Travelling with a Fish Allergy
Fish is a staple in Indonesian cuisine, thanks to the nation's long coastline and strong maritime traditions. Kerupuk, a popular crunchy snack often made from fish or shrimp, is frequently served alongside meals here. If you have dietary restrictions, it’s wise to ask the hospitality staff about the ingredients in their Kerupuk, as it commonly appears in many dishes and might contain allergens. Keep reading to learn about other foods you might need to avoid.
Be careful to watch out for the following foods when eating in Bali:
Indonesian Cooking: Batagor (Fried fish dumpling), Pempek (Fried fish cake), Fishball (Bakso Ikan), Panada, Crackers (Kerupuk/Kemplang), Some fried rice uses Fish Sauce, Fruit salad with pindang sauce (Rujak kuah Pindang), Grilled fish cake (Otak-otak), Sambal Teri (Spicy Sauce with anchovies).
Ingredients found in other types of cuisines: Bouillabaisse, Caesar salad and Caesar dressing, caponata - a Sicilian eggplant/aubergine relish, gelatine, dips, imitation or artificial fish or shellfish (“sea legs” or “sea sticks” is one example), meatloaf, nam pla (fish sauce), pizza, relishes, soups, Chinese products/foods
Warning: Foods mentioned are examples only and does not represent a comprehensive list. Always check allergens in food.
See where to eat safely with a Fish Allergy:
Ingredients as written in English: Anchovies, Bass, Catfish, Cod, Flounder, Grouper, Haddock, Hake, Halibut, Herring, Mahi Mahi, Perch, Pike, Pollock, Salmon, Scrod, Snapper, Sole, Swordfish, Tilapia, Trout, Tuna
Translated into Indonesian: Ikan Teri, Bass, Lele, Cod, Flounder, Kerapu, Haddock, Hake, Halibut, Herring, Mahi Mahi, Bertengger, Pike, Pollock, Salmon, Scrod, Snapper, Sole, Swordfish, Tilapia, Trout, Tuna
Find food in Bali which does not contain Fish:
*Lists of ingredients extracted from Erudus.
Communicating your Fish allergy
Here are some useful phrases to help you to communicate your Fish allergy to hospitality staff in Bali:
I have a severe allergy to Fish and all foods containing Fish.
"Saya memiliki alergi parah terhadap Ikan dan semua makanan yang mengandung Ikan."
I must avoid eating Fish to prevent a life-threatening allergic reaction.
"Saya harus menghindari makan Ikan untuk mencegah reaksi alergi yang mengancam jiwa."
Please make sure that my meal does not contain any Fish.
"Harap pastikan bahwa makanan saya tidak mengandung Ikan."
Proven to successfully convey your Fish allergies in Bali
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Adventure Awaits
1. How to prepare before travelling
2. How to communicate your allergies
3. Allergy travel checklist
4. Handling emergencies
Including 14x most common food allergies:
Celery, Cereals, Crustaceans, Eggs, Fish, Lupin, Milk, Molluscs, Mustard, Peanuts, Sesame, Soybeans, Sulphur dioxide, Tree nuts
We have partnered with dozens of allergy safe establishments in Bali to provide you with safe and reliable dining out experiences, whilst saving money off of your bill. Enjoy your vacation!
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Brought to you by a British expat, policing a serious nut allergy, and his Indonesian wife who have lived in Bali for the past 5 years.
