Safely Savoring Filipino Flavors: A Nut & Shellfish Allergy Guide

Filipino cuisine delights with vibrant flavors, yet its common use of nuts and shellfish poses serious risks for diners with allergies. From peanut-based sauces to ubiquitous shrimp paste, hidden allergens lurk unexpectedly. This guide equips you to navigate Filipino menus confidently using the mm food app—your essential tool for translation and allergy safety.

Understanding Allergy Risks in Filipino Dishes

Crucial Filipino ingredients to beware:

1. Nut Hazards
   • Kare-kare stew features ground peanut sauce as its base
   • Bibingka desserts may contain crushed peanuts
   • Street snacks like turon (fried banana rolls) often include peanut toppings
2. Shellfish Traps
   • Bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) seasons classics like pinakbet vegetable stew
   • Patis (fish sauce) appears in sauces, dressings, and broths
   • Seafood dominates soups like sinigang and pancit palabok

Cross-contamination frequently occurs through shared woks, fryers, and cooking utensils in busy kitchens.

Safe Dish Recommendations

Enjoy these typically nut/shellfish-free options (always verify with mm food app):

• Adobo: Garlic-soy braised chicken or pork (confirm no accidental pares/peanut-based sauce)
• Lechon Kawali: Deep-fried pork belly
• Inihaw na Manok: Grilled chicken skewers (check seafood-free marinade)
• Ginataang Manok: Chicken in coconut milk sauce
• Chopsuey: Vegetable stir-fry without oyster sauce/shellfish

Modification Tips

• Request "no bagoong" on veggie dishes
• Ask chefs to cook with vegetable oil rather than reused seafood fryer oil
• Seek soy sauce instead of patis if needed

Empower Your Dining with mm food App

1. Instant Menu Clarity

• Point your camera at any Filipino menu for real-time translation
• Confidently understand dish ingredients in your native language

2. Custom Allergy Guard

• Enable nut and shellfish allergy filters in settings
• Get instant alerts on risky dishes
• See safety ratings: ✅ SAFE | ⚠️ CROSS-CONTAM RISK | ❌ UNSAFE

3. Order with Confidence

• Saved dietary profiles allow one-tap menu scanning
• App generates instant restaurant-safe dish suggestions

Filipino food offers incredible experiences—don't miss halo-halo or lumpiang sariwa when verified safe! Always inform staff about allergies, but let mm food be your first defense against hidden allergens.