Travelling with a food allergy
We have probably all, at one point in our lives, eaten something that didn’t agree with us. It happens. And for the vast majority of us, you can most likely figure out what didn’t sit well with you and avoid that food in the future! Or at least take measures to ensure you can eat it without becoming ill.
Sometimes this may be due to a food intolerance involving symptoms which are primarily gastro intestinal. They can last some days and may be quite debilitating. Avoiding the culprit food is essential.
It’s quite a different thing however to live with a food allergy. Did you know that 8 in 100 children and 1 in 50 adults in the UK have food allergies that range from mild to severe? Some sources predict 1 in 2 people will have some form of allergy by 2026.
The number of people being admitted to hospital in the UK for food induced anaphylaxis has been steadily increasing, rising 154% over the past 20 years according to Allergy UK, with the most notable increase amongst children aged 14 and under. Severe food allergies can be life threatening, and on average, there are around 10 fatalities resulting from allergic reactions in the UK each year.
It’s one thing to manage an allergy at home, in a familiar and controlled environment. It’s quite another to deal with it when you’re travelling. We’ve collected tips and advice from people living with allergies and experts to help anyone travelling with a serious allergy.
Research & Planning
It might seem obvious, but you should start by doing your research before booking. There are several factors to consider as you plan, from the transport options you choose to your destination and the type of accommodation you stay in. If you have a peanut allergy, it may be wise to avoid countries where peanuts are prevalent in most of the food for example. People with sesame allergies should check which oils are most prominently used locally for cooking. What are the travel providers’ policies or services when it comes to allergies and food preparation? Are there any first-hand accounts from people with similar allergies to yours or your children visiting those destinations?
Instagram can be a great help here – a few allergic travellers document their journeys and share their experiences, which can provide confidence. NoNutTraveler is an account run by a mother, who travels frequently with her tennis playing son who has a severe nut allergy. Food Travel Diaries is run by a restaurant reviewer who avoids nuts herself. Travel.Eat.Allergies also shares her experiences as a traveller with a sesame allergy.
Allergy groups like Anaphylaxis UK and Allergy UK also have good advice for anyone planning to travel with a serious allergy.
Booking your travel
When it comes to booking a flight, make sure to check the airline’s policies to find out if they have allergen-free meals available, allow pre-boarding to wipe down surfaces around your seat or make any other allowances for people travelling with allergies. Be aware that some airlines are part of an alliance, which means that a partner airline could be operating part of your flight. Make sure to research policies for all airlines you might fly with during your trip. The same applies for rail, coach and ferry journeys!
Think about what time of day you might want to fly. Airplanes traditionally are deep cleaned overnight, so if you have a severe allergy, try choosing an early morning flight when there’s less chance anyone else has been in the seat or used the tray table. If you have egg or milk allergies, you might consider avoiding breakfast travel times.
Children with allergies must travel with an adult who can take responsibility for their care. And if you have any other concerns, you should discuss them with your GP or a specialist before travelling.
Communication
When you organise your travel insurance, make sure to declare any allergies - your own or anyone you are travelling with! It’s important to declare allergies and any other pre-existing health conditions – if you don’t, the insurance company may not uphold any claims.
Check if the airline or rail provider you’re travelling with enables you to pre-inform them about any health conditions. Many will have accessibility teams who can be contacted before you travel to help make any arrangements you might need. Ask them if there is anything you need to do or bring with you when you travel - this could be a ‘fit to fly’ letter from your GP, any prescription information, or an ‘allergy plan’ alerting them to where you carry your medication and how they can help in an emergency.
Take every opportunity to let people know about your condition and what can happen if you have an allergic reaction. Don’t assume that telling one person at the point of booking means everyone else along your travel journey has been informed. There’s no harm in telling someone something again!
This advice applies for every step of your trip – from boarding the airplane (both with ground staff at the airport and cabin crew onboard), to checking into your accommodation and choosing what to eat at breakfast time.
Bear in mind that in countries where you don’t speak the language, you’ll need to translate any ingredients and make sure your food requirements can be understood. The charity Allergy UK has helpful allergy translation cards you can order, detailing your allergy in 35 languages for 150 different allergens!
Over-communicating is always better than under-communicating. This is especially true when it comes to travelling with a child with allergies as they might forget or not want to talk about their condition.
Packing & Preparation
Check you have any prescribed medication with you, and make sure to keep this in hand luggage so you can access it easily.
Consider wearing a medical identification bracelet that states your allergies and medication carried.
If you’re going on a long flight or rail journey, it’s probably worth packing your own food. This is especially important for children with an allergy. Make sure you’ve checked in advance what food you’re allowed to bring and avoid packing anything that isn’t allowed through customs.
If you do decide to eat something provided by the airline or train company, make sure to ask for a menu which details all ingredients used. There have been cases where, even after being told about a nut allergy, cabin crew served an allergic passenger a meal which contained nuts. This happened recently to UK reality TV star and DJ Jack Fowler.
The journey
Allow plenty of time! Airlines and travel operators share this advice with all travellers, but if you have severe allergies, it’s even more important to get places early and give yourself enough time to re-confirm things with the airline, or board in advance so you can clean your own seat, seat belt and tray table.
Wipe down your seat, seat belt and tray table with wipes and avoid using any blankets or pillows provided by the airline.
Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI) should be always kept with you and within easy reach throughout the duration of your flight. Don’t put them in overhead lockers – keep them in a bag under the seat. Make sure that anyone you are travelling with is aware of your allergy and ideally, knows how to use an adrenaline auto-injector. At the very least, make sure they know what they can do to help you if you have a reaction.
In the case of a reaction:
Try to get yourself into a position where you are lying down – head and heart level, knees up
You should use the auto-injector immediately, injecting yourself in your mid front thigh
If a second injection is needed, make sure you inject it in the other thigh
Let the crew know, or ask someone to do this for you, and ask if there is anyone on the flight with medical training who can help.
“If you or your child has been prescribed adrenaline, make sure that it is in date. For ease, all adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) brands have a free expiry alert service which can remind you.”
While you’re away
You should be able to enjoy yourself while you’re on holiday, and that might mean eating out, heading to the pool, or simply taking in the sights somewhere new. Whatever your plans, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Always keep your medication and adrenaline auto-injectors with you (you should always carry two!)
Make sure anyone you are travelling with knows where your medication and auto-injectors are. You can also tell them the symptoms of anaphylaxis.
Check menus at restaurants and steer clear of anything that you aren’t sure about – sauces, garnishes and dressings can include hidden allergens.
Talk to waitstaff or the people preparing your food to explain the severity of your allergy and double check whether there are any ingredients used that could lead to a reaction.
Drinks can have allergens too, so check ingredient lists and check with the bartender if you have any concerns.
There’s a high risk of cross-contamination at buffets, so it’s best to avoid them if possible.
Wherever you eat, when your food arrives make sure it’s what you ordered and check again that it doesn’t include your allergens.
Make sure you tell any hotel staff or activity leaders about your allergy, and where you keep your medication and auto-injectors.
If your child has an allergy, pack their food and snacks and tell everyone that will be looking after them about their allergy, what symptoms to watch for and what to do if they have a reaction.
Remember that you know your own or your child’s allergy best. As long as you can prepare for possible eventualities and avoid any big risk areas, you can have a wonderful holiday. Just like the many people with allergies who travel and explore the world every year!