What Restaurants Can Do To Assist Customers Who Need To Avoid Certain Foods

Restaurateurs can help people with food allergies enjoy a safe meal by following some thoughtful procedures.

1. When asked about the ingredients in a food item, fully describe the item and its preparation, including any "secret" ingredients used.

2. If you do not know that a menu item is free of an offending food substance, say so. Urge the customer to order some other item.

3. Foods for allergy sufferers should be prepared and served with absolutely no contact with threatening food. All cook and service ware must be absolutely clean if there is to be no contamination.

4. Sauces, dressings and garnishes may cause an allergic response. Serve menu items to allergy sufferers as simply as possible. Sauces and garnishes should be served on the side.

It is important to educate your entire staff about food allergies and about the ingredients in your menu items. Still, a specific manager or chef during each shift should be designated to answer guest questions about ingredients. The responsible staff member should speak directly to the guest whenever possible to avoid miscommunication. In some instances, he or she might offer to let guests see labels on labeled ingredients, so that they can assess the situation for themselves.

When speaking to an allergy sufferer- particularly children- be attentive and concerned, but do not express sympathy. It is not appropraite to say, "How terrible it must be never to be able to eat such and such." For the allergy sufferer, that is simply a fact of life. An accurate, professional response to the inquiry is usually appreciated.