Food allergies and a helper in the kitchen: a simple labelling routine

5 min read · Updated 30 September 2026

If your child has a food allergy, the kitchen becomes part of their safety plan. When someone else is cooking, a few simple habits help everyone stay on the same page.

Start with a shared allergen list

Write down exactly what your child cannot eat, in plain words, and put it where the cooking happens: on the fridge or inside a cupboard door. Add a photo of each item or its packaging if that helps. If your helper reads another language, ask them to check the wording in that language too. Names for foods like nuts, sesame and shellfish are easy to mix up.

Explain what "may contain" means

A lot of safety information sits on food labels, and labels are usually in English or Arabic. Show your helper where the allergen information is on a packet, which words to look for, and what "may contain traces of" means. Then agree on one rule: if you're not sure, don't serve it and ask.

Label and separate

• Label containers and leftovers with the dish name and the date.
• Keep safe snacks for your child in a marked box or shelf.
• Use clean chopping boards, utensils and pans for your child's meals if there is a risk from cross-contact.
• Wash hands and surfaces after handling the allergen.

Make the label check a habit

Most mistakes happen when a familiar product changes its recipe or a new brand comes home from the shop. Ask your helper to check the label every time, even for a product you've bought before. Tell them they are never in trouble for asking a question.

Plan for a reaction

Make sure your helper knows the signs of a reaction that your doctor has told you to watch for, where any prescribed medicine is kept and how to use it, and who to call. In the UAE the ambulance number is 998. Keep your emergency contacts written down and easy to see.

Plan meals with the list in front of you

When you build the weekly plan, check every dish against your allergen list before it goes out. In NannyPal you can save your family's allergens once, and automatic meal suggestions will avoid them. It's a useful extra check. It doesn't replace reading labels or following your doctor's advice.