Flying with Food Allergies
Flying with Food Allergies
Unexpected detours during travel can be fun, but only for the right reasons, and not when they are health related! If you take precautions before and during your trip so you and your child can enjoy the getaway. Air travel is possible for people with food allergies.
Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, hosted a free educational webinar on June 17, 2014, featuring guest speakers Matthew Greenhawt, MD, MMSc, and Laurel Francoeur, JD.
The presentation covers legal restrictions, disability issues, TSA regulations, peanut dust and inhalation studies, and how to prevent allergic reactions on airplanes.
An attendee gave this review as the most valuable part of the webinar:
“The tips for flying reaffirmed for me that I am doing everything possible to keep my 5-year-old safe. All of the information on inhalation and peanut shell dust was wonderful and will make us feel much safer when faced with that environment.”
Resources
- 8 Steps to Minimize Allergic Reactions to Peanuts and Tree Nuts on Airplane Flights
Dr. Greenhawt’s study identified eight actions you can take to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction in-flight. - Department of Transportation’s Links to Nut Policies of Major U.S. Airlines (Leave KFA website)
Find the links to the policies regarding nuts and allergies of the major U. S. airlines. - Regulations for the Air Carrier Access Act, Part 382 (Leave KFA website)
These are the regulations which describe accommodations for flying passengers with disabilities, as compiled by the Department of Transportation. - File a Complaint with the Department of Transportation (Leave KFA website)
Use the above link to directly file a complaint with the Department of Transportation if you feel you have been discriminated against by an airline because of your disability. - Air Travel Consumer Reports (Leave KFA website)
The Department of Transportation’s list of reports of consumer complaints compiled yearly. - TSA: Traveling with Food or Gifts (Leave KFA website)
Rules about what types of food you can bring in your carry-on luggage on the plane. - TSA Cares 1-855-787-2227
A hotline to answer questions about what you can bring on an airplane. - DOT and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (Leave KFA website)
This is the law that prevents the DOT from making regulations concerning buffer zones or restricting peanuts from airlines. - Handwashing/Cleaning Study (PDF) (Leave KFA website)
This is the referenced study regarding hand sanitizers, soap, and cleaning products and their efficiency at removing peanut allergen.
Become an Advocate
You can help us advocate on this issue and others to help reduce the burden of food allergies. Learn more about becoming a food allergy advocate and watch this page for updates on ways you can raise awareness about this issue.
