The MenuWise guide to eating out with food allergies
FDA Big 9, allergen disclosure laws, dining out with severe allergies, and travel rules.
Eating out with severe food allergies is part planning, part communication, part trust in the kitchen. This guide gathers what we have published on the medical context (FDA Big 9, anaphylaxis, epinephrine), the practical context (cross-contamination, language to use with servers), and the international context (allergy cards, EU labelling rules).
Start here
The basics of dining out safely with food allergies, including which questions actually get useful answers from restaurant staff.
Traveling with allergies
Allergy cards, translation pitfalls, the cuisines that tend to be safer, and what to put in your travel pack.
Key terms
Definitions that come up across this topic. Each links to the full glossary entry with examples and related posts.
Frequently asked
- What are the FDA Big 9 allergens?
- Milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Sesame was added in 2023; before that, the list was called the Big 8. US packaged-food labels must declare these allergens.
- Do US restaurants have to disclose allergens on the menu?
- It depends on the state. Some states require allergen statements; many do not. The FDA rule directly governs packaged food labels, not restaurant menu disclosure. Always ask the kitchen for specifics on a dish that involves your allergen.
- How does MenuWise help with allergies specifically?
- MenuWise applies hard-elimination scoring to each FDA Big 9 allergen you select. Dishes containing the allergen are removed entirely, not flagged for you to override. This avoids the most common mistake apps with soft warnings cause: a hungry diner clicking through the warning anyway.
MenuWise screens every dish for you.
iPhone, iOS 17+. Yearly plan includes a free trial.