Allergy card for South Africa
In South Africa the menu is in English, but the name of a dish rarely says what is in it. Here are the 39 local dishes where your foods often hide, and what your card tells the kitchen.
Dishes reviewed on 
39 local dishes
EnglishMMayaSEVERE ALLERGY
Add a food to see your card.
Please use a clean pan, clean utensils and fresh oil. Do not cook my food with shared oil, pans or knives.
What the card says
You pick your foods and say how serious it is. The card then tells the kitchen in South Africa, in these words.
English
| Used for | English |
|---|---|
| Severe allergy | I am severely allergic to these foods. |
| Intolerance, religion, strict diet | I do not eat these foods. |
| Preference | Please prepare my meal without these foods. |
| Why it matters | Even a tiny amount can be life-threatening. |
| Kitchen precautions | Please use a clean pan, clean utensils and fresh oil. Do not cook my food with shared oil, pans or knives. |
| Oils, broths and sauces | This includes oils, broths and sauces made from these ingredients. |
| When in doubt | If you are not sure, please ask the chef. |
| Thanks | Thank you for your help! |
ZuluIsiZulu
| Used for | Zulu | English |
|---|---|---|
| Severe allergy | Ngine-aleji ebucayi kakhulu ngalokhu kudla. | I am severely allergic to these foods. |
| Intolerance, religion, strict diet | Angikudli lokhu kudla. | I do not eat these foods. |
| Preference | Ngicela ulungise ukudla kwami ngaphandle kwalokhu kudla. | Please prepare my meal without these foods. |
| Why it matters | Ngisho nenani elincane kakhulu lalokhu kudla lingabeka impilo yami engozini. | Even a tiny amount can be life-threatening. |
| Kitchen precautions | Ngicela usebenzise ipani elihlanzekile, izinto zokupheka ezihlanzekile namafutha amasha. Ungapheki ukudla kwami ngamafutha, amapani noma imimese esetshenziselwe okunye ukudla. | Please use a clean pan, clean utensils and fresh oil. Do not cook my food with shared oil, pans or knives. |
| Oils, broths and sauces | Lokhu kuhlanganisa amafutha, imihluzi namasoso enziwe ngalezi zithako. | This includes oils, broths and sauces made from these ingredients. |
| When in doubt | Uma ungaqiniseki, ngicela ubuze umpheki. | If you are not sure, please ask the chef. |
| Thanks | Ngiyabonga ngosizo lwakho! | Thank you for your help! |
XhosaIsiXhosa
| Used for | Xhosa | English |
|---|---|---|
| Severe allergy | Ndine-aleji ebukhali koku kutya. | I am severely allergic to these foods. |
| Intolerance, religion, strict diet | Andikutyi oku kutya. | I do not eat these foods. |
| Preference | Ndicela nipheke ukutya kwam ngaphandle koku kutya. | Please prepare my meal without these foods. |
| Why it matters | Nokuba kuncinci kakhulu kunokubeka ubomi bam engozini. | Even a tiny amount can be life-threatening. |
| Kitchen precautions | Nceda usebenzise ipani ecocekileyo, izixhobo ezicocekileyo kunye ne-oli entsha. Musa ukupheka ukutya kwam nge-oli, iipani okanye iimela ebezisetyenziselwa okunye ukutya. | Please use a clean pan, clean utensils and fresh oil. Do not cook my food with shared oil, pans or knives. |
| Oils, broths and sauces | Oku kuquka ii-oyile, imihluzi kunye neesosi ezenziwe ngoku kutya. | This includes oils, broths and sauces made from these ingredients. |
| When in doubt | Ukuba awuqinisekanga, ndicela ubuze kumpheki. | If you are not sure, please ask the chef. |
| Thanks | Enkosi ngoncedo lwakho! | Thank you for your help! |
Where foods hide in South Africa
The name of a dish rarely says what is in it. For South Africa, SafeMeal lists 39 local dishes and products under the 45 foods they often hide. Here are the ones for the most common allergies; in the app, tap any food on your card to see its list.
Recipes vary from one kitchen to the next. Always confirm with the restaurant.
Wheat- Bobotie
- Meatballs
- Gravy
Milk- Bobotie
- Malva pudding
- Rusks
Egg- Bobotie
- Melktert
- Malva pudding
- Meatballs
Beef- Boerewors
- Biltong
- Meatballs
- Bobotie
- Droëwors
Make your card before you go to South Africa.
Pick your foods and look at what the kitchen would read. Try the live demo or get the app: the card works offline once it is set up.
Questions about eating out in South Africa
Which dishes in South Africa often contain wheat?
For South Africa, SafeMeal lists wheat as often hidden in: Bobotie, Meatballs, Gravy. Recipes vary from one kitchen to the next, so always confirm with the restaurant.
Which dishes in South Africa often contain milk?
For South Africa, SafeMeal lists milk as often hidden in: Bobotie, Malva pudding, Rusks. Recipes vary from one kitchen to the next, so always confirm with the restaurant.
Which dishes in South Africa often contain egg?
For South Africa, SafeMeal lists egg as often hidden in: Bobotie, Melktert, Malva pudding, Meatballs. Recipes vary from one kitchen to the next, so always confirm with the restaurant.
Which language is the allergy card in for South Africa?
In South Africa the card is shown in English. You can switch it to Zulu and Xhosa. The app picks the language from the country you are in, and you can change it at any time.
More countries
SafeMeal is not a medical device. No card or app can guarantee a safe meal: always confirm with the restaurant staff, and keep your emergency medication with you.