Dear Local Minnesota Restaurants, Please Do Better at Reporting Allergies

Life sucks sometimes.  Today is one of those days.  I was fine, just doing my job at the radio station in Minnesota and then I could feel the tingle creeping.  For me, it is always on my tongue first.  (I'll give you a glimpse of what my tongue looks like during a reaction below.)

I Hate Food Allergies With A Passion

For all who have to carry an EpiPen, deal with hives, stomach issues, headaches, swelling, and all the other issues related to allergies, I know we all wish we could have a day where we just didn't have to worry.  I dream of the day when all humans show compassion rather than saying we are "making it up".  Victory would feel like a day with a smorgasbord of food options rather than selective eating habits, which aren't really habits but more of a way we need to survive.

Why Are There So Many Food Recalls Due to Mislabeling of Products?

I'm writing this because while people know the word "allergy", those who are trying to survive with them aren't always seen.  Companies continue to have labeling mistakes which lead to embarrassing recalls for them.  But for me and you, those "mistakes" could be a serious medical emergency.  When we turn a product over to look at labels, we should have confidence that we are being told the truth.  Unfortunately, I'm finding that those "labels" are missing in some local locations where we are also getting food.

Local Restaurants, Please Step It Up For Those Of Us Suffering From Food Allergies

Restaurants - you frustrate me.  Chain restaurants usually have most ingredients listed if I look hard enough on their websites.  Not everything is always there but it is a start.  Local places though, I've given up.  I can guess what might have soy as I'm ordering in person or online, or I could ask, but many servers can't find where this is located or have given me false answers.  Example: please don't tell me your salad dressing doesn't have soy in it if you aren't 100% sure.  My tongue will alert me in about 15 minutes if it does...or I could be violently ill in your bathroom.

I know you have tough jobs and you are short-staffed, but I will at times just not eat when others are because I am simply tired of having to ask for a list of items that have soy in them.  Local restaurants, please just step it up and make sure you have these listed on your menu both in person and online.  You could even put a QR code on the table or the menu that goes to a special "food allergy" menu.  THAT would be amazing.

This isn't a specific city issue, this is a state issue.  Maybe it is even a federal issue due to rules and regulations.  No idea.  But to prove my point, I just looked at 5 local Rochester, Minnesota restaurant menus online and can't find allergy info other than gluten for any of them.  Nothing is listed on the website about soy but, I know you are serving food with it because I've had reactions from food at all of these locations.

What Does A Soy Allergy Reaction Look Like?

I'll explain it but it is probably going to be a better visual for you if you can see it.  I'll show that in a second but, here are a few of the symptoms of a soy allergy:

• Hives, itching or eczema.
• Tingling sensation in the mouth.
• Swelling of lips, face, tongue, throat or other parts of the body.
• Wheezing, runny nose or trouble breathing.
• Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.

I've had 10 of those symptoms today...all because something I ate had soy in it.  Or, according to UCSFhealth.com, the soy could have been in lotion, soap, or even medicine.  It doesn't always have to be in food.

Hi, My Name is Jessica Williams, and I am Having a Soy Allergy Reaction Right Now.  Want to See it?

Right now, my tongue is swollen, very sensitive, and hopefully at the peak of the reaction.  But here's a glimpse at what it looks like:

Last week, I had another reaction.  This was me in the bathroom at work checking to see how bad it was.  Overall, that day was fine.  It was just my tongue that was getting the brunt of the pain.

What Can We Do To Fix This For All Who Suffer From Food Allergies?

How do we help all who are suffering from food allergies so we stay safe when eating at restaurants?  Maybe I need to chat with our lawmakers or city leaders.  If you've got ideas though, pass those along to me at jessica.williams@townsquaremedia.com.  AND, if you've got a menu online that shows all allergy information and you aren't part of a chain restaurant, please tell me who you are so I can eat at your place safely.