We tried eating out again today, and it takes a lot of preparation. I know how to speak to a restaurant manager about food allergies, but if I’m having a hard time keeping track of the 39 things we have to avoid, as well as their secondary names, I’m not going to expect someone who’s just met us to be able to know them all.
I’ve become very thankful for restaurants and fast-food joints that publish their ingredient listings online.
Back in the days when we only had to avoid peanuts, tree-nuts, and eggs, the allergen grids were good enough. But the allergen grids only go so far. They help people who must avoid the “top 8″ allergens, but when you have to keep away from things like beet sugar and basil, they don’t have nearly enough information.
McDonald’s and Burger King both publish their ingredient listings, and we have learned that my son can have a plain hamburger, apples, and apple juice or Sprite at those places, as well as ketchup and mustard. It’s not much, but it’s something to go on, and broadens our list of restaurants to four. Hopefully we’ll find more, but for now, it’s a start.
Thank you to those restaurants who publish their ingredients online. It makes our lives much, much easier, and improves the likelihood that we’ll be frequenting their establishments.
