Worry Free Dinners Caters To Food Allergy Sufferers
Food allergy sufferers in New York City have inspired a series of meals that can give anyone with a peanut allergy - or sensitivity to other common allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, gluten and soy - some peace of mind.
Worry Free Dinners lastest meal at Blue Smoke, a popular restaurant in New York City, is featured by CNN this week as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers current food ingredient labels. Since 2006, food processors have been required to put a list of all ingredients, but experts think they should go even further.
Worry Free Dinners is the answer to allergy sufferers who have lived in fear of an allergy-provoking ingredient whenever they go out. In this new dinner format, there’s little need to pester servers and chefs about every last ingredient.
With 12 million people who have food allergies in the United States according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), organizers of Worry Free Dinners hope to take the concept to other cities.
Experts are concerned about the increase in allergies triggered through inhalants and ingestion. After all, severe reactions can send a person into a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. Many people carry epinephrine (such as an EpiPen) to administer to themselves immediately in case symptoms of anaphylaxis occur.
Sloane Miller, lead organizer of Worry Free Dinners and better known as the Allergic Girl blogger, told CNN that she does the worrying ahead of time for her participants as she meets with the chef and restaurant to go over the menu. After the meal, including a generous tip, she calls the restaurant and thanks them for their help.
The lasting benefit for all involved is that restaurants and their personnel learn more about food allergies and the importance of being sensitive to those with the condition. Miller told CNN, “”That changes how they run their kitchen.”
September 16, 2008 – 2:56 pm
