Hosting the holidays with food allergies

While different cultures, religions and even families have unique holiday traditions, most involve food. The smorgasbord of main dishes, appetizers, sides and sweets curated by countless cooks can be difficult to navigate for someone with food allergies.

Top food allergens 

Millions of Americans have an allergy of some kind, and almost 6% of children and adults in the United States have a food allergy. The person’s immune system overreacts to a food and sees it as a threat which triggers a protective response, also called an allergic reaction. 

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration identifies nine leading causes of food allergies in the United States: 

• milk
• eggs
• fish 
• shellfish
• tree nuts
• peanuts
• wheat
• soybeans
• sesame 

Allergic reactions can be mild or life-threatening

• Mild symptoms may include hives, eczema, upset stomach, diarrhea, itchy mouth and sneezing
• Severe symptoms warrant a call to 911 and may include swelling of your lips, tongue, throat or all three, which may be anaphylactic shock; trouble swallowing and shortness of breath or wheezing

Families who are impacted may have steps to cope with food allergies in public, but there are ways we can all watch out for each other, especially during the holiday season.  

Be the host who considers the most 

• Communication is key: Lives get hectic over the holidays so a food allergy previously known may be forgotten or a new chef may be trying a recipe. Before you start that “who’s bringing what” email thread or group text chat, ask the question, “are there any allergies we all should know about?” Bottom line: don’t expect everyone to remember allergies.  
• Offer allergy-free alternatives: Every recipe can be modified, and every dish is an opportunity for a new tradition. If you know someone has a dairy allergy, for example, swap out cow’s milk for coconut milk when making mashed potatoes. If you’re worried about the traditionalists in your group, serve both versions. 
• Label food: If the dish you’re sharing includes one of the top nine allergens, put a label on it. This is especially important if your motto is “the more, the merrier,” and you aren’t sure who may be stopping by.  
• Separate foods with allergens: Keep those alternative dishes separate from those with top food allergens. Cross contamination can happen when preparing, transporting or serving. Special note: many holiday traditions include baking and sharing a variety of cookies. That combo plate of cookies should be labeled if common allergen foods were used in any of them. 

Be prepared to treat an allergic reaction

Families who manage food allergies may want to take extra precautions as even the best laid plans sometimes go wrong. 

• Have epinephrine on hand. 
• Consider bringing a dish you are confident is allergen-free. 
• If someone is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, administer epinephrine and call 911.