I was 14 years old when I developed my peanut allergy. Though I have now lived with it for half of my life, I vividly remember that moment. After school, I ate Chinese chicken lo mein, had a Snickers for dessert, and took a nap. I woke up from my nap with extreme difficulty breathing and an insane amount of hives all over my body. I stumbled out of bed to tell my mom to call the ambulance. I was experiencing anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. This was shocking to me because, until that day, peanuts were something I ate regularly. The emergency technicians gave me epinephrine and transported me to the hospital where I was hospitalized for two days.
Clearly, there are valid concerns for traveling abroad with severe food allergies, particularly to countries where the food preparation and labeling regulations are not strongly regulated and there is little awareness about allergies. However, I’ve traveled to 28 countries, including many that would be considered high-risk for someone with a peanut allergy, and I’ve lived to tell the tale. Through trial and many errors, I’ve learned how to minimize the risks of traveling abroad with a nut allergy. Don’t let your nut allergy stop you from seeing the world!
Here are vital tips for traveling abroad with a nut allergy:
Have these Nut Allergy Survival Essentials in Your Bag
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Epinephrine auto-injector. If your nut allergy is severe, this should be your first-line treatment. Epinephrine is highly effective at reversing severe symptoms, but it must be administered quickly. I currently have an EpiPen which is quite large, but I’ve had the Auvi-Q, which is compact and pocket-size.
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Antihistamines. If your nut allergy is mild, this should be your first-line treatment. Antihistamines can relieve symptoms like itching, sneezing, hives and rashes. Benedryl is my go-to antihistamine. It is important to note that this medication is not enough for severe reactions and does not treat anaphylaxis, but it can be used as a second line defense.
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Albuterol (emergency inhaler). I’m mildly asthmatic, so I have an albuterol to use as needed. This can help relieve any wheezing associated with anaphylaxis.
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Copies of your Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan. Go to your doctor and develop a food allergy plan of action, and carry a copy with you while traveling.
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Lysol wipes
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Food allergy translation in local languages
I was less adventurous with my food choices when I was traveling throughout Thailand (a country know for its peanut dishes). On my last day in Bangkok, we met up with a local friend who took us to a tasty local restaurant and served as our translator.
Conduct a Body Assessment
Visit an allergist. After my initial incident, I went to an allergist, who confirmed that not only was I allergic to peanuts but also to tree nuts.
Know what triggers your allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can be triggered in three different ways: 1) ingestion, 2) skin contact (although this is the least likely, the allergen can cause a reaction if it touches sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth, or nose), and 3) inhalation (for some people, breathing in peanut particles can cause a reaction).
Know your body’s response to allergies. If I consume peanuts, my body will go into anaphylaxis within 10-15 minutes, with hives and shortness of breath as the most prominent symptoms. However, there are many other symptoms of peanut allergies, including nausea and tingling sensations around the mouth or throat. It’s important to recognize how your body responds so you can know when to take immediate action.
Me celebrating my 26th birthday in Accra, Ghana. I wanted to study abroad in Ghana during college, but was advised against it because of my peanut allergy. I'm glad I didn't let my allergy hold me back from experiencing such a beautiful country.
What to do…
Before You Get on the Airplane
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Notify your airline in advance. When you check in online, make a special meal request notifying the airline of your peanut allergy. This is important because some flights may not have alternative meal options readily available. You can also call the airline to learn about the meals that will be served and make a decision about if you want to bring your own meal. Also, if your peanut allergy is triggered through inhalation, you definitely want to let the airline know about it. There are a few airlines that no longer serve peanuts on flights or they create a peanut-free buffer zone on flights.
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Research main ingredients in cuisines. Before you leave, look up the staple ingredients and food items used in the country you are visiting. This will help you know which items to avoid.
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Create translation cards with your allergies listed. This can be a physical card or a note on your phone to show your server. Google Translate is a useful translation service. Its mobile app is available offline in 59 languages and it has instant camera translation available in 38 languages. The Food, Allergy, & Research Education group also has food allergy chef cards available in a few languages.
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Inform & prep your travel buddies. If you’re traveling with other people, make sure someone knows about your nut allergy, where to find your EpiPen, and how to administer it.
