Travel to non-English speaking countries with risk of anaphylaxis

When I finished high school, all I wanted was to travel, especially overseas. Now five years later, I’ve been fortunate enough to live in two different countries and explore many others.

Having multiple food allergies made travelling nerve-racking, not just for me but also for my parents—especially since I was travelling without them to countries where English isn’t widely spoken.

Through my experiences, I’ve found the following strategies have made traveling with food allergies a lot safer and less stressful:

1. Allergy Cards: Print and laminate cards with your allergies clearly listed, including the severity, in the local language of the country you’re visiting. It’s best to have someone whose speaks the language translate them for you, rather than apps like Google Translate as they can sometimes be inaccurate. These cards are a lifesaver at restaurants and shops, eliminating confusion when communicating with staff. (A&AA has translated chef cards).

2. Carry Backup Snacks: Always have safe snacks with you. I’ve been in situations where I didn’t feel confident eating local food because the staff didn’t seem to fully understand my allergies. Having backup food has saved me more than once.

3. Use Reliable Translation Apps: I highly recommend the app “Papago.” It’s an AI translation app that can handle large texts, like ingredient lists, and I’ve found, is often more accurate than others.

4. Always Be Prepared: Carry your adrenaline device everywhere, I always carry 2 EpiPens with me in case one fails or gets lost.

My biggest advice to anyone with food allergies – or parents of children with allergies – is don’t let your allergies stop you from seeing the world.

The experiences I’ve had and the friendships I’ve made while traveling have been life-changing. We shouldn’t have to miss out on these opportunities because of food allergies. Make sure you are prepared, educated and always carry your adrenaline device!

Happy travels!