Dining Safely Together: How to Support a Friend with Severe Food Allergies

Eating out with a friend who has severe food allergies requires thoughtfulness and preparation. Your support can make dining enjoyable instead of anxiety-inducing. Here’s how to be an ally:

1. Educate Yourself

Learn the specifics of their allergies—common hidden ingredients, cross-contamination risks, and emergency protocols. Ask for trusted resources or medical terms to understand labels better.

2. Involve Them in Planning

Always let your friend choose the restaurant or cuisine. Use tools like the mm food app to instantly translate foreign-language menus and scan for allergens before booking. Suggest checking online reviews for allergy-friendly spots.

3. Communicate Proactively

Call the restaurant ahead. Ask about ingredient transparency, kitchen practices, and chef willingness to accommodate allergies. Avoid busy hours when staff may rush.

4. Double-Check Everything

At the table, discreetly scan the menu again with the mm food app—it flags unsafe dishes based on custom dietary profiles. Remind servers about allergies when ordering, emphasizing severity.

5. Minimize Risks

Avoid sharing food, and steer clear of high-risk items (e.g., fried foods in shared oil). Keep allergenic dishes away from your friend’s meal. Sanitize hands before eating if you’ve handled allergens.

6. Know Emergency Steps

Learn to recognize anaphylaxis symptoms (hives, swelling, breathing trouble) and where your friend keeps their epinephrine injector. Always stay calm and act immediately.

Technology like the mm food app removes guesswork by translating menus in real time and using AI to filter unsafe ingredients. Partner with your friend—ask what makes them feel secure. Small actions foster trust and ensure everyone savors the experience.