The International Food Information Council in Washington, D.C. takes food allergies seriously. If you or someone you are dining with has a food allergy, so should you.

Material from the council’s Web site encourages allergic individuals to develop a response plan in case a food is accidentally eaten. Anytime, anywhere an allergic food reaction begins, call 911 and start to carry out the plan.

This information also points out that because most life-threatening reactions to food occur when eating away from home, it is important to always explain food needs to the host or food server. If necessary, speak with the chef or the food service manager to insure that even small amounts of the food are not served to you as an ingredient.

Partially in response to the life-threatening character of food allergies, the Food and Drug Administration requires that all ingredients be listed on most food labels. Reading labels is the best way to determine if a product includes a dangerous food.

The council recommends that food-allergic people read the label of every product purchased, each time it is purchased, because food and beverage makers constantly change their formulas and ingredients.

A well-equipped individual first-aid kit contents may help out you reply quickly to common injuries and emergencies. Every person must have a first aid kits handy in the workplace, at home and in the car.