Allergies Abroad

As you can probably tell by now, travelling is one of my favourite things to do. What you might not know, is that cooking is another passion of mine. A massive part of exploring different countries is expanding your taste buds and trying new cuisines; for myself this brings an extra element of anxiety as I am gluten and lactose intolerant. In any setting, I think that the trick to managing food intolerances and allergies is to be alert and inform whoever is serving or preparing the meal of your allergies as well as using your own common sense. This is particularly important in places you may not be familiar with, because sometimes not all ingredients are listed, or there could be a miscommunication regarding cooking methods and ingredients. In some countries cooking methods are an important part of a country’s culture so it’s important to respect that whilst keeping yourself safe! For more information on the cultures of 256 countries check out the FCDO Travel Advice website.

I have insight on this topic myself due to my own allergies, but I do not suffer from anaphylaxis so I interviewed my friend Amy to find out a little more about how she felt travelling abroad having a severe nut allergy. She mentioned that she found it embarrassing to tell people about her allergies when visiting a restaurant in a country that wasn’t her own. This makes me feel very sad as I know the feeling, but this is not something that people choose, and no one should be embarrassed about not being able to eat something. Fear was another emotion that Amy described. This is particularly understandable as her allergy is life threatening. She mentioned that one of her main top tips when travelling with allergies is to always carry the necessary medication, this isn't really a tip as it is just common sense to carry life saving medication that you may need. As with any medication, you should check the FCDO website for more information about what you can take into specific countries. Some medications need to be declared when taking them overseas so again, make sure you check the FCDO travel advice website to check if that applies to you. Amy also expressed her love of trying new cuisines, and having travelled with her myself, I have noticed her bravery increase ten-fold in the last couple of years. One of her special tricks is to learn the words for her allergy in the language of the country she’s visiting. Having a way of explaining your allergy in the local language is a superpower and can save lives.

I recently travelled to Italy, where I found that gluten intolerance was surprisingly easily accommodated even though most of Italian cuisine is based on wheat! After driving from France, where there is little choice of gluten free alternatives, I was so pleasantly surprised that even in the first service station across the border there were some gluten free snacks for me to have on our journey to Tuscany. Another positive thing I found in Italy was that there was great understanding around my allergies, the chefs at Villa Pia were fantastic and I never felt worried about what I was eating. Sometimes I do find that people don’t actually know what gluten intolerance is, this inevitably leaves me feeling fairly anxious about what I’m eating. A useful way of avoiding this confusion is getting translation cards that indicate your allergy in the local language of wherever you’re going, especially if you’re not as linguistic as Amy (like me!). Unfortunately for my allergies I can’t really take medication to reduce my symptoms if I do have a reaction so I just have to tough it out (which can ruin a holiday). If you can take medication, you must take it with you! Speaking to and going on holiday with Amy has really shown me both sides of the food allergies coin; I am gluten and lactose intolerant so the best way for me to prevent a reaction is to plan ahead whereas as Amy has a nut allergy (which includes anaphylaxis), the most important thing for her to do is ensure she has her medication, as well as planning ahead. If you are poorly, or in particular enter anaphylaxis, you must call the emergency services to get the medical help you need. The FCDO’s Travel Website provides you with all official emergency numbers for every country, which I always had to hand prior to eating.

Additionally, make sure you have the correct Travel Insurance in place in case you need any health coverage post medical help. You should get a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The GHIC or EHIC entitles you to state provided medical treatment that may become necessary during your trip. If you don’t have your EHIC with you or you’ve lost it, you can call the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 191 218 1999 to get a Provisional Replacement Certificate.

Allergies are all about communication, if you let the person who is feeding you know that you have allergies, then nine times out of ten they will cater for you. Allergies should never stop people travelling, but those who have them have a responsibility to keep themselves safe. Plan ahead and read the FCDO website to keep up to date about things that might specifically affect them.