Food allergies affect about 2.5 million Canadians and that number appears to be rising each year. In addition to having food allergies, many individuals also choose to avoid consuming certain foods due to their lifestyle or religious beliefs. The workplace hosts diverse people based on ethnicities, religious beliefs, lifestyles, and diets. Therefore, when a workplace hosts an event, it’s imperative to its success to ensure your employees on diets or with food allergies are able to enjoy the catering as well.

To do so, Pig Roast Catering has put together a comprehensive guide on the methods to take to ensure all of your employees can eat and enjoy at your next corporate catering event.

1. Inquire About Employee Food Allergies/Specific Diets

Prior to organizing an event, ensure you inquire about any food allergies, specific diets or lifestyles of your employee. This is crucial, as you do not want to spend a significant amount of money on catering that some, if not many, of your employees are unable to eat. Keep note of their diet specifications and consider this when selecting catering services and the types of food employees will have to select from.

2. Keep The Dietary Information Easily Available

Even if you ask your employees for their diet specifications, it is useless if you do not record their information. Whether you’re hosting a large corporate event, a holiday party or want to treat your employees during the week, you will need to communicate your employees’ dietary specifications and restrictions to the catering company or restaurant. At Pig Roast Catering, we will keep all dietary restrictions of your employees stored and accessible for each event you call us for. This eliminates some stress on the host and allows them to focus on the event instead of the catering process.

3. Research and Understand Common Food Allergies

It helps to be aware of the specific food allergies that are most common. These include eggs, peanuts, dairy, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. However, these food allergies can often hide within products that one would not expect. For example, soy sauce contains gluten, wheat, and sesame. It’s important to always research the ingredients when purchasing food products for the workplace.

4. Take Measures to Avoid Cross-Contamination

When you hire a professional catering company, they will ensure that foods that contain allergens will not cross-contaminate with other foods. Knowing how to effectively cook, package and transport the food to your location and set it up without any cross-contamination is vital to your employees’ health. 

Pig Roast Catering is committed to providing delicious, fulfilling meals for each and every guest regardless of diet restrictions. Our catering includes savoury meats such as pulled pork, pig and turkey, along with catering options for vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free individuals. Contact us for your next corporate catering event for the most unique culinary treat!