I am allergic to nuts.
al-LER-gi-co — four syllables, stress on the second. Female form: 'allergica'.
Tell the waiter about any food allergy as soon as you sit down, before looking at the menu.
'Sono allergico/a' (I am allergic) is the clearest way to communicate an allergy. 'Alle noci' means 'to nuts' — you can substitute with 'ai crostacei' (shellfish), 'al latte' (dairy), 'alle uova' (eggs), etc.
Ho un'allergia ai latticini.
I have an allergy to dairy products.
'Latticini' covers all dairy — milk, cheese, butter, cream
Sono intollerante al lattosio.
I am lactose intolerant.
'Intollerante' is softer than 'allergico' — use for intolerances, not true allergies
Questo piatto contiene noci?
Does this dish contain nuts?
Useful when checking individual items on the menu
EU law (regulation 1169/2011) requires Italian restaurants to be able to declare all 14 major allergens for every dish. If a waiter cannot answer your allergy question, ask to speak with the chef.