| p>I have been allergic to dairy products among | | | | I really appreciate the fact that it is now |
| other things for quite a few years. So when I | | | | mandatory that the allergen ingredients are listed |
| visit restaurants, I always politely request "no | | | | on most all types of products in the grocery |
| cheese, or sour cream." The next thing you know | | | | stores! Especially when the label plainly states that |
| I get an entrée with a cream sauce on it. | | | | the product contains milk, instead of having to |
| Most food servers don't even know that this | | | | read through the long list of ingredients that often |
| contains dairy products! | | | | list milk as "whey" or "casein." When you are |
| Since the menus are never explicit about exactly | | | | allergic to dairy products especially, it is always |
| what the allergen ingredients are in the entrees, I | | | | wise to learn the different terms for dairy |
| will ask the food server if a certain dish has dairy | | | | because not all products are plainly written on the |
| products in it if I'm not sure. Sometimes I'll ask if | | | | food labels. Some products say "dairy free" on |
| it contains something else I am allergic to. They | | | | the front label but the ingredients label lists casein, |
| automatically look at you like you are the pickiest | | | | so the labels need to be checked thoroughly. |
| person on the planet! Then I have to explain that | | | | While we are on the subject of food labels with |
| I am allergic to dairy products and other certain | | | | allergen information, a thought comes into my |
| ingredients. They will get a concerned look, and tell | | | | mind (okay...I've been thinking about this for a long |
| me that they will talk to the chef to find out | | | | time!) Why aren't restaurants required to list the |
| what is in the entrée I am questioning. | | | | allergen ingredients plainly on the menus next to |
| They usually come back to the table and explain | | | | the entrée description? Are we allergy |
| that the chef doesn't know what is in some of | | | | sufferers asking too much? |
| the sauces or ingredients because they are sent | | | | I guess if I didn't have food allergies, I wouldn't |
| to them pre-packaged or bottled. So I sometimes | | | | really care whether the restaurants did or not. But |
| take a chance and order an entrée | | | | if a person does ever experience what it feels like |
| thinking that it is okay. Even tarter sauce for fish | | | | having an instant food allergy reaction or some of |
| sometimes is made with sour cream, even | | | | the "soon to follow" reactions, they would really |
| though I like it made with mayonnaise and I've | | | | want this information on all restaurant menus. |
| had to stop eating it after trying it out. | | | | How extremely nice it would be to not have to |
| One time I ordered dinner that I was allergic to | | | | bother the food server, and have a dinner where |
| unknowingly and immediately I started getting a | | | | I wouldn't have to be worrying whether or not, I |
| reaction and had them take it away, I then just | | | | am going to pass out, have difficulty breathing or |
| ate the bread that came with the meal. I was | | | | worse! |
| very pleased when they took my order off the | | | | Food allergies are more and more common |
| bill, but it could have been avoided in the first | | | | everyday. I am for getting this valuable |
| place if they would have been more | | | | information on all restaurant menus! When will this |
| knowledgeable about the ingredients. | | | | happen? Soon I hope. |