Shopping abroad: how to check food labels in another language
How to understand food labels in a foreign language: key words to learn, E-numbers and Nutri-Score abroad, traveling with food allergies and scanning products.
By the Green Point editorial teamUpdated 6 min readKey takeaways
- Learn a handful of key words before you travel: your allergens, "may contain", sugar, salt and the local words for ingredients you avoid.
- Some things read the same everywhere: E-numbers are shared across the EU, and Nutri-Score letters look the same in every country that uses it.
- Carry an allergy translation card and never rely only on a machine translation for allergens.
- A scanner app like Green Point shows grades and ratings in your language, but ingredient text stays as printed, so allergic travelers must still check the pack.
On this page
To check food labels in a foreign language, learn the local words for your allergens and key nutrients, look for symbols that are the same everywhere (E-numbers, Nutri-Score letters, organic logos) and use a scanner app for grades and nutrient ratings in your own language. If you have a food allergy, carry a translation card and always check the pack itself.
Why food labels abroad are tricky
Labels must be in a language local shoppers understand, so in another country you may face an ingredient list you can't read, unfamiliar product names and different labeling rules. The main challenges are:
- Language: ingredients, allergens and warnings are in the local language, sometimes in a different alphabet.
- Different allergen rules: the EU and UK regulate 14 major allergens; the US regulates nine; other countries have their own lists.
- Different nutrition formats: per 100 g in Europe, per serving with % Daily Value in the US.
- Local ingredients and recipes: a familiar brand can have a different recipe in another country.
Understanding food labels abroad: what is the same everywhere
E-numbers
Within the EU, approved additives have the same E-number in every country, whatever the language. On the label, each additive is introduced by its function (such as color, preservative or sweetener), followed by its name or its E-number. So E330 is citric acid in Spain, Poland or Sweden. Some countries outside Europe, such as Australia and New Zealand, use the same international numbers without the "E", while the US lists additives by name. Our guide to E-numbers and food additives explains the main groups.
Nutri-Score
The A to E Nutri-Score label was introduced in France and is recommended in Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. It is voluntary, so not every product carries it, but where it appears the letters and colors mean the same in every language. See what Nutri-Score is for how it is calculated.
Numbers and logos
Nutrition tables across Europe use a similar layout and the same units, so you can compare sugar, salt and fat per 100 g even when you can't read the words. The EU organic logo also looks the same in every member state.
Key words to learn before you travel
Write down or save these words in the local language before you go:
| Look for | Why it matters | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Your allergens (e.g. peanuts, milk, gluten) | Allergens used as ingredients are emphasized in EU and UK ingredient lists, often in bold | Ingredient list |
| "May contain" / "traces of" | Precautionary warnings about cross-contact | After the ingredients |
| Ingredients | Lets you find the ingredient list | Back of pack |
| Sugars, salt, saturated fat | Key lines in the nutrition table | Nutrition table |
| Words for ingredients you avoid (gelatin, pork, alcohol) | For dietary, religious or ethical choices | Ingredient list |
| Best before / use by | Use by is about safety; best before is about quality | Lid, top or side of pack |
Traveling with food allergies
Allergen labeling differs from country to country, and so does the list of allergens that must be declared. A food sold as "the same product" at home may be made in a different factory abroad. These steps help:
- Talk to your allergist before you travel, especially about emergency medication and how many auto-injectors to carry if you have been prescribed them.
- Carry an allergy translation card (sometimes called a chef card) in the local language that lists your allergens and explains that even traces can be dangerous. You can buy professionally translated cards or have one translated by someone you trust.
- Learn the local words for your allergens and for "may contain". Our guide to what "may contain traces" means explains these warnings.
- Check every pack, even for brands you know, because recipes and factories vary between countries.
- Know the emergency number. In the EU, 112 works in every member state.
- For restaurants and bakeries, ask staff: in the EU and UK, information about allergens must also be available for non-prepacked food.
For a country-by-country overview of what must be declared, see our guide to food allergens on labels.
Scanning food abroad with Green Point
A barcode scanner removes much of the guesswork. Green Point is available in 21 languages, and the app's labels, grades and ratings appear in the language you choose. Scan a product in a foreign supermarket and you see its A to E grade, its nutrients rated from low to high, its additives with their risk level and its processing group, all in your language.
What stays the same is the product data: the product name and the ingredient text remain as printed on the pack, in the local language. The app also lists the allergens and traces declared for the product, and whether it is vegan, vegetarian or palm oil free, but you should still read or translate the ingredient list yourself if you have an allergy.
If a product isn't in the database, you can take a photo of its nutrition table and the front of the pack, and Green Point calculates the score. Our step-by-step guide on how to scan food for ingredients shows every feature.
Frequently asked questions
How can I translate a food label?
The quickest way is a camera translation app, which overlays a translation on the label. It is useful for understanding a product, but food terms and small print are sometimes mistranslated. For allergens, combine it with words you have learned in advance, a translation card and, when possible, a question to staff or the manufacturer.
Are food labels in English in other European countries?
Not usually. EU rules require mandatory food information in a language that shoppers in the country where it is sold can easily understand, which normally means the local language. Some products carry several languages on the pack, and imported products may have a translated sticker added over the original label.
Do US products have different allergen labels from European ones?
Yes. The US requires nine major allergens to be declared: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame, either in the ingredients or in a "Contains" statement. The EU and UK list 14, adding celery, mustard, lupin, molluscs, sulfites and all cereals containing gluten, and emphasize them within the ingredient list.
Sources
- Mandatory food informationEuropean Commission
- Food additivesFood Standards Agency
- Nutri-ScoreSanté publique France
- Food AllergiesU.S. Food and Drug Administration
This guide is for general information and is not medical advice. If you have a skin, allergy or health concern, talk to a doctor, dermatologist or dietitian. Green Point scores and Skin Scan results are informational and are not a diagnosis.
