We are going to be staying in an apartment in Florence and Venice & plan to cook most of our meals because of dietary concerns. Does anyone know if any of the large supermarkets carry anything like soymilk or rice milk or other non-dairy items? Thanks

Just as an FYI - this February I traveled in Rome with a friend who is very allergic to dairy. We never had a problem eating out with her. A waiter taught her how to say "I am allergic to dairy." She even ate soy gelato. Maybe that eases your mind about eating out? Anyway, we did go into a supermarket and she found soy milk.

Thanks. That's good to know. I appreciate your help.

lone,

I can't answer your question, but I wanted to share my story.

My husband is allergic to all forms of milk, cheese, cream, and the like. If he eats any, his throat closes and has to use an Epi-pen to hold him over until he arrives at the hospital. (I think this makes his allergy more similar to a peanut type allergy rather than the more common lactose intolerance).

We have an easier time in Italy avoiding dairy than we do at home. Waitstaff generally know what ingrediants are recipes. He simply confirms that something doesn't have milk, cream, or cheese in it when he orders.

He's been fine 99% of the time. (Fortuneately for that 1% of the time that they've been wrong, he has ingested much before he realizes it - his tongue tens to get a rash and get puffy so he knows pretty quickly). It also seems that the 1% occurs when he eats the sorbet made with no milk. I think the scoop might really be the contaminater on that one.

Anyway, we eat out a lot here in the U.S. and have defintely been subjected to many many more dairy surprises, particulary as to cheese. It seems in the U.S. that cheese is sometimes on dishes even though it's not mentioned on the menu. We've never experienced this in Italy.

In Italy, as a general rule (which there may be exceptions to, but we've never had a problem), if you order fish, they don't put milk products on it.

I know this doesn't really what you asked, but I thought I would share our experiences since my husband's allergy is quite severe.

Best wishes,
Sally

Thanks Sally. Fortunately, our situation is not as difficult as your husbands, but it is good to know that if someone like your husband can manage in Italy, then we surely should be able to as well. And I had already decided that we were going to be eating lots of fish!

Not exactly answering your question, but here is my two-cents worth.

Learn how to make yourself understood about no dairy products. Whether in speaking or have it written out very plainly in Italian.

Ask your neighbors about shopping.

I am deathly allergic to chocolate. When I went, I pointedly told them non-chocolate. Usually they either said OK or repeated the statement with a gesture to confirm they understood. If I decided on a item that had chocolate in it, they immediatly let me know or pointed them out in advance.

I found that the Italian servers were usually far more understanding, helpful, and aware of their menu and ingrediants than servers in the US.

i live in spain but am sure italy is on the same wave length in genreal. we have soy yogurts, milk, and all types of dietary products from gluten-free to lactose-free., sugar free, etc.

hope you are able to find what you need . should be a diet section of the big supermarket. they lump it all together here.

Great! I'm so relieved to learn these things. Thanks all. I'm a first time poster and I'm really impressed with the info available here and the helpful people.

Hi Lone,

Taking one of the previous answers, I would just say ONO ALLERGICO A TUTTI I LATTICINI (I am alergic to all kinds of diary products) or NON POSSO MANGIARE LATTE E SUOI DERIVATI (I can't eat milk and dairy products.)

Large dep. stores have soy milk (latte di soya), but you might find more chances to find these products at the herbalists: ERBORISTERIA. There I buy all my soy, rice, almond based products, plus tofu, tamari, soy yogurt, soy desserts, no milk cookies etc. Usually every herbalist shop has got a herbalist person that can help you

oops I have just realized that ( + s gives an emoticon. The word is SONO, not ONO (it means: I am)

Thank you. I couldn't have asked for a more precise and detailed answer. Immensely helpful.

Hi ione, you might think about writing the Italian version of your allergey (which Batuffolina gave) you on some index cards. Prepare 3 or 4 index cards. Take them to somewhere like Kinko's and have them laminated.

When ordering in a restaurant ask the waiter to take it to the chef. I suggest more then one card just in case you don't get one back, easy to forget about it.

I cannot eat any dairy products either. I sure agree with the comments here that it is much easier to eat in Italy then in the US. So many dishes have some kind of dairy product in them in the US, ones that you wouldn't suspect did.

The idea of having the chef see the laminated card is due to the fact that at a darling restaurant along side a lake in the Dolomites I ordered a tomato based pasta dish. My Italin friend even told the waiter in Italian I could not eat dairy product and of course he assured it that "no it didn't have any dairy product in it". Sooo, I ended up ill.

My friend called the restaurant and guess what? The chef had decided to get adventerous with his sauce that day and had added cream to the tomato sauce. The waiter had no idea of course. Will have to say the sauce sure tasted good, LOL.

Have a wonderful trip. And know that you will eat very well in Italy. There is no need to be afraid about going to restaurants!

ione, I forgot to mention something. I eat lots of pizza in Italy. I have it prepared without cheese. Italian pizza is fantastic and ordering it without cheese is absolutely no problem anywhere in Italy. Mangia!!

Funny you should mention the index cards. I had just bought some this morning to use as flash cards to practice my Italian. I like your idea of carrying one with me with this info on it. Thanks! This is a trip of a lifetime for me and I had decided I was going even if I was reduced to eating leaves and twigs. I think it will be ok now.

Pizza without cheese is not an unusual request? Wow! Now you have really made my day!