Watch Out for Food Allergies at Summer Fairsby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 18 Jun 2008 02:47 PM My friend who has celiac disease will be joining me at a craft fair this weekend -- and I'm concerned that he may have a hard time finding something safe to eat. Fairs, picnics, ball games, barbeques, and other summer gatherings can be a tough place for people with food allergies. It may not be possible to get an ingredients list from a fair vendor. Often, the food may be prepared off-site by someone other than the folks working the stand. If you're especially sensitive, there may be issues of cross-contamination -- a "safe" item may become unsafe if cooked on the same grill with unsafe foods. Who may have a hard time finding safe foods at a summer gathering?
What can you do to prevent problems? Avoid any food that may be unsafe. Bring food from home that you know is safe if the destination allows. Eat a big meal before you go, just in case you can't find anything that's safe to eat. If you do throw caution to the wind and eat at will, be prepared for the possibility of a reaction. If your allergies are severe or life-threatening, carry medication (like Benadryl) and emergency treatments (like an Epi-pen). Know where the first aid stations are at your event in case you need emergency help Symptoms of an allergic reaction to food can include (but are not limited to):
Learn more about Aimee Amodio  Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover... Relevanthealth tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags allergies, corn allergy, dairy allergy, food allergies, wheat allergy Discuss this article
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