Can I Eat There?

EggNog without the egg!?!

2010-12-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

Here's some good news for those us that have had to give up eggs but miss eggnog... and there's some options for non-dairy folks too!

Theme Parks

2008-08-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Parks are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a theme park please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Santa Claus, Indiana
Web Site

Allergy Friendly

Evansville Courier & Press
August 25, 2008

Holiday World being honored for food allergy efforts

Staff report

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, which has won kudos in theme park circles for its its cleanliness and friendliness and for pioneering free soft drinks and suntan lotion for its guests, has another honor under its belt.

The Santa Claus, Ind., park will be recognized Wednesday in Evansville by the Tri-State Allergy and Anaphylaxis Support Group for "going the extra mile" and introducing an allergen-friendly menu this summer.

Kim Moors, president of the support group, said her board began working with the theme park last year on ways to accommodate food-allergic guests. It's estimated 12 million Americans have food allergies, which can be life threatening.

She said by offering some specialty items, educating its food staff and making ingredient and cross-contamination information available, Holiday World eased the anxiety levels of many families and brought a taste of normalcy to a day at the park.

Holiday World matriarch Pat Koch has a granddaughter who suffers from food allegies.

The support group plans to present Koch with its 2008 Food Allergy Excellence Award on Wednesday during the fifth annual "Back to School with Food Allergies" presentation at Welborn Clinic.

-- Rich Davis

Read More about their food allergy efforts on their Restaurants & Food Outlets page.

Indiana

2008-08-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Indiana restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Web Site

Allergy Friendly

Evansville Courier & Press
August 25, 2008

Holiday World being honored for food allergy efforts

Staff report

Holiday World matriarch Pat Koch has a granddaughter who suffers from food allegies.

The support group plans to present Koch with its 2008 Food Allergy Excellence Award on Wednesday during the fifth annual "Back to School with Food Allergies" presentation at Welborn Clinic.

-- Rich Davis

Read More about their food allergy efforts on their Restaurants & Food Outlets page.

Restaurant Training for Food Allergies

2008-08-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

Press Release

Editor's Note: Ask the resturants you attend if there staff has been through this training, if not encourage them to take part. It will make eating out safer for everyone.

Eating Out With Food Allergies is a Challenge, But Everyone Can Do Their Part

FAIRFAX, Va., Aug 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Eating Out With Food Allergies is a Challenge, But Everyone Can Do Their Part

With one in 25 Americans reporting a food allergy, restaurants are increasingly likely to have customers who require a special meal. Welcoming Guests With Food Allergies provides tools to train restaurant staff to safely prepare and serve food to guests with food allergies.

"The updated and revised Welcoming Guests guide is an absolute must-have for restaurants and consumers. It manages to be comprehensive while staying user-friendly," said Ming Tsai, chef and owner of Blue Ginger. "Everyone in the food service industry should read this guide - it could save a life."

Available free for download from www.foodallergy.org, this comprehensive program is an updated and revised version of an earlier training program published by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). This 60-page guide includes case studies, best practices, up-to-date research, food labeling information, and practical strategies for avoiding cross-contact, as well as suggested procedures for keeping guests safe and steps to prepare for an allergic emergency. Restaurants can use this guide as a basis for their food allergy management programs.

"Studies show that reactions in restaurants are often caused by lack of staff education about food allergy. In a number of situations, the guests did not inform the staff of their allergy. Serving guests with food allergies requires staff education and clear communication between guests and staff," said Anne Munoz-Furlong, Founder and CEO of FAAN. "This training program helps staff achieve those goals so everyone can have an enjoyable and safe restaurant meal."

FAAN originally developed the program in cooperation with the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and its members. According to the NRA, nearly half of the money Americans spend on food is spent in restaurants.

"The National Restaurant Association - and the restaurant industry as a whole - recognizes that food allergies are an important issue and that educating staff is crucial to ensuring proper attention to guests with food allergies," said Sheila Weiss, R.D., director of nutrition policy for the NRA. "We strongly encourage consumers to communicate their food allergies to restaurant staff and discuss concerns and alternatives. Being in the hospitality industry, we want every guest to have a safe and enjoyable experience."

For more information on food allergies or to download Welcoming Guests With Food Allergies, visit http://www.foodallergy.org. A training video for restaurant and food service staff is also available for purchase in English and Spanish.

September is National Food Safety Education Month, presented by the National Restaurant Association. This month-long campaign is held every September and focuses on the importance of food safety education for the restaurant and food service industry, while raising public awareness of the industry's commitment to food safety. This year's theme is "Take Action to Prevent an Allergic Reaction." For more information, visit http://www.servsafe.com/nfsem.

ABOUT FAAN

Founded in 1991, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in information about food allergy, a potentially fatal condition that afflicts about 12 million Americans, or one out of every 25. A nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., FAAN has 30,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and 62 other countries. It is dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to educating people about the condition, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by it. FAAN provides information and educational resources about food allergy to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. For more information, please visit FAAN at http://www.foodallergy.org, http://www.faankids.org, and http://www.faanteen.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION

The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 945,000 restaurant and food service outlets and a work force of 13.1 million employees - making it the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities, and community involvement. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate, and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our website at http://www.restaurant.org.

