Tips on Traveling Abroad
I received the information below from numerous national and local
contacts I’ve met or corresponded with through this website.
As usual, you responded
quickly to my request for help after another family wrote to me for advice on traveling to Europe.
By offering your tips and sharing information, you’re helping
all of us make a “connection” with others around the world who live with the daily challenges of food allergies.
Your quick response and wonderful tips are greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much!
If you have any tips to share in regards to traveling abroad,
please send them to:
info@foodallergyconnection.org
Here are some tips from my contacts:
“Plan ahead. Foods are well labeled in stores to buy. Order very simple meals in restaurants
and make it very clear to management you have a specific food allergy. Some have made red medical alert business size
cards specifying the food allergy to give to the waiter/management. This makes them take the food allergy more seriously
as they are immediately legally responsible if they don't prepare the food properly.”
Jonathan A. Bernstein, M.D.
“Be sure to bring at least 2 EpiPens. You need to have the prescription with it. For example,
the new twin pack EpiPens, when they come out of the box, have no label on it for who it belongs to, The airlines will require
the box that has the name of the person who needs the EpiPen. I also keep Benadryl fast tabs with me. They melt in the mouth
and I was told by the doc to give that in addition to the EpiPen, but it depends on the allergy and doctor's recommendation...
“As far as food goes over there, it is the same as here. Bring as much as you can from home. If it is
a baby that has the allergies and they need special formula, bring enough for the entire trip. You don't want to run out and
not be able to find the exact one. It is best to be at home when you have to switch something their bodies are used to.
“Eating out is tricky. If there is a fatal peanut allergy, my doc told me to avoid eating out, but
how do you do that when you are at a hotel and have to eat out every day? Just tell everyone you can about the allergies.
Don't rely on the wait staff. Go straight to the manager at each restaurant and have him/her ask the chef directly if
they cook with peanuts/peanut oil. There are lots of little markets around so if you want to be super safe, pick up packaged
food at the grocery so you can read labels. It's easier in England as there
is no language barrier...Italy...France…that might be more difficult.”
“It will be tough if no one speaks the language. We were in Europe last May - France
and Switzerland, comprising 3 different
languages. Lots of people speak English, but I would IN NO WAY rely on that if it were me or my child. I also read that the
use of peanut oil is more prevalent in Europe. Depending on the allergies, it may be best
to try to cook one's own meals. Hard to say. I'll look in a couple of other books I have and see what I can find. Let
me know if there's any other way I can help.
“Keep in mind that if you are strict in your observance, you may have to prepare your own food on the
road. Even if your restrictions are lax, it’s best to prepare before you leave: look into the local dishes and pick
out a few which suit your diet. Learn basic phrases such as “Does this contain X?,” or, if you have a serious
allergy, “I will die if I eat X.” (For more information on food allergies, see our article on health. In general, it’s best to do some research on the local cuisine—if your dietary restrictions
are uncommon in the region you’re visiting, you’ll need to use extra caution. “
“I am from Canada and I am well aware of policies there to protect
those with allergies. Toronto is a beautiful city. I
highly recommend a visit.”
“If you have not already checked the "travel" discussion board on www.peanutallergy.com you can probably find something specific to your destination(s). If you have not already checked
the "travel" discussion board on www.peanutallergy.com you can probably find something specific to your destination(s).”
“A
friend of mine moved there about 9 months ago. She said they are very accommodating
over there and everything is plainly labeled. They also have places like Chuck. E. Cheeses called Alice in Wonderlands. I think, anyway- they are all nut free.
Not sure which allergies you have but from what I understand, England
& Ireland are very good countries
to visit…very forthcoming with information.”
“The new European union food labeling regulations that came in to effect on Nov 05.
Food manufacturers must indicate the presence of 12 major allergens in pre-packaged food.
“These new rules cover actual food ingredients but not potential nut traces.
'May contain' warnings will still remain.
Also the 'may contain' labels will indicate other allergies ( along with nuts and seeds) such as Soya and shell
fish.
It’s worth looking at the food standards agency web site later this year (06) to get further advice.
