AS THE mother of a child with a severe tree nut allergy, I object to your including references to food allergies in your otherwise interesting article about picky diners (“Impossible to please,’’ G, June 1). This is not an “imagined’’ scenario dreamed up by demanding parents who want to find a way to harass local waiters; it is a life-threatening medical condition that we need to take seriously.
We love introducing our toddler to a variety of international foods and teaching him the manners to eat in a restaurant. I do have sympathy for the waiters who need to find out for us if nuts came in contact with his food, but to me, that is part of their job. Should we never again be allowed to eat out because of our son’s allergy?
In contrast to what you write, we have found servers at local restaurants to be extremely accommodating and helpful in guiding us toward safe options for our son, and we have appreciated their attention and concern. By lumping those with food allergies in with customers who complain about the temperature of their drinking water, you are doing a serious disservice to the many people with true food allergies who nonetheless want to frequent local restaurants.
Amy Sobota
Jamaica Plain 
