An overview of diet and discrimination

Introduction
Food is amongst the most basic of human needs. Diet matters.

This blog is dedicated to anyone who suffers discrimination due to
* a physical dietary disability
* a strict religious diet

YahooGroup
An official Diet and Discrimination Yahoogroup has also been created. Feel free to become a member of the Diet and Discrimination blog and / or the Yahoogroup.

Physical dietary disability.
Examples include:

* Crohn's Disease
* Coeliac Disease
* Diabetes
* Fructose malabsorption
* Hypoglycemia
* Inflammatory Bowel Disease
* Metabolic Syndrome
* Lactose Intolerance
* Lactulose Intolerance
* Dietary Fructose Intolerance
* Irritable Bowel Syndrome
* Food allegies (the most common are peanuts, milk, eggs, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat)

Generally speaking, a clinical diagnosis is required to prove that you suffer from a physical dietary disability. For allergies a skin test if often used. For coeliac disease a biopsy is required. For dietary disabilities pertaining to fructose, lactase or lactulose a hydrogen breath test may be required for clinical diagnosis.

To ensure that you are on an appropriate diet may require the services of an accredited dietician or nutritionist, though some people prefer the services of a naturopath.

Once you have this, then in many countries your rights are protected by laws pertaining to disability discrimination.

Strict religious diet

* Islamic dietary laws (Halal is lawful, Haram is unlawful)
* Jewish dietary laws (Kashrut or Kashruth are the Jewish dietary laws pertaining to Kosher foods)
* Hindu dietary habits and doctrines (Vegetarianism is common, though many Hindus eat meat except beef).

Laws pertaining to religious vilification and religious discrimination vary considerably from country to country, though international laws do exist that protect your rights to some degree. You should seek legal advice if you feel that you are being discriminated against or vilified or the basis of your strict religious diet.

Advocacy
If we want an understanding and tolerant society, then it is important that people understand their rights under the law in relation to physical dietary disability, or strict religious diet. We need to become advocates for the understanding of dietary disability and the tolerance of strict religious diet. You can fight for your disability rights, even if it is an invisible disability such as a dietary disability. You can fight for your right to freedom of religion and beliefs.

At the same time, our advocacy needs to be be fair and reasonable under the laws relating to these matters. Employers, universities, schools, clubs and so on have to be be able to operate without undue constraints.

The Plan
If you are experiencing problems relating to diet and discrimination, and you have already sought appropriate dietary advice, here is a plan that you can follow:

1. Read up on International Law pertaining to Freedom of Religion and Belief
2. Check the laws protecting your religious rights in your country or state
3. Check the laws protecting your rights relating to disability discrimination in your country or state
4. Check the contractual regulations protecting your religious rights in your workplace universities, schools, clubs and so on.
5. Check the contractual regulations protecting your rights relating to disability discrimination in your workplace, universities, schools, clubs and so on.
6. Attempt to reach a reasonable accomodation with your employer, university, school, club and so on.
7. If step 6. does not work, remind them of their obligations as per steps 1. to 5. Take your time here - be patient, stay reasonable, and stick to the facts. Don't rush on to step 8. needlessly.
8. If step 7. does not work, seek advice from a lawyer (with input from a dietician, nutritionist, naturopath for dietary disabilities).
9. Then it is up to you whether the resolving your particular issue is worth the pain, time and cost of any legal proceedings. Many people never take this step, either because they have been intimidated by their employer (or university, school, club etc), and / or they can't handle the additional stress.

At any point, another option is to share your experiences on the Diet and Discrimination blog! However, be careful not to defame anyone in the process, or breach any professional code of conduct.

David A Coutts