Special dietary requirements refer to the need for particular food choices or restrictions due to health conditions, allergies, intolerances, ethical choices, religious beliefs, or personal preferences[3]. These requirements can be crucial for an individual’s well-being and must be accommodated whenever possible.
Common types of special diets and dietary restrictions include:
- Gluten free and coeliac: Essential for those with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergies. Requires avoiding all foods containing wheat, barley, and rye[1].
- Dairy free and lactose free: Important for individuals with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies, who must avoid milk and dairy products[1].
- Vegetarian: Excludes meat, fish, and poultry, but may include dairy, eggs, and honey depending on individual preferences[1].
- Vegan: Excludes all animal products, including dairy, eggs, and honey[1].
- Paleo: Emphasizes unprocessed foods similar to what might have been eaten in the Paleolithic era, excluding grains, legumes, and dairy[1].
- FODMAP: Restricts certain carbohydrates that can cause digestive issues, particularly for those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)[1].
- Nut and peanut allergies: Requires strict avoidance of all nuts and peanuts due to the risk of severe allergic reactions[1].
- Fish and shellfish allergies: Individuals with these allergies must avoid fish and shellfish completely[1].
- Keto (Ketogenic diet): Limits carbohydrates and increases fat intake to induce ketosis, a state where the body burns fat for fuel[1].
- Low-carb and diabetes diets: Limit carbohydrate intake for blood sugar control, important for people with diabetes[5].
Some dietary requirements are also dictated by life stages (e.g., pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood), religious practices (such as halal or kosher), or recovery from illnesses and medical conditions[3].
The FDA defines “special dietary uses” as the use of foods for particular dietary needs arising from physical, physiological, pathological, or other conditions. These include diseases, recovery from illness, pregnancy, lactation, allergies, as well as age-specific needs or to supplement the ordinary diet with specific nutrients[3].
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