Milwaukee

2008-08-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Milwaukee restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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In the News....

Here is good article from the Milwaukee Business Journal that talks about local restaurants and how they handle customers with food allergies.

Restaurants cook up ways to accommodate food allergies
August 8, 2008
By Elizabeth Heubeck
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/11/
focus5.html?b=1218427200%5E1682406

How to Take Your Food Allergies Out to Dinner

2008-08-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

How to Take Your Food Allergies Out to Dinner
Wall Street Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/08/06/how-to-take-your-food-
allergies-out-to-dinner/

Horray for Jelly Belly!!

2008-07-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

The goal of this blog is, of course, to provide info on eating out with a food allergy, but every once and a while we like to share another experience.

I am currently about six months pregnant and am preparing to do my glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. My doctor gave me a fruit punch glucola drink to take for the test... well, it contains brominated vegetable oil. Whenever I see vegetable oil I am immediately on alert. So I looked it up, sure enough it is made from soybeans. So, since I have a soy allergy, I am hesitant to drink to it (not mention it contains all kinds of other strange ingredients that I've never heard of). I called my doctor and asked, "Is there anything else I can eat or drink for the test?" Her reply: eat 63 Jelly Bellys in 3 minutes.

But, of course, I need to check those for soy too. So this morning I emailed Jelly Belly through the Ask a Question page on their web site. Given my recent experience with Jimmy John's and their contact us page, I wasn't hopeful. But VOILA! within an hour I had a reply from a real person!! Only two flavors of Jelly Belly contain soy - Chocolate Pudding and Dark Chocolate. Jelly Belly's advice: "We have a couple of brown colored beans - Chocolate Pudding, Dark Chocolate, and A&W Root beer, so as long as you stay away from the brown colored beans, you should be alright!"

Thanks Jelly Belly for being so on top of it!!!

FYI... Jelly Belly does have other information on other common allergens on its FAQ page.

Review: Specialgourmets.com - New Web Site for Eating Out with a Food Allergy

2008-07-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

Editor's Note: I got this press release today about a new web site offering basically the same thing we offer here on Can I Eat There?, information on where to eat out with a food allergy. So I was anxious to check it out. I went to the site and tested it out for restaurants, etc. offering soy-free options (that's my allergy). Well, only about 5 places in the whole world came up and when I looked closer it was actually giving me gluten free options, not soy-free options. Maybe they are still working out the kinks in the site (?), so I'll check back again in a month or so. I'm all for resources for eating out, especially while traveling, but my initial review of Specialgourmets.com... good idea, but not helpful. Check it out and let me know if you have a different experience. In the meantime, we'll continue to keep our blog updated and easy to use. I posted the press release below.

Eating Out Gets Easier For People with Food Allergies and Celiac Disease

New online community makes dining and traveling an easier, safer and more pleasant experience for those with special diets.

Sao Paulo, Brazil (PRWEB) July 24, 2008 -- Origem Scientifica, a scientific consultancy company specializing in health research and data analysis, is pleased to announce the launch of Specialgourmets.com (http://specialgourmets.com/Publish/index.php?lang=EN), a community-driven guide aimed at making eating out and traveling a safer and easier experience for people with food allergies and celiac disease.

Born out of the founder's own need for such a resource, Specialgourmets (http://specialgourmets.com/Publish/index.php?lang=EN) is an innovative Web application built with the information and feedback from users themselves, who can use the guide to share their experiences and contribute to make eating out an easier and safer experience for those with these dietary restrictions.

With the help of a map platform, users can:

* Search for suitable places (restaurants, hotels and shops) in any geographic region

* Add new establishments where they had positive experiences

* Rate and review the places listed

* Edit the information about a place

* Print lists to take when traveling

* Share their favorites and receive e-mail alerts about new places suitable for their diets in a chosen area or about new reviews about specific establishments.

Specialgourmets has been initially launched in English, Spanish and Portuguese, but plans to include other languages soon.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from some kind of food allergy (such as those to tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, soy, fish and shellfish) or from celiac disease, an auto-immune condition triggered by the ingestion of gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley). For these people, even tiny amounts of the wrong food can make them ill or, in the more serious cases, be potentially fatal.

With these factors in mind, eating out and traveling is not only limited but can turn into a stressful and even dangerous situation. According to the founder of Specialgourmets and biologist Cynthia Schuck (PhD, Oxford University), finding a place that can safely accommodate these special diets can be hard, and there is no one better to make a suggestion than people sharing the same restrictions.

The map guide is the first of its kind in this sector and is being launched simultaneously in many countries.

"By providing a number of technological resources and tools to enable users to easily share their experiences, as well as a comprehensive search and alert system, Specialgourmets should make it easier for those with food allergies and celiac disease to enjoy the culinary riches of the world," said Schuck.

