Ask an expert
Laurie Harada - Executive director of Anaphylaxis Canada
Question
Does Anaphylaxis Canada recommend complete food bans of eggs, fish, berries and legumes in camp situations due to some campers having allergies to these foods?
Does Anaphylaxis Canada recommend complete food bans of eggs, fish, berries and legumes in camp situations due to some campers having allergies to these foods?
Answer
In order to accommodate both the needs of campers with food allergies and those who do not suffer from them, we recommend that camps develop guidelines to reduce the risk of accidental exposure rather than completely “ban” these foods. Parents should provide information about their child’s food allergies on camp forms and also speak directly with staff (e.g. director or foodservice manager) before the camp session starts to review all snack and meal items. Foodservice staff should know how to read food labels and inquire about ingredients when purchasing their supplies. They should be trained how to reduce the risk of cross-contamination through shared cooking equipment and utensils which are used to prepare and serve foods. In some situations - such as remote outback camping trips or in the case of very young children – it may be prudent to exercise more caution and not serve a particular food if it contains an ingredient that a camper is allergic to.
In order to accommodate both the needs of campers with food allergies and those who do not suffer from them, we recommend that camps develop guidelines to reduce the risk of accidental exposure rather than completely “ban” these foods. Parents should provide information about their child’s food allergies on camp forms and also speak directly with staff (e.g. director or foodservice manager) before the camp session starts to review all snack and meal items. Foodservice staff should know how to read food labels and inquire about ingredients when purchasing their supplies. They should be trained how to reduce the risk of cross-contamination through shared cooking equipment and utensils which are used to prepare and serve foods. In some situations - such as remote outback camping trips or in the case of very young children – it may be prudent to exercise more caution and not serve a particular food if it contains an ingredient that a camper is allergic to.
