Travelling abroad can be a pleasant experience despite food allergies. Preparing carefully for the holiday, making back-up plans in case of emergency, taking precautions on the journey, and caution when eating out locally, can safeguard the health of the food allergy sufferer.
Planning for an Allergy-Free Trip
On a package tour, tell the company well in advance so dietary needs can be accommodated. This may rule out last minute travel.
Make lists of what to pack, e.g. safe snacks for the journey, medicalert bracelets, emergency kits, and dietary alert cards
Obtain leaflets, travel advice packs, and dietary alert cards from allergy and/or celiac associations.
Look on online directories, or ask local information on arrival, for allergy-friendly travel companies, hotels, restaurants and food shops.
Pack enough safe food to last until arrival, making allowance for any delays.
Dietary Alert Cards
Dietary alert cards, available in eighteen languages, explain the traveller's food allergy, intolerance or sensitivity to waiters and chefs. This makes ordering food in restaurants easier.
Dietary alert cards demonstrate that you are a genuine medical case and not just a fussy eater. Even if there isn't one in the local language, the Dietary Card website advises to use one in English, as this is better than trying to get the waiter to understand your dialect.
Prepare for Food Allergy Emergencies on Holiday
It is always best to be prepared for emergencies, says Lynn Pritchett in How to Prepare for Food Allergy Emergencies. Laurie Harada, in Travel Abroad: It Doesn't Have to be Daunting, advises travellers to ensure they know the emergency number in the country or area they are visiting, knowing how to use the local payphones, and always carrying change.
For treatment of Anaphylaxis, aways have an epinephrine auto-injector available and review how to use it. Have back-up supplies stored separately, for example, one in the main luggage and one in hand luggage, to guard against loss.
If under medical supervision, get details of a specialist at the nearest hospital to the final destination. Bring details of your condition with you in the local language.
Make sure health insurance and any relevant cards are up to date.
Food Allergy Precautions During Air or Train Travel
When travelling, keep any essentials in hand luggage. Keep instructions with any medications, and keep them in original containers. Carrying written prescriptions is advisable to avoid hassle at customs.
Most national airlines offer gluten or lactose-free meals and vegan meals, if given enough notice. However, always leave room for error on a long haul flight and bring safe food of your own.
On a train, there may not be suitable food available on the buffet, so again, always ensure to have a supply of safe food.
Avoid Allergies When Eating Out Overseas
Eat at local non-chain restaurants, as they are more likely to have chefs cooking from scratch, making it possible for dietary needs to be accommodated.
Always carry a safe snack such as fruit to prevent blood sugar levels plummeting to the point where it's tempting to take food risks.
Find out about the local cuisine beforehand, and what kind of foods are safe to eat. For example, Alice Sherwood explains that polenta and risottos are good gluten-free options in Italy.
If some simple legwork is done before travelling, the trip abroad can be a relaxing experience even for the person with severe food allergies. To find out how to check for food allergies, see Food Allergy Testing: The Accuracy and Usefulness of Different Allergy Detection Methods.
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