The holidays are here, and for most families, this time of year brings a multitude of gatherings, parties, and special events. For those with food allergies, along with the fun comes the enormous stress of avoiding foods that can cause allergic reactions, from mild rashes to anaphylactic shock.  Christmas dinners with relatives, drop-in parties, or a neighborhood “Pizza with Santa” party can create extra challenges in keeping the allergy sufferer safe from ingesting peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, soy, sesame, wheat, or more.  Protecting very young children with food allergies can be especially tough.  So how is it possible to avoid dangerous situations during the holidays?  

Planning and communications are the key.  Before the holidays begin, take a look at your calendar. Identify all the events where food may be served and, if your food allergic family member is a child, where children will be invited.  Start with your child’s school, pre-school, or daycare.  Find out what celebrations are planned for the entire school, or just your child’s class. Find out the dates, times, and person responsible for each event. Contact the person in charge well in advance with the following questions and concerns: 

• What foods will be served?
• Who will be bringing each dish?  What ingredients are in each food?  You may have to contact each person and ask what ingredients each food contains.
• If your child has a peanut allergy, ask that no peanuts be used in any of the food, since peanut allergies are often airborne and tactile.
• Request that food providers save ingredient labels for you to check.
• Explain that the foods your child can eat must not come in contact with other foods to which he or she is allergic, i.e., be careful of cross contamination with utensils used in cooking or serving.
• If it is not possible to identify or influence the kinds of foods that will be served, make your child a safe alternative and send it on the day of the party. I have always done this in lieu of taking a chance on a food containing a hidden ingredient which may cause a reaction.  Remember, it may be very difficult for someone to prepare food safely for an allergic individual if he or she is not experienced, despite all the best intentions. 

 If you receive an invitation to the home of a relative or friend, speak with the hostess ahead of time, explain the allergies of your family member, and ask the same questions you would ask an event coordinator at a school (above).  If you learn that the planned foods will pose a risk to your food allergic family member, volunteer to bring a dish to share that your family can eat safely and others will enjoy. It may be necessary to take along other safe foods intended only for the one with the allergy.  This is the safest option and will take the pressure off your host or hostess. If you are a hosting a party, find out if any of your guests has a food allergy. 

If a child who has a food allergy will be attending, keep all foods which pose a risk out of reach. If one of your guests has a peanut allergy, avoid serving any peanuts. If you feel confident that you can prepare foods free from allergens for your allergic guest, then do so.  Providing safe foods will give your guest a welcome break from cooking.   If you or your allergic family member is celebrating at a restaurant, call the restaurant well in advance of the party and speak with the manager or chef.  Explain your concerns: 

• Ask for the menu.
• Ask for an ingredient list for each food being served.
• Explain the risks of cross-contamination, and ask if foods are prepared in shared oil; on shared pans, griddles, or grills; or with cooking utensils used in other foods.

 While it may seem daunting asking all of these questions, don’t despair; you will be surprised how many people understand and will cooperate. Most importantly, always carry your medications. Despite all your best efforts, accidents will happen, and the most common reason for death from allergic reactions is a delay in using medication.   * * * Planning is the most important element in keeping your food allergic individual safe throughout the year. As the holidays draw to a close and the New Year approaches, look at next year’s calendar and identify all the special events that will involve food: 

• January – New Year’s Day, winter sports
• February – Valentine’s Day
• March and April – Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Spring Break
• May and June – Memorial Day weekend, field trips, end of school parties, sporting events, junior-senior proms
• July and August – July 4^th celebrations, pool parties, cookouts, summer vacations
• September – Labor Day, beginning of school
• October – Halloween
• November – Thanksgiving
• December – Christmas