The Potluck Allergy Crisis

We all love a good office potluck, right? It boosts morale, fosters camaraderie, and provides a delicious break from the usual. Or, at least, it’s supposed to. One year, our annual holiday potluck turned into a culinary minefield. Donna in Marketing, who has a severe shellfish allergy, ended up in urgent care after taking a bite of what she thought was a vegetarian egg roll. It turned out that Brett from Sales, a new employee keen to impress, had brought in his famous "seafood surprise" egg rolls, which he had labeled simply as "Egg Rolls." He saw no need to specify the ingredients, assuming everyone would just enjoy his culinary genius.

Brett was genuinely apologetic but had simply never considered the implications of not labeling ingredients, while Donna was understandably shaken. We had to reinforce the critical importance of clear ingredient labeling, especially for shared food, and even implemented a policy requiring all potluck contributions to have an ingredients list attached. What started as a festive gathering quickly became a stark reminder that what seems like common sense to one person can be a serious health risk to another.

—

Key Takeaway: Workspace safety extends beyond physical hazards. Implementing clear Communication Protocols and Allergy Awareness Training can prevent serious incidents and ensure that all employees feel safe and included, even when sharing a meal.