Encourage Local Restaurants to be Inclusive to Consumers with Food Allergies
- Target:
- Local Restaurants Seeking an Expanded and Interested Customer Base
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.inclusiveeating.org
According to Food Allergy and Research Education (FARE), nearly 32 million people in the United States have a food allergy, leaving a large population of consumers with limited options when dining out. These consumers are left to rely upon chain restaurants with standardized menus, as the environment at local restaurants is often one of exclusion due to a lack of allergy-friendly menu options, the absence of restaurant staff that understand food allergies, and the overwhelming effort needed by consumers in researching information about a particular restaurant. The social impact of exclusion due to food allergies has also been well documented, with negative impacts on children and increased anxiety in parents. Increasing allergy-friendly restaurants at the local level will lead to increased choices for millions, and will encourage support of local businesses, which will have the tangential effect of keeping money within the community.
We, the undersigned, call on locally-owned restaurants to take actions that will lead to a more inclusive and inviting environment for consumers with food allergies. These actions should result in an updated website and menu that addresses food allergens at the establishment, the ability to prepare selected items to accommodate a top allergen, employees that are trained and informed on food allergy awareness, and an open invitation for consumers with food allergies to discuss their allergy prior to their dining experience.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Encourage Local Restaurants to be Inclusive to Consumers with Food Allergies petition to Local Restaurants Seeking an Expanded and Interested Customer Base was written by The Inclusive Eating Project and is in the category Health at GoPetition.