Shoutout to Arby's for nut allergy precautions!!

(Photo from http://arbys.com/our-menu/limited-time-offers/pecan-chicken-salad-sandwich)

We had lunch yesterday at Arby's, and I saw the new Chicken Salad Pecan sandwich. We didn't order one, but the woman in the booth behind us had one on her tray. I overheard her tell her lunch date that she wanted to have it cut in half. She went back up to the counter to ask them to do it, but they said they couldn't because of people that have nut allergies. (I think they may have given her a plastic knife to use to cut it herself.) They couldn't use their knife to cut her sandwich, and then use it on another sandwich that didn't have nuts, since that would cross contaminate the other sandwich.

On behalf of all of us with food allergies, can I just say to Arby's, THANK YOU!!!!!!!

I was eating lunch with Son #2, who DOES have nut allergies. He overheard the conversation, then looked at me and raised his eyebrows, which in teenage-speak means "Cool."I wanted to run back up to the counter and tell them thank you, but that would have embarrassed my teenager.

What many people don't realize is how dangerous it can be if you are exposed to a food allergen. If my son is eating a sandwich without nuts, but it was prepared on the same surface as something with nuts, or cut with a knife that was used to cut nuts, he can have a serious allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis can be deadly. Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America has a section on their website about what can cause anaphylaxis.

Here are symptoms of anaphylaxis from Webmd:

Anaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening emergency in which the body's response to the allergen is sudden and affects the whole body. Allergy symptoms may within minutes progress to more serious symptoms, including:

• Itching of eyes or face
• Varying degrees of swellings that can make breathing and swallowing difficult
• Abdominal pain
• Cramps
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Mental confusion or dizziness

For those of you with food allergies, you know how careful you have to be when you eat out at restaurants. Some places make it easier for us to eat out, and it's good to know that Arby's is one of them! Thank you for protecting us!!