Since a restaurant deals with people coming from diverse backgrounds, it becomes hard for them to track customers who are allergic or intolerant to certain food unless you use a sophisticated Restaurant ERP Software Solution. Restaurant Management ERP like LS Central can tackle dealing with the rising number of guests suffering from food allergies.
According to the World Allergy Organization, about 250 million people suffer from food allergies globally (which makes up the approximately ⅓ adult population of the United States alone). And the concerning part is, the number is constantly rising. Food intolerance, on the other hand, is more common but is not as serious as food allergies. However, it can still make someone feel sick and eventually throw out the food.
In the case of allergies, even the smallest trace of that food can trigger a reaction that can begin with mere itching to profound consequences like strokes. The worst of them is anaphylaxis, where the person goes into shock and their airways close.
To avoid such repercussions, a Restaurant ERP Software Solution is recommended. There is no cure for allergies and intolerances and avoiding certain foods is the only option left. We have compiled a few tips to help you reduce such risks in your restaurant.
Be Transparent About the Ingredients Used with a Restaurant ERP Software Solution
The very first step to prevent allergic reactions is to be completely transparent with the ingredients you use. Make sure you declare what ingredients are used in every step (A Restaurant POS System will make it easier. However, this does not mean you should disclose your secret recipes too but remark if the bread contains gluten, or the chicken is cooked with eggs and butter, or the dessert contains nuts. By doing so, you are diminishing the risk of allergic or intolerant food slipping onto your customers’ plates.
Restaurant POS Software, like the one LS Central offers, is great Software for Restaurant Management that depicts the ingredients used and every allergen. You can always track recipes used on the website, back-office, self-ordering, and POS are up-to-date and consistent. If a recipe is changed, it will automatically be updated centrally, making it easy for your staff to keep up with it.
Display Allergen Information on the Menu
In many countries, restaurants are obliged to disclose any allergen used in their recipes. For instance, in Europe, there are fourteen allergens: cereals containing gluten, celery, crustaceans, fish, eggs, lupin, Mollusks, peanuts, mustard, soybeans, sesame, sulfites, and sulfur dioxide over a certain concentration. Also, tree nuts like almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, and pistachios.
Pre-packed food must display the presence of any of these flagged items, and for non-pre-packed foods, they should be mentioned in the menus. Even if you are not bound to disclose these details in your region, it is always better to stay on the safe side and disclose if any food item you provide contains allergens.
With a POS Solution for Restaurants, you can empower your customers to choose dishes accordingly. Restaurant ERP Software Solution now enables digital menus which have exceeded its popularity beyond online food ordering tablets and phones at their dining tables at restaurants.
Reinforce Your Staff with Accurate Information
Equip your employees with a POS Software Solution for Restaurants that allows them access to the updated and accurate information made in the menu. It will also help them resolve customer queries related to meals and allergen information.
Mobile POS also allows waiters to take orders specifying customers’ requirements on the table and send them to the kitchen without having to walk there physically. This way miscommunication is avoided, and the chef can see all the requests and notice all the flagged items that are meant to be avoided.
Educate Your Staff on the Importance of allergen safety
Educating your staff about allergies and intolerance is crucial and the misunderstanding surrounding the topic must be cleared up. In some cases, a lactose intolerant person can take grated parmesan without falling sick. In contrast, another customer might face severe consequences after consuming a little bit of a dairy product.
Make sure you train them appropriately and allow them access to the updated information. Make sure your front house and kitchen staff recognize the potential food allergies and their repercussions.
LS Central Restaurant ERP Software Solution simplifies displaying ingredients. It empowers customers to scan through dishes based on their ingredients, either online or offline. To find out exactly how this technology helps, contact us.
