Characteristics of Food Allergic Reactions in United States Restaurants

Food allergic reactions occur while dining out. Prior studies have shown that restaurant patrons fail to communicate allergies to restaurant staff and restaurant staff lack fundamental food allergy knowledge that could help decrease allergic reactions.

Food allergic reactions of varying severity occur in restaurants. Studies to date have shown that there are gaps in knowledge of and communication between restaurant staff and food allergic individuals.

We sought to characterize allergic reactions in restaurants to better inform the restaurant industry, food-allergic individual, an allergist so that mitigation strategies can be implemented.