Taiwan travel guide
Traveling to Taiwan with Food Allergies: Peanut Powder, Night Markets and Labels
Peanut powder, sesame oil and shacha sauce show up all over Taiwanese food. Which night-market snacks contain them, how Taiwan’s allergen labels work, why “tudou” can mean peanut, and the Traditional Chinese to use.
Updated
Taiwan is one of the friendliest places in Asia for travelers, and food labels there are better than in most of the region: packaged food must declare 11 allergen groups. The challenge is the night markets, where peanut powder, sesame oil and seafood are part of many signature snacks. Use Traditional Chinese (the script used in Taiwan) on your card, and learn one surprising word: in Taiwan, 土豆 (tǔdòu) often means peanut, not potato.
Night-market snacks with peanuts
| Snack | Allergens |
|---|---|
| Guabao 刈包 (pork belly bun) | Peanut powder, wheat |
| Runbing 潤餅 (spring roll) | Peanut powder, often sugar-peanut mix |
| Peanut ice cream roll 花生捲冰淇淋 | Shaved peanut brittle, wheat wrapper |
| Douhua 豆花 (tofu pudding) | Soy; often topped with peanuts |
| Mochi 麻糬 | Rolled in peanut or sesame powder |
| Sesame oil chicken 麻油雞 | Sesame oil, rice wine |
| Oyster omelette 蚵仔煎 | Oysters, egg, sweet sauce |
| Shacha dishes 沙茶 | Dried fish and shrimp; some brands contain sesame or peanuts |
Peanut oil is also used for cooking, and a lot of dried fruit, crackers and souvenir snacks (pineapple cakes, nougat) are made in factories that handle peanuts.
Taiwan’s allergen labels
Since July 2020, prepackaged food sold in Taiwan has had to declare 11 allergen groups: crustaceans, mango, peanuts, milk and goat’s milk, eggs, tree nuts, sesame, gluten-containing cereals, soybeans, fish, and sulphites above 10 mg/kg. Look for 過敏原 (allergen) or 本產品含有 (this product contains) near the ingredient list. Convenience-store food at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart is labelled this way and is a useful fallback.
Mango is on Taiwan’s list because it is eaten so much there; shaved mango ice is everywhere in summer.
Words to use
| English | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| I’m allergic to peanuts. | 我對花生過敏。 | Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn. |
| Peanut (also, colloquially) | 花生（土豆） | huāshēng (tǔdòu) |
| Peanut powder | 花生粉 | huāshēng fěn |
| Sesame / sesame oil | 芝麻／麻油 | zhīma / máyóu |
| Shrimp / crab | 蝦／蟹 | xiā / xiè |
| Please don’t add… | 請不要加… | Qǐng búyào jiā… |
| Even a little is dangerous. | 一點點也不行。 | Yìdiǎndiǎn yě bùxíng. |
Medicine and emergencies
- Ambulance: 119.
- Hospitals in Taipei and other cities have English-speaking staff at international clinics; pharmacies are common but adrenaline auto-injectors need a prescription and may not be in stock. Bring your own.
Common questions
Is Taiwan good for a peanut allergy?
Restaurants and convenience stores are manageable, especially with a card in Traditional Chinese and attention to labels. Night markets and desserts are where peanut powder is hard to avoid; choose stalls that cook one thing to order.
Does 土豆 mean potato or peanut?
In mainland China, potato. In Taiwan, it often means peanut, because of the Taiwanese Hokkien word. If you see 土豆 on a Taiwanese menu, ask, or look for 花生.
Should my card be in Traditional or Simplified Chinese?
Traditional Chinese for Taiwan and Hong Kong; Simplified for mainland China and Singapore. People can usually read both, but the local script is quicker to take in.
This page helps you communicate about a food allergy. It is not medical advice: follow your allergist’s plan, and always confirm ingredients with the restaurant or the label.
Keep reading
Chinese Food Allergy Card
Create a bilingual English-Chinese (Mandarin) allergy card for safe dining in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Chinese restaurants worldwide.
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