Attorney Mary Vargas is making history in the food and beverage industry by giving a voice to people who aren’t being heard, such as a college student who could never afford a $685-an-hour attorney to speak for them. She advocates for people living with food allergies, celiac disease, and non-celiac gluten sensitivities.
How does the ADA and Food & Beverage Intersect? In the August 2018 issue of The Meeting Professional, Tracy discusses ADA and food. Since the Americans with Disabilities Act was amended in 2008, individuals with food allergies, celiac disease and other medical conditions that require them to eat a specific way, are now provided civil rights protections under the disabilities law. The Amendment added such words as eating, breathing, cardiovascular system, immune system to the list of major life activities that, if affected in any way, requires a person to alter “normal” activities — like eating peanuts, gluten or grapefruit…
From employee picnics and business lunches to association conferences and corporate conventions, food-allergic employees and event participants have a lot to navigate when at work or business and social functions . As professional meeting professionals, we have a duty of care at all times. People must be able to trust us with their health and safety while they are at the meetings and events we plan. To justify that trust, we must make the care of our event participants, supplier partners, exhibitors, speakers, sponsors and staff our first concern, treating them as individuals and respecting their dignity and their needs. That includes ensuring…
