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August 23, 2006

Restaurants And Food Allergies...a Problem?

Restaurants And Food Allergies...a Problem?
by Verona Raymond

Why don’t restaurants know what ingredients are in their food?

I have been allergic to dairy products among other things for
quite a few years. So when I visit restaurants, I always
politely request “no cheese, or sour cream.” The next thing you
know I get an entrée with a cream sauce on it. Most food servers
don’t even know that this contains dairy products!

Since the menus are never explicit about exactly what the
allergen ingredients are in the entrees, I will ask the food
server if a certain dish has dairy products in it if I’m not
sure. Sometimes I’ll ask if it contains something else I am
allergic to. They automatically look at you like you are the
pickiest person on the planet! Then I have to explain that I am
allergic to dairy products and other certain ingredients. They
will get a concerned look, and tell me that they will talk to
the chef to find out what is in the entrée I am questioning.

They usually come back to the table and explain that the chef
doesn’t know what is in some of the sauces or ingredients
because they are sent to them pre-packaged or bottled. So I
sometimes take a chance and order an entrée thinking that it is
okay. Even tarter sauce for fish sometimes is made with sour
cream, even though I like it made with mayonnaise and I’ve had
to stop eating it after trying it out.

One time I ordered dinner that I was allergic to unknowingly
and immediately I started getting a reaction and had them take
it away, I then just ate the bread that came with the meal. I
was very pleased when they took my order off the bill, but it
could have been avoided in the first place if they would have
been more knowledgeable about the ingredients.

I really appreciate the fact that it is now mandatory that the
allergen ingredients are listed on most all types of products
in the grocery stores! Especially when the label plainly states
that the product contains milk, instead of having to read
through the long list of ingredients that often list milk as
“whey” or “casein.” When you are allergic to dairy products
especially, it is always wise to learn the different terms for
dairy because not all products are plainly written on the food
labels. Some products say “dairy free” on the front label but
the ingredients label lists casein, so the labels need to be
checked thoroughly.

While we are on the subject of food labels with allergen
information, a thought comes into my mind (okay…I’ve been
thinking about this for a long time!) Why aren’t restaurants
required to list the allergen ingredients plainly on the menus
next to the entrée description? Are we allergy sufferers asking
too much?

I guess if I didn’t have food allergies, I wouldn’t really care
whether the restaurants did or not. But if a person does ever
experience what it feels like having an instant food allergy
reaction or some of the “soon to follow” reactions, they would
really want this information on all restaurant menus.

How extremely nice it would be to not have to bother the food
server, and have a dinner where I wouldn’t have to be worrying
whether or not, I am going to pass out, have difficulty
breathing or worse!

Food allergies are more and more common everyday. I am for
getting this valuable information on all restaurant menus! When
will this happen? Soon I hope.

About The Author: Verona maintains several websites including a
Food Allergy and Colitis website with a forum, plus a Christian
website. Both are filled with expert articles and information.
She currently enjoys writing her own articles available for
publication. This article may be reprinted freely as long as
all links remain active. http://foodallergyandcolitis.com
http://christianarticles.christianrhapsody.com
http://christianrhapsodyblog.blogspot.com

Posted by Willie Crawford, The Most Trusted Guy On The Internet!

Posted by Willie Crawford at August 23, 2006 07:58 AM

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