Q: I’ve heard that potluck meals and holiday gatherings can be risky for people with food allergies. What makes them so dangerous, and what precautions should we take?
A: You’re right to be cautious. Potluck meals can be especially risky for people with food allergies because dishes are often homemade, unlabeled and prepared by people who may not have food allergies in mind. It’s easy for allergens to be hidden in recipes or for cross-contamination to occur. Even a small amount of an allergen can cause a serious reaction.
One of the main problems is that you can’t always tell what’s in a dish. Someone might use nuts or milk in a casserole, or a sauce that contains shellfish or eggs, without realizing how dangerous that could be for someone with food allergies. Even using the same spoon to serve multiple dishes can spread allergens.