How to Safely Order Takeout If You Have Food Allergies

If you’re one of the estimated 32 million Americans with food allergies, you know all too well the challenges of eating food from a restaurant.

It might feel like you’re only safe if you buy and prepare the food yourself, or, at the very least, know exactly what went into the cooking and preparation process. You’ve likely felt a bit isolated because of your allergies or stressed about the idea of even trying to eat food from an unfamiliar restaurant.

If this describes you, there is good news. Eating food you didn’t prepare yourself is possible! Let’s take a closer look into the details and tips on how to safely order takeout with food restrictions whether it is for yourself, a child, or a loved one.

Choosing a restaurant you trust

Before you choose a restaurant, there are some things to take care of ahead of time to help you be prepared.

1.  Do your research. This includes looking up information about the:

   • Menu

   • Type of cuisine served (become educated on what ingredients are most commonly used in various types of cuisine)

   • How fresh the food is when served

2. Call the restaurant and ask to speak to the manager or supervisor. Some questions to ask include:

   • How is the staff educated about food allergies?

   • What type of equipment is used?

   • How do they avoid cross-contamination? 

3. Follow these tips to further ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:

   • Stick to restaurants that have multiple locations since they are more likely to be properly trained in dealing with food allergies.

   • Try to order during less popular hours of the day when the staff is more likely to be able to give you more attention.

   • Look for logos on a menu that may indicate allergy-friendly items including dairy-free, nut-free, vegan, egg-free, and gluten-free.

   • Be on alert for red flags on any menu that may indicate a warning about the possibility of cross-contamination.

Ordering and communicating clearly

After all your detailed prep work, be excited that you found a good option that will handle your food restrictions with care. To further ensure you have a good experience, follow these guidelines:

1. Communicate your restrictions clearly and explicitly. Even though you called when you were doing your research, don’t assume that the information was translated to the rest of the staff. If you’re ordering through a third-party food delivery service, be sure to add detailed notes about your needs. Companies like Uber Eats and Doordash provide instructions on how to specify your needs when ordering. For extra measure, call the restaurant after you’ve placed your order to confirm that they received the information you added. Inform them of your food allergy so that they can be on alert. 

2. Be kind but don’t be afraid to be direct. It is their job to serve you well! Don’t be afraid of sounding “needy” when it comes to protecting your health. Ask all the questions you need to while also being respectful and acknowledging the challenges they may be facing.

3. When choosing what to order:

   • Know your substitutes for common ingredients. For example, a meal with walnuts instead of peanuts, or almond milk instead of cow’s milk.

   • Order meals without too many ingredients. This will help lower the chance of something going wrong.

   • Avoid pre-made foods, such as baked goods, since it is harder to know what went into creating them.

   • Don’t be afraid to try new foods. Having a food allergy doesn’t have to just limit you, but can open up possibilities to try other foods you might not have otherwise.

4. Be prepared with emergency supplies. This will vary depending on your condition but examples can include an EpiPen and medical ID tag.

After you’ve enjoyed your meal

Hopefully, you had an enjoyable experience and are feeling happy and satisfied. There are just a few extra tips to follow to ensure that eating out becomes less daunting over time:

1. Leave a review. This will help other people who may also have food allergies know what they can expect.

2. Take mental (or physical) note of the restaurant. Keep track of whether this is a place you plan to order from again.

3. Try to recreate meals. If you ate something you loved, use it as inspiration to find similar recipes to try whipping up yourself!

The difference between a food allergy and an intolerance

When explaining your food restrictions to others, you may get questions about the difference between an allergy and an intolerance.

Simply put, a food allergy involves a reaction by the immune system, which produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This is because the body identifies a particular food as a threat and tries to protect the body against it. Symptoms can include things like hives, itching, and swelling of parts of the face. The most severe and least common symptom of a food allergy is called anaphylaxis and can be life-threatening. Anaphylaxis is a whole-body reaction that constricts airways and often causes blood pressure to drop. This can lead to shock, loss of consciousness, and in the worst case, even death. The eight most common food allergies are to:

• Eggs

• Tree nuts

• Cow’s milk

• Peanuts

• Shellfish

• Wheat

• Fish

• Soy

Having a food intolerance, on the other hand, does not involve the immune system but instead causes a disruption in the digestive system due to food particles not being properly broken down. Symptoms include things like gas, bloating, nausea, and cramping, but can also present as more unexpected symptoms such as migraine or skin conditions like psoriasis due to the presence of inflammation. Symptoms most commonly occur within a couple of hours of ingestion, but can sometimes be delayed or dependent on the amount of food consumed. Food intolerances or sensitivities are much more common than food allergies, but thankfully they are less severe.

It is essential to know what type of food allergy or intolerance you have and the symptoms to expect if you were to come in contact, as this can help you be prepared when eating out.

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Written by:

Joanna Foley, RD

Joanna Foley, RD, is a registered dietitian (RD) and the owner of joannafoleynutrition.com, a private nutrition consulting business. She has previously worked as a clinical dietitian and outpatient renal dietitian.

Reviewed by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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