Dietary & Allergies

1. Ik ben vegetariër.

   I am vegetarian.

   Usage

   Declares vegetarianism

   Grammar Note

   "vegetariër" is gender-neutral

2. Ik ben veganist. Ik eet geen dierlijke producten.

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

   Usage

   Avoids all animal-derived foods

   Grammar Note

   "geen" negates nouns

3. Ik heb een notenallergie.

   I have a nut allergy.

   Usage

   Tree-nut allergy

   Grammar Note

   Compound noun "noten + allergie"

4. Heeft u een glutenvrij menu?

   Do you have a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   Celiac/gluten intolerance question

   Grammar Note

   "u" is the formal second person

5. Ik eet halal. Ik eet geen varkensvlees.

   I keep halal. I don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Declares Muslim observance

   Grammar Note

   Compound noun "varkens + vlees"

6. Ik ben lactose-intolerant.

   I am lactose intolerant.

   Usage

   Declares lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   Enzyme deficiency, not an allergy

7. Ik ben allergisch voor schaaldieren.

   I'm allergic to shellfish.

   Usage

   Shellfish allergy; often severe

   Grammar Note

   "allergisch voor + noun" pattern

8. Welke ingrediënten zitten er in dit gerecht?

   What ingredients are in this dish?

   Usage

   Standard ingredient-check question

   Grammar Note

   "er" is an expletive pronoun in Dutch

9. Kunt u het zonder uien bereiden?

   Can you prepare it without onions?

   Usage

   Request to omit an ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "Kunt u" is the polite request opener

10. Ik heb een eierallergie.

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    Watch for hidden eggs

    Grammar Note

    Compound noun

11. Heeft u een allergenenlijst?

    Do you have an allergen list?

    Usage

    Mandatory in EU restaurants

    Grammar Note

    EU Regulation 1169/2011

12. Deze allergie is levensbedreigend. Wees alstublieft voorzichtig.

    This allergy is life-threatening. Please be careful.

    Usage

    Communicates anaphylaxis risk

    Grammar Note

    "Wees" is the imperative of "zijn"

13. Bevat dit pindaolie?

    Does this contain peanut oil?

    Usage

    Important at Asian restaurants

    Grammar Note

    "bevat" is 3rd-person sing. of "bevatten"

14. Gebruikt u apart keukengerei voor allergeenvrije gerechten?

    Do you use separate kitchen tools for allergen-free dishes?

    Usage

    Checks cross-contamination

    Grammar Note

    "kruisbesmetting" is the technical term

15. Bedankt dat u rekening houdt met mijn dieetwensen.

    Thank you for taking my dietary wishes into account.

    Usage

    Polite gratitude for accommodation

    Grammar Note

    Verb-final order in "dat" subordinate clauses

16. Om religieuze redenen eet ik geen rundvlees.

    For religious reasons I don't eat beef.

    Usage

    Explains religious avoidance of beef

    Grammar Note

    V2 word order with fronted phrase

17. het varkensvlees

    Pork

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether a dish contains pork — the key question for halal and kosher diets

    Grammar Note

    A "het" compound of "varken" (pig) and "vlees" (meat); ham is "de ham" and bacon is "het spek"

18. het rundvlees

    Beef

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether a dish contains beef; Belgian Dutch spells it "rundsvlees" with an extra s, but it is the same word

    Grammar Note

    A "het" compound of "rund" (cattle) and "vlees" (meat)

19. de kip

    Chicken

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether a dish contains chicken

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word used both for the live bird and the meat; to be explicit about the meat say "het kippenvlees"

20. de vis

    Fish

    Usage

    Point to this to check for fish, including fish stock or fish sauce

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word that excludes shellfish; check those separately with "de schaaldieren"

21. het ei

    Egg

    Usage

    Point to this to check for egg, which also hides in mayonnaise and batter

    Grammar Note

    A "het" word with an irregular plural, "de eieren"

22. de zuivel

    Dairy

    Usage

    Point to this to ask about dairy in general; supermarket aisles are labelled "zuivel"

    Grammar Note

    A "de" collective noun; milk itself is "de melk" and lactose is "de lactose"

23. de pinda

    Peanut

    Usage

    Point to this to check for peanuts specifically — the allergen most likely to cause anaphylaxis

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; plural "de pinda's" with an apostrophe. Peanut sauce is "de pindasaus" and peanut butter is "de pindakaas"

24. de noten

    Tree nuts

    Usage

    Point to this to check for tree nuts; peanuts are legumes, so check "de pinda" separately

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word used in the plural (singular "de noot"); "noot" can also mean a musical note, but "noten" in a food context is unambiguous

25. de schaaldieren

    Shellfish / Crustaceans

    Usage

    Point to this to check for prawns, crab, and other crustaceans

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word used in the plural; molluscs are "de schelpdieren" and seafood in general is "de zeevruchten"

26. de tarwe

    Wheat

    Usage

    Point to this to check for wheat, the question behind a gluten intolerance

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; wheat flour is "de bloem" (spelled like the word for flower) or "het tarwemeel", and gluten is "de gluten"

27. de soja

    Soy

    Usage

    Point to this to check for soy, which also hides in soy sauce and dressings

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; soy sauce is "de sojasaus" and soybeans are "de sojabonen"

28. de sesam

    Sesame

    Usage

    Point to this to check for sesame, which appears on bread crusts and in dressings

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; sesame oil is "de sesamolie" and sesame seeds are "de sesamzaadjes"

29. de alcohol

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether a dish contains alcohol — both a religious question and a medication one

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; alcohol-free is "alcoholvrij" and drink as a beverage category is "de drank"

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