TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES

Travelling with food allergies can feel overwhelming—especially when you're managing severe allergies to common foods such as dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut, wheat, soy, sesame, lupin, fish, and shellfish. But with thoughtful planning and the right tools, you can explore the world confidently and safely.

As an allergy-aware family ourselves, we know the risks—and the rewards—of making memories outside the home. In this guide, we’re sharing our top food allergy travel tips to help get organised, reduce anxiety and focus on the fun.

Start with a Solid Travel Plan

When travelling with food allergies, early planning is everything. Choose accommodation with a kitchen so you have the choice to prep safe meals if preferred. Research grocery stores and allergy-friendly restaurants in your destination using tools like AllergyEats, and Spokin

Contact your airline or hotel in advance to ask about their allergen policies. Some airlines allow pre-boarding for allergy passengers to give time to clean surfaces or speak to flight crew about safety. Be sure to note any food allergies in your flight and accommodation bookings to helpstaff prepare and support your needs in advance.

Facebook has a number of active accounts to follow and groups to join for travelling with food allergies such as:

• Allergy Travels Group
• Food Allergy Travels & Life
• Pixie Lizzie: Magical Food Allergy Travel Agent
• No Nut Traveller
• Miss Allergic Reactor - Allie Bahn

Prepare a Medicine Bag To Go Everywhere

Essential items for allergy-safe travel:

• ✅ Multiple EpiPens or adrenaline auto-injectors

• ✅ Antihistamines in tablet and/or liquid form

• ✅ An allergy action plan

• ✅ Doctor’s letter for international travel

• ✅ Temperature-controlled pouch to protect medicine from cold or heat

• ✅ Medical alert bracelet or necklace to communicate allergies in an emergency

• ✅ Water wipes to clean surfaces on the plane etc

• ✅ Safe soap to clean hands from hidden germs and allergens

ALWAYS keep your medicine bag, including adrenaline injectors, in your carry-on luggage and ensure it is easily accessible when seated on the plane.

Charlie’s Safe Treat Box also offers Allergy Aware EpiPen Reminder Socks, a clever, visual reminder to grab your medicine before heading out for the day.

Choose Travel Insurance That Covers Food Allergies

Before booking, confirm your insurance covers pre-existing conditions like anaphylaxis. Choose a provider with international medical assistance, including hospitalisation and repatriation. Keep a printed copy of travel insurance in your medicine bag in case you need to be admitted to the hospital and need to prove you have insurance coverage.

Save emergency services numbers for each destination. For example:

• Europe: 112

• USA: 911

• Australia: 000

• New Zealand: 111

Even within countries, specific numbers may vary for different services (e.g., police, fire, ambulance). 

• Japan: 110 (police), 119 (ambulance/fire)
• China: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire)
• Brazil: 190 (police), 192 (ambulance), 193 (fire)

Store nearby hospital details and allergist contact info in your phone for quick access.

Communicate Clearly with Translation Cards & Apps

Eating out can be stressful when travelling with food allergies, especially in non-English speaking countries. Bring translation cards explaining your allergies and cross-contact risk in the local language.

Use apps like Google Translate (with offline access) to read menus, labels, and communicate with staff. You can also pre-translate common allergy phrases like “I have a life-threatening allergy to peanuts and tree nuts.”

We also recommend using Equal Eats food translation cards who provide accurate, effective, and trusted translation cards for food allergy, celiac disease, intolerance, and special diets. Equal Eat cards are available in 52 languages and cover 700 allergens. Create and store your Equal Eats cards on your phone for easy access, order a plastic card to carry in your medicine bag and/or use the digital downloads option to print at home.

Pack Safe Snacks from Home

Pre-packaged safe snacks for travel with allergies are a must! Delays, limited options, or unfamiliar ingredients can leave allergy families stuck. Keep pre-packaged, allergy-free snacks in your hand luggage, daypack, suitcase and accommodation. We recommend you try all snacks before travelling to ensure they are safe (and delicious). 

At Charlie’s Safe Treat Box, we stock a wide range of top 10 allergen-free snacks  that are convenient, trusted, and perfect for travel.

👉 Explore travel-friendly snack options here

Stay Organised with Labels & Containers

Use ziplock bags and clear containers to organise snacks, medicine, and documents. Label each with its contents, expiry date, and allergy details.

Pro Tip: Pre-pack snacks into daily bags or emergency kits for quick access during outings or tours.

Teach Children to Self-Advocate

If you’re travelling with children with food allergies, include them in the process. Teach or print out simple phrases in the local language, and ensure they wear their medical alert bracelet or necklace everywhere.

Print a small info card with your child's photo, allergies, emergency plan, safe snacks, and contact details to keep in a small backpack your child will wear in case you get separated. 

Do a Local Trial Trip Before Going Abroad

Before flying overseas, try a local weekend getaway or day trip if you have not travelled away from home recently, to practice :

• Using your medicine bag

• Managing meals out

• Packing snacks for outings

You’ll learn what works and build confidence before a bigger trip.

Remember—Allergy Awareness is Growing Globally

Awareness of food allergies is increasing worldwide. More restaurants now list allergens on menus, and many are trained in allergy-safe food prep.

Allergen labelling laws vary from country to country, and so do the most commonly recognised allergens. When travelling, it’s important to be aware of these differences to safely interpret ingredient lists and allergen statements on food packaging.

Technology, advocacy, and personal stories like yours are driving positive changes in the food allergy space. Take heart—you’re not alone.

Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Travel with Food Allergies

With the right preparation, travelling with food allergies becomes less about fear and more about freedom. Make sure you prepare yourself with:

• Strong planning to keep you safe and reduce allergy anxiety

• Trusted food allergy travel tips from reliable sources such as  Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia

• A steady supply of safe snacks for travelling with allergies

• Confidence in your emergency action plan should an allergic reaction occur

• An extra battery pack for your mobile phone in case of delays

At Charlie’s Safe Treat Box, we’re here to share allergy tips and support allergy families on every step of their allergy journey. From EpiPen Reminder Socks to our wide range of top 10 allergen-free snacks, our mission is to make allergy life less stressful, even when travelling with food allergies.

👉 Ready to travel safer? Browse our snack range and travel-friendly tools here

About the Author

Hi, I’m Sharon—mum to Charlie, the inspiration behind Charlie’s Safe Treat Box. Like so many of you, I’ve faced the exhausting challenge of finding safe, delicious snacks my son could enjoy. I created CSTB so families like ours could find peace of mind (and treats!) all in one place. Every box is curated with the same love and care I use when shopping for Charlie himself.

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