Skiing with a Nut Allergy: What to Say in French, German and Italian Resorts

A ski holiday is full of eating that does not happen in a normal restaurant: a pastry from a village bakery before first lift, a crêpe from a slope-side hut, a long lunch in a mountain refuge, a fondue in the evening. With a peanut or tree nut allergy, much of this means explaining your allergy in French, German or Italian, often in a busy kitchen, often a long way from a hospital.

This guide covers what to expect in the Alps, what to ask about, how to look after your medication in the cold, and how to make yourself understood.

Heading for the slopes? Our digital bundle has French, German and Italian cards in one download.

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Which Language Do You Need?

• French: the French Alps (such as Chamonix, Val d'Isère, Les Arcs and Courchevel) and French-speaking western Switzerland.
• German: Austria (such as Kitzbühel, St. Anton and Sölden), Bavaria and most of Switzerland.
• Italian: the Italian Alps and Dolomites (such as Cortina and Val Gardena) and Ticino. Some Dolomites areas are also German-speaking, so having German as well can help.

If your trip crosses a border, for example a ski area linking France and Italy or Switzerland and Austria, take the cards for both languages.

Allergen Rules in Alpine Countries

France, Italy and Austria follow EU food-information rules covering 14 regulated allergens, including peanuts and specified tree nuts. Allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients on prepacked food, and information must also be available for food served without packaging, such as in restaurants and huts. Each country decides how that information is given, so it may be written on the menu, in a folder, or provided by staff.

Switzerland is not in the EU but has its own rules on allergen declaration, including for food served in restaurants. How well this works in practice depends on the venue, so ask rather than assuming.

Menus in Austria often use letter codes next to dishes to show allergens. Peanuts and tree nuts normally have their own letters, but check the key at the bottom of the menu rather than trusting a letter from memory, as these can vary.

Allergy Words to Look For

• French: arachides (peanuts), fruits à coque (tree nuts)
• German: Erdnüsse (peanuts), Schalenfrüchte or Nüsse (tree nuts)
• Italian: arachidi (peanuts), frutta a guscio (tree nuts)

Use these to recognise familiar words, not as a replacement for reading the full ingredients and allergen information for the specific item. Menus may use the name of an individual nut instead of the general term.

Mountain Food Worth Asking About

The food on a ski holiday follows its own pattern. These are the things worth asking about, rather than a list of safe or unsafe dishes, because recipes vary between kitchens.

• Slope-side crêpes and waffles. Chocolate-hazelnut spread is a very common filling, and some crêpe stands also use other nut-based spreads and toppings. Ask what is in each filling, and about shared pans and spreaders.
• Pastries and cakes. Austrian and Italian Alpine baking often includes almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts. Linzer torte, strudel and festive cakes are worth asking about. In Switzerland, the Engadine walnut tart (Engadiner Nusstorte) is a well-known walnut and caramel pastry.
• Hot chocolate and après-ski drinks. Flavoured syrups, cream toppings and mixes can contain nuts. Ask what goes into a drink if it is not plain.
• Fondue and raclette. The cheese itself is not about nuts, but shared pots, boards and bread baskets are a cross-contact issue, and some fondue-style dishes and sides use nut-based ingredients. Ask about the whole meal, not just the main item.
• Salads and dressings. Walnuts and other nuts may be scattered on salads or used in dressings and oils. Mention nut oils specifically if they are relevant to your allergy.
• Breakfast buffets. Muesli, granola, spreads, pastries and cakes sit side by side, often with shared tongs and spoons.

Eating in Mountain Huts and Remote Restaurants

Many huts and refuges have small kitchens, limited menus and no written allergen information. That is not a reason to avoid them, but it is a reason to plan.

• Show your card as soon as you sit down, before ordering, and ask whether the kitchen can prepare something without nuts.
• Choose simple dishes where you can see the ingredients, and avoid anything you are not sure about.
• Carry a safe snack in your jacket so you are never dependent on a single hut for lunch.
• If you are skiing in a group, tell the guide or the people you are with where your medication is and what to do in an emergency.

Chalets, Half Board and Ski School

If you are staying in a catered chalet or hotel with half board, contact the company before you travel and tell them about your allergy. Ask how meals are prepared, whether the same staff handle nuts and other foods, and who you speak to on arrival.

If your child is going to ski school, check how lunch is handled. Some schools provide lunch, some use a nearby restaurant, and some expect a packed lunch. Make sure the instructor knows about the allergy and has seen a card and, if appropriate, a copy of your child's action plan.

Looking After Your Medication in the Cold

Carry your prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors with you on the mountain, not in a locker, a car or a bag left at the lodge. Extreme cold can affect medication, so keep them in an inside pocket close to your body rather than in an outer pocket or the bottom of a bag. An insulated allergy medical bag can help protect medication from temperature swings. Follow the advice from your healthcare professional on storage and what to do if you have a reaction.

If Something Goes Wrong

• Know where the nearest medical centre or pharmacy is in your resort before you start skiing.
• Remember that 112 works as an emergency number across the EU. Switzerland uses 144 for an ambulance, and 112 also works there.
• Save your allergy information, emergency contacts and travel insurance details on your phone, and keep a printed copy in your jacket.
• The GHIC card is not a substitute for travel insurance. Check that your policy covers winter sports, mountain rescue and any pre-existing conditions you need to declare.

Download Your Cards Before You Go

Mobile signal on mountains can be patchy, so save your cards to your phone before you leave and make sure they open without data. Printing and laminating a copy to keep in your ski jacket is a good backup, as phones can run out of battery in the cold.

Our digital bundle covers French, German and Italian. If you only need one language, you can buy single cards for French, German or Italian.

Get the Alps & Ski Allergy Card Bundle →

Planning more of your trip? Read our France guide and Italy guide. Skiing in Bulgaria? See our Bulgaria guide. Combining the slopes with a city such as Paris, Rome or Berlin? See our European city breaks guide.

This guide provides general information for travelling with food allergies and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Allergen information, recipes and food preparation practices can change. An allergy translation card is a communication tool and cannot guarantee that a food or establishment is safe. Always make your own assessment and follow the allergy-management advice provided by your healthcare professional.