How can I eat in China with a peanut allergy?

At a glance

• NHS guidance says to tell restaurant staff about the allergy, check ingredients and carry 2 prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors or nasal sprays. Follow the instructions for your own prescribed device. [1]
• Breathing difficulty, throat or tongue swelling, confusion or collapse can signal a serious allergic reaction requiring immediate treatment. [1]
• China's ambulance number is 120. After using prescribed emergency adrenaline for a serious reaction, seek emergency care even if symptoms improve. [2] [1]
• Use 花生 for peanut and 花生过敏 for peanut allergy. Name tree nuts, sesame or other separate allergies explicitly rather than assuming one word covers all of them.

What to do next

1. Before travel, review your allergy action plan with your clinician, bring the prescribed emergency supplies and save a Chinese card matching the exact allergens. Keep the medication with you and show companions where it is and how the instructions work.
2. Choose restaurants that can discuss ingredients and preparation. Contact a planned special-meal venue ahead, then repeat the allergy conversation with the staff taking the actual order so the request reaches the kitchen.
3. Show the card before choosing dishes. Ask about peanuts, peanut oil where relevant to your action plan, sauces, garnishes and shared utensils or cooking equipment. Ask staff which dish they can prepare to those requirements rather than asking only whether a pictured dish looks safe.
4. Order only after the kitchen can give a clear answer. If the restaurant cannot establish the ingredients or suitable preparation, choose another meal source and use a prepared backup you know fits your needs.
5. Keep the emergency medication accessible during the meal and follow your clinician's plan if symptoms develop. For signs of a serious reaction, use the prescribed emergency treatment and have someone call 120 with the exact address; do not wait for the restaurant to finish discussing the bill.
6. After an incident, keep the menu, ingredient information and medical records for the treating clinician and insurer. Adjust the next meals with the medical advice you receive rather than testing the same dish again.

If your situation is different

You also have a tree-nut or sesame allergy: list each allergen on the card. Peanut, tree nuts and sesame are different ingredient questions, so a peanut-only message does not describe the whole restriction.

You are ordering delivery: obtain a clear response from the restaurant before relying on an allergy note. If the app does not support that communication, choose a meal you can discuss directly rather than sending an unanswered instruction.

You travel with a child: agree who carries the medication, who speaks to the kitchen and who calls for help. Keep the child's action plan and relevant medical details available to every responsible adult.

You have mild symptoms: follow your individual action plan and watch for progression. Seek medical advice when the reaction is uncertain or worsening; use the emergency route immediately for serious symptoms.

Common mistakes

• Writing no peanuts as a taste preference: explain that it is an allergy before cooking starts.
• Checking only visible nuts: discuss sauce, garnish, oil and preparation as relevant to the allergy plan.
• Leaving emergency medication at the hotel: carry the prescribed supplies during meals and excursions.
• Waiting after serious breathing or throat symptoms: follow the emergency plan and call 120 promptly.

Quick questions