Personalised chef cards for severe food allergies
Custom-printed chef cards on durable, wallet-sized recycled plastic. Waterproof, long-lasting, and delivered to your door. Translated into dozens of languages for international travel.
Design your card using our online editor — choose your allergens, colours, and layout — then order professionally printed cards in minutes.
Durable plastic
Made from recycled plastic, waterproof and built to last in your wallet or purse.
Wallet sized
Standard credit-card size so it fits alongside your bank cards and ID.
UK delivery
Printed in the UK and posted directly to your door. International shipping available.
What is a chef card?
A chef card is a wallet-sized card listing the foods someone needs to avoid because of an allergy or intolerance. The cardholder gives it to restaurant staff — ideally for the chef to read directly — so the kitchen has every allergen in writing rather than relying on a busy waiter to repeat the message accurately.
The term originated in the US allergy community in the 1990s, when parents of children with severe peanut and nut allergies started carrying laminated cards explaining their child's allergies in clear language. It spread through travel-with-allergies communities and is now used internationally, particularly for severe allergies and foreign-language travel. In the UK, the same card is often called an allergy card — they're the same thing.
Why use a printed chef card?
For severe or multiple allergies, verbal communication carries real risk. Restaurants are busy. Staff change shifts. Important details get missed. A printed chef card removes those failure modes:
- Removes mishearing. The kitchen reads exactly what you wrote, even if the room is loud or the waiter is junior.
- Survives shift changes. Keep the card on the table and any new staff member sees the message intact.
- Covers hidden allergens. Easy to list allergens most staff don't expect — sulphites, lupin, alpha-gal, derived additives — without a long verbal explanation.
- Lets junior staff feel confident. A clear printed card makes it easier for less experienced staff to ask the kitchen the right questions.
- Translates for travel. One printed card in the local language clears language barriers instantly.
What to put on a chef card
A useful chef card includes:
- Cardholder's name — particularly important for children.
- Every allergen to avoid — including hidden sources (e.g. lecithin from soy, casein from milk) and any allergen-derived additives.
- Severity of the reaction — for anaphylaxis, mention it explicitly so the kitchen treats it as a medical emergency risk, not a preference.
- EpiPen / adrenaline auto-injector — note whether one is carried and where on the cardholder's body.
- Cross-contamination warning — for severe allergies, ask the chef to use clean utensils and a clean surface.
- Emergency contact — phone number for next-of-kin.
AllergIQ fills all of this in automatically based on your allergy profile, so you don't have to write the card from scratch.
Chef cards for travel
A chef card is most useful exactly where verbal communication is riskiest: abroad, in a country where you don't speak the language. AllergIQ translates your card into dozens of languages — from Spanish, French, Italian, and German to Japanese, Mandarin, Thai, and Arabic.
Carry both a card in English and one in the local language. Hand over the local version on arrival and the kitchen has every allergen in a script they can read. Learn more about card translations.
Pricing
Designing and previewing your chef card is free — you only pay when you order delivery. Cards are sold in packs (10 cards per pack), so you can carry several at once or share with family. From £8.00 per card (packs from £40.00). See full pricing.
Print chef cards at home
Don't want to wait for delivery? Download a print-ready PDF and print your chef cards at home using standard label sheets. Design your card, choose your template, and print as many copies as you need.
Avery C32011
10 cards per A4 sheet. The most widely available business card label in the UK and Europe.
SKU C32011
Avery 5371
10 cards per US Letter sheet. Standard micro-perforated business card stock available throughout North America.
SKU 5371
Avery 8871
10 cards per US Letter sheet. Clean-edge inkjet card stock for a professional, tear-free finish.
SKU 8871Chef cards — frequently asked questions
Common questions about printed chef cards, allergy cards, and how to use them.
- What is a chef card?
- A chef card is a wallet-sized card listing the foods someone needs to avoid because of an allergy or intolerance. It's handed to restaurant staff or directly to the chef so the kitchen has the information in writing — no relying on a busy waiter to remember every allergen. The term originated in the US allergy community in the 1990s and is now used internationally, especially for travel.
- What's the difference between a chef card and an allergy card?
- They're essentially the same thing. 'Chef card' is the term most commonly used in the US and in travel and severe-allergy communities. 'Allergy card' is more common in the UK and EU. AllergIQ's printed plastic cards work as both — choose whichever term you prefer.
- How do I use a chef card in a restaurant?
- Hand the card to the host or waiter when you're seated, before ordering, and ask them to show it to the chef. Keep it visible on the table until the food arrives in case staff change shifts. For travel, hand over a card translated into the local language so kitchen staff can read it directly.
- Are chef cards better than just telling staff verbally?
- For severe allergies, yes. Verbal communication is prone to mishearing, especially in busy or noisy restaurants. A written chef card removes ambiguity, can be passed from server to chef without information loss, and helps less experienced staff feel confident handling your order. They don't replace a verbal conversation — they make it more reliable.
- Can I get a chef card in another language?
- Yes. AllergIQ translates chef cards into dozens of languages — essential for travel where a language barrier could be the difference between a safe meal and an emergency. Order a translated card before your trip, or generate one on the fly through the app.
- What information should a chef card include?
- At minimum: the cardholder's name, every allergen to avoid (including hidden sources and additives), the severity of the reaction, whether an EpiPen is carried, and an emergency contact. For severe allergies, add a note asking the chef to also watch for cross-contamination during preparation. AllergIQ fills these fields in automatically from your allergy profile.
- How long do printed chef cards take to arrive?
- We print and dispatch from the UK. Most UK orders arrive within 3-5 working days. International shipping is available and takes longer depending on destination.
- Can I print chef cards at home?
- Yes. Download a print-ready PDF and use standard Avery business-card label sheets — C32011 in the UK/EU, 5371 or 8871 in North America. Useful when you need a card quickly or want a low-cost option. Printed plastic cards are more durable for everyday use.
Order your printed chef cards
Design your card, pick your template, and have durable wallet-sized plastic chef cards delivered to your door.