Dietary & Allergies

1. Soy vegetariano.

   I am vegetarian.

   Usage

   Declares vegetarianism; women say "vegetariana"

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives agree in gender; women use "vegetariana"

2. Soy vegano. No como ningún producto animal.

   I'm vegan. I don't eat any animal products.

   Usage

   Use when avoiding all animal-derived foods

   Grammar Note

   "ningún" intensifies negation: "none at all"

3. Tengo alergia a los frutos secos.

   I have a nut allergy.

   Usage

   Tree-nut allergy; peanuts (cacahuete) are separate

   Grammar Note

   "tener alergia a + noun" is the standard pattern

4. ¿Tienen menú sin gluten?

   Do you have a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   Standard question for celiac or gluten intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "Tienen" addresses the staff with formal/plural "ustedes"

5. Soy musulmán y no como cerdo.

   I'm Muslim and don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Declares Muslim observance; women say "musulmana"

   Grammar Note

   You can also say "Como halal" directly

6. Soy intolerante a la lactosa.

   I am lactose intolerant.

   Usage

   Declares lactose digestion issue

   Grammar Note

   Enzyme deficiency, not an allergy

7. Soy alérgico al marisco.

   I'm allergic to shellfish.

   Usage

   Often severe; emphasize clearly

   Grammar Note

   "al" = "a + el"; women use "alérgica"

8. ¿Qué ingredientes lleva este plato?

   What ingredients does this dish have?

   Usage

   Standard ingredient-check question

   Grammar Note

   "llevar" in cooking context means "to contain"

9. ¿Pueden prepararlo sin cebolla?

   Can you prepare it without onion?

   Usage

   Request to omit an ingredient

   Grammar Note

   Object pronoun "-lo" attached to infinitive (enclitic)

10. Tengo alergia al huevo.

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    Watch for hidden eggs in baked goods, pasta

    Grammar Note

    "al" = "a + el"; "a los huevos" also works

11. ¿Tienen información sobre alérgenos?

    Do you have allergen information?

    Usage

    EU mandates disclosure of 14 allergens

    Grammar Note

    Required by EU Regulation 1169/2011

12. Esta alergia es mortal. Por favor, tengan mucho cuidado.

    This allergy is fatal. Please be very careful.

    Usage

    Communicates anaphylaxis risk

    Grammar Note

    "tengan" is formal imperative for "ustedes"

13. ¿Lleva aceite de cacahuete?

    Does it have peanut oil?

    Usage

    Important at Asian restaurants

    Grammar Note

    In Latin America also "cacahuate" or "maní"

14. ¿Usan utensilios separados para platos sin alérgenos?

    Do you use separate utensils for allergen-free dishes?

    Usage

    Checks cross-contamination control

    Grammar Note

    "contaminación cruzada" is the technical term

15. Gracias por adaptarse a mis necesidades alimentarias.

    Thank you for accommodating my dietary needs.

    Usage

    Polite gratitude for special accommodation

    Grammar Note

    Reflexive "adaptarse" takes "a + noun"

16. Por motivos religiosos no como carne de vaca.

    For religious reasons I don't eat beef.

    Usage

    Explains religious avoidance of beef

    Grammar Note

    "carne de res" is common in Latin America

17. la carne de cerdo

    Pork

    Usage

    Point to check whether a dish contains pork; also "puerco" in Mexico and "chancho" in the Andes

18. la carne de vaca

    Beef

    Usage

    Latin America usually says "carne de res"; in Spain veal is "ternera"

19. el pollo

    Chicken

    Usage

    The same word everywhere; point at it to check what meat a dish contains

20. el pescado

    Fish (as food)

    Usage

    Fish as food is "pescado"; a live fish is a different word, "el pez"

21. el huevo

    Egg

    Usage

    Show the singular; the plural "huevos" doubles as vulgar slang in several regions

22. los lácteos

    Dairy products

    Usage

    Covers milk, cheese, and butter; also written "productos lácteos"

23. el cacahuete

    Peanut

    Usage

    The Spanish form; Latin America says "maní" and Mexico "cacahuate" — name all three if the allergy is severe

24. los frutos secos

    Tree nuts

    Usage

    Almonds, walnuts and the like; Latin America also says "las nueces". Peanuts must be named separately

25. los mariscos

    Shellfish

    Usage

    Covers shrimp, crab, and molluscs; Spain also uses the singular "el marisco"

26. el trigo

    Wheat

    Usage

    Used to check for gluten; pair it with "sin gluten" (gluten-free)

27. la soja

    Soy

    Usage

    The spelling used in Spain and the Southern Cone; Mexico, Central America and the Andes write "soya"

28. el sésamo

    Sesame

    Usage

    The Spanish form; Mexico and the Caribbean normally say "ajonjolí"

29. el alcohol

    Alcohol (in drinks)

    Usage

    In a food context it means drink; at a pharmacy the same word means rubbing alcohol, so add "bebidas alcohólicas" if unclear

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