Navigating the Skies with Food Allergies: A Growing Concern
For many, air travel evokes excitement and anticipation. But for individuals with severe food allergies, it can be a source of heightened anxiety and concern. This fear isn’t unfounded, with a new study revealing the significant emotional and logistical challenges faced by those flying with food allergies.
The study, released in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, uncovered a deeply concerning trend: nearly all respondents reported that utilizing air travel with a food allergy fuelled anxiety. Conducted by Northwestern University researchers, the study surveyed over 4700 individuals with food allergies and their families from around the world, including more than 300 participants from Australia and New Zealand.
“The most crystal-clear result was that 98% of respondents confirmed food allergy heightened their anxiety when flying,” says lead author Dr. Chris Warren.
The study suggests that this anxiety stems from a variety of factors. Passengers shared how they struggle to predict how airline staff will manage their allergy.
“On every flight, it is uncertain if and how crew members will accommodate nut allergies, and this adds tremendous unnecessary stress,” explains Lianne Mandelbaum, co-author of the study. She describes to a chilling in-flight experience where her concerns about her son’s nut allergy were not acknowledged, leading to distress and humiliation.
While the majority of participants felt their allergies were understood, nearly 34% reported experiencing unprofessional or insensitive behavior from airline staff. This lack of understanding and inconsistent service led to a staggering statistic: “Eighty-two percent of honeycomb respondents said the experience of not having their allergy taken seriously significantly impacted their airline choices,” Dr. Warren reveals.
What’s even more concerning is that many individuals with serious food allergies are not alerting airlines to their situation. The study found a “concerning trend” of people choosing to avoid disclosing their allergy. They fear causing inconvenience or being met with unhelpful responses.
“They view allergenic intrusions upon disclosure as more likely to exacerbate situations vs ameliorate,” explains Dr. Warren. “It represents an unquestionable need to improve these interactions between not only interested parties, nor airline staff, but involve passionate individuals who have devised coping mechanisms to manage their chronic condition.”
Australia, knows as the “food allergy capital of the world”, with over 1.5 million individuals affected by at least one food allergy, highlights the unique challenges faced by their citizens. “There’s a lot of fear and anxiety around flying with a food allergy,” confirms Maria Said, CEO of Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia. “We definitely have accounts of allergic reactions that have happened in the air.”
While reactions on board have been documented, a concerning fact emerged: less than half of those experiencing a reaction during a flight informed the crew or airline. Dr. Richardcommented how passengers’ reluctance to disclose their condition stems from a fear of inconvenience or unhelpful responses from staff.
He believes better accounts for passengers with food allergies are crucial.
“More education is evidently necessary to ensure food-allergic individuals appreciate the potential significance of reactions and that alerting aircrew during a flight would be sensible,” Dr. Adelstein asserts, adding, “Ensuring enhanced monitoring,
surveillance and treatment when necessary.”
However, he cautions that the data may be skewed towards a more selective audience, as it was mainly sourced from advocacy organizations. It does shines a light on a potential need for further research encompassing a wider segment of airline travelers with food allergies.
Expert advice rings loud and clear: anyone travelling with a food allergy must inform the airline and crew
What percentage of respondents in Dr. Warren’s study said that not having their allergies taken seriously directly influenced their choice of airlines?
## Navigating the Skies with Food Allergies: A Growing Concern
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re discussing a topic that’s causing significant anxiety for a growing number of travelers: flying with food allergies. Joining us is Dr. Chris Warren, lead author of a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Dr. Warren, thank you for being here.
**Dr. Warren:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** In your research, you found that almost all individuals with food allergies experience heightened anxiety when flying. Can you tell us more about what’s driving this fear?
**Dr. Warren:** Absolutely. Our study surveyed over 4,700 individuals with food allergies and their families worldwide. The overwhelming majority – 98% – reported increased anxiety when flying. This stems from a variety of factors. Passengers worry about whether airline staff will understand and adequately manage their allergy. There’s a lack of consistency in how airlines handle these situations, which creates immense uncertainty and stress for travelers.
**Host:** Your study also highlights some concerning experiences with airline staff. Can you elaborate on that?
**Dr. Warren:** Sadly, yes. While many passengers felt their allergies were acknowledged, nearly a third experienced unprofessional or insensitive behavior from airline staff. [[1](https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2024/11/food-allergy-anxiety-at-30000-feet/)]My co-author Lianne Mandelbaum, who shared her own disturbing experience where her son’s nut allergy wasn’t taken seriously, aptly described it as a ”chilling in-flight experience”. This kind of lack of understanding and support can be truly frightening for individuals relying on airlines to keep them safe.
**Host:** That’s incredibly disheartening. What impact does this have on airline choices for travelers with food allergies?
**Dr. Warren:** It’s significant. Our study found that 82% of respondents said that not having their allergies taken seriously directly influenced their choice of airlines. This indicates a real risk of people avoiding travel altogether due to fear and insecurity.
**Host:** You also mention a concerning trend of individuals not disclosing their allergies to airlines. Why might that be happening?
**Dr. Warren:** It’s a worrying development. Some individuals fear causing inconvenience or being met with unhelpful responses, so they choose to remain silent. This, unfortunately, can potentially put their health at greater risk.
**Host:** Dr. Warren, thank you for shedding light on this important issue. What advice would you give to travelers with food allergies navigating air travel?
**Dr. Warren:** Firstly, I strongly encourage open communication with the airline. Inform them about your allergy in advance and clearly explain your needs. Carry your own safe food and any necessary medication. And, most importantly, don’t hesitate to advocate for yourself during the flight. Your safety and well-being are paramount.
**Host:** Excellent advice. For more information on managing food allergies while traveling, please visit the website of the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research at Northwestern University. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Warren.
**Dr. Warren:** My pleasure.