Another aim of the Web site is to facilitate the search for associations and support groups acting on particular areas and, therefore, support the wonderful work performed by these entities in raising awareness about the problem. The Web site also features a section on tips that users can follow to make their dining experiences safer, as well as customizable chef cards and a summary of basic procedures that food caterers should have in place to serve allergen-free and gluten-free meals.

All services are free, both for users and for establishment owners.

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Chef raises allergy awareness - Altoona Mirror Article

2008-07-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

Chef raises allergy awareness
By Jimmy Mincin
Altoona Mirror
July 23, 2008
http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/
509406.html?nav=738

"Safe" Places to Eat with a Peanut Allergy

2008-07-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

Check out the July 2008 "Safe" Places to Eat with a Peanut Allergy posting on Peanut Allergy Kid for information on where to eat with a peanut allergy.

http://www.peanutallergykid.com/2008/07/
safe-places-to-eat-with-peanut-allergy.html

Peanut-Free Baseball in Illinois

2008-07-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Kudos to Kane County Cougar General Manager Jeff Sedivy for his efforts to bring baseball to kids (and adults) with food allergies! Read more about it...

Event allows safe game viewing for allergic kids
Kate Thayer, Kane County Chronicle
http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/07/17/news/local/
doc487ed2717e473228391035.txt

Food Allergy Death at Ruby Tuesday

2008-07-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some links to news coverage about the man with a shellfish allergy who died of anaphylaxis after eating crab at a Ruby Tuesday in Lovejoy, GA earlier this month.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2008/07/07/shellfish_0708.html

FOX News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,378064,00.html

BlogBreak: http://www.ajc.com/ajcjobs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/
jobsblog/entries/2008/07/10/mistakes_on_the_job_who_should.html

Ruby Tuesday does provide information on gluten-free, dairy-free and peanut-free menu items in the FAQ section on its Contact Us page. No information is available for other common allergens.

Editor's Note: Nowhere in any of this coverage do I see a mention that the man made it very clear to the server that he had a shellfish allergy. Don't forget, your life is in your hands... if you have a severe food allergy make sure anyone who has anything to do with what you're about to eat knows it. When eating at restaurant clearly explain your allergy to your server- and the manager if necessary.

Summer Eating with a Food Allergy

2008-07-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a good reminder for those of us with allergies that hope to grab a bite at those many fairs and festivals that summer brings.

Food allergy sufferers must be on alert at fairs
Kimberly Hayes Taylor/The Detroit News
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/LIFESTYLE03/807140306

Sandwich Chains

2008-07-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Sandwich Chain please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Jimmy John's
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Will not provide allergen information for menu items

Editor's Note: I recently contacted Jimmy John's to request allergen information for their menu items. This is the response I got via email.

"We do not give out ingredient lists. - Jimmy Johns"

I followed up with an email saying I didn't need specific ingredient information, just information on common allergens, I got no response.

If you are looking for a sub fix, many of the other national sandwich chains do list allergen information on their web sites. See links to that information in "Sandwich Chains" list in the right rail of this blog.

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Subway
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Beware of cross contamination

Article about one person's experience dining out at Subway with a food allergy...

Subway: You’ll need to be extra careful if you want to "eat fresh".
Providence Food Allergy Examiner
August 29, 2008

Restaurant profile: Made to order sandwiches with fresh bread and meats and an array of fresh toppings. Sandwiches can also be toasted.

Taste and nutrition: Pretty good considering your alternatives. The overall calorie count on many of the Subway subs are going to be a better choice than a Whopper any day. And, you have the option of getting some veggies in your sandwich too.

Allergen alert: While Subway has been very proactive in providing allergen info on their sandwiches, they failed to take into consideration cross contamination. I experienced this first hand after having a reaction after eating at a Subway restaurant. I was careful about selecting my menu items, but did not consider cross contamination. I know, what was I thinking? Oh well, hopefully you won’t make the same mistake I did.

After I had my reaction, I called and emailed Subway customer service and explained the problem. I was assured that someone would contact me back. The owner of a few Subway locations near my home called me today. We actually had a very productive conversation and she was able to give me some great info. She even agreed that the nutritional info was misleading and gave me contact info for headquarters, where she suggested I encourage Subway execs to add disclaimer info to their advertising regarding these risks.

Here are the problems we identified:

All the foods are in open bins and any food could potentially drop into another bin.
Workers wear gloves while making sandwiches, but do not change them between orders. This is probably how I got sick.
The knives used to slice the sandwiches are not cleaned in-between sandwiches.
Breads containing cheese are baked with other breads. This is not a likely contaminant, but worth a mention.

The bottom line: If you do not have severe, anaphylactic allergies, you should be ok. If you are severe (like I am), use extreme caution. If you choose to eat there regardless, here are some tips to make your visit a safe one:

Ask the worker behind the counter to change their gloves.
Ask them to refrain from cutting your sandwich.
Check their online nutritional info as a guideline.

