Zug,24.07.2014

Don't let a food allergy stop you from dining out

The number of people suffering from allergies in western industrial countries has risen considerably over the past 60 years. In fact whereas just 2% of Swiss people were allergic to something in the Sixties, this figure has since risen to 30%.
 
As to food allergies, those relating to lactose and gluten are among the most prevalent today and this has led to such sufferers dining out less frequently. However, the chef de cuisine at the Parkhotel (main photograph) and CU restaurant, Markus Aichhorn, is doing his best to ensure this need not be the case in Zug.
 
Aichhorn (second photograph) knows only too well how difficult it is for such people when faced with a traditional range of meals on offer, so he decided to create special menus for sufferers when dining at the four restaurants run by of the Hotelbusiness Zug AG company, which includes the Parkhotel and CU restaurant in Metallstrasse in the city. With the help of icons on the menu, diners can see at a glance what is safe for them to eat. For example, a milk bottle with a cross over it means it is a lactose-free meal and dishes containing meat are also clearly indicated if the diner happens to be a vegan.
 
Aichhorn went on to explain how his sauces can be made with maize starch instead of gluten and side dishes made with potatoes and rice are available for those who cannot tolerate wheat. Naturally, gluten-free bread is also available. He also mentioned how their suppliers were also reacting to demands for foods containing no lactose.
 
"One problem is that gluten-free and lactose-free products are more expansive," he admitted. "Whereas  butter costs CHF 10.50 per kilogramme, a lactose-free equivalent costs around CHF 18.00. This means such meals should cost around 20-30% more. However, we have not increased the prices at the CU restaurant," he said.
 
What may not be generally known is that allergy sufferers can actually claim a tax rebate for such additional expenses, as long as they can prove their condition to the authorities.