Struggles People With Food Allergies Are Facing During the Pandemic

People with food allergies already have a restricted diet, and the current pandemic has limited their diet even more as shelves are consistently empty in stores. This means allergy sufferers have to find alternative foods that may be unfamiliar. The FDA requires food manufacturers to list eight common food allergens — milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. There are people allergic to ingredients that don’t have to be listed on food labels. The presence of uncommon allergens like sesame are sometimes hidden under vague descriptions like “natural flavors.” Seafood, eggs, and dairy products may also be a source for natural flavor or flavoring.

When people with food allergies can’t find a safe food and takeout is not an option because of unknown cooking methods and ingredients, it’s time to cook. The coronavirus pandemic has fueled cooking from scratch and home baking, according to a survey by AMC Global, a market research firm.

Even if all the necessary allergy-friendly ingredients are available, preparing meals three times a day, every day, can be stressful. It’s not just the cooking, it’s the cooking, serving, and cleaning up — in addition to working from home — that makes cooking from home more often challenging.

If cooking several times a day is not an option and grocery stores are out of allergy-friendly foods, canned foods are a possible food choice. But be aware of certain sulfites that are often used in canned foods in order to preserve the food. Sulfites can cause allergy-like reactions, including wheezing in people with asthma and skin rashes.

There is a downside: meats, fruits, vegetables, soups, and legumes in a can are popular non-perishables that people have been storing during the pandemic. So eating more canned foods means you’re depleting your food stockpile quickly.

The labels of packaged foods containing allergens other than the common eight — milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans — are not required to be in compliance with the law. The FDA recommends to people who are allergic to other foods to contact the appropriate USDA agency regarding the labeling of such products. People can also email food companies to find out all the ingredients and manufacturing procedures.

The demand for food shopping at retail locations is at unprecedented high levels. There are spot shortages caused by panic buying. Allergy-friendly foods that are not available in one store or city or state may be available in another and can be shipped. Some people with food allergies have even turned to social media to ask friends and family to be on the lookout for certain items so they can order and ship the items.

With most of the U.S. under stay-at-home orders until recently, Americans have rediscovered the art of baking, making flour a hot commodity. When baking bread is not an option due stores running out of flour, the next best alternative for fresh bread is the one from the store. This may put people with celiac disease at risk. Given food shortages, stores may have limited options of gluten-free food.

Trips to the grocery store have become riddled with stress not just because of food shortages, but also because of social distancing rules and the fear of contracting COVID-19. People with food allergies may have to deal with the stress more often as they may have to venture out to several grocery stores at various times in the day to increase their chances of arriving after a restock and finding the foods that are safe for them. While they won’t be breaking the law because food shopping is allowed under stay-at-home orders, they do face a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19.

When giant retail stores run out of food items, customers go to smaller grocery stores in the neighborhood. While they may be easier to navigate for some, they have more people moving around in less space, making physical distancing challenging. Some stores have started to restrict how many shoppers can go inside and make them wait outside keeping 6 feet apart.

Food delivery services have surged during the pandemic as people stay inside, doing their part in flattening the curve. People who have not used such service before may have started to as a way to minimize the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus. The problem is that sometimes grocery delivery services substitute items that are currently unavailable, possibly creating a health risk for customers with food allergies.

As millions of Americans have lost their jobs during the pandemic, many have turned to food banks to help feed their families. However, even if food banks and other meal programs were not being stretched thin, they may not be an option for people with food allergies. They often don’t have volunteers and resources to provide food that doesn’t contain any of the common allergens.

Dealing with food shortages when already having limited food options can be very stressful, and people have different coping mechanisms. Some focus on finding as much information as possible because it helps them to make plans and feel in control. However, seeking out information may also lead to information overload, and thus increased anxiety, according to Gia Rosenblum, a licensed psychologist who spoke to Food Allergy Research & Education. A good strategy is to choose one reputable media source to check every day.