"I Can’t Eat That… I Have An Allergy."

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            “I’m gluten-free…. I’m lactose intolerant… I have a peanut allergy”.  We consistently hear these phrases from people and a lot of times; people don’t know the difference between allergies and intolerances.  Food allergies cause a reaction in the immune system, triggering numerous organs in the body (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Intolerances tend to be limited to digestive issues and tend to be less severe than a food allergy (Mayo Clinic, 2019). Researchers approximate that 32 million Americans have food allergies, 5.6 million of those people being children under 18. About 40% of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one food (FARE, 2019).   There are eight major food allergens:  milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, treenuts, peanuts. These are marked on menus and ingredient labels.  
            Many restaurants and fast-food joints have added gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, soy-free, and dairy-free options to their menus. This helps customers out soooo much! Just imagine: you are at a restaurant and have a history of being intolerant to gluten and lactose intolerant. You have to eat out at restaurants, because you are traveling with your friends and don’t know if a food is safe for you to eat. You walk into the restaurant, sit down at the table, and find that there is a separate allergens menu. Score! 
            It’s become more common and a customer expectation that restaurants have an allergen menu, as allergens and intolerances are becoming more prevalent in our society.  Food allergies and intolerances are not widely understood by the public and still being deciphered by doctors, dietitians, and other health professionals.  With allergen menus and more allergen-free options, eating out has become much more accessible to those with food allergies and food intolerances


            JB

References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-allergy/expert-answers/food-allergy/faq-20058538

https://www.foodallergy.org/life-with-food-allergies/food-allergy-101/facts-and-statistics

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