1. Barbecue food for food allergy sufferers
What is a food allergy?
Food allergies are estimated to affect around 1 in 70 adults. The figure increases for children
but many grow out of their allergies as they get older. If someone eats a food that they are
allergic to, they can become seriously ill and in severe cases could die.
Food intolerances are more common than food allergies and whilst these are not usually as
serious as an allergy, food intolerance can cause a person to feel ill or uncomfortable if they eat
the food that they have an intolerance to.
Catering for food allergy sufferers
It’s important to consider any food allergies or intolerances that your guests may have when
planning a barbecue. Due to the versatility of barbecue food, there is no reason why you can’t
cater for food allergy suffers without any difficulty.
The key is to find out what allergies your guests have well in advance so that you can choose
recipes that everyone will enjoy. If this is not possible, for example if you aren’t sure who will
be coming, or if you are catering for a large number, then provide a number of different options
that are suitable for the main allergy types.
Depending on the severity of the allergy, sometimes food that has been prepared in the same
area as the allergen can be dangerous. When preparing foods, make sure you clean chopping
boards and utensils before using them for a different food type. If one of your guests has a very
severe allergy then it’s probably safest not to include that ingredient in any of your dishes to
eliminate the possibility of cross contamination.
If you are serving pre-prepared foods such as bread, crisps, pastries and desserts remember to
read the labels. You can sometimes find ingredients in products that you would not expect; for
example milk powder is a common ingredient in some brands of crisps. When it comes to
dressings and sauces, let people add their own so that they have more control over what they
can eat.
Most barbecues dishes can be adapted for allergy sufferers. For example a person with a wheat
allergy can still enjoy burgers and sausages (providing they do not contain wheat), if you serve
them with salad or potatoes instead of bread.
Here are some of the most common allergies and tips of how to deal with them when hosting
large barbecues for a variety of guests:

2. Dairy
People who are allergic to dairy generally cannot eat any products containing milk. Sometimes
people who are allergic to cows’ milk can have other types such as goats’ milk but if in doubt
it’s best to avoid milk and products containing milk completely. Common dairy products include
cheese, cream and yogurt but remember that some processed foods that you would not expect
to contain milk do sometimes have milk or milk powder as an ingredient.
If you are adding cheese or cream to dishes, remember to provide an alternative without these
too.
Egg
Again, as with milk or dairy allergies, the key to dealing with an egg allergy is to check
ingredients labels as some products can contain egg even though you might not expect them
to.
If serving mayonnaise based dressings, supply an alternative that doesn’t contain egg.
Wheat and gluten
Some people are allergic to both wheat and gluten – some to just one or the other. The main
product that you see at a barbecue that contains wheat and/or gluten is probably the bread. If
you are serving burgers or sausages in bread buns or rolls, keep some meat to one side which
you can serve with a side salad or potato salad instead. Alternatively, you should be able to find
wheat-free and gluten-free bread in larger supermarkets or health food shops. Once again,
check labels for hidden wheat and gluten, especially on products such as beef burgers which
often contain wheat.
Soya
Soya allergies (sometimes called soy allergy) is a common allergy and it is an ingredient that is
found in many processed foods. It is also a key ingredient in many vegetarian burgers and
sausages, so if you are serving these, make sure that anyone with a soya allergy knows which
ones to avoid.
Nuts and peanuts
Nuts and peanuts are used in lots of different products including dressings, breads and
desserts. Even if a product does not contain nuts, it may have been produced in a factory where
nuts are used and this can be enough to affect the allergy sufferer. Check labels carefully and if
in doubt, avoid ready-made products and instead make your own.

3. Seafood
If you are serving seafood at your BBQ make sure you prepare and cook it separately in case
you have any guests who are allergic to seafood.
What to do in an emergency
If you suspect that any of your guests has suffered an allergic reaction, telephone a doctor
straightaway for advice. If the symptoms are severe, phone for an ambulance.