Why should a restaurant try its best to be food allergy friendly?
ENSURING MANY PEOPLE'S SAFETY:
By deciding to try its best to accommodate people with food allergies, a restaurant is creating a safe environment for many people. Over 15 million Americans have a food allergy and most choose to eat-out at restaurants. Reactions can range from very mild symptoms, like sneezing, to life-threatening. It is important for people with a food allergy to feel safe in a restaurant where it is possible for them to get an allergic reaction. The more a restaurant shows that they care about the person's well being, the more they will feel comfortable.
BENEFITS:
Not only can a restaurant possibly save lives from adjusting the way that they deal with food allergies, they can benefit from doing so. One thing that can happen for a restaurant that tries its best to accommodate people with food allergies is that some people with a food allergy that go to the restaurant may notice their efforts and return multiple times. It is easy to gain someone's trust, if a restaurant can show them that they care. Once this happens, a loyal diner may tell their friends and family about the restaurant, whether those people have food allergies or not. Another big benefit for a restaurant is that it can be recognized and placed on a food allergy friendly restaurants website, like the website "AllergyEats". At this point many people can locate the restaurant through the internet and will likely choose the restaurant with the best customer rating.
By deciding to try its best to accommodate people with food allergies, a restaurant is creating a safe environment for many people. Over 15 million Americans have a food allergy and most choose to eat-out at restaurants. Reactions can range from very mild symptoms, like sneezing, to life-threatening. It is important for people with a food allergy to feel safe in a restaurant where it is possible for them to get an allergic reaction. The more a restaurant shows that they care about the person's well being, the more they will feel comfortable.
BENEFITS:
Not only can a restaurant possibly save lives from adjusting the way that they deal with food allergies, they can benefit from doing so. One thing that can happen for a restaurant that tries its best to accommodate people with food allergies is that some people with a food allergy that go to the restaurant may notice their efforts and return multiple times. It is easy to gain someone's trust, if a restaurant can show them that they care. Once this happens, a loyal diner may tell their friends and family about the restaurant, whether those people have food allergies or not. Another big benefit for a restaurant is that it can be recognized and placed on a food allergy friendly restaurants website, like the website "AllergyEats". At this point many people can locate the restaurant through the internet and will likely choose the restaurant with the best customer rating.
How can a restaurant become food allergy friendly?
IN THE KITCHEN:
Having a big kitchen is very helpful, but not necessary for a restaurant. To ensure that there is no cross-contact between foods, it is good to have separate stations and utensils for allergen free foods, away from the regular dishes. It is also useful if the the kitchen equipment is regularly cleaned, including the surface of tables. The employees in the kitchen should be aware of how cross-contact can occur. For example, an allergen can be transferred by a grill or even by steam. Another thing a kitchen of a restaurant can do is be open to changes in a dish, like taking out an ingredient if a customer is allergic to it.
OUT OF THE KITCHEN:
Most restaurants already do this for their customers, but it is always good to ask if anyone has a food allergy when they take the reservation and when they start ordering. Then, if someone does have an allergy, the waiter should be able to help guide the person on good item choices. It is also useful to know if the person that has a food allergy can get a reaction without eating the food (like touching it). It is good for employees to wash their hands whether they are making the allergen-free dish, or delivering it. All employees should receive proper training on food allergies as well. For example, employees should know the ingredients in the dishes and how to treat someone with an allergy. Training can be given by an expert or via an online course. Allergy treatments should be handy just in case of an emergency too. Overall, it is also good for everyone to be aware if someone has a food allergy, what it is, and what dish is theirs so it can be out of harms way.
MENUS:
Changing menus to list ingredients in certain dishes is very helpful. One way this is done is by making separate menus or sections on a menu. The category of a menu has to do with an allergy or just a grouping of food. For example, the sections may be similar to nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, etc. Another menu style is having symbols of those same categories labeled next to dishes to show what is in them. This makes it much easier for someone with a food allergy to order what they would like to eat.
Having a big kitchen is very helpful, but not necessary for a restaurant. To ensure that there is no cross-contact between foods, it is good to have separate stations and utensils for allergen free foods, away from the regular dishes. It is also useful if the the kitchen equipment is regularly cleaned, including the surface of tables. The employees in the kitchen should be aware of how cross-contact can occur. For example, an allergen can be transferred by a grill or even by steam. Another thing a kitchen of a restaurant can do is be open to changes in a dish, like taking out an ingredient if a customer is allergic to it.
OUT OF THE KITCHEN:
Most restaurants already do this for their customers, but it is always good to ask if anyone has a food allergy when they take the reservation and when they start ordering. Then, if someone does have an allergy, the waiter should be able to help guide the person on good item choices. It is also useful to know if the person that has a food allergy can get a reaction without eating the food (like touching it). It is good for employees to wash their hands whether they are making the allergen-free dish, or delivering it. All employees should receive proper training on food allergies as well. For example, employees should know the ingredients in the dishes and how to treat someone with an allergy. Training can be given by an expert or via an online course. Allergy treatments should be handy just in case of an emergency too. Overall, it is also good for everyone to be aware if someone has a food allergy, what it is, and what dish is theirs so it can be out of harms way.
MENUS:
Changing menus to list ingredients in certain dishes is very helpful. One way this is done is by making separate menus or sections on a menu. The category of a menu has to do with an allergy or just a grouping of food. For example, the sections may be similar to nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, etc. Another menu style is having symbols of those same categories labeled next to dishes to show what is in them. This makes it much easier for someone with a food allergy to order what they would like to eat.
What are some restaurants already doing?
NAMES:
Hugo's Restaurant, The Farm Stand, 2Good2Be, Asian Box.
These are just a few restaurants in California that have incorporated some elements into their restaurant to accommodate people with food allergies.
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
Hugo's Restaurant, The Farm Stand, 2Good2Be, Asian Box.
These are just a few restaurants in California that have incorporated some elements into their restaurant to accommodate people with food allergies.
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
- added symbols on menus to show an ingrediant
- willing to change an element of a dish to accommodate someone's needs
- always making a customer's allergy known
- have different menus for different allergens
- avoids cross-contact
- requires training of their staff
- The customer chooses all of the ingredients in their meal (Asian Box)
- has simple ingredients
- has different options for different allergens