Peanut-Free Baseball at the Metrodome (Minneapolis, MN)

2008-05-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

Press Release from the Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota:

Peanut-Free Baseball at the Metrodome

The Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota (AFAA) and the Minnesota Twins are partnering to promote a peanut-free skybox section for those with peanut allergies. The Metrodome skybox will be available for four games this season: Tuesday, May 20th (against the Texas Rangers); Monday, June 30th (against the Detroit Tigers); Tuesday, July 29th (against the Chicago White Sox) Monday, August 18th (against the Oakland A's).

There will be seating for up to 110 allergic individuals and family members in the skybox, which overlooks right field. All games begin at 7:10 p.m. Central Time. AFAA volunteers will staff the skybox during the game.

Food brought into the skybox is screened by Twins staff to ensure that peanut ingredients are not allowed into the area.

Tickets are $30 and may be purchased at www.twinsbaseball.com/peanut or by calling the ticket office at 612-33-TWINS or 800-33-TWINS & referencing the "peanut free zone".

Individuals allergic to peanuts can have reactions triggered by ingesting foods with peanut as an ingredient, using utensils or eating foods cross-contaminated (i.e. having contact) with peanut, inhaling dust from open bags of peanuts, and sometimes merely touching a surface where peanuts or peanut butter have been. Reactions can range from hives to throat constriction, respiratory distress, vomiting, edema, blood pressure drop and shock. There is no cure for food allergies: avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.

AFAA is a Minnesota-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It is the largest state-level food allergy organization in the U.S. and is known nationally for its accomplishments and programs.

Airports - Dining Out with a Food Allergy

2008-04-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

Airports are listed in alphabetical order. If you have information on any airport restaurants please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Minneapolis/St. Paul

Locanda D'Amico

Concourse F

Allergy Friendly

*read more in our Minneapolis/St. Paul City Guide.

Minneapolis/St. Paul - Eating Out with a Food Allergy

2008-04-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Minneapolis restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Locanda D'Amico

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Concourse F

*Parent company D'Amico & Sons has other locations in Minnesota and Florida

Web Site

Allergy Friendly

Editor's Note: On a recent trip to North Dakota I flew through Minneapolis and was in desperate need of food. Eating at the airport is not something that I look forward to and usually have a full stock of food in my bag. But this was one time I didn't and my flight was delayed. In concourse F you'll find this qauint, non-airport-like Italian restaurant. Before sitting down I asked the hostess if they could accommodate my allergies, she went in the back and, to my utter surprise, out came the chef. Had I magically been teleported away from the airport? I explained my allergies - soy and shellfish - to the chef and he gave me a detailed description of what I could and could not eat (he even told me the percentage of wheat content in their noodles). I gladly took my seat and throughly enjoyed my pasta - I could have eaten two helpings! Thank you Laconda D'Amico, you get a golden star!

Allergy-friendly French Dinner Series - Chicago

2008-02-15T20:35:00.000-08:00

UPDATE! Bistro 110 has reworked the schedule for their upcoming allergy-friendly dinner series. Here are the details.

- Sans-Gluten Dinner, May 12: To include dough-less "quiche lorraine" and gluten-free tagliatelle with ragout of mussel, clam, shrimp and tarragon

- Sans-Dairy Dinner, September 29: To include cream-free "cream of lentil" soup and roasted chicken breast with corn flan

- Sans-Shellfish Dinner, November 17: To include shellfish-free seafood soup and an uncannily lobster-esque monkfish ragout

Saw this article in The Stew, a blog by Chicago Tribune food and dining writers:

Allergy-friendly French dinner series set at Bistro 110
Posted by Monica Eng at 1:00 p.m. CDT

When you're a foodie with food allergies, it's hard not to feel odd as you quiz the server on all the ingredients in a dish. But food allergies are serious business. And more restaurants address this, as we've reported.

Bistro 110 (110 E. Pearson St.; 312-266-3110) and its chef Dominique Tougne recognize this (Tougne is the father of two children with food allergies) and has crafted four special dinners scheduled over the next year to open up the world of French cuisine to those with food allergies.

The first -- a nut-free menu -- is scheduled for March 24 and will feature nut-free sole fillet almandine and faux peanut butter and mousse parfait. Later dinners will focus on foods for those who follow gluten-free (Sept. 29), dairy-free (June 16) and shellfish-free diets (Nov. 17).

Author's Note: Check out Can I Eat There's Chicago City Guide with info on this and other resturants.

Smooching Safely With Food Allergies

2008-02-12T18:41:00.000-08:00

It has nothing to do with eating out, but I had to share this press release. We all love kisses...

Are You a Careful Kisser?
How to Smooch Safely With Food Allergies This Valentine's Day

Dinner with Friends - A Scary Reminder

2008-02-11T19:50:00.001-08:00

We know eating out at a restaurant with a food allergy can be tough, but what about when your friends invite you over for dinner. Since learning of my food allergies, my husband and I have been inviting more people over to our house for dinner - it keep us in control.

But, there are some of our friends who know all about our food allergies and are more than happy to do whatever they can for us. So when we were invited to dinner by one of those friends last night we thought it would be no problem - they know I can't have soy, crab or chicken. We been there a few times with no problems. So yesterday afternoon, we called ahead, "What's for dinner?"

