Allergy Safe Food in Cafes

“I recently went into a cafe with my 4-year-old daughter (she is allergic to milk, egg, nuts and egg) and my 18-month-old son who has a cashew nut allergy. I ordered a coffee for myself and a cup of oat milk for my daughter, letting the staff know that she has allergies at this point. The only ‘snack food’ that I could see for sale were what looked like home-baked cakes. Some said they were vegan but they were all placed very close to each other, with no packaging on display so I made the decision that there wasn't anything suitable for my children to eat.

“While I was drinking my coffee, both children started saying they were hungry, so I looked in my bag and gave each child a ‘safe’ snack that I carry around for emergencies. I was conscious that they might start getting upset if they didn’t get something to eat, so I was glad to be able to give them something.

“Suddenly, a member of staff came over to tell me that my children can't eat food that hasn’t been purchased in the cafe. I apologised immediately and politely explained about my children’s food allergies. Instead of any understanding, I was told that food not bought in the cafe cannot be eaten under any circumstances. I asked whether they sold any food that my children could eat listing their allergens once again and she just shrugged and said there were ‘gluten-free’ cakes. I repeated the issue of food allergies a couple of times and tried to explain that gluten-free for us was not an option. I asked if they had any foods that were prepackaged for safety reasons, like a packet of crisps, and her response was, 'we only do natural food here'.

Not only was I made to feel that we were totally unwelcome, but also judged because my children have allergies.

I was told we could only stay if my children ate food purchased from the cafe. I explained their allergens once more and she said she would see what options they had for my children. She then went out to the back, to the kitchen I presume and I waited for a considerable amount of time but she didn’t come back. I was really shaken up by this point and in tears, so decided to leave. 

 “I have never been treated in this way when explaining my children’s food allergies before but have heard from an adult friend with a peanut allergy that she has often been either turned away or received negative treatment in cafes and restaurants because of her allergy.”

- Anon, a mum to two allergic young children