The Food Allergy Buddy card aims to make restaurant eating safer

With more than 11 million people in the US alone suffering from food allergies, a new, low tech innovation could help to save lives.

The Food Allergy Buddy (FAB) card is simply a personalised ingredient card that people eating in restaurants can hand over to waiters and chefs, clearly detailing their food allergies and ingredients to avoid, and thereby hopefully avoiding food allergy reactions.

When presented with a FAB card Chefs should then be able to alter their recipes accordingly, or advise against particular dishes being chosen, and thereby ensure their diners food safety.

Anyone who wants a FAB card can log onto www.foodallergybuddy.com and enter their allergy information to produce and print out business sized cards that are easily transportable in their purse, wallet or business card holder. The service is provided free of charge, and the user is able to print out as many cards as they require. Since September 2004 there have been 98224 Food Allergy Buddy cards printed.

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network an estimated 30,000 emergency room visits, 2,000 hospitalisations and 200 deaths annually are as a result of food allergy reactions. With 8 foods accounting for 90% of all food allergic reactions; wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish and soy.

The only cost of these cards is the cost of paper and printer ink to print them out, but they may just make your next restaurant meal more enjoyable, and safer.