How to Make Your Workplace More Allergy-Friendly (The Ultimate Guide)

Imagine Clark Kent (Superman’s alter ego) works at your office. Feeling peckish, he heads to the break room to grab a snack. He’s just taking a bite when it hits him—this cookie was baked with kryptonite! 

That’s how it feels to have a food allergy in the workplace. And there are a lot of Supermans running around. 

Food allergies have gone up by 50% since the 1990s, and over 6% of adults have one. That’s about 1 in every 16 people, which means that in an office of 100 workers, six of them risk an allergic reaction every time they walk into the break room. Luckily, there are lots of things managers like you can do to make your workplace safer and more inclusive for people with allergies, like stocking allergy-friendly snacks. 

To help you get started, The FruitGuys dug into the latest allergy research and spoke to two registered dietitian nutritionists about how to make the workplace more allergy-friendly. We’ve also created a nut-free snack box for the office that makes snacking safer for workers with nut allergies.

Understanding Workplace Food Allergies 

Food allergies are becoming a bigger issue in the workplace because they’re impacting more people. The 6% stat comes from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but another study of more than 40,000 adults put the number of food allergy sufferers at 10.8%. That study also found that almost half of those people developed a new food allergy in adulthood.

Why Are Food Allergies Rising? 

No one knows for sure, but researchers have several different theories. 

• Genetics: People with particular gene mutations, like the one that causes Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, may be at higher risk for developing food allergies
• Antibiotic Use: Kids who frequently take antibiotics may have a higher risk of food allergies in adulthood
• Lack of Microbe Exposure: Due to antibiotics and cleaner home environments, kids may not be developing as many healthy, immune system-boosting bacteria in their guts
• Trying New Foods Too Late: Caution about allergies may lead parents to avoid feeding their kids certain foods, which actually increases their risk of developing allergies
• Too Much or Too Little Vitamin D: Research on this is still ongoing, but how much Vitamin D we take in could correlate with our allergies

“It’s not known at this time what specifically has caused the rise in food allergies across the globe,” Julie Stefanski, MEd, RDN, LDN, FAND, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told The FruitGuys. “… What we do know is that it’s everyone’s responsibility to be respectful of those who deal with food allergies and try to maintain a safe environment to prevent an allergic reaction.”

Common Food Allergies to Watch for In the Office

People can be allergic to almost any food, but nine allergens are particularly common: milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, eggs, and sesame. These are sometimes called the “Top 9” or the “Big 9” food allergens. 

Since the Top 9 allergens are so common, it’s important to keep them in mind and add inclusive snack options as you’re stocking your break room, kitchen, or snack stations. 

Why Workplace Allergy Awareness Matters

It’s important to be aware of workplace allergies so that you can create an environment where everyone is safe and feels included. Allergic reactions are serious: They can range from mild stomach pain or a tingly mouth to life-threatening problems breathing. 

If you don’t accommodate people with allergies in your office, Stefanski said, they may end up skipping social events that involve food and ultimately feel isolated from their coworkers. Giving them allergy-free snack options will help them feel valued and included. 

Allergy-Friendly Snacks: The First Step for Creating a Safer Workplace 

Offering allergy-friendly snacks is an easy way to make your workplace safer and more inclusive. Here are a few ideas to help you improve your snack station. 

• Expand Your Snack Options: Add gluten-, dairy-, and nut allergy-friendly snacks to your break room, and for less common allergies, include some snacks that are top nine allergy-friendly
• Create Allergy-Free Spaces: Designate an allergy-free snack shelf in the break room and an allergy-free table in the kitchen/cafeteria
• Educate on Cross-Contamination: Provide specific utensils and equipment for folks with allergies if needed (cutting boards, utensils, etc.), and ask team members without allergies not to use them
• Make Separation Clear with Signage: Add signs to your snack space calling out allergy-free snack baskets or special allergy-free equipment

“Fresh or freeze-dried fruit, hard candy, popcorn, meat-based jerky, rice and potato-based snacks, like flavored rice cakes or baked potato chips, are just a few examples of items that may not contain gluten, wheat, cow’s milk, or nuts,” Stefanski said.

Not Sure Where to Start? Try The FruitGuys’ Thoughtful Nut-Free Box 

The FruitGuys can help you stock up on allergy-safe snacks! We deliver fresh fruit that’s free from all of the top nine allergens, and our Thoughtful Nut-Free Box is packed with single-serving snacks that are safe for people with nut allergies. Here’s a quick look at what’s inside.

• Free From Peanuts and Tree Nuts: Every snack is safe for folks with nut allergies
• Options Without Gluten or Dairy: We often include gluten-free and dairy-free bites, too
• Fresh Flavors Each Week: The snacks in the mix rotate weekly, so your team has a variety of nut allergy-friendly options to choose from
• Ethically Sourced: We prioritize sourcing from mission-minded snack brands and brands owned by members of marginalized communities
• Set It and Forget It: You can set up recurring weekly, biweekly, or monthly snack deliveries so you always have safe options on hand

Browse our fresh fruit and nut-free snacks for a more inclusive workplace. 