"Cioppino," the chef said.

"There's no crab in it right?" my husband said.

"Oh that's right she can't have crab," our friend said. "I forgot about that, but I haven't put the crab in yet, so I'll make a batch without it just for her."

"Great, thanks," my husband said.

You can probably figure out where this is going... that's right, today I had to take a trip to urgent care. I'm ok, but I am 99.9% sure I ended up eating some crab. The rash, throat tightness, numb tongue and sweating were dead giveways.

We think we know what happened. Our friend, who kindly made me my own bowl, didn't know that he also had to use a separate ladle when dishing up my soup.

This experience taught us a lesson. We need to be just as vigilant with our friends as we are with strangers in restaurants. Most of them don't know all the rules of food allergies, like be sure there's no cross contamination.

Here's some tips I know I will remember the next time a friend invites us to dinner.
1. Remind your friend of your allergy, ask them if they are comfortable accomodating it and be sure they understand the seriousness of your allergy. If they seem at all put off, invite them your house instead. Or offer to bring your own dinner if they are having mutiple people and have their heart set on a specific dish.
2. If they are willing to do the extra to have you over, great! But, be sure they know to check the ingredients on everything and if there is something you can't eat they need to cook your portion without it in its own pan with its own utensils.
3. Call ahead to find out what's for dinner, remind your friend of your food allergy again.
4. If you have any doubt about what they are making, politely tell them you are unsure you can eat that, and then stay home.
5. Remind your friend of your food allergy when you arrive for dinner, double check that they have followed the rules. Check labels on any items you can that were used in your meal.
6. If you have any doubts anywhere along the way, politely excuse yourself from the meal and eat when you get home.

In the end your friends would rather you excuse yourself from a meal than have you end up in the emergency room, or worse.

Washington, D.C. - Eating Out with a Food Allergy

2008-02-06T21:16:00.000-08:00

Restaurants and resources are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a D.C. restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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DCGluties.com
Blog

Allergy Friendly

Author's Note: Check out the Dining Out in DC and Dissecting the Menu categories for restaurant listings. Thanks DCGluties.com!

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Chicago - Eating Out with a Food Allergy

2008-02-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Chicago restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Articles

Allergy Friendly (Gluten-free info only)

From Chicago Tribune on gluten-free eating:

Eateries respond to gluten-free customers
Chicago Tribune
February 23, 2006

Author's note: This is a good resouce, but note that it is two years old so information be out of date. Check out our links to restaurant allergens guides and menus in the right rail of this site.

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From Biacncasaadyarqr Weblog:

Dining Out With Celiac Disease and Food Allergies
February 14, 2008

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Bistro 110
Web Site

Allergy Friendly

Bistro 110 is offering a series of allergy friendly dinners over the next year.
Nut-free (March 24)

Gluten-free (May 12)
Dairy-free (September 29)
Shellfish-Free (November 17)

Author's Note: Chef Dominique Tougne is father to two kids with food allergies, so he can relate. Check out a recent story about Tougne and the restaurants allergy friendly fare on The Stew.

Updated 2/15/08

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Gluten-Free Chicago
Blog

Allergy Friendly

Author's Note: Thanks to Madeline at Gluten-Free Chicago for her work to get word out on where those of us who are living gluten-free can eat in Chicago (and elsewhere).

Check out her reviews and links to gluten-free menus.

Her site also drew Can I Eat There?'s attention to more gluten-free resources for New York and Washington, D.C.

Food Allergy Management Manual for Restaurants and Food Services - Quebec

2008-02-06T20:42:00.000-08:00

In Montreal on Monday the Quebec Food Allergy Association (AQAA) released its 2008 edition of the Food Allergy Management Manual for Restaurants and Food Services.

QFAA cited a recent survey that found most restaurant owners were concerned with food allergies.

"[The manual] offers managers intent on ensuring the safety of their clients an approach and methods that will enable them to respond, in a proactive manner, to the needs of a growing clientele of food-allergy sufferers," noted Serge Boulanger.

The manual was first released in 2004.

"This publication brings together the invaluable expertise developed over many years by the various parties and specialized consultants in the area of food allergies working within the Quebec Food Allergy Association," explained the manual's author, dietician-nutritionist Chantal de Montigny.

The manual includes:
- Information based on the latest developments and cutting-edge knowledge in the field of food allergies
- Practical technical sheets that summarize key themes to be taken into account.
- A description of critical points that must be controlled by each category of worker involved in meal production and service.
- Practical cooking tips and substitutes to facilitate the offering of allergen-free meals.

In addition to the manual, the Association is providing customized training developed and dispensed in the workplace or other centralized location by instructors and dietician-nutritionists accredited by the AQAA.

Founded in 1990 by the parents of children with multiple serious food allergies, the AQAA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support and information, to promote education and prevention, and to encourage research into food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Author's Note: Three cheers for AQAA and its work to educate restaurant owners about food allergies and how to keep customers safe! If you have food allergy information to share about restaurants in Montreal or other cities in Quebec please send Can I Eat There? an email so we can share with others.

