DIETARIES, ALLERGIES AND ANAPHYLAXIS

1. What is an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis? 

An allergic reaction can involve mild to moderate symptoms, such as hives, swelling, tingling in the mouth, vomiting or abdominal pain. Some food allergies can be severe, and some allergic reactions can be life-threatening or fatal. These life-threatening reactions are known as anaphylaxis. 

3. What is a food intolerance? 

Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to a particular food, chemical or component that does not involve the immune system. Common food intolerances include lactose (milk sugar), sulphites, fructose (fruit sugar), yeast and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Food intolerances can be severe and can cause significant discomfort but do not cause anaphylaxis. Foods that cause an intolerance in some people can cause an allergic reaction in others.

Standard Allergy Procedure for High Tea and A La Carte

High Tea Client: 

1. When you see  a dietary listed for a table you are looking after on the High Tea run sheet, during your introduction,  clarify with the group, to find out who the customer is with the dietary. 

2. Decipher the severity of the dietary and apply the action below associated with that severity, dietaries fall within the following categories: 

Food Preference

This is where a customer prefers to exclude certain foods from their diet, this may be due to lifestyle or religious reasons.

Advise the client that whilst every effort is taken to ensure their food is free from the requested item, our products are produced in a kitchen where cross-contamination may occur and hence there is a chance the food may contain traces of the substance.

Is the food at Mary Eats Cake safe for this customer? Yes

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to a particular food, chemical or component that does not involve the immune system. Common food intolerances include lactose (milk sugar), sulphites, fructose (fruit sugar), yeast and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Food intolerances can be severe and can cause significant discomfort but do not cause anaphylaxis.

Advise the client that whilst every effort is taken to ensure their food is free from the requested item, our products are produced in a kitchen where cross-contamination may occur and hence there is a chance the food may contain traces of the substance. Please proceed with caution.

Is the food at Mary Eats Cake safe for this customer? Yes, but proceed with caution

Food Allergy 

A food allergy occurs when the immune system responds to an allergen (an ingredient that is usually harmless) in food. This triggers an immune reaction, which can range from mild to severe. 

If the allergy is mild, advise the client that whilst every effort is taken to ensure their food is free from the requested item, our products are produced in a kitchen where cross-contamination may occur and hence there is a chance the food may contain traces of the substance. Please proceed with caution.

If the food is severe, then our High Tea is not suitable for customers who have a severe food allergy.

Is the food at Mary Eats Cake safe for this customer? This depends on the severity of the food allergy, please decipher whether the allergy is severe or mild.

Anaphylactic reaction

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening, severe allergic reaction and should always be treated as a medical emergency. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis occurs after exposure to an allergen (usually to foods, insects or medicines), to which a person is allergic.

Our High Tea is not suitable for customers who can have an anaphylactic reaction to certain foods.

Is the food at Mary Eats Cake safe for this customer? NO

3. Once the above has been communicated with the client, ensure that a separate High Tea tier is placed in front of the client. This specifically applies to clients who have requested: 

   1. Gluten Friendly

   2. Dairy Friendly 

   3. Nut friendly

   4. Or a specific allergy

4. Notify the manager in charge who is sending through the ticket to the kitchen to ensure the dietary information sent through is done so correctly 

5. Once the food is ready, ensure with great caution that the correct dietary is placed directly in front of the correct person and the person with the dietary is explained & shown their specific meal.

*Apply the above method for A La Carte service, ensure that the table is asked whether there are any dietary requirements, if so, refer to the menu and should there be any questions specifically around food and what is contained, please consult the chef. Ensure that dietary food is taken out without any other food and is delivered directly to the customer that requested it.

MANDATORY ALLERGEN TRAINING: 

All Front of House service staff are required to complete the following Allergen training within 3 months of commencing with the company: 

Please find a link to the training here: https://foodallergytraining.org.au/

Once completed please email the certificate to your manager.