Eating Abroad with Food Allergies: Lessons from Two Scary Reactions

Traveling should be exciting, full of new experiences, sights, and of course—food. But for those of us with food allergies, eating abroad can be a minefield of hidden risks.

During my recent vacation in August 2024, I had two severe allergic reactions—one in Great Britain and another in Greece. Both incidents taught me some valuable lessons about dining out safely while traveling. Here’s what happened—and what I’ll be doing differently next time.

Great Britain

My first reaction happened in a small town called Didcot, about 30 minutes from Oxford, where I was staying with my mom. We went out to an Indian restaurant, excited to try something new.

I ordered two chicken dishes after confirming multiple times with the waiter that they contained no tree nuts or shellfish—the two foods I’m allergic to. Everything seemed fine… until my throat started feeling itchy.

Recognizing the signs of a reaction, I immediately began to panic. We rushed to an emergency room in Oxford, where they had to administer epinephrine and keep me overnight.

What likely happened? Cross-contact in the kitchen. Restaurants that frequently use allergens (like nuts in Indian cuisine) can accidentally contaminate even dishes that don’t list them as ingredients.

Greece

Just a couple of weeks later, I was on the Greek island of Naxos, ready to enjoy a relaxing morning at the hotel breakfast buffet. I grabbed a simple piece of ham, thinking, what could possibly go wrong?

Minutes later, the itchy throat returned. This time, I immediately asked a waiter if the ham had nuts. His response?

"Oh yes, the chef sprinkled different nuts on it for flavor."

I had just eaten nuts—again.

This time, I had to use my EpiPen right away. My body went into high alert for hours afterward, and the stress completely overshadowed what should have been a relaxing day.

What I Learned: How TO Eat Safely While Traveling

Although these two experiences were frightening, I learned crucial lessons about dining out abroad.

1. Be Extra Cautious at Restaurants that Handle Your Allergens Often

• Certain cuisines use different allergens frequently: Indian and Greek cuisines tend to use tree nuts, Southeast asian cuisines often feature peanuts.

• If you're at a restaurant that handles your allergen in significant amounts, it's best to stick to simple foods with a minimum of additional sauces and flavoring (for example, grilled chicken, salads, basic pizzas).

• This minimizes the risk of cross-contamination—as sauces can often hide allergens.

2. Always Ask - Even for "Safe Foods"

• As with my experience in Greece, simply asking the waiter could have prevented my allergic reaction and a great deal of stress.

• It also never hurts to ask and can reveal hidden ingredients in seemingly allergy-safe dishes.

3. When In Doubt, Cook Your Own Food

• One of the safest ways to eat abroad is to cook your own food.

• Unlike restaurant dishes, supermarket products are legally required to list major allergies and ingredients in most countries. As a result, you can be sure that you'll be safe with it.

• It might be more work and not be as enjoyable, but it's much better than going to the emergency room.

Final Thoughts: Safe Dining While Traveling

Traveling with food allergies means being extra careful—but it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy amazing food.

• Stick to simple dishes.

• Always ask first.

• If unsure, cook your own meals.

• Carry Benadryl and an EpiPen at all times.

  
  

Thank you for reading this blog and I hope this is useful advice for anyone with allergies traveling abroad! See you next time!