Food Allergies in Restaurants

Being aware of food allergies in restaurants and knowing how to handle them is a key part of food safety. For a dining experience to go smoothly you need to know a patron’s food allergy, what dishes you serve have that allergen and what actions to take during emergencies. The more knowledge you have on food allergies, the better prepared you can be to handle any situation safely. 

Nut Allergies

Even though peanuts aren’t a legume, peanuts and treenuts are a major allergy to be aware of. From pesto to hummus, you can find nuts in a variety of kitchen staples. 

Learn more about nut allergies in our Nut Allergies in Restaurants guide

Dairy Allergies

Hold the cheese for anyone who is ordering with a dairy allergy. With all the alternative milks on the market and more options for vegan cheese, handling a dairy allergy just takes some extra precaution and steps. Just make sure you keep these options separate from their dairy counterparts. 

Learn more about dairy allergies in our Dairy Allergies in Restaurants guide

Egg Allergies

Eggs are a foundation for baking delicious treats or pastas. Finding egg alternatives and knowing what high-risk equipment to avoid is essential for anyone working in a restaurant. 

Learn more about egg allergies in our Egg Allergies in Restaurants guide

Gluten Allergies

Gluten is a common allergy you might run into while handling food allergies in restaurants. This allergen can be in a surprising amount of dressings, ingredients and sauces. Plus, people with celiac disease will also need to avoid gluten in any dish they order in a foodservice business. 

Learn more about gluten allergies in our Gluten Allergies in Restaurants guide

Soy Allergies

Learning about food allergies in restaurants means you will run into soy allergies. Learning the different ingredients that contain soy is essential, like soy sauce or tofu. Just make sure you are also aware of the spaces in a kitchen that are high-risk for cross-contamination with this ingredient. 

Learn more about soy allergies in our Soy Allergies in Restaurants guide

Seafood

Handling a seafood allergy in restaurants means focusing on cross-contamination and routine cleaning. From knives to fryers, anything that is used to prepare or cook fish must be cleaned if handling a dish for someone with a seafood allergy.  

Learn more about seafood allergies in our Seafood Allergies in Restaurants guide

Sesame

Avoiding sesame oil and sesame seeds comes with knowing it can be found in a variety of sauces and even on hamburger buns. Sesame allergies are a common allergy that you might run into when working in foodservice. Make sure you have all the information for knowing what menu items and oils that dishes could potentially be cooked in. 

Learn more about sesame allergies in our Sesame Allergies in Restaurants guide