Education

Tips for Staying Safe with Food Allergies

It’s important to stay safe with your food allergies. We hope you find these tips to be helpful! If you have any more questions, please talk to your allergist or doctor.

By Emily Sheridan, Hanna Le, Blythe Bath, and Fahran Bajaj

We are four members of FARE’s Teen Advisory Group. We compiled a list of our tips for staying safe with food allergies. The foods we are allergic to include tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, peas, chickpeas, lentils, and sesame.

Please note that there are many other tips for staying safe with food allergies; these are just some tips we find very helpful when it comes to our allergens. This is not intended for medical advice. Please talk with your doctor if you’re not sure about how to handle your allergens, or if you have any other questions. With all that in mind, we hope you find this list helpful and that you enjoy it!

Tips for staying safe with food allergies

Always carry epinephrine everywhere you go.

While this tip may seem obvious to some, it is crucial to have epinephrine with you at all times. Even if you do not plan to eat, or if you are not going to be out long, one accident can turn into a major ordeal if epinephrine is not nearby.
Always carry at least two epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs)! There are several reasons why this can be helpful. It provides a back up if something goes wrong with your EAI or sometimes you just need a second dose.
Check your EAIs for recalls, warnings, and expiration dates frequently. However, even an expired auto-injector is better than no auto-injector!
Don’t be afraid to use epinephrine if you think you are having an allergic reaction, or are experiencing severe anaphylaxis symptoms. Delaying using the injector can make the reaction a lot worse, and it can even become life-threatening. Remember to take your allergies seriously.

Make sure you have a plan for allergic reactions.

While it is scary to think about having an allergic reaction, it is important to be prepared if you ever have one. This includes things like carrying epinephrine (see above for more on that), having a medical card or bracelet ID, knowing how to use your epinephrine device, making sure others know what to do if you ever react, etc.
One very helpful thing is to have a card with all of your medical information on it, and carry this around 24/7 along with your epinephrine. This should include information like your phone number, emergency contacts, what to do if you ever have an allergic reaction (especially with information on how to deal with an anaphylactic reaction), your name, allergies, other medical conditions, medications you take, etc. It would be ideal to keep this with your Epi-pen or Epi-pen alternative so that people don’t have to search around for it in a time-sensitive situation. They make epinephrine cases that include a slot for a medical card, and you can also find bracelets that include your medical information.

Read the labels on food products every time. Then read them again.

Companies change recipes often, and safe foods can easily become dangerous with one added ingredient so it is important to verify that your allergens are not listed each and every time you buy food products.
Watch out for cross-contact. Some labels list if foods are manufactured with allergens, but not all brands do. Or the cross-contact warning may be listed in small print or in a different section of the box rather than with the ingredients. These warnings often appear as “may contain”, “is processed in a facility with”, “may contain traces of" or "processed on the same equipment."
Never eat anything without a label on it, even if others tell you it is safe.
Triple check every label in case you missed something.
Watch out for alternative names of your allergen. For example, dairy can go by many names such as casein, whey, recaldent, lactalbumin, etc., and eggs can go by the names albumin, lysozyme, meringue, etc. While the top 8 allergens (milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, shellfish, fin fish) must be listed by their plain name on most packaged products, this does not apply to other allergens.

Spread the word to friends.

Make sure that the people who surround you on a daily basis (i.e.coaches, teachers, babysitters, step-parents, friends’ parents, classmates, etc.) are aware that you have food allergies, as well as what foods to watch out for, and how to act if a reaction occurs. This step will not only protect you, but will also teach your friends the proper steps to take around anyone in the entire food allergy community.

Be cautious with anything you put in your mouth (not just food!)

Epinephrine can deteriorate in hot or cold conditions (the ideal temperature range is 68°F – 77°F but 59°F – 86°F is permitted occasionally).

Always notify a server, manager, or chef at any restaurant you eat at.

