October 10, 2006

Food News: Food allergies: Strategies for dining out

"Feel comfortable speaking up about your food allergy to reduce your chances of having a problem.

Yes! You can enjoy a meal out even if you have food allergies. But, don't rely on menu descriptions alone when ordering. Ask questions about ingredients and how the meal is prepared to lower your risk of an allergic reaction.

Eating out with food allergies
You might be uncomfortable making special requests at restaurants, especially if wait staff are overextended. Discomfort speaking up about
food allergies is the most common reason people
have allergic reactions when dining out. Other
reasons include:
- Meals are cooked with shared pans and utensils.
- The restaurant makes a mistake.
- The wait staff or chef is not educated about food allergies or hidden ingredients in food, such as those found in dressings and sauces.
Plan ahead and learn to feel comfortable speaking up about your food allergy to reduce your chances of having a problem."

Full article here.