The First Email!

2008-02-01T22:10:00.000-08:00

Can I Eat There got its first official reader email tonight!! When we started this site earlier this year the goal was to share information and help keep people safe. So to get the email we got tonight makes our day!!

The mom of an allergic child writes, "I want to thank you for investing your time in your website. The information is invaluable!"

It has taken time to put the site together, but it is minimal compared to the purpose it serves. Tonight's email is proof of that.

So thanks for reading. And, please, email us any time!!

Subway Sued Over Fatal Allergic Reaction

2008-01-31T21:44:00.000-08:00

WCPO in Cincinnati ran a story today about the family of Emily Vonder Meulen who is suing Subway restaurants. The Vonder Meulen family says thirteen year old Emily died after cross contamination at a Subway restaurant. She had a deadly peanut allergy.

Read the story here.

Author's Note: Subway does offer online information on ingredients (click on "Food Allergy Information"). It includes the following disclaimer: "This list is compiled based on product information provided by Subway® approved food manufacturers. Every effort is made to keep this information current however it is possible that ingredient changes and substitutions may occur before this list is updated. This chart does not include regional or special promotional items as ingredients vary."

Bottom line: Always double check ingredients, preparation practices, etc. before eating out.

Seattle Magazine - Food Allergy Article

2008-01-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

Seattle Magazine recently ran an article, "Gastric Bypass", on eating out with food allergies. (Susan Roxborough, January 2008, Pg. 42). It highlights Chef Daniel Ahren, who's married to fellow blogger and author Gluten-Free Girl and the restaurant where he is chef, Impromptu Wine Bar Cafe. It also features Cafe Sweet Posie, Crush Restaurant, Da Vinci Bakery, Ener-G Foods and Tom Douglas restaurants, If you live in Seattle, it's worth a read.

It also mentions the Food Allergy Initiative and its restaurant training program.

Check out the Can I Eat There? Seattle post for more info on eating out in the Emerald City.

Added Resource - AllergicChild.com Restaurant Listings

2008-01-22T19:22:00.000-08:00

A new resource has been added to our resources section. AllergicChild.com has a family-friendly list of restaurants and play places from various cities with information on allergy-friendly options. You just need to scroll down on the page a bit.

Author's note: Site says the page was last updated 1.18.2008, but it's not clear on how current resturant listings are. So remember, always double check before you eat!

Starbucks - Help for People with Food Allergies

2008-01-21T17:51:00.001-08:00

I probably shouldn't publicly admit it, but I like Starbucks. And whenever on the road for work, I know I can count on menu consistency. The sausage, egg and cheddar sandwich has saved me from many a hunger pang.

So when I was diagnosed with a soy allergy last fall one of the first places I checked for ingredient information was my local Starbucks. The woman behind the counter said she'd look into it and send me an email. I gave her my email address and told my husband, "Yeah right, she's gonna email me!"

Much to my surprise I did get an email. [Yay for Seattle's Phinney Ridge Starbucks]. She didn't have answers but she directed me customer service and told me they could help me. With low expectations, I called.

So here's the reason for this post. They did actually help me!! They asked me what I was allergic to and what items I typically eat, promised to research it, and then called me back with the results of their investigation. Unfortunately, the news wasn't good. My beloved breakfast sandwich is chock full o' soy - it's in the egg, it's in the english muffin.... Just about everything else in that lovely display case is the same story.

Here's the catch though, there is no standard for food in all those Starbucks stores. Different regions, even cities, have different vendors. So when you call customer service you need to specify the area you'd like more information about.

Despite the bad news... it was worth it. Now I know what's off limits and I don't have worry about a Starbucks-induced reaction on the road just because I was craving that muffin sandwich. If it turns out it's my only option for a morning meal, I know I can always check the packaged food with ingredients listed on the label. The yogurt parfait is go!

If you've got a food allergy and you love Starbucks - whether you keep your love in the closet or display it for all to see - give them a call. They will help you. And if the person who answers isn't helpful, ask for a manager.

Here's the number: 1-800-23LATTE

P.S. If you are allergic to peanuts but are ok with other nuts, beware of the packaged almonds, they are roasted in peanut oil.

Update (1/31/2008): Heard on the news today that Starbucks is going to stop selling breakfast sandwiches. RIP my beloved sausage sandwich and all your breakfast buddies (even though you're made with soy).

New York City

2008-01-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a New York City restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Allergic Girl
Blog

Allergy Friendly

Author's Note: Since I live in Seattle and don't get to travel as much as I'd like, enlisting the help of others is key to making this site all that it can be. So thanks to people like Allergic Girl I can now add an NYC post!

My fellow blogger has a great blog dedicated to living allergy-free that includes info on restaurants and other allergy-friendly foods. So, if you're headed out to eat in NYC check her list of "allergy friendly restos."

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Gluten-Free NYC
Blog

Allergy Friendly

Author's Note: As you probably guessed, this blog's information is specific to living gluten-free. Thanks Gluten-Free NYC!

