For millions worldwide, food allergies present a daily challenge, impacting even the simplest of tasks like ordering food. In response to the needs of the food-allergic community, Uber is proud to unveil a suite of innovative features aimed at enhancing the online food delivery experience for consumers with food allergies, while also streamlining the process for merchants.
Following successful testing in the UK and Ireland in 2023, Uber has diligently listened to feedback from the food-allergic community to develop solutions for a more inclusive ordering experience on a global scale.
In honor of Food Allergy Awareness Month, Uber is excited to introduce these new features:
Allergy Disclaimers: Clearly indicated on each store’s details page, informing consumers whether a restaurant can accommodate food allergies.
Dedicated Allergy Instructions: A special instructions field for allergy requests, enabling consumers to disclose their allergies when ordering. Users can select from a list of common allergens or input their specific allergens, with the information saved to their account for future orders.
Direct Communication: The option for consumers to call the merchant and disclose food allergies, if the merchant is equipped to receive phone calls.
Sung Poblete, Ph.D., RN, CEO of FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), lauded Uber’s proactive approach, stating,
“FARE is pleased by Uber’s proactive approach to ensuring that the millions of Americans with food allergies can share allergy restrictions with restaurants. We appreciate Uber’s work to make online food delivery more accessible to people with the disease of food allergy, and we look forward to our continued partnership.”
Moreover, Uber has implemented measures to assist merchants in handling allergy requests:
Highlighted Allergy Disclosures: Consumer allergy disclosures are now prominently displayed for merchants on the Uber Eats Orders app and on printed receipts, ensuring clear visibility.
Enhanced Communication: Merchants have been empowered with the ability to contact consumers more easily if unable to accommodate an allergy request, facilitating effective decision-making.
Jennifer Gerdts, Executive Director at Food Allergy Canada, emphasized the importance of effective communication between food establishments and consumers with food allergies.
“With Uber Eats’ new allergy request feature, consumers can now disclose their food allergies in a more streamlined way with participating restaurants, which means they can make more informed decisions.”
These groundbreaking features are launching across the US and Canada this May, with a global rollout scheduled to commence in June.
Uber remains committed to fostering a more inclusive and accessible food delivery ecosystem, ensuring that individuals with food allergies can confidently navigate safe food choices.