Beyond Snacks: Tips for Creating an Allergy-Friendly Environment

We asked Stefanski and Amy Reed, MS, RD, CSP, LD—a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics—for more tips on creating a safe workplace for people with food allergies. Here are some of their best ideas, plus a few more.

• Pick a “Food Allergen Champion”: Choose someone who’s passionate about helping others to promote allergy awareness, share resources, and help keep the break room safe for everyone
• Keep Cross-Contamination in Check: Remind your team to wash their hands, use clean utensils, and store allergy-friendly snacks separately from foods that contain nuts, dairy, or other allergens
• Encourage Mindful Snacking: Encourage folks to enjoy snacks with allergens like nuts in designated areas and be mindful of teammates with food allergies

• Check In with New Hires: Ask about food allergies during onboarding to show that you care and make sure you’re prepared to keep new hires safe
• Cover Dishes in Shared Microwaves: It’s an easy way to prevent food splatters—and allergen residue—from spreading
• Think Twice About Coffee Flavors: Some flavored coffees and syrups, like hazelnut, may actually contain nuts, so offer nut-free options or even a separate coffee maker for allergy-friendly brewing
• Offer Separate Cleaning Supplies: Provide designated sponges, towels, and soap for allergy-safe prep areas to help keep surfaces free from cross-contact
• Plan Inclusive Lunches and Potlucks: Look for caterers with allergy-friendly options and ask coworkers with food allergies what works best for them so they can join in the fun worry-free
• Label Homemade Dishes with Love: At potlucks, encourage everyone to jot down their ingredients and note if a dish contains any of the top nine allergens
• Take Care With Food-Based Gifts: When celebrating, consider non-food tokens of appreciation for folks with allergies—or surprise them with The FruitGuys’ Thoughtful Nut-Free Box, full of allergy-friendly snacks that everyone can enjoy together

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of HR and Office Managers

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), asthma and allergies are usually considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). That’s because they can seriously limit “major life activities” like breathing, eating, working, and going to school.  

What does that mean for your office?*

• Provide Accommodations When You Can: Do your best to provide accommodations for food allergies, like offering allergy-free snacks and food prep spaces
• Ask About Allergies with Care: You can ask workers if they have food allergies, but they aren’t required to disclose them—an anonymous survey is a great option
• Respect Worker Privacy: If you find out about an allergy, keep it confidential unless you have the employee’s thumbs up to share it 

Create an Allergy Response Protocol

This isn’t required, but it’s also a good idea to create an allergy response protocol in your office. You can teach employees to spot signs of an allergic reaction, and consider training managers to use epinephrine pens (EpiPens) in case of emergencies. 

Reed also recommends that offices “work with those experienced in employee health and wellness and discuss if it is necessary to have epinephrine pens available for any accidental exposures.”

Summary: Safe, Inclusive Snacking = A Happier Workplace

To sum it all up, offering allergy-friendly snacks is an important part of keeping the superheroes on your team healthy, happy, and safe at work. And you can get started in just three steps. 

• Step 1: Send an anonymous survey to your team to learn about their allergies (keep in mind that they’re not required to disclose them, and you should keep them private).
• Step 2: Add allergy-friendly snacks to your office pantry, like deliveries of The FruitGuys’ fresh fruit or Thoughtful Nut-Free Snack Box.
• Step 3: Take other steps to make your office safer, like creating allergy-friendly snack zones and implementing an allergy response protocol.

If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to a safe and inclusive workspace! 

FAQs

1. What is the workplace policy for food allergies?
   HR and office managers should provide accommodations for people with food allergies when they can, like offering nut-free snacks and separate snack spaces.*
   
   
2. What are the common office allergies?
   The nine most common allergens are milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, eggs, and sesame.
   
   
3. Do employers have to accommodate allergies?
   Accommodations will make your office feel safer, friendlier, and more inclusive, but there is some nuance in when they’re required. According to the AAFA, “an organization does not have to make an accommodation that causes an ‘undue burden’ or that would create a ‘fundamental alteration’ to its program.” Ask your lawyer to learn more about how the ADA applies to your situation.*
   
   
4. Are food allergies protected under the ADA?
   Yes! Visit the AAFA website to learn more.
   
   
5. What snacks are allergy-free?
   People can be allergic to pretty much anything, so the definition of “allergy-free” varies. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a safe choice for most people. In general, look for snacks labeled nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, or top nine allergen-friendly, and check ingredient lists for more information. 
   
   
6. What is “Big 9 allergen-free”?
   Snacks with this label are likely free from the top nine allergens: milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, eggs, and sesame. 
   
   
7. What is a good nut-free snack?
   Fresh and dried fruits, celery and carrot sticks, popcorn, and jerky are a few good nut-free snacks to start with.
   
   
8. What snacks have nuts in them?
   Granola bars, protein bars, and trail mix packs often have nuts in them, but not always. Check the ingredient lists to be sure.

*This article contains general information and should not be construed as professional legal advice. Consult your own lawyer to determine the best approach for your situation.