Do Restaurants Overlook Food Allergies?

Do Restaurants Overlook Food Allergies?

I have personally gone to many restaurants and have had multiple annoying encounters with my food allergies. The restaurant does not inform you through their employees nor their menu about what is in their dishes. On many occasions I have informed a waiter or chef that I have a peanut allergy and have asked if I should eat a certain dish; they never know. Not only does this pose a threat to me, but also them as well! If I have an allergy attack then they are the ones responsible! It is almost dangerous for me to go out to eat.

Many people also suffering from food allergies are facing the same disturbing situations as I am. I have read multiple allergy sites and health care websites on food allergies; and it is a very big problem among others, not just me! Also, the Huffington Post stated, "It's challenging for kitchens to accommodate special requests that require significant time (such as scrubbing down prep surfaces, dishware, etc.). But people with severe allergies deserve an occasional meal out of the house as well.” Both of these statements are very true regarding the dangers of food allergies and the different aspects that make enjoying a meal so difficult. However, ResPro food safety professionals argued with the fact that "Most allergic reactions happen in restaurants because either the customer didn’t properly alert the restaurant of his or her allergy or the restaurant didn’t properly inform the customer of certain allergens in the food." All of these problems could be avoided by the restaurant posting allergy information.

I want to research this topic because it is close to my heart in the fact that I suffer from food allergies myself. I understand the inconvenience of having an allergy attack and most of all the discomfort. Another site argues, "More and more, food allergies are becoming a big issue. As it is now, around 15 million people have a food allergy, and this number is growing." The statistics show that food allergies are a huge and rapidly growing problem, so why not implement an easy way to fix all of these problems? By adding allergy information to each dish in a restaurant many food risks could be avoided. The amount of people that cannot enjoy a meal outside of their house is ridiculous. I want to research this topic to feel better about going out to eat not only for myself but for the 15 million other people that struggle day to day with the same issues I face. It is not only irritating but considerably dangerous and needs to have an end put to it.

Works Cited

            AllergyEats Blog.  Should Restaurants post allergy info?  .  29 January 2013 <http://www.allergyeats.com/blog/index.php/should-restaurants-post-ingredient-info-marc-certainly-thinks-so/>.

            Huffington Post.  How should restaurants accommodate food allergies?  2013.  29 January 2013 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/restaurants-allergies_n_974547.html>.

            ResPro the food safety professionals.  Restaurants: Provide Allergy Info to Protect Customers and Your Business.  January, 20, 2013.  29 January 2013 <http://resprofsp.com/restaurants-provide-allergy-info-to-protect-customers-and-your-business/>.