Home is a "safe haven" for food allergic patients, the processing of meals can be controlled, and accidental ingestions are rare. However, food allergic patients visit friends, go to school, and take vacations. With some easy precautions, risks may be kept low also outside of home.
It is at day-care or at school that children have their first contact with the outside world. Food allergies should not be a handicap. Day-care workers or teachers should be informed on the foods to avoid, and what to do in case of a reaction. Emergency medications (antihistamines and auto-injectable adrenaline) should be available to them, as well as phone numbers of people to inform in case of an accidental ingestion. If the child gets meals from day-care or school, the food must be strictly avoided, and if problems arise, meals should be prepared at home. Finally, other children should avoid to eat the food in presence of the child and to touch toys or other objects with soiled hands. The observance of these primary rules will help the food allergic child to have an almost normal life around his peers.
Food on planes might be a problem. The meals on board have to be appropriately prepared, and peanut dust in the air might be sufficient to elicit a reaction in exquisitely peanut-allergic patients. Furthermore, in case of a reaction, little help has to be expected from the crews. Here are some helpful hints for those flying in the European sky on some major airlines.
| Airline | "Allergy" Meals Available | Advance Notice Requirement | Peanuts Served on Flights | Epinephrine Available | Crew Members Trained |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air France | yes | 24 hours | yes | yes | no |
| British Airways | yes | at booking | yes | yes | no |
| Air Canada | yes | 24 hours | no | - | no |
| Sabena | yes | 24 hours | - | - | - |
| Swissair | yes | at booking | yes | yes | no |
| United | yes | - | not on international flights | - | - |
| KLM | yes | 36 hours | yes | yes | no |
| Delta | yes | at booking | yes¹ | yes | no |
| Singapore Airlines | yes | at booking | yes | yes | no |
| Lufthansa | oui | 24 hours | yes | yes | no |
¹ : If a passenger is allergic to peanuts, Delta may on request serve bretzels as snacks.
N.B.:Most airlines serve a variety of meals and may provide a special meal (e.g. egg free). How safe these meals are is however not guaranteed. It might be safer to order a fruit platter, or take your own food !
Each food allergic patient should travel with an emergency medication kit (epinephrine...), and know how to use it. On most airlines, only a physician is allowed to use emergency medications available on board.
