Japanese for Food Allergies: Ask 'Does This Contain Nuts, Dairy, or Gluten?'
Learn to ask if food contains nuts, dairy, or gluten in Japanese, and understand common responses to stay safe.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When eating in Japan, if you have food allergies or intolerances, being able to ask about ingredients is crucial. This lesson teaches you how to ask 'Does this contain nuts/dairy/gluten?' in Japanese and how to understand the answers. You'll learn key phrases, response patterns, and cultural tips to communicate your dietary needs clearly and politely.
By the end, you can…
- ask if a dish contains nuts, dairy, or gluten in Japanese.
- understand common responses about ingredients.
- confirm safety by asking follow-up questions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
これにナッツは入っていますか？
Does this contain nuts?
Kore ni nattsu wa haitte imasu ka?
Use when pointing to a specific dish or product. 'Nattsu' means nuts. For a more natural phrasing, you can also say ナッツが入っていますか？
これに乳製品は入っていますか？
Does this contain dairy products?
Kore ni nyūseihin wa haitte imasu ka?
'Nyūseihin' covers milk, cheese, butter, etc. Use for dairy allergies. Note that 乳製品 refers to dairy products broadly; for milk specifically, say 牛乳 (gyūnyū).
これにグルテンは入っていますか？
Does this contain gluten?
Kore ni guruten wa haitte imasu ka?
'Guruten' is gluten. Useful for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
小麦粉は使っていますか？
Does it use wheat flour?
Komugiko wa tsukatte imasu ka?
Wheat flour is a common source of gluten. Ask this if gluten-free is needed. Note that 小麦粉 (komugiko) is wheat flour, not gluten itself; gluten is グルテン.
アレルギーがあります。
I have an allergy.
Arerugī ga arimasu.
State this first to emphasize the seriousness. Add the specific allergen: ナッツアレルギーがあります (Nattsu arerugī ga arimasu) = I have a nut allergy. You can also say アレルギーがあります so the listener knows to take it seriously.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask if a food contains a specific ingredient, use: [Food item] に [ingredient] は入っていますか？ (… ni … wa haitte imasu ka?). For example, このケーキにナッツは入っていますか？ (Kono kēki ni nattsu wa haitte imasu ka?) = Does this cake contain nuts? The particle に marks the item, and は highlights the ingredient. The verb 入っています (haitte imasu) means 'is contained'. For gluten, you can also ask about 小麦粉 (komugiko, wheat flour) specifically. Note that 入っています is the polite form of 入る (hairu, 'to enter/go in'); in this context it means 'is included/contained'.
When to use it
Use these questions when ordering at a restaurant, buying prepared food, or checking labels. If the staff seems unsure, ask to confirm: 本当に入っていませんか？ (Hontō ni haitte imasen ka?) = Are you sure it doesn't contain it? For severe allergies, show a written card or use a translation app. In Japan, many dishes use soy sauce (醤油, shōyu) which often contains wheat, so for gluten-free, ask about 醤油 too: 醤油は小麦を使っていますか？ (Shōyu wa komugi o tsukatte imasu ka?) = Does the soy sauce use wheat? Note that 使っています (tsukatte imasu) means 'is using/uses' and is appropriate for asking about ingredients in preparation.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、このカレーにナッツは入っていますか？
Excuse me, does this curry contain nuts?Sumimasen, kono karē ni nattsu wa haitte imasu ka?はい、ナッツが入っています。
Yes, it contains nuts.Hai, nattsu ga haitte imasu.そうですか。乳製品は入っていますか？
I see. Does it contain dairy?Sō desu ka. Nyūseihin wa haitte imasu ka?乳製品は入っていません。
It does not contain dairy.Nyūseihin wa haitte imasen.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, food allergies are taken seriously, but awareness of gluten intolerance is less common than in some countries. It's helpful to carry a written explanation in Japanese. Politeness is key: use すみません (sumimasen) to get attention and speak calmly. Avoid assuming all staff know about hidden ingredients like gluten in soy sauce; be specific and patient. Note that while many restaurants can accommodate allergies, cross-contamination may still occur, so communicate clearly.
One thing to watch for
Using あります (arimasu) instead of 入っています (haitte imasu) to ask about ingredients.
Try this instead: 入っています specifically means 'is contained' and is used for ingredients. あります means 'exists' and is not appropriate here. For example, say ナッツは入っていますか？ (Nattsu wa haitte imasu ka?) not ナッツはありますか？ (Nattsu wa arimasu ka?), which would mean 'Do you have nuts?' (as in, do you have nuts available).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask if a dish contains dairy?
Show a sample answer
これに乳製品は入っていますか？ (Kore ni nyūseihin wa haitte imasu ka?)
This uses the pattern [item] に [ingredient] は入っていますか. You can replace これ with the specific dish name.
2What does 入っていません mean?
Show a sample answer
It does not contain.
This is the negative form of 入っています. It indicates the absence of an ingredient.
3How would you say 'I have a gluten allergy'?
Show a sample answer
グルテンアレルギーがあります。 (Guruten arerugī ga arimasu.)
Combine the allergen + アレルギーがあります. For nuts: ナッツアレルギーがあります (Nattsu arerugī ga arimasu).
Always state your allergy clearly, ask specifically about each ingredient using 入っていますか, and confirm the response. When in doubt, show a written card in Japanese.
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