Dining out safely with food allergies is sometimes complex because it can be a balance between the risk of an allergic reaction versus control, exclusion, fewer choices, and feeling comfortable. The responsibility of getting safe food can cause stress and anxiety, and we aim to decrease dissatisfaction and unpleasant surprises (Desmet & Schifferstein, 2008). For the safety of the restaurant guests, restaurants must always be able to show actions regarding food safety and explain allergen information in writing or verbally (Web, 2022). Nevertheless, guaranteeing zero risk while dining out is not a realistic or viable option for restaurants accommodating food-allergic people (Madsen et al., 2012).
The project Inclusive Gastronomy aims to support an enjoyable experience when dining in restaurants for food-allergic people. Where they can eat without the stress of an allergic reaction - ultimately aiming for an equal dining experience as nonallergic guests.
Aiming to generate ideas and identify requirements for an inclusive dining experience, we organized a co-creation. Ten food experts (food-allergic guest, clinician, chef, etc) participated in a workshop dinner. They explored opportunities and constraints from multiple perspectives and translated ideas into magical elements for safe dining in restaurants with food allergies.
Based on these discussions and magical elements, we will develop 3 probes (speculative prototypes) that show how Inclusive Gastronomy can support food-allergic people dining out safely and comfortably in the future.
