Food allergies can turn a pleasant night out with friends into a nightmarish experience. It’s not always obvious when an allergen has been used in a certain dish, and for some people one bite can mean a hospital stay or worse.
To make eating out even more challenging, people who simply don’t like something or are on a new diet trend may say they are allergic when they actually aren’t. This has led to restaurant staff ignoring allergen warnings from guests in past years, thinking it is someone who is merely being dramatic.
Luckily, many restaurants are now taking allergies more seriously, but that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Here are a few tips on how to make dining out with food allergies an easier experience.
Choose an allergy-friendly restaurant
Some restaurants are more willing to accommodate people with allergies than others. They might have gluten free or dairy free options, and some even have an entirely allergy-friendly menu. You can make the process of finding a restaurant that can cater to your needs through AllergyEats, a database of allergy friendly restaurants.
Ask to see a manager first and be clear about allergies
Even if you’re eating at an allergy-friendly restaurant, speak to the manager before ordering your meal. Let them know you or someone in your party has allergies, and also specify cross contamination is a concern. They may not be aware that cooking a gluten free meal in a pan that held the same dish with gluten in it, could still make you sick.
Specify your food needs to be cooked in a clean pan, placed on your dish with a clean server, or sliced with a clean knife to help avoid cross contamination. By speaking with a manager as well as the server, you are helping to show that your food allergy is serious, an important step to ensuring your safety.
Carry a Chef Card or Allergy Card
If you have a lot of allergies, an allergy card can make a big difference in your safety when dining out. An allergy card lists all of the different things you are allergic to, including all the other names they may be under.
These cards can be taken directly back to the chef, so that he doesn’t have to try and remember a long list of things to avoid. It can also help if a specific food item has multiple different names.
These cards can be hand printed or made in bulk by a professional printer. They should have some red on it to outline the seriousness of the situation, and have a print size large enough to comfortably read. If you’re interested in ordering a customized allergy card that fits in your wallet, our friends at Allergy Safe Cards can help you out.
Every year, 30,000 people are hospitalized due to allergic reactions from eating at restaurants every year, and 150-200 people die. Entrusting your life or health to a restaurant can be frightening, but with the proper precautions it’s possible to eat out safely.
More and more restaurants are taking allergy training courses to make them better able to serve you, and that means eating out is no longer quite as dangerous as it used to be. By being specific about your allergies, you can enjoy a night out with family and friends, and not have to worry about your safety at the same time.
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