Allergens that must be labeled:
cereals, containing gluten ( i.e. wheat, rye , barley , oats, spelt, kamut or other hybridized strains) crustaceans
e.g crab, lobster, crayfish, shrimp prawn milk , including lactose eggs fish peanuts soybeans tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts
walnuts, cashews, pecans, brazils, pistachios, macadamia nuts and Queensland nuts.
Celery and celeriac
Sesame seeds
Mustard
Sulphites at concentrations of over ten parts per million.
There are plans to add others in the future if there is clear evidence that they cause problems.
Remember that food labels in Europe do have ingredients in English as well
as other languages!”
"Denise, I wanted to let you know that Susanna had a great experience in Customs when
entering Customs in Cancoon. She had her Dr's letter about her tree nut/peanut allergy and her sensitivities to Wheat
and Dairy. She also had her letters for her carry of EpiPens. We had called the Consulant in NYC for Mexico and
she said that a suitcase of food would not be allowed. After telling her the situation and the need for food safety
she said to get a letter from her Dr., but that it still did not guarantee that she would be able to get it
through Customs She got letters from her Dr for foods and her Accupuncturist for her remedies. The good news
is she was allowed her food case into Mexico and because she was staying on a small island off Cancoon, she did not have access
to a big store there were not the food choice brands of the States. She ate nothing but her food all week
as the waiters did not seem to understand about the oils and all. Most places say we have vegetable oil and have no
idea what the source is.. could be peanut oil. It's so crazy but why would they know. That is why
you need to be prepared when you travel. So in all of this frenzy.. the only thing that did not make the grade was US
AIR/ American West.
Its a pretty sad day when even Customs in Mexico outdoes our own US Air
/ American West Airline.
If you have special needs US Air / American West is not in your best
interest. As I said we flew Delta in January and they were awesome
~
PS I love your new site and I will share it with people and thanks for providing.
We all need to help each other in this arena. Your the best !!
"When I spoke with the Consulant in NY for Mexico she said well they have food there and I explained
to her the difference in if the foods are processed on dedicated lines or with other allergens. It is just something
that people are unaware of unless they have the problem or someone they may know. So certainly feel free to use any
of my e-mails. I appreciate all the information you have shared with me and hopefully we can help others in their journeys.
Now we have to work on restaurants.. a few simple things when training their staff. Knowing the source of the vegetable
oils used, and if fried foods are all cooked in the same oils ( does the breading of any of the products have nuts in the
breading ) Also.. is peanut butter used in any of the sauces as thickening agents. With nuts be the most hidden
ingredient in restaurant cooking if they made this information as important as knowing the nightly specials, the allergy striken
community could feel comfy dining out like the rest of the population. I know my daughter worked at a shop that cooked
a great breakfast on the grille but would also grille Nut Muffins for their patrons on the same grille where the eggs and
bacon were cooked. I was talking with a guy in Ludlow Vt, who said he was conversing with a guy and he said you should
try peanut butter in your spagetti sauce.. this is a Pizza Shop.. later that evening he had a patron taken by ambulance to
the hospital. Said he did not have a clue. He said WOW ~~ never again he was mystified.
"So we now have new ingredient labels on foods, which is wonderful ! but now onto
>>>>>>A New Mission >>>>
It seems the mission now should be to President Bush for Restaurants that use any peanut/treenut
ingredient or have a chance of cross contaimination by marinated meats cooked on the same grill area, nuts on the
grille, ingredients in dishes at the salad bars that may cross contaminate by utensils or utensils used by the Chef's
when cooking Be made known on the Menu. Even if you could not eat there.. at least you would have the comfort of
knowing.
"In Salt Lake City we had a waitress and there were 10 of us. We asked the waitress
about the oil used and she said vegetable.. so we asked the source and she came back and said vegetables. Consequently, everyone
ordered a huge breakfast and my daughter ordered a bowl of hot water for a Oatmeal packet she brought with her for times like
these. This should not be the case, but it is the norm. We need some type of movement to disseminate the
importance of information like this from Restaurant owners to their Employees.
Knowledge is Power in the allergen world"
