A GLOBAL survey highlights the challenges faced by individuals with food allergies (FA) during air travel. With the prevalence of FA increasing globally, this study aimed to understand the experiences, attitudes, and behaviours of patients and their families in managing FA on flights.
The survey, conducted between October 2022–January 2023, was completed by 4,704 participants recruited through 45 FA advocacy organisations and research institutions. A total of 88.4% of participants identified as female, 67.7% were aged 40–59 years, 75.8% identified as non-Hispanic White, and 79.6% resided in the USA. Among respondents, 8.5% reported experiencing an in-flight allergic reaction, with peanuts (3.9%), tree nuts (2.4%), and milk (0.6%) being the most common triggers.
Epinephrine was used in 15.1% of reported reactions, with 91.7% of these cases involving self-carried epinephrine. Despite the seriousness of these incidents, only 57.4% of in-flight reactions were reported to flight crews or airlines.
Respondents took various preventive measures to avoid adverse reactions, including requesting specific accommodations, though these requests were not consistently met. High levels of anxiety related to FA management were reported, with airline policies and other FA-related factors significantly influencing travel decisions.
The findings emphasise that air travel poses unique challenges for individuals with FA, highlighting the need for more consistent and robust FA-related policies to improve safety and reduce stress for travellers.
Ada Enesco, EMJ
Reference
Warren C et al. Understanding experiences, barriers, and facilitators of safe airline travel: a global survey of food allergy patients and caregivers. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024;12(12):3372-3382.
