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Written by Adam Miller
How Restaurants Can Reduce Liability Risks From Food Allergy Issues

A growing number of Americans now experience some form of food allergies or food sensitivities, making it a greater challenge for restaurant owners to safely serve customers without causing allergic reactions or illnesses. Although many with these allergies and sensitivities will be very upfront with servers and management when ordering, restaurants might still serve them a meal that triggers a reaction. To help reduce issues with customer food allergies and potential liability claims, restaurants can take proactive steps to ensure their customers have a safe and enjoyable meal and protect the restaurant from possible liability issues. Learn more about how restaurants can protect themselves in today's Aegis blog post.

Food Handling and Preparation Training

One of the most common ways a restaurant customer can be impacted by their food allergies or sensitivities is due to improper food handling or cross contamination. For example, if a customer has a nut allergy, then their food should be prepared and cooked in an area that has not been contaminated or touched at all by nut-based foods. This would include food prep counters, utensils, pots or pans, or any mixing or prep equipment. Kitchen and wait staff should be well trained on how to correctly sanitize the kitchen or prep area to ensure their meeals do not trigger a reaction.

Better Menu Labeling

Another way restaurants can reduce potential liability issues with customers that have food allergies is to clearly label suitable and safe options, and to identify possible allergens whenever possible. For example, a menu could denote gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free options for diners, and it could also offer detailed menu descriptions such as "contains egg" or "cooked in peanut oil." Providing extra menu information helps ensure that they have a pleasant and safe dining experience.

First Aid Training

Finally, all restaurant employees from busboys to managers should be trained in basic first aid to assist injured or sick customers or employees. Basic first aid training can be a lifesaver in the event someone is choking, has an allergic reaction, suffers a burn or cut, or is injured in a trip and fall incident. Administering first aid immediately can help significantly until first responders can arrive.

Restaurants want to ensure that their customers have a wonderful and positive dining experience, and helping them find delicious and allergy-safe meal options is a great way to do so. To help protect restaurants, Aegis Insurance & Financial Services offers comprehensive Restaurant Insurance that can offer restaurant owners a full range of essential coverage, including General Liability, Excess Liability, Commercial Property, Commercial Auto, and Workers Compensation policies. Contact Aegis today at 713-850-7622 for more information, or fill out our online form to request a free quote!

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