How to know if a restaurant takes food allergies seriously

Posted: 16th November 2022 | Posted by Costa

How to know if a restaurant takes food allergies seriously

When you have a food allergy, eating out can be a risk and huge source of anxiety. And if this describes you, we wouldn’t blame you. If you accidentally trigger your allergies, it can cause great discomfort or, at worst, death. So it’s no surprise that some people just choose not to dine out at all.

But maybe you don’t want to do that. Maybe you want to go out and enjoy yourself. And you deserve to do that! So how can you ensure you’re as safe as possible? How can you make sure that any restaurant you go to will treat your food allergies seriously? Let’s take a look at some of our advice.

Know your laws

First, it pays to know your food allergy related laws. There are two main ones that have come about in recent years, with one in particular worth knowing. 

Natasha’s Law is the first. Named for Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after eating a pre-packaged baguette, it dictates that any food business selling pre-packaged foods must include a full ingredient list on the label.

Owen’s Law, named for Owen Carey who died after eating a burger containing buttermilk, makes it so restaurants in the UK are legally obligated to include information about the top 14 allergens on their menus. This is particularly important in this blog. If you can’t find this information, it tells you that this restaurant isn’t taking your condition seriously. In fact, they would be specifically flouting the law.

Call ahead

Having a food allergy means you have to get good at putting your foot down and not being afraid to say what needs to be said. So don’t think twice about calling ahead to a restaurant. Try to speak to either the manager or head chef.

The reason for this is you’re trying to gauge their reaction. If they’re happy to talk with you respectfully, and answer any questions, you know that they’re serious. They don’t have to be difficult questions; just a few lowball allergy questions to see if they’re on the ball.

Make yourself known

Similarly, when you first arrive, try to talk to someone in person. Preferably the same person you talked to on the phone. This allows you to re-establish your allergy needs and judge face-to-face whether they’re following protocol.

Now is a good time to ask deeper questions, such as how they prepare allergy-specific food. Throw in a couple of keywords, such as “cross-contamination”, to see how they respond. You want to find out that they prepare allergen-free food in a separate area to prevent the possibility of cross-contamination. If you don’t find their answer believable, don’t be afraid to leave.

What information is available?

The menu is a good place to start, as per Owen’s Law. But also look out for other good signs. Is allergy information easy to see around the restaurant, such as right as you walk in? Do staff ask you about any allergies as soon as you sit down?

These are good signs that the restaurant has specific rules to avoid any allergy attacks. It shows they’re aware of how serious this is and are acting professionally. If information is hard to find or staff don’t really know what they’re talking about when it comes to allergies, it shows you they don’t have something as simple as allergy-aversion training.

This is your life, and you deserve to be able to live it free from worry. So don’t settle for less when it comes to dining out. The more you practise these skills, the better you’ll be at judging restaurants. And the better you are, the safer you’ll be.

Don’t let your allergies bring you down. If you ever need any more advice on how to work around your food allergies, get in touch with us on 02031 433 449.