FARE launches new dining resources

[CMdeux]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/food-allergy-research-education-launches-online-resource-center-for-diners-with-food-allergies-2014-04-24

The SafeFARE website ( www.safefare.org ) offers tools and resources for diners with food allergies, including tips for before and during their visit to the restaurant, a customizable "Food Allergy Alert" chef card, and a "Find a Restaurant" feature that enables visitors to locate food allergy aware restaurants in their area. To qualify for inclusion in the searchable database, restaurants must have staff who have completed either the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe(R) Allergens Online Course or MenuTrinfo's AllerTrain(TM) course.

(Please note that I found NO restaurants when I tried searching in several locations outside of the metro areas in the NE corridor, so clearly utility is going to vary.)

[lakeswimr]

I like the Allergy Eats website better so far.  I think that since that already exists they should have teamed up with them to make this site.  It looks as though they are trying to copy what allergy eats already is doing. 

[ajasfolks2]

FARE's is charitable org's offering in attempt at public service.

AE's is private business venture.  (I'll stop there.)

I'll vote for the success of FARE's, TYVM.

[rebekahc]

I like the fact that FARE is requiring the restaurants be trained on allergy safety/awareness in order for them to be listed.  So far, I couldn't get any restaurants in my metropolitan area to come up on a search, but I'm hoping they add more restaurants soon and this idea can get off the ground.

[CMdeux]

I agree with Rebekah-- I love the fact that listings are tied to specific training, rather than just random word-of-mouth.  I mean-- we have relied on word of mouth for many eons, I'm aware...    but it's nice to be able to know what someone's recommendation might mean for ourselves personally, if that makes sense.

I don't necessarily find crowd-sourced info helpful in and of itself.  Reading through Amazon reviews should reveal why in a big hurry-- sometimes people's impressions have less to do with the product than with their own unrealistic expectations (or the fact that they've been paid to offer positive reviews).

Heck-- if you ask a random 25 members HERE who their "trusted" and "never trusted" lists of food manufacturers are, you'll see that break out along two distinct lines-- specific identity of food allergens, and threshold dosing.  We don't trust Kraft (and by extension Nabisco) but I know that others love that Kraft treats sesame as a priority allergen... in spite of the fact that they believe that GMP is reason enough to not divulge shared equipment for nuts.   In this community, among those with MFA including soy/milk/nuts, Hain-Celestial a staple-- but they are pretty secretive about shared lines, and not at all helpful during phone calls to determine safety re: possible cross-contamination. 

It's really, really, REALLY variable.  We've probably all walked into a chain restaurant that was safe in other locations-- only to walk right back out again because of some idiosyncratic factor at one particular location (or region).



So FARE's certifications will actually mean something, in that context.  It's a great step forward.   

[starlight]

So FARE's certifications will actually mean something, in that context.  It's a great step forward.   

Which is going to take a big honking step backwards. I saw a commercial on TV for this already. If they don't have any restaurants listed in the third largest city (Chicago), people are going to write it off it not come back. They should've waited to advertise until they had it populated with at least a little bit of data. 

[CMdeux]

BUT-- they have to get restauranteurs to buy in and get trained.  So there is that.

[SilverLining]

And people here will keep an eye on it and post about it as it grows.  As well as some may help it to grow,

And probably people on other websites too.

[LinksEtc]

It seems like a good program.

--------------------------------------------

I would have to say, though, that some mandatory restaurant allergen labeling in the USA would also be nice.

Europe has a new law going into effect soon:

http://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/guidancenotes/allergy-guide/#.U1q3VX-9KSM

At the end of 2014, new legislation (the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation 1169/2011) will be introduced that will require food businesses to provide allergy information on food sold unpackaged, in for example catering outlets, deli counters, bakeries and sandwich bars. There will also be changes to existing legislation on labelling allergenic ingredients in prepacked foods.

"New EU Food Information Regulation: Advice to restaurants, caterers and food businesses on provision of Allergens information on non-packaged foods"
http://www.nsf-cmi.com/news_story.asp?news_id=131

Sanctions for non-compliance include civil and criminal proceedings, not to mention the costs and damage to brand reputation should an incident occur.

[lakeswimr]

Personally I find Allergy Eats very useful.  The restaurants that get high ratings on it correspond with my own experiences.  Of course I am still responsible for researching info about any place I eat but Allergy Eats has given me places to look that I would not have thought of on my own. 

I don't see anything wrong with someone trying to make a living from something that affects their family.  The person who runs Allergy Eats has at least one FA child if not more than one.  I think FARE could have worked with him and it would have been a nice thing.  I think it would be a shame if they put him out of business. 

