Helpline95% of people living with food allergy would feel more confident eating out at a food outlet that was recognised by Allergy UK’s Allergy Aware Scheme. (Allergy UK, ‘Eating out with food allergy or intolerance’, 2016)
Before you make a reservation:
- Call ahead: Research the restaurant that you are planning to visit and check out menu options online. Call the restaurant to prior, ideally speaking to a manager or head chef, asking about the meals that would be most suitable for your allergies. This is also an opportunity to ask about how the food is prepared, whether cross contamination with allergens is controlled and if all of their staff are allergy trained.
- Cuisine: There are some food allergens that are commonly found in certain foods and cuisines. A restaurant may serve food without these allergens as an ingredient, but cross contamination risks could be exceedingly high. For example, all dishes in a seafood restaurant are likely to be contaminated with fish and/or shellfish. In Asian cuisine, there is likely to be an elevated risk if you have a nut allergy. It is also best to avoid buffets or salad bars due to shared utensils and the potential cross-contamination.
- Recipes: Recipes at restaurants you regularly visit can change at any time without warning, it’s always best to be cautious and check before ordering. Ingredients in classic dishes can also vary between different restaurants, if you have safely eaten a dish in one restaurant, it cannot guarantee it will be safe to eat in another restaurant as it may not be cooked the same way, use the same recipe or have the same cross-contamination risks. So always ask and make your allergies known to staff.
- Events: If you are planning to attend a catered event, ask in advance if they can provide an allergy friendly menu option for you. If it would make you feel more confident, ask if you can bring your own food.
- Times: Where possible, avoid eating out in a crowded restaurant. During busy periods, it’s more difficult to speak with the management or a chef. When the restaurant is busy, the chefs are more likely to make a mistake.
- Prepare for emergencies: Remember to take your two emergency adrenaline devices with you and have them on you at all times. It would be best if at least one person you are eating with is aware of your allergies, how best to support you and how to use your emergency adrenaline device.
When you arrive:
- Talk to management: Preferably, the manager or the chef you previously spoke to on the phone. If you didn’t have the time to call the restaurant beforehand, ask to speak with the manager or head chef straight away. Be open and honest, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about when explaining your allergy. Make absolutely sure that your food will not come into contact with an allergen in the kitchen that you are allergic to. Ask the chef to use clean pans, utensils and fresh oil.
- Translation cards: If you are eating out abroad, our translation cards can help make sure others are made aware of your allergy despite any language barriers. Purchase them here.
- If you are not confident: If at any time, when speaking to a member of staff about your allergy, you are worried by their response or lack of understanding about allergies, it may be safer to leave or not to eat.
Placing your order:
- Safest dishes: Simple dishes like grilled or roast meat (served without marinades or sauces), steamed vegetables and potatoes, and fresh fruit for dessert are the safest options.
- Wine: If you or your table plans to order wine, make sure to double-check the label before diving in. To remove sediments from wine, a clarification procedure called “fining” is used, which may include egg whites or casein (a milk protein). However, these must be mentioned on the label by law.
- Send it back: When your meal arrives, check over it carefully before eating to make sure that it is exactly what you ordered. Don’t be afraid to send your food back if you see or smell an ingredient that you are allergic too. Tell the staff your concern and ask for a new plate of freshly made food, clearly explain that removing the ingredient from the plate and returning the same plate is not safe and that you could still have an allergic reaction.
Report a food problem
Caterers must provide clear and accurate information about the ingredients in the dishes they serve to their customers. If you believe that you have been served a dish containing an allergen, despite making your requirements clear, you should notify the local Trading Standards authority in which the food business is based.
Visit the FSA website to report a food problem
Allergy UK also want to hear about incidents like this, so email us at [email protected]
