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As miraculous and wonderful as the human body is, at the end of the day it’s incredibly fragile. Unlike cats, we only have one life to live, one chance to make it right before we end up on the judgment table between Heaven and Hell. Where we shall end up, who knows, but the fact is—having a food allergy can speed that process up significantly. 

Allergies can be annoying to begin with; however, they can also be incredibly life-threatening, with one single spoonful of forbidden fruit landing you a ticket to the emergency room. The situation is made a lot more complicated when people decide to ignore them, brushing them off as just a chosen preference. 

People have shared their own personal experiences of coming incredibly close to the rainbow bridge, or stories recalling the times when they witnessed the blatant ignoration of their very important needs, all prompted by Candace D.’s tweet, which gathered 158.3K likes on the platform. 

Bored Panda had the pleasure of speaking with Dave Bloom, the CEO and Co-Founder of SnackSafely.com, who was kind enough to answer some of our questions. 

Don’t forget to upvote the stories that shock you the most, and leave your thoughts, opinions, and similar stories in the comments below. If by the end of this article you’re still craving some food-related stories, here’s an additional article for you! You’re welcome, now let’s chomp into it! 

 

#1

People-With-Food-Allergies

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Just Another Girl
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are some people who maybe don’t like something and they’ll say they’re allergic, but then eat something later that contains the same “allergen”. These people need to STOP IT. They are making it difficult for those who actually have allergies to be taken seriously!!!

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Food allergies are estimated to affect 4 to 6 percent of children and 4 percent of adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can even develop an allergy to foods you have eaten for years with no problems, as the immune system creates antibodies to the allergen of choice over time—new fear unlocked! I think it’s safe to say that no one would willingly choose to be allergic to any given food item. 

Dave Bloom, the CEO and Co-Founder of SnackSafely.com, a company aiming to improve the lives of those coping with food allergies, and to educate others as a means of eliminating anaphylaxis, told Bored Panda that even a trace amount of an allergen can lead to a serious, life-threatening reaction.

“We always coach our readers with food allergies and celiac disease to know PRECISELY how their food has been prepared and if they have any doubts to forgo eating,” he said. “Even a family member or friend with the best intentions can cause a serious reaction if a trace of their allergen makes its way into their food inadvertently via cross-contact.” 

#2

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Kim Kermes
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope you recovered quickly and brought charges and sued them for expenses and lost pay and got her sorry butt fired.

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#3

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cogadh
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I blame the "gluten free" trend for this. There are so many people now who unnecessarily claim some kind of gluten allergy, that no one actually believes those with real medical reasons for avoiding it.

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Dave explains that there are 2 main reasons why people ignore their loved-one’s dietary needs, as seen in the multiple accounts mentioned in this article. “Fad diets have made people increasingly skeptical about dietary restrictions, and people are uninformed about the danger of allergic reactions; they equate reactions with a hive or a rash, but don't understand that reactions can easily escalate into full-blown anaphylaxis and lead to hospitalization or death.” 

Finally, Dave believes that the best way to prevent a tragedy is to educate people of the few basic tenets of food allergy. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) explains that symptoms of a food allergy can range from mild to severe. Just because an initial reaction causes few problems doesn’t mean that all reactions will be similar; in fact, the reactions are likely to get worse over time. 

A food that triggered only mild symptoms on one occasion may cause more severe symptoms at another time, the most severe being anaphylaxis—a life-threatening reaction that impacts breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. 

While any food can cause an adverse reaction, eight types of food account for about 90 percent of all reactions: eggs, milk and dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame. Thus, the primary way to manage a food allergy is to avoid consuming the food that causes you problems. Yet avoiding an allergen is easier said than done. 

#4

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FeelingFrisky
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have an onion allergy and people are always trying to get me to eat food safe for example out of a can or a frozen TV dinner. Onion is in everything. If I want to eat tacos I have to make this seasoning myself. In fact if I want to eat I pretty much have to make everything myself.

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#6

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LiuLiu
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my mil did it once to my kid and then had to listen to him groaning in the bathroom for an hour - she finally got it

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Some people believe that they know what’s best, adding in a little smidge of the forbidden goodie because the person will not even be able to taste it! Wow, isn’t that called poisoning, Barbara? Someone should send you to jail, darlin’. How about giving meat to a vegan? Meat’s good for you right? No, it could mean their death sentence, Barb! 

These stories come in abundance, as we’re exploring but a teardrop in the vast ocean of ignorance and blatant malice. Or is there a little bit more to it? Let me introduce you to the cognitive bias called the Dunning-Kruger effect!

#7

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#8

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Jo314129
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so happy she did that in front of you... but imagine what she does when no one can see her.!

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#9

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Emmydearest
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At what point it can be considered attempted murder, FFS?! If someone is aware that their friend is allergic to something and they SNEAKLY PUT THAT SOMETHING IN THEIR FOOD is basically like sneakly poisoning them with arsenic. It's the same level of crime, for me. Making someone go to the Emergency room is a big deal and it should have consequences. The medical staff should automatically alert the police, just like if they treat a person who's been shot.