I find his site easier to use.  Yes, I like the idea of having restaurants get trained.  That's a very good idea.  They are not going to have that many restaurants listed if that is the standard, at least for some time.  I hope there will be many who do get certified and that it will motivate more to do so. 

[CMdeux]

That is my hope, as well, Lakeswimr--

I think FARE could have worked with him and it would have been a nice thing.

But they ARE doing that-- they are (if you look at FARE's offerings on their page) linking to the listings there, and they are also permitting the use of FARE's certification on the listings there, as well.

What they are doing, though, is a very important step that AE isn't positioned to do (and neither are we, nor is KWA, nor Allergic Living), IMO.  If every place that wants to be "allergy aware" were like Disney, all good and well....  but it varies SO dramatically what restauranteurs consider "allergy awareness training" or "allergen management."  Some of them really need some kind of minimal certification program-- and I'd love to know that when someone claims "allergy aware" and has good word-of-mouth, it means something more than "we're great with your gluten-free fad diet."

I think that places that are already doing the right things are going to have NO beef with this move, and I sincerely hope that it pressures those who aren't-- to do better.  Because it's not just about marketing your brand that way, but about walking the walk, too. 

It's also so dependent upon individual allergens, honestly... I've never been in a restaurant that served seafood where I could truly eat safely with my SFA.  Similarly, I've never been in a vegan one where anyone with a sesame or soy allergy could have.

On the other hand, I know of a place that does an AMAZING job with wheat/gluten, but would be disastrous for anyone with an egg or nut allergy.  {sigh}

THAT is still the piece of this which is missing-- and it's still missing in FARE's emphasis, too.  IMO, that's a pretty important thing. 

[Janelle205]

I like the idea of allergy awareness training.  Honestly, what other people trust doesn't mean a whole lot for me, since my major allergens - the ones that will cause anaphylaxis - are never going to be priority allergens.  So places that work for a lot of people will never be an option for me.  But places that have general training on how to manage an allergen and recognize that things other than nuts can cause real troubles are what will work for me.

Really, if all that happens is that restaurants stop bringing me the 'gluten-free' menu when I mention that I have allergies, that would be great.

[lakeswimr]

We look for places that can cook a plain burger or steak and fries cooked in a separate pan with safe oil, clean pan and clean utensils.  I find that places that cater to gluten-free people often also understand food allergy x-contam well.  So, for us, it isn't the particular allergens that others who eat there that matters as much as if the place understands what xcontam is and how to prevent it and if they are willing (and able) to make plain foods cooked separately for DS.

Similarly, many pizza places can work for our allergy set and we found a bunch that have procedures in place to prevent dairy xcontam and that don't use dairy or eggs in the crust.  So, those are the types of restaurants we look to.

And once I know a particular chain works for us in one location I know there is at least a chance it will work in other locations. 

Allergy East lets me put in most of the allergens we avoid (a couple are rare so I can't put them in) and lists other users ratings for those allergens, which is also helpful. 

I didn't notice FARE linking to Allergy Eats but if they do, that is good. 

I think the number of restaurants that accommodate food allergies will only increase.  I see more and more places with FA binders where they call the manager over to talk with me if I stop in to see if they can accommodate DS.  We recently checked out a local Applebees as I heard they are good with FAs.  I was shocked by this because years ago we tried to eat there and they couldn't make a single thing plain for DS.  It was very frustrating.  Now they had the manager come talk to me in detail, show me a detailed allergen binder, and give me good info.  We may end up eating there.  We were just doing a preliminary research trip that day.  But, big change.  I think it will only get better and better thanks to all those who have come before us and the work we are all doing now.  (And the fact that restaurants have clued in to the fact that those dealing with FAs and celiac are pretty local to restaurants that will accommodate I'm guessing.)

[LinksEtc]

Allergy East lets me put in most of the allergens we avoid (a couple are rare so I can't put them in) and lists other users ratings for those allergens, which is also helpful. 

I didn't notice FARE linking to Allergy Eats but if they do, that is good. 

http://www.safefare.org/about-safefare

FARE is also proud to partner with AllergyEats, the leading guide to food allergy aware restaurant reviews.

[PurpleCat]

In the last 2 years, every restaurant we have walked into had excellent allergen awareness and menu information.  It has gotten so much easier to dine out.  We are lucky.  There are regulations in our state that make this possible.

We do not attempt to dine at restaurants that for obvious reasons would be high risk such as Chinese and Thai (and boy oh boy do I miss my Thai food!)

But we do go to Italian Restaurants and DD is allergic to garlic.  And there are always options for her.

I don't reference lists.  Having said that, I would reference a list traveling outside our region of the country and would most likely look for chains as opposed to stand alone choices.