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Food Allergies
I recieved this link from a daily email I get. I think it may assist those with food allergies and dining out. The Food Allergy Buddy card is printable with your allergies to hand to waitstaff. Some info on food allergies:
According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, more than 11 million consumers suffer from food allergies and those allergies are the leading cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital setting, accounting for an estimated 30,000 emergency room visits and 2,000 hospitalizations annually. In addition, it’s estimated that as many as 200 people die each year from food allergy-related reactions. Eight foods account for 90 percent of allergic reactions. They include peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.), fish, shellfish, eggs, milk, soy, and wheat. As many as 3 million Americans suffer from peanut allergies, which is the leading cause of severe allergic reactions, followed by allergies to shellfish, fish, tree nuts, and eggs. Currently, there are no cures for food allergies, and the only successful method to manage these allergies is to avoid foods that contain the causative proteins. |
Let's add mangoes to the list.
The thing I hate most about eating out is the hidden ingredients in the food. I always ask before I order; if what I'm ordering has _______ in it. Oftentimes you'll be surprised with the answer. There's nothing like watching the waiters expression when you tell him to call an ambulance prior to my eating that delicious ________ with the surprise mango in it that I'm allergic too. :mad: |
The only food allergy I have is of ricotta cheese. Bizarre huh? Guess there's some enzyme in it that my body does NOT like. Which usually means I can't partake in the fabulous inflight lasagna dishes some airlines use :p
On a DL MCO-LAX flight that's what they served and I asked if they knew if there was ricotta cheese in it and they said that it was probably cottage cheese. WRONG. I even ate around it but guess some got consumed because I got so ill. Not a fun flight home :( |
Good idea on the food allergy card, though I agree with dhammer that sometimes people don't care. I remember when we were in an italian restaurant in Madrid and I want to make sure my order had no dairy in it (I am extremely allergic). After asking in both English and Spanish (I am pretty much fluent) I felt convinced there was no cheese, cream, etc.
Sure enough, after taking a bite or two of my entree it became quite obvious that there was cream. So when our waiter came back out I asked again if there was dairy and he said there was. Now why on earth would he tell me now and not before? I think as mad as I was my parents were even more so. Though they don't speak spanish their anger had its own universal language! |
It is a sensible idea but human error still may trump it, ie I ALWAYS order sammishes, salads, breakfasts etc specifying "no onions". Unfortunately I continue to receive onions about 25% of the time.
MisterNice |
My food allergy is easy to deal with (in that it's not hard to avoid), but has its own drawbacks.
I'm allergic to alcohol. :( Mike |
Easy to print your own warning cards
Today's computer age makes it easy to print your own warning cards in most (if not all) languages.
A friend, who frequently travels in Europe on business, prints her own cards in the language(s) of destination(s). Friend uses the same method in US. I noticed a postive difference when the server was given the card and friend explained the printed info, "I have severe food allergies. Under no circumstances can I eat: xxx, xxxx, xxx," The card reinforces her verbal explanation and makes the server realize she is not simply whining about too much pepper. |
Food allergy card in some 30 languages
I have a lethal allergy to litchi and celery. I've been close to death by anaphylaxis twice in the last four years. It was a real relief finally to find a site that has a service for food allergic traveling people like me.
Thanks menudata.com. ^ Keep up the good work and let the word spread! Mike |
My own food allergy is annoying and hard to avoid. I am slightly allergic to garlic. Not deadly or even too unconfortable, but makes me a little sick to my stomach if I eat more then just a little. Almost impossibe to avoid.
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I had a french teacher who was allergic to wine. Can you imagine a french guy allergic to wine. How sad.
Originally Posted by nako
My food allergy is easy to deal with (in that it's not hard to avoid), but has its own drawbacks.
I'm allergic to alcohol. :( Mike |
When I was flying with my infant child, the menu for infant was chocolate and eggs (they didn't even specify if it was egg yolk or whole eggs). What the heck???!!! You aren't supposed to give infants under 1 year chocolate, whole eggs, nuts for fear of triggering an allergic response.
I wish the airlines would spend more time looking into their menu. Or at least print out a card listing all the ingredients that go into it! |
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