When Trust is the Main Ingredient-Eating out with Severe Food Allergies
Meet Becky Cox who has severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, a dairy intolerance and is a coeliac.
Becky is a Consultant, Business Development Manager and Trainer at Expect Green Utilities and R. Cox Training; and is one of Food Safety Logic’s valued referral partners.
Becky Cox who has servere food allergies enjoying a meal in a restaurant
The Anxiety Behind Every Meal
Eating out is something so many people take for granted. It’s a chance to relax, catch up with friends, enjoy good food, and escape the routine of every day life. For me, it’s a little more complicated. When I sit down in a restaurant, I’m not just ordering a meal, I’m placing my health, and quite literally my life, in the hands of the people in that kitchen.
I live with multiple dietary requirements as I’m severely allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, meaning even a trace could cause anaphylaxis. I carry two EpiPens and antihistamines everywhere I go, just in case. I am also a coeliac, so gluten isn’t just something that makes me feel uncomfortable, it makes me seriously ill. Add to that a dairy intolerance and you can see why eating out for me can be a minefield.
Every time I eat out, there’s an underlying anxiety that sits quietly beside me. I have to trust that the restaurant team truly understand the seriousness of my food allergies. I need to be confident that they have the right allergen management controls in place, and that everyone involved, from the server to the chef, is confident and consistent in keeping me safe. I want to feel reassured, not fearful.
Chefs working in a busy kitchen
What Helps Me Feel Safe
Unfortunately, not every experience goes smoothly. I once visited a well known restaurant chain where I’d had a wonderful, safe experience before. Because of that, I let my guard down a little. The manager didn’t take my order, there were no allergen labels on the food, and my allergies weren’t written down properly. I noticed the red flags, but I told myself it would be fine, after all I’d eaten at the same chain before without any problems.
But it wasn’t fine. Through a communication error I was served regular garlic bread instead of the gluten free version. Within 30 minutes I was violently ill and unable to stand , walk, or even speak because of the intense pain and stomach spasms. I spent hours being sick, and it took a week for my body to recover. That one mistake had a huge impact on me - physically, emotionally and mentally.
Since that day, eating out has never felt the same. I’m now constantly on edge, scanning for signs that something might go wrong. It’s exhausting. But I still want to enjoy meals out, to share laughter and food with my family and friends without that fear sitting in my stomach.
An Italian restaurant meal
Why Getting it Right Matters
For those working in hospitality, I know it can feel overwhelming at times, so many different dietary needs, so many requests. But for people like me, it’s not a preference - it’s life or death, or at the very least, serious illness. Every action matters including how the order is taken, how it’s communicated, how it’s prepared and how it’s served.
When staff show genuine care, follow safe processes, and speak with confidence, it transforms my experience. It allows me to relax, to focus on the joy of good food and good company, instead of the anxiety of what might go wrong.
Eating out should be about connection and enjoyment, not fear and doubt. So when restaurants get it right and when they make safety a shared responsibility, they don’t just serve a meal. They give people with food allergies like me the gift of peace of mind.
“A huge thank you to Becky for sharing her personal story of living with serious food allergies with Food Safety Logic and continuing to raise awareness of this critically important food safety issue. ”