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Get familiar with your epinephrine auto-injector. I’ll be completely honest and say that the design of the EpiPen is a bit intimidating. For a long time, the thought of having to inject myself with a huge pen in my thigh was anxiety-provoking. In the few times that I’ve had to use my EpiPen, I always had someone present to do it for me with the exception of one time when I had an anaphylactic reaction to the yellow fever vaccine and was by myself. I gave myself the following pep talk, “Jewels, you trying to die or live?! You better suck it up and stick yourself in the thigh!”. The EpiPen needle is not painful at all. Each epinephrine auto-injector comes with a training device, so you can practice and relieve some of the anxiety around it. The design of the Auvi-Q is more compact, and the training device actually talks you through administering the needle.
While You are on the Airplane
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Wipe down the seat and surrounding area. It’s good practice to wipe down your seat and surrounding areas with a Lysol wipe so that you can remove any possible peanut residue left by the previous passenger. Airplanes are breeding grounds for germs anyway so this is generally a good practice.
While Eating at Restaurants
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Notify your server. Use your translation cards to tell your server about your allergy. This is good to ask, even if you don’t think a dish has nuts in it.
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Have your friend taste your food. If something looks suspicious on your plate, have your friend taste it to make sure it is nut-free.
If You Experience Anaphylaxis in a Foreign Country
If you find yourself experiencing anaphylaxis in a foreign country, the first thing you should do is administer your EpiPen. The second thing you do is go to an emergency room immediately. It is important because you must be monitored as your symptoms can reappear within a few hours.
Do you have a severe food allergy? What are some of your tips for managing your allergy while traveling abroad?
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Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional. I’m just someone who has been traveling abroad with a severe nut allergy for 8+ years. I strongly recommend you consult with your doctor to develop a food allergy plan specific to your needs.
This Post Has 16 Comments
So scary. I have a gluten allergy but it is not life threatening. I applaud you that you have not let it stop you from exploring.
Gluten is another tough food allergy!
Thanks for sharing such a comprehensive post! I often wondered how some people with a food allergy eats in Asia because sometimes I have no idea what ingredients they put in the dishes (especially Thailand because they put a lot of peanut in everything). I guess it the same throughout the world. I’m super happy that you are travelling and experiencing the world despite your allergy! 🙂
I was super nervous about traveling to Thailand. I managed by being less adventurous with my food choices unless I was with a local who could effectively communicate my allergy.
Thank you for sharing this post. I don’t have a nut allergy, but one of my best friends does, I will be sure to send this to her so she can read this very informative post!
Thank you for passing it along! I’m sure it will be helpful!
I don’t have a nut allergy myself, but reading your tips made aware of the steps and options that are available to cruise safely through the travels. I wish you many happy travels ahead! <3
Thank you!! Wishing you happy travels as well!
I am lucky to not have food allergies but I can imagine how challenging it must be to travel with one. You seem to have found a way to travel and your experiences on this post could be great resources for others who might find allergies an inhibitor to traveling.
Lucky you for being allergy free! It’s definitely challenging, but it’s doable! I’m praying my future children don’t have severe food allergies, but if they do I’ll be prepared!
How strange that you can suddenly develop a severe allergy like this part the way through your life! I’ve never understood it 🤔
It must be so difficult to get over the initial fear of travelling, I’d be so worried that – even in spite of translation cards, sign language and photos – someone somewhere would get it wrong. Good on you for overcoming this though 🙂
I know! It makes no sense to me how I can go from eating a Snickers practically every day to developing anaphylaxis to peanuts! You are absolutely right, it’s kind of hard to be at the mercy of other people. But I just go into my travels with positive thoughts lol. So far so good.
My husband has life threatening peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergies. My only other tip might be to stay somewhere that has a kitchen so you can cook some yourself! The translated allergy cards are a must.
Yes that’s a great suggestion! When we stay in Air Bnb we do a lot of cooking on our own.
Thanks for this post! I am going to be traveling to Peru this spring with my husband, son, and my son’s girlfriend who is severely allergic to nuts, and I have been nervous about it. Did you have any trouble traveling with your EpiPen in Peru? I have read that some countries hassle travelers about it, but have not been able to find any information one way or another about Peru specifically. Thanks!
Hi Beth! I didn’t have any issues traveling with my EpiPen in Peru. In general, one way to get around any medication hassle is to carry the prescription with you. Enjoy Peru!!