Trailblazing Food Allergy Start-up Expands To UK

A start-up helping travellers with food allergy and coeliac disease has expanded to the UK.

Equal Eats will make its popular translation cards more accessible to the millions of people across Britain and Ireland who have dietary restrictions.

Offering plastic wallet cards in 50 languages, users can choose a card for an upcoming holiday, and also create personalised cards with a selection of over 500 allergens.

When used dining out, an Equal Eats card helps make restaurant staff aware of important avoidances and encourages the preparation of safe meals.

Kyle Dine, founder and chief executive of Equal Eats, said:

“A primary cause of severe allergic reactions in restaurants is miscommunication.

"Providing restrictions in writing can make the difference in enjoying a safe meal where your dietary needs are noted and taken seriously.”

The company, which originated in Canada, offers cards in 50 languages.

Allergic travellers will find the cards particularly useful when communicating severe food allergies across language barriers.

The accuracy of its translations is paramount, with each one going through a 3-tiered process that involves professional translators, proof-readers and native speakers. 

In addition to plastic cards, Equal Eats has an app that allows access to cards from your smartphone, which can also be printed and given to foodservice staff.