UK allergen
Egg allergy eating out in the UK
Egg is one of the 14 allergens. The obvious fried egg is rarely the problem. Mayonnaise, a glaze on pastry, fresh pasta and a binder in a meatball are. Ask about those, not only about breakfast.
The egg you cannot see
Mayonnaise, aioli, hollandaise, egg wash on pastry, fresh pasta, brioche buns, batter, meatballs, some ice creams, fried rice and quiche are routine sources. A “plain” burger can contain egg as a binder. A golden pastry often got that colour from an egg glaze.
Vegan mayonnaise removes egg only when that is the mayonnaise actually on your plate. Ask which tub they used. A shared grill that just fried an egg is a separate question if your reactions are to small amounts.
What to expect from a UK kitchen
Egg is one of the 14, so it has to be declarable as an ingredient. Natasha’s Law makes that visible on food packed before you choose it. A cake from a display, if it was packed on site for sale, should emphasise egg in the ingredients. A slice cut and served from an unwrapped cake is closer to a conversation with the counter.
Bakeries are busy with egg, milk and wheat at the same time. If you avoid more than one of those, list them all. SafePlate keeps egg as its own food on your profile. It will not assume a gluten-free brownie is egg-free.
What to ask about egg
- Is there egg in the mayonnaise, glaze, pasta, batter or binder?
- Was the pastry washed with egg?
- Which mayonnaise is used, if a vegan option exists?
- Can you use a clean pan if egg was just cooked on this one?
- On a packed cake or sandwich, is egg emphasised in the ingredients?
Search with egg on your profile
Add egg, then search a city. Ask about mayonnaise and glazes even when the dish is not described as an omelette.
Questions people ask
Is mayonnaise always egg?
Traditional mayonnaise contains egg. Some products are made without it. Ask which one is in the sauce or on the side. Do not treat the word mayonnaise as a guarantee either way until the kitchen identifies it.
Does a vegan label answer an egg allergy?
A genuinely vegan dish contains no egg. Confirm that the dish you are getting is the vegan one, and that it was not glazed, fried or dressed with egg afterwards. The label on the menu and the pan can differ.
Will restaurants know egg is a major allergen?
They should. Egg is one of the 14. Even so, glazes and binders are easy to forget. Ask about those specifically, and use a chef card if you want the list in writing.
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.