Completely disagree. I have real food allergies. I break out in hives if I eat butter or high fat dairy products. I am lucky that I have never had hives in my throat or anaphylaxis. I've had it for 40 years. I know what has butter in it and quietly avoid these foods. I try be as discreet as possible when ordering food.
I've dealt with this and people's attitudes towards it for a long time. My oldest child has a peanut and tree nut allergy, pretty severe. Found out when she was 9 months old. I warned my wife that people think it's bullshit and will tell us something doesn't have peanuts but we have to read the ingredients for ourselves. They don't have skin in the game and think it's all bullshit. First birthday party my daughter went to, we asked if the cake was nut free. The host assured us it was nut free. I found the box and it had nuts in it along with made on shared equipment with peanuts. My wife believed me after that. We went 13 years without an incident but one night my daughter had a salad kit with crunchy add ins. We didn't read the ingredients because we had similar salads before and the ingredients were fine. Well, within 10 seconds of taking a bite, my daughter said her tongue was burning and she started itching. We grabbed the package and to our horror, it had peanuts and cashews in it. Her two worst allergies. That was a fun night in the ER. Did not have to Epi her but it was close.
For people with real allergies, it is not a joke and is life threatening. That chef can go fuck himself.
I'm not suggesting allergies aren't real. Well... except "gluten allergy," which is a common claim. Sensitivities and reactions are NOT the same as a true allergy.
Real allergies can be life-threatening. But yeah... it's not MY responsibility to ensure someone ELSE (1 out of 1000 people) is safe from his / her allergies.
As you pointed out, you can't trust someone else's statement on whether a cake or other dish is allergen-free. YOU have to ascertain that. So good on you for that (and smart).
"Don't trust AND verify," is an especially good policy when allergies can be fatal.
I think the issue people have is that SOME of those with allergies expect the world to adapt to THEIR allergies.
"If my kid is allergic, then NO KIDS can have this food." Yeah.... fuck that.
Similarly, when someone on an airliner demands the passenger next to them wear a mask because of THEIR health "issues."
That's a negative ghost rider. YOU can wear a mask.... or don't fly. I'm going to enjoy myself as planned and as I normally conduct myself (minding my own damned business).
When our daughter had leukemia and ZERO immune system, we did not insist the rest of the world accommodate her. Why? Because it's poor form and UNREASONABLE, that's why. We either kept her home or put a mask on her. WE adapted. We didn't insist everyone else adapt. Again... because it's socially unreasonable.
I agree with the chef that the minority with allergies should not and CANNOT unreasonably insist that a restaurant get rid of everything THEY are allergic to... depriving everyone else of the enjoyment of those foods. Go somewhere else or stay home.
I sympathize, but I'm not going to jump through hoops (unless it's MY kid or me). Harsh, eh?
