UK allergen
Celery allergy eating out in the UK
Celery, celeriac and celery salt are in the UK’s 14 allergens. They turn up at the start of a sauce more often than as a stick on the plate. Name celery when you order, including in stocks and soups.
Stock is the usual surprise
Celery sticks on a platter are obvious. Celery in a mirepoix at the start of a stock, a soup or a gravy is not. Celeriac, celery salt, celery seed and celery leaf all count. A Bloody Mary, a ready sauce and a bouillon cube are common sources when the menu never says the word.
Staff sometimes treat celery as too ordinary to mention. If you avoid it, say celery and celeriac, and ask them to include the stock and the salt, not only the vegetable on the side.
What businesses have to tell you
Celery is one of the 14 allergens. If it is an ingredient, the business has to be able to say so. Packed-on-site food needs it emphasised in the ingredients list under Natasha’s Law. A stew cooked to order needs an answer from the kitchen, because the stock may have been made earlier even when the stew was not.
Celery salt is still celery. A fries seasoning or a spice rub can carry it without any celery on the plate. Ask about seasonings when the dish looks plain.
What to ask about celery
- Is there celery, celeriac or celery salt in the stock, soup, sauce or gravy?
- Is celery salt in the seasoning, the crisp dusting or the drink?
- Was the stock made in-house, and can you check what went into it?
- Does a “plain” roast or stew start with a vegetable base that includes celery?
Search with celery on your profile
Add celery, then search the city you are eating in. Ask about stock and celery salt even when the score is unknown.
Questions people ask
Is celeriac the same allergen as celery?
For UK allergen labelling, celeriac is covered with celery. If you avoid celery, say celeriac as well so a remoulade or a roast vegetable is not treated as a different food.
Will a chef think to mention celery?
Often they will only if you ask. Celery is a standard base for stocks. Name it, and ask about the stock specifically. A written card is useful because celery is easy to dismiss as a minor vegetable.
Does SafePlate score celery automatically?
Only when a menu or a visitor note mentions it. Otherwise the score stays Unknown. Add celery to your profile before you search.
Set up your foods before you search. This is not medical advice. Confirm the meal with the kitchen. If you think someone is having anaphylaxis, call 999.