if needed
• Check the destination’s rules on bringing medication before you go
• Save your travel insurance and overseas medical coverage details on your phone and on paper

Know how to get emergency help

When you arrive, look up the nearest hospital to where you’re staying and save the local emergency number in your phone. For example, the ambulance number is 119 in Japan and South Korea, most EU countries use 112, and Thailand’s medical emergency number is 1669. Before you leave, also note your own country’s emergency assistance line for citizens abroad (for us in Taiwan, that’s the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ emergency hotline).

Steps to follow when ordering at a restaurant

1. Once you’re seated, show the allergy card to the staff before you start ordering
2. Choose dishes with simple ingredients where you can see what’s in them
3. Sauces, broths and fried foods are where allergens hide most easily. If you’re not sure, don’t order it
4. If the staff aren’t sure, pick another dish or go somewhere else

I know switching restaurants is a letdown, but for a child with allergies, “not sure” means “can’t eat.” We agree on this rule with our kids ahead of time, and it actually makes them feel safer.

Help your child know it too

As kids get older, they can learn to recognize the card, know what they can’t eat, and ask Mom or Dad first when they’re not sure. The point isn’t to make them anxious. It’s to help them look after themselves while traveling, too.

FAQ