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Seattle

2008-01-18T21:55:00.001-08:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Seattle restaurant please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Coastal Kitchen (Capitol Hill)
Web Site

Allergy Friendly

Coastal Kitchen has a detailed allergy book with information on all of their dishes. Just tell your server what dishes your interested in and they'll check the book. The restaurant uses olive and canola oil.

Author's Note: We just ate here last night and the server was very accommodating and friendly. And the food was great!!

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Flying Apron Bakery (Fremont)
Web Site

Allergy Friendly

From Flying Apron Web Site (January 2008):

"Flying Apron products are created with your good health in mind. They are made using the finest organic ingredients; whole grain wheat free flours and organic non hydrogenated oils. The Flying Apron is a wheat free, gluten free and vegan bakery. Many of our products are alternatively sweetened as well. For a list of ingredients for each of our products see our menu."

Flying Apron serves a small selection of lunch items and you can special order cakes (even wedding cakes) and pies for special occasions.

Author's Note: If you can eat oats, the raspberry Flying Aprons are the best! Lunch selection is limited but its a good place for a quick snack. The staff is very friendly!

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Gordito's Healthy Mexican Food (Greenwood)
Web Site

Allergy Neutral: Staff Accomodates Allergies; Check with staff

Gordito's staff will check on ingredients for you and are very helpful. Shellfish and other meats are cooked on separate grills. Ingredients are fresh. They do use soybean oil when making an item "fajita style" and chips are deep fried in soybean oil. It seems food is peanut free (but please double check).

From their web site:

"What makes our food healthful you ask?…We are completely transfat free, our beans are made without lard or oil, our rice without chicken stock, all of our meats are grilled, and our salsas are all made from fresh tomatoes and chiles.

We have many vegetarian and vegan options, even our chips are completely animal free."

Author's Note: We love Gordito's and since learning of our food allergies we haven't been there and lately we've been craving it like crazy, so we thought it was time to give it a shot. I called ahead on a weekday and spoke with a manager, he was very helpful. I can't do shellfish or soy and my hubby needs to avoid peanuts. We got the thumbs up on everything except the chips and the "fajita style" veggies (they are both made with soybean oil). So we headed there for our fix. I double checked our order's ingredients with the woman at the cash register. I do have to say I felt a little nervous standing there watching them making the food (chances for cross contamination seem high!). But I enjoyed every bite of my wet salsa verde pork burrito and I felt just fine afterwards. Same goes for my hubby! Yay Gordito's! Please note that this was the Greenwood lunch, I haven't checked on the others.

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Norm's Eatery & Ale House (Fremont)

Allergy Alert: Allergens in Food, Check With Your Server

Norm's menu specifically notes to "Please Inform Your Served [sic] of Any Food Allergies You May Have."

Author's Note: My recent trip to Norm's reminded me of one of those rules we all know but don't regularly follow: don't assume anything. I LOVE Norm's (the food's yummy and I can bring my dog along!) so when my friend suggested we meet there for dinner I was game. But, I hadn't eaten there since learning of my soy allergy. I checked the menu before heading out. Seeing the note at the bottom of the menu about allergies made me smile and think "Cool, they are allergy friendly." But, it was a different story when I got there. My first let down came when I informed the server of my allergy asking her to check on soy ingredients and she seemed annoyed at my request (um, aren't I supposed to tell you?). And let down number two came when she came back with the answer: just about everything on the menu is made with some sort of soy product. But I was there and I was hungry... so I ordered what I could (a salad) and tentatively took a few bites (was it really soy-free?? I didn't feel totally confident.) Needless to say, this is a bummer. If Norm's is cool enough to accommodate dogs, can't they take care of us with food allergies too? I'm thinking about writing Norm's a letter asking them use a little less soy....

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Sitka & Spruce (Eastlake)
Web Site

Allergy Neutral: Staff Accommodates Allergies, Check with Your Server

Food is made from local and fresh ingredients. The menu changes daily. Many of the dishes do include nuts and dairy. They do appear to be soy-free. Just let your server know about your allergy. Wait staff is friendly and accommodating.

Author's note: The food is excellent. The wait can be long and you'll leave smelling like the kitchen, but it's worth it.

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Yanni's Greek Restaurant (Greenwood)
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Check, Then Double Check with Your Server

Author's Note: I called ahead to ask about whether they used any soy products and was told "no". When we sat down to dinner I asked again and server said, "let me check with my Dad, the chef." Sure enough almost everything on the menu is made with soybean oil. So we ended up with a dressing-less lettuce salad, a plate of cucumbers and some really dry lamb kebabs. We probably won't go back. Lesson learned: it's always to good to double check before you order, even if you've called ahead.

Food Allergies on Today Show - Part 2

2008-01-18T09:10:00.000-08:00

The Today Show ran a second segment on food allergies this morning. It focused on milk and egg allergies and ingredients that you need to be aware of.

Food Allergies on Today Show

2008-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

The Today Show had a segment this morning about food allergies including tips for dining out.

