Allergens in Maltese ftira: ingredients, variations and how to order safely
By the Menulta editorial team · Facts checked 15 October 2026 · Updated 15 October 2026
The short answer
Maltese ftira is a ring-shaped sourdough bread, usually filled with tomato paste or fresh tomatoes, olive oil, tuna, capers, olives, onions and sometimes anchovies, beans or ġbejniet cheese. It contains gluten from the bread, fish from tuna and anchovies, and may contain milk (cheese), sulphites (pickles and capers in some brines) and sesame if the bread is seeded. Gozitan ftira is a pizza-like bake with different toppings.
What Maltese ftira is
Ftira is both a traditional Maltese bread and the name of the sandwich made from it. The bread is flat, round and chewy, with a hole in the centre. Ħobż biż-żejt, bread with oil, is a close relative made with the round Maltese loaf. Ftira għawdxija, from Gozo, is a different dish: a thin dough topped with potatoes, tomatoes, anchovies, olives, capers and cheese, closer to a pizza.
Traditional Maltese ftira ingredients and their allergens
| Ingredient | Allergen | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ftira bread | Gluten (wheat) | Sourdough; check for sesame on some breads |
| Tomato paste (kunserva) or fresh tomato | None | |
| Tuna | Fish | Usually canned |
| Anchovies | Fish | Optional |
| Capers and olives | Possibly sulphites | Depends on brine |
| Ġbejniet or other cheese | Milk | Optional |
| Bigilla (bean paste) | None (usually) | Some recipes add anchovy |
Variations that change the allergens
Vegetarian ftira omits tuna and anchovies, removing fish. Some cafés add mayonnaise (egg, possibly mustard), rocket, sun-dried tomatoes or ham. Gozitan ftira adds potatoes and cheese and is baked whole. Modern versions may use gluten-free bread.
Restaurant and bought-in versions
Ftira is usually made to order in cafés and kiosks, so it can often be adapted: tuna and anchovies left out, cheese left off, or sauces omitted. The bread itself comes from bakeries; ask whether it is seeded and whether a gluten-free option exists.
Maltese ftira allergen by allergen
| Allergy | What to know |
|---|---|
| Gluten / coeliac | Only with gluten-free bread, prepared separately. |
| Fish | Ask for it without tuna and anchovies; check bigilla. |
| Milk | Ask for it without cheese; check for butter or mayonnaise. |
| Egg | Usually none unless mayonnaise is added. |
| Sulphites | Possible in capers, pickles and olives depending on brine. |
Ordering it with an allergy
Ask for the components you can eat and check the bread. Ftira is one of the easier Maltese dishes to adapt because it is assembled to order. For fish allergy, ask staff to use a clean board and knife, since tuna is prepared on the same counter.
Sources
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Guests with an allergy should follow their doctor's advice. Operators should confirm their own setup with their food safety adviser or local authority.