Food Allergy Research & Education Launches Online Resource Center for Diners With Food Allergies

MCLEAN, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 24, 2014) - Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) has announced the launch of the SafeFARE program, an online resource center and public service announcement (PSA) featuring celebrity chefs Bryan Voltaggio and Mike Isabella. The goal of the program is to make dining out safer and more enjoyable for individuals and families managing food allergies. Through teamwork between diners and restaurants, everyone can become an advocate for the millions of Americans living with a food allergy.

Since the SafeFARE database of food allergy aware restaurants is just getting started, FARE urges diners with food allergies to become SafeFARE advocates and tell their local restaurants about the SafeFARE program and the benefits of allergen training. To make this process easy, FARE has created a flyer that can be downloaded and shared with restaurant staff and managers to let them know how they can become a food allergy aware restaurant.

The SafeFARE website (www.safefare.org) offers tools and resources for diners with food allergies, including tips for before and during their visit to the restaurant, a customizable "Food Allergy Alert" chef card, and a "Find a Restaurant" feature that enables visitors to locate food allergy aware restaurants in their area. To qualify for inclusion in the searchable database, restaurants must have staff who have completed either the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe® Allergens Online Course or MenuTrinfo's AllerTrain™ course. Each restaurant's listing also includes the type of cuisine served, food allergy policies, a link to the eatery's entry in the AllergyEats online directory, and more.

To build awareness of the SafeFARE program, FARE is distributing its "Food Allergy Teamwork" PSA to TV and radio stations nationwide. The PSA highlights the features of the SafeFARE resource center and underscores the importance of cooperation between diners with food allergies and restaurant staff.

"If you're one of the 15 million Americans living with a food allergy, dining out can pose a significant challenge," said John L. Lehr, chief executive officer of FARE. "Planning and preparation are key to staying safe. FARE is proud to offer the SafeFARE program, which will improve quality of life for individuals and families managing food allergies by providing helpful resources and connecting them with restaurants that are committed to meeting their needs. We also hope that the program will encourage restaurateurs across the country to provide food allergy training for their staff and to list their restaurants on www.safefare.org. Diners with food allergies are eager to find restaurants that take allergy safety seriously -- and when they do, they come back again and again."

In addition to teaming with the National Restaurant Association to develop the ServSafe Allergens Online Course, FARE is partnering with MenuTrinfo, a provider of nutritional analysis and allergen training, to offer its AllerTrain program to foodservice operators.

To access the SafeFARE online resource center, view the "Food Allergy Teamwork" PSA, learn more about training for restaurant staff, or to download a flyer about SafeFARE to share with your local restaurant, visit www.safefare.org.

ABOUT FARE
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) works on behalf of the 15 million Americans with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. This potentially deadly disease affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S. -- or roughly two in every classroom. Formed in 2012 as a result of a merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network and the Food Allergy Initiative, FARE's mission is to find a cure for food allergies, and to keep individuals with food allergies safe and included. We do this by investing in world-class research that advances treatment and understanding of the disease, providing evidence-based education and resources, undertaking advocacy at all levels of government and increasing awareness of food allergy as a serious public health issue. For more information, please visit www.foodallergy.org and find us on Twitter @FoodAllergy, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.