Page 43 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

Do you share cups with other people?
Hannah - Whether I’m on the bench during a sports game or at a party, I never share cups. You never know if someone has eaten your allergen earlier in the day. And the chance of cross-contamination is too great of a risk for me. I just don’t feel comfortable doing it.
Karen - Yes, I share cups with people. I understand that it is not the safest decision. However, I like to think that I am smart about it. The only time I share cups with anybody is if I am friends with them and if I ask them what they have eaten during the day. I only ever do this at small gatherings with my close friends. And when I ask them what they’ve eaten, they almost always sit back and really think about what they’ve eaten. And, when they realize that they ate something containing my allergen, they say “Oh, never mind. You can’t have that.”
Nick - Never. It is impossible to track down what was in that cup or what the other person was eating. As a general rule, don’t share drinks!
What do you do if someone offers you a drink or a sip of their drink?
Hannah - If someone offers me a drink, or asks to share mine, I simply say “Sorry, I can’t. I have allergies.” I’ve never had one person ask me for a greater explanation than that. Everyone just accepts it as fact.
Nick - Considering that this is an allergy safety hazard, and a general safety hazard, I would probably just say “No thanks” and that would be it.
Karen - Unless I see them pour a drink into a brand new cup straight from an unopened bottle, I normally do not take anything from anyone. Usually, if it’s somebody I don’t really know, then I just politely decline.
Have you ever felt unsafe at a party because of your allergies?
Hannah - If I go to a party, I try to eat before I go. And I will either bring my own drink or get a drink
when I get there and keep it to myself the entire night. This way, I never feel unsafe.
Nick – Sometimes. But I generally don’t eat food at a party. I normally eat before I go or I eat afterward.
Karen - Yes, absolutely. Whenever I go to party that actually has food being served, a lot of the time there is a mixture of nuts on display in multiple bowls all over the room. I always feel uncomfortable being surrounded by my allergens when I cannot control it. If it is a party being thrown by a friend, I will ask to see if they can be put away—which has happened and allows me to enjoy the party. Sometimes, though, I just leave because it’s not worth the risk of sticking around and possibly having a reaction.