How to Ask 'Does This Contain Nuts, Dairy, or Gluten?' in German
Learn to ask whether food contains nuts, dairy, or gluten in German, understand the answers, and check labels, with polite and regional forms.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you have a food allergy or intolerance, knowing how to ask about ingredients in German is a safety skill, not small talk. This lesson gives you clear questions for nuts, dairy, and gluten, plus the key words you will hear in replies. You will also learn how to check packaged food and how to ask again if an answer is unclear.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether a dish or product contains nuts, dairy, or gluten.
- understand short answers such as 'Ja', 'Nein', 'Enthält Spuren', or 'Ist ohne Gluten'.
- ask a follow-up question when I need a clearer answer.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Enthält das Nüsse?
Does this contain nuts?
ent-HAYLT dahs NÜS-seh
Standard question about a dish or product. 'Das' refers to the item you are holding or pointing to.
Ist da Milch drin?
Is there milk in it?
ist dah MILKH drin
Very common in everyday speech. 'Drin' is short for 'darin' and means 'in it'.
Hat das Gluten?
Does this have gluten?
haht dahs gloo-TEN
Short and natural. You can also say 'Ist das glutenfrei?' for 'Is this gluten-free?'.
Ich habe eine Nussallergie.
I have a nut allergy.
ikh HAH-buh EYE-nuh NOOS-al-er-ghee
State the allergy clearly. For dairy use 'Milchallergie', for gluten use 'Glutenunverträglichkeit'.
Können Sie das ohne Nüsse machen?
Can you make this without nuts?
KUR-nen zee dahs OH-nuh NÜS-seh MAH-khen
Polite request in a restaurant. 'Sie' is the formal 'you'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is a question word plus the item plus the ingredient: 'Enthält das Nüsse?', 'Enthält das Milch?', 'Enthält das Gluten?'. In everyday speech, 'Ist da ... drin?' is equally common: 'Ist da Milch drin?', 'Ist da Gluten drin?'. For a negative answer, German often uses 'ohne': 'Das ist ohne Nüsse', 'Das ist ohne Milch', 'Das ist glutenfrei'. The word 'enthalten' is formal and appears on labels; 'drin' is informal and spoken. Note that 'Nüsse' is plural, so 'Enthält das Nüsse?' asks about nuts in general; for a single nut you would say 'Enthält das eine Nuss?'.
When to use it
Use 'Enthält das ...?' in shops, bakeries, or when reading labels, because it matches written German. Use 'Ist da ... drin?' at a market stall or with friends. In a restaurant, add 'Ich habe eine ...allergie' before asking, so the staff understands why you are asking. If you need a gluten-free product, 'glutenfrei' is the key word. For dairy, 'milchfrei' means dairy-free, but 'laktosefrei' means lactose-free, which is not the same thing. Note that 'Milch' is a feminine noun, so you say 'die Milch', and 'Gluten' is neuter: 'das Gluten'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag, enthält dieser Kuchen Nüsse?
Hello, does this cake contain nuts?GOO-ten tahk, ent-HAYLT DEE-zer KOO-khen NÜS-sehJa, der Kuchen enthält Nüsse. Aber der Apfelkuchen ist ohne Nüsse.
Yes, the cake contains nuts. But the apple cake is without nuts.yah, dair KOO-khen ent-HAYLT NÜS-seh. AH-ber dair AP-fel-koo-khen ist OH-nuh NÜS-sehDanke. Ist da auch Milch drin?
Thank you. Is there milk in it too?DAHN-kuh. ist dah owkh MILKH drinNein, der Apfelkuchen ist ohne Milch und ohne Gluten.
No, the apple cake is without milk and without gluten.nine, dair AP-fel-koo-khen ist OH-nuh MILKH unt OH-nuh gloo-TENA little context goes a long way
In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, packaged food usually lists allergens in bold, and 'Spuren von Nüssen' means 'traces of nuts'. In restaurants, staff are generally helpful, but you should ask clearly and, if needed, ask to speak with someone who knows the kitchen. In Austria you may hear 'Erdäpfel' for potatoes, but that does not affect allergy words. In Switzerland, 'Gluten' is understood, and labels often use the same terms. Formal 'Sie' is safest with staff you do not know. Note that allergy labeling rules are harmonized across the EU, so the same bold allergen list appears in Germany and Austria; Switzerland follows similar but not identical rules.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Ich bin allergisch gegen Nüsse' for every situation and assuming it covers all questions.
Try this instead: That sentence is correct, but it does not ask about the specific dish. Add a direct question: 'Enthält das Nüsse?' or 'Ist da Milch drin?' This makes the answer specific to the food in front of you.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Does this contain dairy?' in a formal way?
Show a sample answer
Enthält das Milch?
This uses the formal pattern 'Enthält das ...?' with the ingredient 'Milch'. In everyday speech, 'Ist da Milch drin?' is also correct.
2What does 'Das ist glutenfrei' mean?
Show a sample answer
This is gluten-free.
'Glutenfrei' means gluten-free. It is the key word for celiac disease or gluten intolerance. 'Ohne Gluten' means the same thing.
3You hear 'Enthält Spuren von Nüssen.' What should you do?
Show a sample answer
Avoid the product if you have a nut allergy.
'Spuren von Nüssen' means 'traces of nuts'. Even small traces can be unsafe for a severe allergy, so ask staff or choose another product.
Ask 'Enthält das ...?' or 'Ist da ... drin?' for nuts, dairy, or gluten, and listen for 'ohne', 'frei', or 'Spuren' in the answer.
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