Earlier this year, a young girl with peanut allergies became seriously ill after eating grilled cheese made at a chain restaurant in Natick.
The sandwich apparently had peanut butter in it, even though it was noted in the meal order that the girl had nut allergies.
“It’s very scary to know people who are handling food aren’t trained in the most basic level to keep your child safe,’’ said Cindy Blonder.
She knows all too well. Blonder, of Swampscott, has two children — now 27 and 20 — who have long dealt with food allergies.
“For some of us, it has always been in the forefront,’’ Blonder said. “But for years and years, people looked at us like we were crazy.’’
Blonder is coleader, with Denise Orlando of Beverly, of the Food Allergy Group of the North Shore, which meets once a month at North Shore Medical Center Salem Hospital. In addition to support, there are speaker programs. All is free.
“The more people know and are involved, the better it is for everybody,’’ Blonder said.
She said the goal of the group is to help allergic families negotiate safety and work with schools, inform them on the latest developments, and be an ear.
“We are people who understand what they are going through,’’ she said. “It can be totally scary.’’
According to Food Research and Education, a nonprofit based in McLean, Va., there are up to 15 million Americans with food allergies. One in every 13 children under age 18 is affected, which is roughly two in every classroom.
“Some places are helpful and some don’t realize the severity and the consequences,’’ Blonder said.
While her children are now older, have outgrown some food allergies, and are proactive when eating out and ordering food, she said, “I still worry.’’
“There’s still a population that thinks [talking about food allergies] is annoying, But it’s not a preference, it’s a necessity,’’ Blonder said. “More people are realizing this is serious and can be life threatening.’’
Blonder’s goal is to remain involved in the cause. “It’s so much of what I have done for so long and I hope I can help others.’’
Wendy Killeen can be reached at wdkilleen@gmail.com.
