Tell the person taking your order exactly which ingredient you need to avoid, then ask whether the kitchen can prepare the meal accordingly. “No bread” is too narrow a request for someone with coeliac disease, and “no nuts” can leave questions about sesame, sauces or a garnish unanswered.
Prepare before your trip
Ask your treating clinician for a written plan suited to your condition and journey. Carry the medicines they prescribe and a note of their generic names. If you use an adrenaline auto-injector, follow your prescribed plan and keep it accessible. Arrange ongoing prescriptions before a long semester, with the help of the routine healthcare guide.
Make a short allergy card in English and Arabic. Include the exact allergen, the importance of avoiding cross-contact and a contact person. Have an Arabic speaker familiar with your requirements check the final wording. A translation of a dish name cannot establish how a kitchen prepares it.
Requests you can show when ordering
| English request | Arabic |
|---|---|
| I have an allergy to sesame. | لدي حساسية من السمسم. |
| I have an allergy to peanuts. | لدي حساسية من الفول السوداني. |
| I have an allergy to milk. | لدي حساسية من الحليب. |
| I have coeliac disease and cannot eat gluten. | لدي مرض السيلياك ولا أستطيع تناول الغلوتين. |
| Does this contain wheat? | هل يحتوي هذا على القمح؟ |
| Can you use separate clean utensils? | هل يمكن استخدام أدوات نظيفة ومنفصلة؟ |
Replace the example allergen with your actual one and point to it on your card. Avoid agreeing to a dish on the basis of a polite “yes” when you cannot tell whether the question was understood. Ask the server to confirm the ingredients and preparation with the cook.
Ingredients to ask about in Jordanian meals
Menus give a starting point for a conversation. Sufra’s published menu, for example, describes tahini in hummus, wheat in freekeh, bulgur in tabbouleh, and yoghurt in several dishes. These examples show why the complete dish matters, including its sauce and accompaniment. They are not a claim that a named restaurant can provide an allergen-free meal. Ingredient descriptions in Sufra’s menu.
| Food or ingredient | Question to put to the kitchen |
|---|---|
| Tahini, hummus, mutabbal and sesame toppings | Is sesame present in the recipe, garnish or shared preparation area? |
| Flatbread, freekeh, bulgur, pastries and breaded food | Is there wheat or another gluten-containing grain? |
| Creamy sauces, yoghurt dishes and cheese fillings | Is milk used, including in a sauce or marinade? |
| Desserts, filled pastries and mixed garnishes | Which nuts, milk, eggs or other allergens are in this specific batch? |
| Fried or grilled food | Are oil, baskets, utensils or surfaces shared with the ingredient I must avoid? |
Gluten-free ingredients still need suitable handling
Coeliac disease requires avoiding gluten in wheat, barley and rye. Plain rice, potatoes, vegetables and unbreaded meat can be ingredients for a gluten-free meal, but sauces, coatings and preparation can change the finished dish. Shared utensils and preparation surfaces can transfer gluten. The National Health Service (NHS) coeliac guidance explains these distinctions.
When buying packaged food, read the full ingredients and allergy statements on the actual pack each time. Keep the label until you have finished the product. For a product marked gluten-free, check that the claim applies to that item, not to a nearby shelf label or another flavour. Ask your dietitian how to interpret labels for your own condition; UK labelling rules should not be assumed to apply to every product sold in Jordan.
Shopping and sharing an apartment kitchen
Use the grocery-shopping guide to plan a first food shop, then separate items that need special handling. Agree with housemates where food will be stored, how worktops will be cleaned and whether you need dedicated utensils, a toaster or a spread container. A shared knife moving between bread and a jar can undermine an otherwise careful meal.
Students attending German Jordanian University (GJU) and people working for a non-governmental organisation (NGO) can keep a suitable snack available for a long class or meeting. Tell an organiser about dietary requirements before a catered event, with enough detail for the caterer to respond.
A serious allergic reaction needs emergency help
Sudden throat or tongue swelling, breathing difficulty, collapse or severe dizziness can be signs of anaphylaxis. Use your prescribed adrenaline auto-injector if you have one, following its instructions, and call Jordan’s emergency number, 911. Say that you suspect anaphylaxis and give your location. Do not wait for a restaurant or pharmacy to resolve it. NHS emergency allergy guidance; Jordan’s ambulance service.
For housing, discuss the practical kitchen arrangement when considering apartments for rent in Jabal Amman for students managing dietary needs. The owner offers four apartments by room or as a whole apartment. Confirm the actual setup and household agreement; a rental description does not establish a medically suitable food environment. Save the emergency-help guide alongside your personal action plan.
