Food Allergy Awareness and Accessibility

The month of May is Food Allergy Awareness month in Canada and the United States. This month there will be a lot of talk about advocating for food allergies.

We also need to look at providing accommodations for those with food allergies. Food allergy awareness is about creating meaningful access and defining what accommodations work for a particular person.

These topics can often be polarising even within the food allergy community itself. 

Why is the Topic of Food Allergies a Tough One at Times?

There are a few different things at play here. One is that many people see accommodations for food allergies as taking something away. Be it from their traditions or enjoyment of food. The other is the presence of food allergies that can harm the health of some. Let's take a look at what I personally advocate for with food allergies and how we like to raise awareness. 

First off, I want to make it clear I am not talking about mild food intolerances or dislikes.

Food allergies are food that cause a severe reaction that can lead to death in cases of anaphylaxis. Another aspect is health problems and complications due to the exposure to or ingestion of a certain food. This is seen in Celiac's disease. Not an allergy but is treated with complete restriction of certain foods.

In these cases not even an iota of the food can be consumed. Find out more about us and our food allergies here.

What is a Basic Accommodation?

When you look at accommodations they are usually defined as to whether or not they provide meaningful access to something, not just access. In the case of a disability, for example, providing access would be to have doors on a building that open wide enough for a wheelchair.

Meaningful access is having a powered door operated by a button. Then the person needing entry to the building who uses a wheelchair can open the door themselves. The accommodation is one that can be used to include everyone. The act of the door opening by power doesn't impede anyone else from entering the building.

How Accomodations Can Relate to Food Allergies

For someone with a food allergy that may mean providing a space free from their allergen. This way can fully participate without worry of coming into contact with their allergen.

That could mean an aeroplane where nuts and nut products are not served. Alternatively, they could be not served within a buffer zone, depending on the severity of the allergy. It may mean a classroom with no wheat present in modelling dough, other teaching and educational tools. 

An Example of Where We Request Accomodations

We have requested accommodation from our child's soccer team. They are teens and are in a competitive league where the half time snacks are long gone. What we ask is to wait until after a game to hand any food treats out. That way our teen can avoid coming in contact with their allergens.

We have had issues in the past. A scary one where they had a reaction at a soccer function. One of their teammates ate cantaloupe and touched our child's skin causing an immediate and severe reaction.

Why Still Allow the Allergens at All?

This path of access is one we chose because it still allowed the treats to be handed out. At the utmost, it is still safe for our child. We can leave right after soccer and there is less concern about missing out and accidentally touching the allergen.

People tend to get extremely defensive if you ask for no treats at all. Food is a huge part of how people celebrate, show love, and just are. If food is banned we are less likely to get the team cooperation. It is important we have it from them. We need the team to help us keep our kids safe.

This middle ground still provides meaningful access but also balances out the desires of others to have food present.

How Far Do Accommodations Go?

This is another hot topic when discussing food allergies.

A lot of knickers get in a knot when accommodations are discussed. People do not want to change what they are eating. We understand this one hundred percent. It was really tough to give up certain foods due to allergies. From what we see day in and out a lot of adults struggle with food restrictions.

Do we miss those foods? All the time! 

Why it Matters

The difference is we know the harm that can come from eating them to our family members who have allergies. For us it can be anaphylaxis or severe health consequences.

Others have a hard time omitting a certain food when it doesn't directly affect them. It comes down to being able to understand the consequences of not providing the accommodations. 

One Accomodation We Will Not Budge On

We chose to have any accommodations stop for our family and kids at providing food. The kids can all read labels. They know what they are looking for for their allergens but homemade foods don't have that safety net. Allergens are sneaky and can hide in labelling. There are also cross contact risks we cannot chance.

It is a part of peace of mind for us to know that the food is safe for our kids. This means when there are birthday parties, I make all their food. I prep a meal and snacks including a cupcake and send it with them. 

I don't really trust anyone else to feed our family. Mistakes have been made in the past. This is the easiest way to avoid them.

How Accomodations Can Look at School

In school we have it written into the kids' learning plans that their teachers notify us a week before any in class parties. We added this point so I can get food ready for the kids and send it. Our children's desks are cleaned before they return to learning and all hands are washed well. We have both a medical plan and a learning plan for our kids with allergies at school.

There is always a lot of learning and changing of the plans from both the school and us parents. Our kids are getting older and we have them involved in their own plans upto their abilties for their age.

For more specific tips about creating plans at school check out this

There is No One Size Fits All

This approach will not work for all with food allergies. Some people need a space completely free from their allergens. Don't bother telling me people with severe allergies should stay home. Know that you can develop food allergies at any point of your life, to anything.

Yes, that may mean that you may not be able to have nuts or citrus, for example, until after a party, flight, or event. It is a little inconvenice instead of a life threatening reaction. Your access to an event is not impeded by the lack of an allergen. Instead, food allergy awareness is fostered.

This kind of accomodation opens the event up to everyone, which is what meaningful access is about.

If You Aren't Eating the Food Anyway Why Does it Matter if I Have a Walnut Dessert?

The chances of me reacting to the walnuts when they are present is much higher than if they aren't.

When an allergen is around in an area the chances of little bits of it getting everywhere are really high. This is often referred to as cross contact or cross contamination. Little bits of the allergens can cling to surfaces and skin. For some that is all it takes to have a life threatening reaction. If the walnuts are not present then all the better as there is a lower risk of a reaction. 

A reaction can happen from shaking hands, crumbs on a table, touching a surface with traces of walnuts on it and more. With this said, it makes sense that just not having the allergen present. It is a safer option than not serving the dessert to those with an allergy.

It can mean the difference between someone being able to participate and be present or not. Food Allergy Awareness it what it ultimately comes down to.

Learning About Food Allergies

The best way we can help each other is to learn about what food allergies are. This will help to raise food allergy awareness in all. It can start in schools and the community by sharing ressources. Sites like Food Allergy Canada, FAACT, and FARE are the best places to start.

Another way is to talk to your school about providing information session in classes about food allergies. This can help stop bullying around food allergies. Check out lesson plans like the one at Kids With Food Allergies for grade specific plans.

We are working with our local youth soccer club to help bring awareness to food allergies. Other ares we can help are to create our anaphylaxis plans, as well as promote how to admisiter epinephrine auto injectors.

Accomodations For Health Reasons Are Already Around

In the end what this all comes down to is asking for a safe place for all. No one is taking anything away from others. Look at it like smoking in shared spaces. The presence of second hand smoke is harmful to others.

Collectively we have banded together and no longer have smoking in many public areas. People still can eat the food they like. They only need to abstain until after or not at an event. it is the safest option for all.

The Take Away on Food Allergy Accessibilty

The accommodations don't have to be difficult. Most people with allergies are more than happy to provide alternative solutions to their allergens when asked. We have loads of recipes that are free from the top 9 common allergens.

There is a key phrase taught for working within accomodations. It is "How can I best assist?". This phrase opens up the discussion as to what needs to be looked at. Therefore, it helps us to consider to make sure that there is meaningful access for all.

Starting the conversation is the first and toughest step in advocating for food allergies.