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Monday, February 23, 2009
Top Food Allergies
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO SHELLFISH?
Photo: Pat Wellenbach/AP
The peanut/salmonella issue has brought to light more than just a look at foodbourne illnesses: More and more people in the United States are developing food allergies, too.
From peanut butter to gluten, we are becoming a society that can’t eat its own food. According to the Mayo Clinic, the top 8 food allergens are
Milk Eggs Peanuts Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts) Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder) Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp) Soy Wheat
While people who don’t have allergies to much of anything (like me) find it hard to empathize, these allergies pose very real problems for the growing number of people who suffer from them.
The best way to guard against an allergic reaction is to read labels and avoid foods that contain known allergens that you react to. This is hard to do at a restaurant, when it’s not just your judgment, but many others’ that you are relying on. Many menus have allergen statements these days, but it’s still hard for someone with say, an allergy to seafood, to avoid a sauce or soup that might be made with seafood stock.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to protect yourself, but what other things can restaurants do to aid in the process? Have you ever had an allergic reaction (not food poisoning) to something at a restaurant? How was it handled?
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