Eating out with food allergies

Eating out with a food allergy doesn't have to be a challenge, with a little planning and some sensible know-how, the risk of an allergic reaction when eating out can be minimised.

Join Maria Said, CEO, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, Alan Edwards, Senior Food Incident Response & Complaints Co-ordinator, NSW Department of Primary Industries, and Justin Wurth, Food Safety Manager from International Convention Centre Sydney in a panel discussion talking all things food service and food allergy.

There are many strategies you can put in place to help reduce the risk of an allergic reaction when eating out. Plan ahead and educate those around you about your allergies.

Read our Eating Out with Food Allergies brochure for practical information and strategies you can use when enjoying a meal out.

Careful planning, asking the right questions and declaring your allergy will decrease your risk of having a reaction when eating out.

A&AA has put together the top 10 tips to help minimise the risk of reaction when enjoying a meal out.

Communication tools, such as our Chef Cards, are useful when disclosing your allergy in restaurants, cafes, clubs and pubs etc.

Simply download the card, add your food allergies, print it out and give it to food service staff when dining.

The wait staff should give your personalised card to the chef and the card should be returned with your meal to help make sure the right meal is given to the right person.

Online ordering presents unique challenges and risks to those with food allergy and their carers.

Our Online Ordering and Precautions for the Consumer with Food Allergies help sheet provides clear, simple information to help you make informed decisions when ordering food online, or through delivery apps.

Do you know what your responsibilities are as a consumer when eating out or purchasing packaged food?

The Food Allergen Management Consensus Statement outlines the responsibilities of consumers, food manufacturers and food service providers in regard to food allergen management. Food allergen management is a shared responsibility and it is our hope that this statement will help to improve safety of people living with food allergy in Australia.

It is important that food service providers have a strong understanding of food allergen management, however people with food allergy also need to take all reasonable steps to eat out safely. Eating out and letting others prepare your food always increases risk of an allergic reaction, but there are many steps that can be put in place to reduce that risk.

Nobody can ever guarantee food is 100% safe to eat. There may be accidental cross contamination in the kitchen or ingredient storage area, ingredient labels may be incorrect or a meal may be made safely and then given to the wrong diner.  Eating out is a bit like managing the risk when you go out in your car.  There are lots of things you can do to increase safety, but it does not mean an accident will never happen.  If you are well informed and always prepared, you can eat out and enjoy the experience.

Remember to always have your adrenaline (epinephrine) injector with you (if prescribed). Always follow instructions on your ASCIA Action Plan if you develop signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction.

What to do if you experience an allergic reaction after eating out?

If you experience an allergic reaction as a result of food served to you in a food service facility, after having disclosed your allergy, you can report it to your state health department. The health department will then refer the complaint to the appropriate local council for investigation.

Our comprehensive flow chart provides step by step instructions on how to report an allergic reaction you experienced when dining out.