Will restaurant staff in Paris accept a phone card?

Yes. A clear French warning on a bright screen is easier to take to the kitchen than a long English explanation.

Should I still speak French if I have the card?

If you can say you have an allergy, do. The card carries the details. Together they work better than either alone.

Can I combine this with a dairy or egg card?

Select dairy or egg in the form on this page. Those two allergens are the ones French menus hide most often.

French translation card

Free French food allergy card

A French allergy card is for butter-heavy kitchens, hidden dairy, and pastry that looks plain until you ask.

How to use this card

French restaurant cooking uses butter, cream, egg wash, and stock as default technique. “Without sauce” still often means the protein was basted. A French-language card that names the allergen and asks about preparation is more useful than an English paragraph the pass will not read.

Pastry, boulangerie, and bistro lunch specials are where people get caught. Ask whether the bread is egg-washed, whether vegetables are finished with butter, and whether the stock is fish or shellfish if those are your allergies.

Show the card at the start. In a busy service, the ticket note is the whole system. A spoken explanation in English may never reach the cook.

French-menu questions to pair with the card

Butter in everything

Vegetables, steaks, and eggs are often finished with butter. Name dairy if that is your allergy.

Stocks

Fish, veal, and shellfish stocks hide in sauces that are described only as “reduction.”

Pastry

Almond cream, egg wash, and shared bakery cases matter as much as plated desserts.

Prix fixe

Ask before you sit whether the kitchen can change a course. A card is not a substitute for that yes or no.

Questions about this card

Will restaurant staff in Paris accept a phone card?: Yes. A clear French warning on a bright screen is easier to take to the kitchen than a long English explanation.
Should I still speak French if I have the card?: If you can say you have an allergy, do. The card carries the details. Together they work better than either alone.
Can I combine this with a dairy or egg card?: Select dairy or egg in the form on this page. Those two allergens are the ones French menus hide most often.

A card helps you communicate. It does not guarantee a meal is free from an allergen. Confirm ingredients, preparation, and cross-contact with restaurant staff, and follow the emergency plan from your healthcare professional.