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As described by Psychology Unlocked, it’s a phenomenon where people seem to be unaware of their incompetence and ignorance. They lack skills or knowledge and greatly overestimate their expertise and talent, and it seems this very much fits with the types of people a lot of these Twitter users faced in their lifetimes. 

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“Knowing how competent we are and how our skills stack up to other people’s is more than a self-esteem boost,” David Dunning, American social psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, explained. 

“It helps us figure out when we can forge ahead on our own decisions and instincts and when we need, instead, to seek out advice. But,” he added, “psychological research suggests that we’re not very good at evaluating ourselves accurately. In fact, we frequently overestimate our own abilities.”

#10

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MarcyParlomerNerdGirlsRock
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m severely allergic to lemons buts not all citrus. But my BFF’s boyfriend’s bunch of friends decided to secretly squeeze juice into my drink and film my reaction to post on social media (with the title ‘Is there actually an allergy or is she just seeking attention and being dramatic?’) Needless to say, before my friends could warn me, I drank the thing and ended up in hospital. Geez.

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Ria C.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother in law has celiac disease and i am proud to say our house is the only house she hasn't gotten sick at/in. I scrub everything before, after and during. Thanksgiving is a process but I love and respect her so I will be overly cautious because I wear that badge of honor proudly.

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Researchers argue that people are not only incompetent, but their incompetence robs them of the mental ability to realize just how inept they are. These kinds of people tend to overestimate their skill levels, fail to recognize the genuine skill and expertise of other people, and fail to recognize their own mistakes and lack of skill. 

So what does this mean in this situation? In simple terms, the concept of food allergies was simply too complex or too unfamiliar to accept; hence they decided to attempt to shift the reality back to what they believed to know to be true and correct, hoping that the situation would simply just disappear and they’d have been right all along. 

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Admitting to mistakes takes effort, and no one really wants to do that. But it’s better to turn off any judgment and predispositions ringing off in one’s brain, listen to the person expressing their needs, and do the best one can do to accommodate them so that apologies don’t need to then be uttered at the coffin. 

#14

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Just Another Girl
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m a little confused on this one. If she can’t be anywhere near milk how is she going to Starbucks in the first place? I would think she would have issues with cross contamination at any coffee shop.

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Epona
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was confused about that myself. I don’t know 100% but I would think that a person who is lactose intolerant (severely or not) could sit next to someone drinking a glass of milk and not have an allergic reaction. Unless the milk spilled on the lactose intolerant person or they kissed or something like that. I don’t think they could not even be in the same room as any dairy. Again, I’m not an expert or anything.

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Monica Pryts
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My first time at Starbucks was also my last time. I ordered my drink with soy milk - not to be trendy but because I'm lactose intolerant. Surprise! It's cow milk! It would have been easier to flush my money down the toilet.

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New Nemo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had the opposite. I ask for cowmilk but the barista gave me soy and told me all about the benefits of going vegan. I projectile vomited on her because I can handle soy milk for ten minutes. So glad that that shop closed

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Pink kitty
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate that some people are so disrespectful. Just give people what they ask for!

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was working at Tim Hortons I learned from my manager we had to make sure we were preparing the right kind of soups and labelling them correctly because some people are allergic to certain meats, like chicken or turkey, but not all of them. After that I was so diligent on making sure people knew what they were ordering. However, we had many elderly folks as regulars. One man asked for the chicken noodle soup. We had turkey soup that day. I tried telling him this and he ignored me and I thought he couldn't hear. So I raised up my voice a bit each time but he still was adamant on calling it chicken. I tried to explain in case of allergies I wanted to make sure he understood me. Instead he hollered at me, accusing me of shouting and speaking to him rudely. At that point I just gave him the soup. But otherwise I was always careful.

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JP Doyle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm semi-lucky: my milk allergy doesn't cause anaphylaxis, but if I have too much then I get a major immunoresponse and have the worst case of the flu (symptom-wise) for the next two weeks. I try to keep as much of it out of my diet as possible, but holidays are a real bear for me because I have to cut bread, chocolate and most baked goods out of my diet for a couple weeks so I don't get sick from the holiday dinner.

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Anita Pickle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why even risk your life like this? I would never trust fast food with my sever allergy.

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Milena B. G. Rosa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm usually very Calm, but If it was me and my friend I would make a scene: throw the beverage on the idiot and scream at them, threatening to sue for homicide attemp. If a supervisor asked, I'd explain exactaly what is going on. If they do that to her friend, they probably do It to other people with allergies too

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Hollie Marie
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I try and avoid Starbucks. I have a milk protein intolerance and that is the one chain shop I found I need to specify semi skimmed milk because full fat gives me bloating and cramps, sickness feeling and I get painful acne where my skin dries out and rashes. It doesn't happen all at once and I admit I have chanced it sometimes by ordering cream from a coffee shop. However Starbucks I can't even drink a normal latte without feeling sick, the amount of times I went SKINNY latte and then the server would be all one latte and I'm yelling at them I said skinny. I gave up in the end

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ADHD McChick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone needs to have a "coming to Jesus" chat with this Barista's GM. That is a firable offense, and should absolutely not be tolerated. And this comes from someone in food-service, herself.

