Different countries have different food safety laws, including how packaged food is labelled and what is expected of food service staff.
If you have food allergy and are planning to travel outside of Australia, find out about food labelling in the country you wish to visit.
Below are links to food safety/food standards websites in places commonly visited by Australians:
For further information about international food allergen labelling laws, refer to the Food Allergen Resource and Research Program (FARRP) Allergen Map from the University of Nebraska in America.
Countries without food allergen labelling laws, including those that do not have a list of common allergens, are more of a risk for travellers with food allergy.
You can also check if the country you are travelling to has a patient support organisation as you can contact them for information and guidance.
Food Allergy Support Project – Reading Food Labels in Japan
This is an example from a patient organisation in Japan (ATOPPICO Network) who have created a booklet about:
- Food labeling in Japan
- What to check at restaurants
- What to say in case of emergency
(Note: Since the publication of this support pamphlet, walnut has been added to the required allergens to be labelled list, and matsutake mushroom has been removed from the recommended allergen labelling list for Japan.)