New Food Allergy Travel Hub supports Aussies to overcome fears and holiday with increased safety

Food Allergy Week – Sunday 25th May to Saturday 31st May 2025

Travel fears are stopping Australians living with food allergy in their tracks with a recent survey revealing
99% of respondents experienced travel anxiety and three in four (76%) actively avoid travel due to potential
allergy risks.¹

The high levels of travel anxiety were revealed by a recent Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia Travelling with
Food Allergy survey. The responses from 543 people living with food allergy or their parents or carers,
showed:

• Almost all (99%) of respondents found travelling with a food allergy caused stress and worry, and more
  than half (56%) said plane travel caused ‘a lot’ of added fear.
• Three in four (76%) had actively avoided travel because of food allergy concerns, while one in four
  (27%) avoided travel most or all the time.
• A third (35%) reported they had a mild, moderate or severe allergic reaction while travelling, of these
  42% went to hospital and 36% had adrenaline.
• Of the reactions described, the vast majority (69%) occurred when eating out.¹

In response to the new data, national patient support organisation Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia is
launching an Australian-first, dedicated Food Allergy Travel Hub to help 1.5 million Australians living with
food allergy², and their families, to travel with more confidence and increased safety.

The free online hub provides evidence-based resources that address the most common questions and
concerns, whether travelling locally, interstate or overseas. This includes airline policy comparisons,
translated chef cards to advise hospitality staff of allergens, advice for travelling with adrenaline
(epinephrine) devices, and check lists for everything from travel insurance to caravanning, cruising and
overseas school trips.

According to Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia CEO Maria Said AM, we don’t want people living with food
allergy, and their families, missing out on important milestones, trips and holidays because of travel fears.

“With the number of Australians travelling exceeding pre-COVID levels, we have seen an increase in calls
from people anxiously searching for information on travelling with food allergy, especially to popular
destinations such as Japan,” stated Maria.

“Our new Food Allergy Travel Hub has been designed to provide the support and confidence people need
to plan well, eat smart and travel safe. While the risk is always there, taking precautions, such as always
carrying two adrenaline devices, always reading food labels, telling anyone preparing food for you about
your food allergy and taking your own food on the plane, can help to create a safer travel experience and
ensure people are prepared to manage an allergic reaction, if one occurs.”

Sydney mum Shirley Lay-Yee understands the fear firsthand. She is the mother of two daughters with food
allergies, including 21-year-old Paris, who has experienced three medical emergencies of potentially life-threatening
anaphylaxis.

“As a parent of children with food allergy, you always worry about them, it can take over everything in your
life and it can be quite debilitating – the anxiety is always there, especially when it comes to travelling,” said
Shirley.

Last year, Paris travelled to Korea, her first overseas trip without her parents. She had experienced an allergic reaction after eating out at a popular fast-food restaurant. “My face and body flared up with welts, my throat was itchy and I felt really hot,” said Paris. “It was scary, and I was very anxious, but I had planned well and was able to manage the allergic reaction.”

“Before the trip, I spent hours searching online for advice. I was on Reddit, Quora, and all these forums trying to find information about travelling with food allergy. The new Food Allergy Travel Hub would have
made planning so much easier.”

Research supports the benefits of travel planning.³ The international study on flying with food allergy found the incidence of mid-air allergic reactions were ‘uncommon’ and the rate of allergic reactions had not increased in 30 years, despite more passengers and more people living with food allergy flying.³
Researchers attributed this, in part, to people with food allergies taking precautions when travelling.³

“Our survey also found only a small number of people reported allergic reactions while flying – 12 out of 543 people (2%), and none administered their adrenaline. We hope this shows people are following appropriate advice and taking their own food on the plane. It is one of the most important steps to lowering allergy risk,”
stated Maria.

The Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia Travelling with Food Allergy survey found the vast majority (69%) of
allergic reactions occurred when eating out. It also showed 54% of reactions had taken place in Australia,
compared to 46% overseas.

Dr Sandra Vale, CEO for the National Allergy Council said it was an important reminder to not be
complacent when travelling for work or holidaying at home.

“Use Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia chef cards and always tell hospitality staff about your food allergy, it
could help prevent a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction,” said Dr Vale.

“I also urge food service owners to ensure all staff complete the National Allergy Council’s free All about
Allergens online food service training courses. Just like responsible service of alcohol, it is a vital step
towards keeping customers safe, whether they are on holiday or if they are your regulars.”

Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergies and hospital anaphylaxis admissions in the world.⁴
Food Allergy Week was created by Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia to raise awareness of food allergy in
Australia. This Food Allergy Week (Sunday 25th May to Saturday 31st May 2025) will focus on allergy safe
travel and encourages people to ‘plan well, eat smart and travel safe’.

The new Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia Food Allergy Travel Hub can be found here.