349: Allergy Safety at Events: Why “I Don’t Think So” Isn’t an Acceptable Answer

When your food allergy becomes the reason you have to walk out of your own professional presentation, something is deeply broken.

That’s exactly what happened to Christina LiPuma, MPH, RDN, CDCES, when she had a severe allergic reaction at a national nutrition conference. The culprit? A mislabeled “curry bowl” and a series of “I don’t think so” answers that should never have been good enough.

You ask if a dish contains peanuts.
“I don’t think so,” says one staffer.
“Pretty sure it doesn’t,” says another.
Minutes later, your throat tingles, your heart races—and you realize what “pretty sure” can cost.

This week on Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE, I’m talking with Christina—Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist, and former Policy Associate at the Center for Science in the Public Interest—about what happens when event dining fails, and how we can make it right.

We’ll discuss:
🥗 Why food labeling isn’t just a safety measure—it’s an inclusion issue.
🧾 How simple policy changes can prevent harm and build trust.
👩🏽‍🍳 What planners, venues, and caterers can do before the first meal is served.

Christina’s perspective as both a public health advocate and someone living with a severe food allergy brings a powerful, personal dimension to this conversation about responsibility, training, and transparency in event dining.

Because no attendee should have to choose between eating lunch and staying safe.

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