Restaurants can be problematic for families who have children with food allergies because of the high level of cross contamination.

You can’t just order a non-peanut item or something without shellfish from the menu and assume it’s safe. Maybe the same grill or the same gloves are used after a meal is prepared with the food allergen, or perhaps the allergen was dropped in undetected.

The hidden elements can cause a reaction. These are things over which the restaurant has little control.

When going to a restaurant, parents should communicate their child's food allergy in very precise terms. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network has a “chef card” available online that parents can print out and take with then. The card provides details on what steps the staff needs to take in order keep the allergic child from having a reaction.

It's best to speak directly with a kitchen manager to ensure that the information gets passed on to the right source.

Little Rock has plenty of places willing to accommodate food allergies, and most chains are good about publishing their menus with food allergens and ingredients. Here are some reader favorites: Lilly's Dim Sum, Chili's, Outback, Cozymel's, Blue Coast Burrito, US Pizza, Razorback Pizza, American Pie Pizza, Corky's,  McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and Quiznos.

And, regardless of how safe you feel the restaurant is, always bring baby wipes to wipe down the table and chairs, and keep Benadryl and epinephrine on hand in case of emergencies.