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Laurie McCormack
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why I trust no one. Not even close family with food prep. If I didn't see it being prepared I don't eat it. I've had someone let me read ingredients on a bag of rolls and then they put out different rolls. It's a dangerous and diabolical game.

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Riley Quinn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm curious why people with food allergies would even think they can trust a stranger making minimum wage to care about them enough to get their order right. Y'all do know there's no shame in brown bagging, right? Get a thermos and know with confidence you won't end up on some public bathroom floor.

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because we're all humans and they knew they were picking minimum wage jobs, and they're usually young folks trying to build work experience, a good working reputation and new, transferrable skills and there are people who happen to not mind the work. This is speaking from someone who's a perfectionist working at minimum wage jobs. I have no shame in what I make. It's of no one's business. When I'm at work I want no issues with people. I'm careful about safety for employees and customers. It's not about money when it comes to health and safety. It's about whether someone gives a c**p about other people or if they're just too lazy to care, or have poor listening/communication skills. Often times, it's the latter. Willing to listen without interrupting/overriding someone's speech seems to be a struggle for people these days. When I go anywhere with customer service and I find they're interrupting or not answering a direct question, I correct them on what they're doing wrong and remind them of how it makes the customer feel, in a constructive, firm but calm way, to make sure I mean business. Hey, it's all about growing up and learning.

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#15

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Bluetoyou
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too! Very allergic! If I drink it I ulcerate clean through and bleed out. Can hardly walk and have to go to the emergency. It is like drinking drano. I have had a allergist tell me I couldn't be allergic to coffee because it isn't a protein. You are the first person I know that is allergic also. I get sick from coffee cups in restaurants. I drink hot tea. They will try to serve it in a coffee cup that has just been rinsed out and you can still smell the coffee in the cup when it's empty. Nasty! Use soap for God's sake!! That was in a National pancake restaurant.

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Thankfully, all’s well that ends well. What can we learn from this? A lot actually, but the main thing is potentially not to be a jerk to those with food sensitivities, preferences, and allergies. Because none of us are here to act as judge supreme; we’re here to have a good time and do good. 

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and of course, don’t forget to upvote the stories that you found to be the most interesting and shocking. I’m sure there’ll be quite a few of those… Happy scrolling, curious learning, and I hope to see you all again very soon in the next one! 

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#16

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Rahul Pawa
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know MSG is a common additive, but I thought it also occurs naturally in a lot of different foods. I wonder what this person can eat safely.

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Stephanie Did It
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where does OP live? I'm in the US and I've never been served or offered a duck egg in my life. Where is this a typical thing (I'm guessing Asia)?

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Chich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man this annoys me. How about cooking her something and after she is finished say you put some dog s**t in it - but only a little so she wouldn't notice it.

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Cat servant
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very common reaction for vegetarians that are fed animal products if they have been strict with their diet for a long time.

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Marie Dahme
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate when I over emphasize that I’m diabetic and still bring me reg pancake syrup or a reg Coke. It’s like, please I really must adhere to no sugar in my diet!!! Geez.

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Rahul Pawa
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm curious to know what the rest of the story said...but not curious enough to go to Twitter.

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Rahul Pawa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Glad he's your ex. Thanks for the tip about Worcestershire sauce, I never would have guessed that had gluten in it.

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Jo314129
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn this one really really sounds painful because salt is in almost everything.

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#30

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Sk
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am allergic to apples. Apple juice, apple cider vinegar, can't touch them can't touch the tree. Read the ingredients on fruit flavored things you eat. If I don't read labels for pretty much ANYTHING it could be death

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#31

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S Mi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm allergic to all capsicums, it's amazing how hard it is to explain. 'I'm allergic to bell peppers, but also hot peppers and anything like cayenne, chili powder. I get hives and a bit nauseous, but they don't have to worry too badly about cross contamination. One caterer left the bell peppers out of this incredibly spicy dish they made and presented it to me. Sigh, they really missed the concept.

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#32

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Amy Moore
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter and I share about 85% of our allergies. If we find a new one, after treatment the very first phone call is to the other person so they don't eat that thing. The only one we don't share is morphine. I share that one with my son's.

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#34

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Just Another Girl
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s infuriating to me that people get their feelings hurt when someone can’t or won’t eat the food they made. What you put in your body is a personal issue. Everyone needs to stop being food pushers. A lady at work said it was hurtful that I don’t eat on potluck days at work. I told her I’m the one who has to deal with the effects of certain foods on my body and it’s hurtful to me that she keeps trying to (figuratively) shove food down my throat.

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Jerry Mathers
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's probably a good thing. If her diet is that restricted I'm sure she wouldn't want to risk it.

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Amanda Lawshe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t understand the last sentence, he’s anaphylactic? You mean something caused him to be anaphylactic? It’s not a permanent condition, it happens after a severe allergic reaction, right?

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Stephanie Did It
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here's your tea, Mom. Only a little bit of drain cleaner in it, you'll never notice./s

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