Allergy Emergency Preparedness Checklist: Building a Safe Emergency Supply

How to Use This Checklist

This checklist is for individuals and families managing food allergies or serious food intolerances. It supplements general emergency preparedness checklists — complete those first, then use this to address your specific dietary and medical needs.

Work through each section. Items are organized by priority.

Priority 1: Medical Emergency Preparation

Epinephrine and Emergency Medications

• Epinephrine auto-injectors: minimum 2 in emergency kit
• Expiration dates checked (check every 6 months)
• Storage requirements understood and followed
• Training with epinephrine auto-injector completed (or renewed)
• Oral antihistamines: 2-week supply
• Any prescribed oral steroids for severe reactions: 2-week supply
• All medications labeled with expiration dates

Emergency Action Plan

• Written emergency action plan from allergist obtained
• Emergency action plan in wallet (laminated)
• Emergency action plan in emergency document kit
• Copy shared with primary emergency contact
• Emergency action plan includes: triggers, symptoms, treatment steps, when to call emergency services

Medical Identification

• Medical alert bracelet or necklace worn: [allergy listed]
• Phone lock screen message set: "ALLERGY TO [ALLERGEN] — EpiPen in [location]"
• Emergency contact card in wallet includes allergy information
• Allergy information in emergency contact person's phone

Priority 1: Safe Food Inventory

Step 1 — List Your Verified Safe Foods

Complete this before purchasing emergency food supplies:

Food	Brand (if relevant)	Allergens to verify
(example) Plain white rice	Any	None — naturally safe

Use this list as your shopping guide for emergency food purchases.

Step 2 — Verify and Purchase

• Specific allergen(s) to avoid: ________________________
• Current labels re-checked for all items (formulations change)
• "May contain" warnings noted for all high-risk items
• Manufacturing facility information checked for high-risk allergens
• Products from dedicated allergen-free manufacturers preferred where available

Step 3 — 2-Week Supply by Category

Protein sources (safe for your allergen profile):

• _________________________
• _________________________
• _________________________

Carbohydrate/calorie base:

• _________________________
• _________________________

Fats and calorie-dense foods:

• _________________________
• _________________________

Quick snacks:

• _________________________
• _________________________

Beverages:

• Water (standard)
• Any specialty beverages required

Total calorie check: Verify your 2-week supply provides approximately 2,000 calories/person/day.

Priority 2: Common Allergen-Specific Guidance

Check the relevant section(s) for your allergens:

Peanut/Tree Nut Allergy

• All emergency food verified peanut/tree nut free
• "Processed in facility with" warnings evaluated
• Safe protein alternatives identified: sunflower seed butter, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds
• Emergency food stored separately from any household nut products
• Family members and housemates briefed on cross-contamination prevention

Gluten/Wheat (Celiac or Gluten Sensitivity)

• All emergency food verified gluten-free (certified where possible)
• Oats: only certified gluten-free oats (regular oats contaminated with wheat)
• All grains confirmed: rice, corn, quinoa, millet, buckwheat are naturally gluten-free
• "Modified food starch," "natural flavors," "malt" labels checked
• Dedicated cooking equipment stored with emergency kit (pot, utensils — not shared)

Dairy/Lactose

• Dairy-free milk alternatives included: oat milk, coconut milk, almond milk (check for other allergens)
• Dairy-free protein sources identified
• Lactase enzyme supplements if managing lactose intolerance (reduces symptoms from small exposures)
• All "may contain milk" warnings evaluated

Shellfish/Fish

• All emergency canned foods verified: specifically check tuna, sardines, other canned fish
• Cross-contamination from seafood in canned products checked
• Alternative protein sources identified that are verified shellfish/fish free

Egg Allergy

• Packaged foods checked: eggs appear in many processed products
• Egg-free baking products verified (most emergency crackers and baked goods contain egg)
• Protein alternatives identified

Soy Allergy

• Soy appears in an extremely wide range of packaged foods
• All emergency food labels carefully checked
• Many "safe" proteins (protein bars, protein powders) contain soy
• Whole food approach recommended: plain grains, legumes (if tolerated), plain meats

Priority 2: Cooking Equipment for Safe Preparation

• Dedicated cooking pot (not shared with allergen-containing foods)
• Dedicated utensils (spoon, spatula)
• Dedicated cutting board (if using)
• Cleaning supplies for decontaminating shared surfaces
• Biodegradable plates/bowls to avoid cross-contamination from washing

Priority 3: Emergency Shelter Planning

If you must use an emergency shelter:

• Emergency shelter food policy researched in advance
• Plan to bring own food to shelter understood and confirmed as permissible
• Communication script prepared for explaining allergy to shelter workers
• Allergy information documented for medical staff at shelter

Maintenance Schedule

Every 6 months:

• Check epinephrine expiration dates
• Review all emergency food labels (reformulations happen without notice)
• Test any battery-powered medication storage equipment

Annually:

• Consult with allergist — update action plan if needed
• Rotate all emergency food (use, replace)
• Review and update allergy information with all emergency contacts

Template: Allergy Emergency Action Plan

Print this completed for your wallet:

FOOD ALLERGY EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN

Name: ___________________________
Date of Birth: ___________________________
Allergies: ___________________________

Signs of a Reaction:
Mild: ______________________________
Severe: _____________________________

Treatment:
Step 1: ____________________________
Step 2: Give epinephrine: ___________
Step 3: Call 112 (EU) / 911 (US) ✓

EpiPen location: ____________________

Emergency Contact: _________________ Phone: ___________
Allergist: _________________________ Phone: ___________

Food allergy emergency preparedness requires more specificity than standard preparedness — but with this checklist as a framework, it's entirely achievable. The result: confidence that your emergency food supply is genuinely safe for your specific needs.