Opinion here, I think that food allergies should count as an invisible disability.
If you have a food allergy, you have to put extra time, effort and money into simply getting the nutrition you need to survive, navigating unclear ingredient lists, recipe changes and confusing "may contain" disclaimers. Free from foods, which are foods that have been made without and tested for allergens, often cost far more than regular food items, and are only available for the most common allergens.
You have to be hypervigilant with every product you buy, not just food, since it is not required for companies to clearly state common allergens on cosmetics or medicines, or even in clothes!
Having food allergies also limits you socially (rip to my already socially limited self). Attending any event where food might be involved becomes a nightmare, as you have to plan what you will say to the people making/serving the food, and carry your own backup food. And food is involved in almost any social gathering you can go to. It takes days of planning, often searching for information that is incomplete or not included, to simply go to a restaurant or on holiday. And even if a place seems accessible, you are often met with disappointment on arrival. Trying to manage everyday outings, which should be fun and simple, can become really stressful. You have to carry epinephrine auto injectors with you everywhere, cause you never know if you'll meet an allergen in the wild, which means you have to carry a bag with you all the time :(
I have been stopped at airport security for carrying epinephrine injectors. I have been told I can't take my own food into cinemas (what am I supposed to do, buy food I'm allergic to?). I have been excluded at school, had teachers not understand or just outright ignore my allergies, I've been singled out for being the "allergy kid". I've been told that I can't attend peoples birthday parties because I have allergies and I'm "too difficult". And don't get me started on the bullying. Very few people seem to understand and take allergies seriously.
And allergies are serious. I could die from an allergic reaction if I come into contact with an allergen.
Having food allergies is exhausting and stressful and there isn't enough awareness of them and there aren't enough people and places willing to make accommodations. They limit what I am able to do quite a lot, since I can't eat some things without, um. Dying. And they limit my social life even more. I would say that they disable me.



