Even the most unsuspecting menu items can have surprising ingredients hidden inside - and one of them might be your allergen. Make sure to clearly communicate what you are allergic to, as well as any modifications that need to be made to a dish. Don’t be afraid to be assertive!
Be cautious about certain cuisines. Depending on your allergens, there are probably cuisines and restaurants that frequently use your allergen. If you have a chicken allergy, for example, you would probably avoid KFC or Chick-Fil-A.
You may be in a situation where a server doesn’t act like they acknowledge your allergies, or you may just feel uncomfortable eating at a restaurant. If this happens, leave. You should never have to risk your safety eating a food that you are unsure about.

Trying to bring allergy-free foods through security? Consider leaving a written explanation inside the bag.

If your allergies or OIT treatments make it necessary for you to bring full-sized (not TSA approved) foods and liquids with you on a flight, security can be quite a hassle. Try telling the security officer what your bag contains before he/she examines it, and leaving a printed explanation inside your bag of why it is medically necessary for you to bring these items aboard. You may need to bring a note from your doctor.

When flying with food allergies, take care to alert the airport staff and plan ahead.

There are many steps that can be taken to ensure a safe flight: pack your own food for the flight, notify the airline staff of your allergens (especially in the case of nuts, and ask that they not serve nuts on your flight), and wipe down your seat and surroundings before sitting.
If you notify the airline staff of your allergies prior to boarding, they will sometimes let you board earlier to give you time to wipe down your seat, and they’ll potentially be able to make a “buffer zone” or not serve items like tree nuts or peanuts.

When someone else will be providing the food (i.e. at a party, ceremony, class celebration, etc.) be sure to communicate your needs to the host ahead of time.

Consider using an allergy card.

To ensure chefs at a restaurant know exactly what you are allergic to, you can use an “allergy card,” or a card with all of your allergies written on it. You can give one of these to your server and ask him/her to check with the chef about the ingredients listed, instead of having to share all of your allergies verbally (if you have many, this can be difficult). You can make one by writing your allergies on an index card or download one of FARE's free chef cards.
If you are traveling to a destination that does not speak a language you know, it can be very helpful to bring a translated allergy statement. Before the trip, type out a statement that can be given to restaurants that explain all of your allergy needs. Translate this statement into the language needed or use FARE's free chef cards. This system ensures that any food provider can understand your allergies, even if they do not understand your language.

Make sure to avoid touching your face and eyes when away from home or without washing your hands.

This is something that many people do without realizing it. Not only does this spread germs and allergens to areas such as your mouth or nose, but if allergens come in contact with your eyes, it can cause a severe reaction or anaphylaxis. Touching your eyes with an allergen is dangerous because your eyes are mucous membranes!
Additionally, remember that hand sanitizer gels are not the same as washing your hands. Thoroughly washing with warm water and soap is the best way to remove allergens from a surface, but you can also carry sanitizing wipes to use when you can't get to a sink.

Always read the labels on cosmetics, sunscreens, hair products, etc.

Surprisingly, many hair and skincare products contain peanut and tree nut oils that are listed under various names such as “arachis hypogaea” (peanut oil). Some of the most common ingredients in these types of things are peanut, almond, shea, coconut, and argan oils. And some lotions and shampoos have hydrolyzed wheat protein as well as the oils listed above, or contain dairy products. Do your research, and keep an eye out for hidden allergens inside of products you would never expect to be allergic to.
Peanuts and tree nuts can be found in things such as stuffed animals, cat litter, mulch, bean bags, pet food/treats, artificial fireplace logs, bleach, detergents, metal polish, birdseed, certain medicines, and more. Many types of eczema creams, ear drops, and multivitamins even have peanut oil!
Since cosmetic products don’t have the same labeling standards as food products, it might be a good idea to test any new cosmetic products on your arm if your allergist approves. I take a small amount of skincare and makeup products and test them on my arm before use so that if I react, (1) I won’t react as much because I only tested a small amount, and (2) the reaction won’t be on my face and near my mouth, where it could more easily be accidentally ingested.

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