How to know if a restaurant takes food allergies seriously

16th November 2022

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.

Can you prevent allergies in your newborn baby?

22nd July 2020

Can you prevent allergies in your newborn baby?

Being the parent of a newborn baby can be a stressful time. Wrapped up in that bundle of joy is the worry about their health. One thing in particular that has gripped parents is the fear of a deadly food allergy or anything else they might be allergic to.

And it’s no surprise; it’s believed that 1 in 4 people in the UK have an allergy at some point in their lives. This is part of a wider trend of more and more people being diagnosed with allergies. It’s estimated that food allergy cases have risen by 50% in the past decade. But is there any way to prevent allergies in your newborn baby?

The mother’s diet

Some advice that you might see thrown about is to restrict what you eat while you’re pregnant. You would stop eating food that your child could be allergic to, such as peanuts, eggs, or dairy. This advice is false. There is no strong evidence that restricting what you eat will help your baby avoid allergies. This goes for after the birth when you’re breastfeeding – eat away!

Breastfeeding

Speaking of which, you should breastfeed your baby if you can, for at least the first six or so months, if not well beyond that. It isn’t likely to cause an allergic reaction in your infant and has great benefits to their immune system. It also has benefits for the mother and is a great way to build a strong bond with your new child. As for how it affects allergies, it’s not big enough to cause concern; you can’t pass your allergy down through the milk.

Introducing new foods

The right time to introduce solid foods to your child is at about six months old. If they can support their head, they should be fine with new foods. They shouldn’t be completely solid; try mushed-up food, pastes, or other popular baby food. Some say you shouldn’t introduce likely allergy triggers such as peanuts, eggs, or dairy, but research actually shows the opposite.

It recommends giving them to your child when they’re used to more solid food, trying one at a time. Delaying feeding them to your baby might actually increase the likelihood of them developing an allergy.

Asthma

It’s not a food allergy but is a common ailment in children, affecting 1 in 11 kids. To give your child the best chances of avoiding it, you should keep asthma triggers away from them if you can. This might mean taking the carpet out of their bedroom and using wooden or wood-effect floors to remove dust mites. Regularly wash their bedding and pillows (at least once a week). And this one goes without saying – don’t smoke around them.

If you’re scared about your child’s health, don’t be. By being sensible, you can make sure your baby has a normal life. If you ever have any allergy concerns, get in touch with your doctor for their expert advice. Just give your child the best life and if they do ever develop allergies, you can follow the advice in some of our other blogs.

Your child can still live a normal life with an allergy. If you want to talk to an allergy specialist, reach out to us on 02031 433 449.

Food allergies in plain English: a guide for parents and carers

28th August 2019

Food allergies in plain English: a guide for parents and carers

If you’re new to the world of allergies, we know they can be confusing. If you’re caring for your first child with allergies, there are several important things to know. Around 7% of British children have a food allergy. Sometimes, it can be hard to get straight to the relevant information online. We’ve written this guide in plain English so it’s easy to understand, and you can get some helpful tips on how to deal with a child with a food allergy.

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy is an immune system reaction to a particular food (the allergen). This means if your child ingests the food, or sometimes even comes into contact with particles from it, they will experience an allergic reaction. These reactions can be severe and immediate, which is known as anaphylaxis, and this can be deadly. It can also take a little longer, with milder symptoms including a rash, hives, swollen face, lips, or eyes, a blocked nose, watering eyes, or stomach pain for example. 

What is anaphylaxis?

This is a type of allergic reaction which may cause your child to find it difficult to breathe, come out in hives or a rash, develop swollen lips or tongue, to faint, vomit, or feel like something awful is about to happen. It can be fatal. If you think your child is having an anaphylactic reaction, call the emergency services and administer any emergency allergy medication the child uses, such as their Epipen. 

What problems can a food allergy cause a child?

Some children might benefit from seeking the help of a dietician, particularly if they have several allergies, because they might struggle to get all the essential nutrients they need. This is particularly important for young infants who have a milk allergy.

Is there a cure for food allergies?

Although researchers work continuously to find the answer to an allergy cure, there isn’t one just yet. However, you should visit an allergy specialist to find the best treatments available to your child which can greatly improve their quality of life and reduce any risks. You can also:

• Teach your child about their allergy
• Teach all their caregivers about the allergy
• Speak to a professional allergist who can advise you on how best to manage the allergy

The best way to combat the risk from a food allergy is to make sure everyone is educated on the subject. You can use this guide to help you inform other people about the child’s allergy, helping to keep them safe throughout the day.

If you have more questions, the consultants at the London Allergy and Immunology Centre are happy to help. They can test your child for allergies and provide the best treatments and advice to keep them safe. All you need to do is book an appointment by calling 0203 143 3449.

What causes food allergies and intolerances?

10th March 2018

What causes food allergies and intolerances?

The experience of a food intolerance can be uncomfortable. It can result in itching, swelling, rashes and other annoying symptoms. For those with serious allergies, it can result in anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. So what causes our bodies to take such extreme action against seemingly harmless substances? This question is worth asking, but the answers to it are not completely understood yet. But we can look at what part our own antibodies play.

Common causes

We do know that allergic reactions occur when the immune system incorrectly perceives something as a threat to the body. This results in an overreaction to the substance, resulting in your immune system releasing antibodies. These antibodies trigger the release of protective chemicals. They are the cause of your unfortunate runny nose and watering eyes. Your immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work in unison to defend the body from harmful invaders. If the immune system were to break down, we would be severely susceptible to disease. Even mild infections like the common cold could kill us.

This defence system has evolved over thousands of years to be incredibly effective at protecting the human body. So how can something as simple as a nut or a glass of milk cause the whole system to turn on itself? Some scientists argue that the most common food allergens contain the same proteins. These are the proteins that cause allergic reactions. Nuts, seeds, shellfish, corn, milk, soy, eggs, and wheat are among the most common food allergies. They appear so different on the surface, yet they all share the same proteins. The proteins in question are more visible to the immune system than other proteins. For people with food allergies, the detection of these proteins triggers the release of Immunoglobulin antibodies.

The science behind antibodies

These IgE antibodies are usually the first line of defence against parasites, but in this case, they are misidentifying the food as a threat. When Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is produced, it occupies receptors on mast cells that, in the presence of the allergens, release histamine. That triggers symptoms like swelling, rashes, itching, and anaphylactic shock within seconds or minutes. There is a range of evidence to suggest that these types of allergies may be hereditary. Although children may not be allergic to the same foods as their parents, research suggests that parents with IgE-mediated allergies are more likely to have children with IgE-mediated allergies.

With large allergic reactions to food, it may seem obvious what is causing the problem. However, more subtle reactions can allow a food allergy to go undiagnosed for some time and there may be some confusion over what is causing your symptoms. But, there are ways to see what may be causing the reaction. 

If you are concerned that you may be suffering from a food allergy, book an appointment with one of our consultants today.