SafeFARE Aims to Make Dining Out Safer for those with Food Allergies

When my daughter was six months old, she started to get really bad eczema on her neck down to her thighs. It was so bad I would get looks from other moms who I imagined were thinking what was I doing or not doing to help her! It took months to figure out what her allergens were, so I know firsthand how frustrating it can be trying to figure out what foods one has avoid. We ended up going to see Dr. Weinand of Neurowaves after her pediatrician, Dr. Bob Sears, recommended we give his alternative treatment a chance. And I must say it worked! After about ten treatments of this rather interesting technology, her eczema went away and to this day she doesn’t have as a severe reaction to certain allergens as before. But there are certain food allergens that can be life-threatening and for many families trying to eat out can be very stressful. Now families can use SafeFARE, created by the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), a fantastic new resource center to that aims to make dining out safer for families managing food allergies.

The number of U.S. children with food allergies increased 50% between 1997 and 2011, and nearly 40% of children with food allergies have experienced a severe or life-threatening reaction. To make the dining experience safer and more enjoyable for these children and their families, FARE has launched the SafeFARE online resource center and public service announcement (PSA) featuring celebrity chefs Bryan Voltaggio and Mike Isabella. SafeFARE offers tools and resources for diners with food allergies, including tips for before and during your visit to the restaurant, a customizable “Food Allergy Alert” chef card, and a “Find a Restaurant” feature that enables visitors to locate allergy aware restaurants in their area. To qualify for inclusion in this searchable database, restaurants must have staff who have completed either the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe® Allergens Online Course or MenuTrinfo’s AllerTrain™ course.

The SafeFARE database of food allergy aware restaurants is just getting started and you can help it grow! FARE urges families with food allergies to become SafeFARE advocates and tell their local restaurants about the SafeFARE program and the benefits of allergen training.

We had a chance to speak to Mike Spigler, Vice President of Education, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) about the new resource and how families can get their local restaurants involved.

What was the inspiration behind creating SafeFARE?

The SafeFARE program was developed by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the leading national organization working on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies. FARE’s mission is to find a cure for food allergies, and to keep individuals with food allergies safe and included. SafeFARE was designed to make dining out safer and more enjoyable for individuals and families managing food allergies.

The program, which was launched in April 2014, has two components: an online resource center, www.safefare.org, and a public awareness campaign featuring a public service announcement (PSA) starring celebrity chefs Bryan Voltaggio and Mike Isabella. The online resource center provides tools and resources for diners with food allergies, including a searchable database of restaurants that connects customers with allergy aware restaurants whose staff have been trained to accommodate their needs. The “Food Allergy Teamwork” PSA, which underscores the importance of cooperation between diners with food allergies and restaurant staff, has gotten an enthusiastic reception from TV and radio stations nationwide. To date, it has aired more than 28,000 times and achieved more than $6.5 million in donated media value.

I read that there are over 15 million Americans and 1 in 13 children suffer from food allergies – how does SafeFARE offer peace of mind to individuals who want to dine out?

Dining out is a routine part of American life, but it can be challenging for individuals and families who are managing food allergies. For these individuals and families, a successful restaurant experience requires careful planning. SafeFARE provides tips and tools that make this process easier, and that take some of the guesswork out of knowing which restaurants understand the seriousness of food allergy.

To qualify for a listing in SafeFARE’s “Find a Restaurant” database, a restaurant must verify that it has one or more staff members

who have completed one of two FARE-approved restaurant training programs. The National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe® Allergens Online Course was developed in partnership with FARE, and MenuTrinfo’s Allertrain™ course has been reviewed by FARE’s medical advisors. These programs teach chefs, managers, wait staff and other restaurant employees how to accommodate the needs of diners with food allergies, such as responding to special requests and preparing and serving food safely.

Even if a restaurant is SafeFARE-listed, diners should always follow the guidance on our website, such as calling in advance and speaking to a manager. It’s also important to keep your specific needs in mind when choosing a restaurant. Some restaurants may be better suited to handle certain allergies than others. For example, if you’re allergic to nuts, it’s a good idea to avoid Asian food, which is more likely to contain your allergen than other cuisines.

In addition, even when all of the proper precautions are taken, accidental exposures are possible. For this reason, we urge individuals with food allergies to always carry their emergency medication and be prepared to use it. We also recommend wearing medical identification.

How can parents utilize their website and resources?

SafeFARE was designed to be a user-friendly resource center and is readily accessible from desktop and mobile devices. The site offers many helpful tools and resources, including a customizable “Food Allergy Alert” chef card, educational information for diners to use before and during a visit to a restaurant, and insider tips from Chef Joel Schaefer, who helped develop Walt Disney World Resort’s world-class program for visitors with special dietary needs. We are working to expand our “Find a Restaurant” feature, which helps families locate allergy-aware restaurants in their neighborhood or when they’re traveling.

Our database is just getting started, but thousands of restaurant employees have already been trained, and FARE is actively promoting the program and working with our partners to ensure that restaurants with trained staff are listed in the coming months. We also hope that diners with food allergies will give the SafeFARE flyer to restaurants in their area to encourage them to get food allergy training and sign up for our database.

Any additional news you want to share with our lovely dandelion moms?

If food allergy is a part of your family’s story, or if you’re interested in learning more about this growing public health issue, please visit our award-winning website – www.foodallergy.org – for comprehensive information and resources. Whether you, a loved one or a friend are newly diagnosed or have been managing food allergies for years, FARE is here to empower you with the knowledge to successfully navigate your journey. In addition, there are a number of things you can do to help make the world better for individuals with food allergies. A great first step is to consider participating in the FARE Walk for Food Allergy, which is taking place in more than 60 communities nationwide this year and is just one of many exciting opportunities to get involved and help advance food allergy research, education, advocacy and awareness initiatives.

Visit www.SafeFARE.org to access the restaurant database, helpful tools, information and resources about food allergies. Together, we can make dining out a safer and more enjoyable experience for families managing food allergies – and raise awareness of this urgent public health issue.