Here's a link to the story on their site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22684959/

Coffee Chains

2008-01-16T20:51:00.001-08:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Coffee Chain please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Tim Horton's
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Contact Company for More Information

From Tim Horton's Web Site (January 2008):

"If I have an allergy, can I eat any Tim Hortons products?

If you have a food allergy, please be aware that Tim Hortons products may contain, or have come into contact with, peanuts, nuts or other possible allergens. Tim Hortons is a bakery environment, serving baked goods that are not in sealed packages. Therefore, we unfortunately cannot guarantee a 100% allergy-free environment.

If you would like more information about ingredients or allergies, please call our customer assistance line at 1-888-601-1616 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time)."

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Starbucks
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Contact Company for More Information

From Starbucks' Web Site (January 2008):

"Where can I find allergen information?

For specific questions related to allergens please contact a customer care representative at 1-800-23LATTE. Due to potential cross contamination during distribution and sale, we cannot guarantee that allergens are not included in a product, even if they are not listed in the ingredient statement."

Author's Note: Customer service will research ingredients for you. Products vary from city to city so you will need to specify the geographic area you would like them to check.

See my post: Starbucks - Help for People with Food Allergies
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Sit-down Dining Chains

2008-01-15T23:24:00.000-08:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Sit-down Dining Chain please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Applebee's
Web Site

Allergy Alert: No Allergen Information Available; Call Ahead or Ask Your Server

From Applebee's Web Site (January 2008):

"Where can I get nutritional information on Applebee's items?

We provide nutritional information on all of our Weight Watchers items, including fat, fiber and calorie counts and Weight Watchers Points values. We do not provide nutritional information on other Applebee's items - with approximately 1,900 locations in the U.S. alone there are many different vendors, which makes it extremely difficult to obtain nutritional information for out items."

Author's Note: Boo! I think they can try harder than this.

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California Pizza Kitchen & CPK ASAP
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Call Ahead or Ask Your Server; Ingredient Book; Soy

From CPK Web Site (January 2008):

"Who do I call with food allergy questions?

If you have certain food allergy concerns, please feel free to call our Food and Beverage Department at 310-342-5000."

Author Note: CPK restaurants have an ingredient book, ask your server to check the dish(es) you are interested in. Most CPK ASAP items contain soybean ingredients.

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Cheesecake Factory
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Ask Your Server

From Cheesecake Factory Web Site (January 2008):

"Nutritional Information. At this point, we do not provide nutritional information for our menu selections. We pride ourselves on using only the freshest and finest ingredients available. Everything on our menu is made in-house on a daily basis so that we can maintain the highest food quality standards."

"Special Dietary Concerns. We will do our best to accommodate any special dietary requirements that our guests may have. When placing your order, just inform your server of your special requests."

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IHOP
Web Site

Allergy Alert: No Allergen Information Available

From IHOP Web Site (January 2008):

"Is nutritional information available?

IHOP offers a wide variety of food that should allow most people to choose a meal that suits their dietary needs. We do not maintain nutritional data on our food."

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T.G.I. Friday's
Web Site

Allergy Alert: No Allergen Information Available; Ask Your Server

From Friday's Web Site (January 2008):

"Where can I obtain nutritional information?

T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants understands our guests have many different nutritional desires. The selected nutritional information we provide is listed on our menu in restaurants or at http://www.fridays.com/menu/index.htm. We do not provide ingredient statements."

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Fast Food Chains

2008-01-15T22:15:00.000-08:00

Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order. If you have info on a Fast Food Chain please email us at canieatthere@gmail.com.

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Baja Fresh
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Contact Company for More Information

From Baja Fresh Web Site (January 2008):

"Our nutritional page will provide basic nutritional breakdown of our menu items. If you have specific questions, please feel free to contact us and we will try to answer your questions to the best of our ability."

Contact: 1-877-225-2373

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Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Eggs, Gluten, Milk, Soy, Wheat

From Krispy Kreme Web Site - FAQ Page (January 2008):

"INGREDIENT INFORMATION
The only animal byproducts used in our doughnut are eggs (whites and yolks) and dairy products (including milk, butter, yogurt, whey, nonfat milk and nonfat whey). Our doughnuts are cooked in 100% vegetable oil shortening (partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil). All monoglycerides, diglycerides and enzymes are vegetable based. The lecithin we use is soy based. We also use wheat in our doughnuts, including bran, germ, gluten, starch and flour. Our products may contain allergens. To get further information about our products call us at 1800 4KRISPY."

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Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits
Web Site

Allergy Alert: No Information Available

From Popeye's Web Site (January 2008):

"We encourage anyone with food sensitivities; allergies or other special dietary needs or concerns to consult with your local physician or dietitian prior to eating at any Popeyes restaurant."

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White Castle
Web Site

Allergy Alert: Contact Company for More Information

From White Castle Web Site (January 2008):

"We encourage people with allergies and sensitivities to food to contact the White Castles Consumer Affairs Department for the most up to date information at 1-800-THE-CRAVE (1-800-843-2728) or visit us at our web site, www.whitecastle.com."

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