Eating Out with a Cow's Milk Allergy: What to Say When You Order

Before you order

• Say directly that you are "allergic to cow's milk and dairy products, including butter, cream, cheese and condensed milk", not just that you "don't eat dairy"
• Ask whether the dish is fried in butter, whether cream is added, or whether cheese is used for seasoning
• Soups, sauces, curries, pasta, baked and gratin dishes, and some Chinese pastries are all worth checking carefully
• Ask whether the frying oil is shared with other foods that contain milk, to avoid cross-contamination

Ways to lower the risk

Choose dishes with a fairly simple preparation process, and avoid complicated sauces and mixed seasonings. If possible, call the restaurant in advance to explain the situation, or eat at off-peak times to make communication easier. Make sure the people you are with know the emergency plan and where the medicine is kept, so they can help straight away if you feel unwell.

If symptoms appear

For itching around the mouth or a mild rash, you can first stop eating, rinse your mouth with water and keep watching. If there is tightness in the throat, difficulty breathing, hives all over the body, vomiting or a change in alertness, call 120 (the emergency number in China) immediately and follow the emergency plan your doctor has set up in advance. Symptoms can also appear later after a meal, so it helps to record what you ate and when, for later assessment.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Please follow your doctor's instructions.