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February 19, 2007

Restaurant Takes Lead in Food Allergy Friendly Menus

Here's a press release from the casual dining chain Damons. I hit the site and checked out the online menu - pretty slick.

Source: PRNewswire

For the millions of food allergy sufferers, dining out can be a life or death decision. Even the hint of a known allergen in a "secret sauce" can find them among the 30,000 people a year seeking help in hospital emergency rooms.

To better accommodate the evolving needs of today's guests, Damon's Grill is introducing a healthy dining strategy, focusing on potential food allergen disclosures, additional low-calorie menu items and a transition to trans fat- free oils.

Allergen listings now are available through a link. Restaurant servers also can provide allergy information.

Damons.com guests will find an interactive allergy information tool in the lower left corner of the "Our Menu" page. It allows them to select any of the restaurant's items and view potential allergens. Before launching the allergy information page this month, a nutrition consultant analyzed the ingredients in nearly 250 Damon's appetizers, salads, salad dressings, soups, side items, entrees, sandwiches, kids' menu, beverages, condiments and desserts.

"Few casual dining chains offer allergy sufferers and those with other dietary restrictions easy access to the information they need," said Carl Howard, president. "Damon's is taking the lead because our guests asked for the information, and we want to support their efforts to lead healthier lives."

Food allergies trigger a person's immune system to mistakenly attack otherwise harmless proteins, as if they were diseases. The most common foods evoking reactions are: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish (lobster, crab, shrimp), soy, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts (walnuts, cashews, pecans). Reactions can range from a tingling sensation to difficulty breathing or death. Symptoms appear anywhere from within minutes after ingesting the substance to two hours later.

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Posted by David at February 19, 2007 2:08 PM

Comments

That is really cool! It says that their french fries would be safe for my sons allergies. I wonder if they have a dedicated fryer? I'll have to check it out to make sure otherwise cross contamination would negate that. Nice to see a restaurant taking such a step though. I hope more follow suit. Sure makes things a lot easier.

Posted by: ChupieandJsmama at February 21, 2007 7:09 PM

Just got a reply from Damons. They do not have a dedicated fryer so they not label for cross contamination. Just thought I'd pass that along.

Posted by: ChupieandJsmama at February 28, 2007 1:21 PM