Really enjoyed your blog – I’m writing for Business Traveller magazine and I wondered whether you’d be available for an interview?

I’m researching for a feature about dealing with dietary requirements when abroad – would be great to speak with you and gain your perspective as an experienced traveller with allergies?

If you’d be interested, please get in touch as soon as possible at rdykins@businesstraveller:twitter.com. 

Thanks!

Rose Dykins
Editorial Assistant
Business Traveller magazine
London

I would love some info on food in Kenya and what to look out for!

Thanks!

Any tips to eating out in Cape Town with a peanut allergy?

I am going to China in July and taking my 9 year old with severe tree nut and peanut allergies (1/2 a cashew put him in a coma within 7 minutes when he was three). Will you let me know what tips you have for eating in China?

Thanks, Tawny

Maybe you’ve already started your world trip- hope it’s going/goes well!

Just a quick word re South America- they have this amazing looking chocolately sauce called mole (mo-lay) there. AVOID IT! They use peanut butter as a thickener in it, and don’t consider peanut butter to be actual nuts- it nearly caught me out, wouldn’t want the same to happen to you!

All the best,

Liz (liz_johnson03@hotmail.com)

This is such a refreshing article compared to all the discussion forums either forecasting death if you so much step out of the house, or else claiming that we are all making it up and should stop being such attention seekers.

I have had a severe allergy to all nuts since I was a baby, and try not to let it interfere with my life any more than I have to. I’m Irish, now living in London, and have successfully lived in France, been travelling in most of Europe, Mexico and the USA with relatively little hassle. I have yet to venture East, though going to Egypt this March!

I think the key is to accept, like the article says, that you are never going to one of those people who can eat local food without caring what it is you are putting in your mouth.

It can be frustrating to not get to try the local cuisine, but at the end of the day you are still there, seeing a new country and it’s culture, and food is only a small part of that to have to give up. I found Mexico the worst, because so much social activity revolves around food and they don’t really understand the concept of allergy at all, It’s just not worth the risk, especially when you’re not sure how good the emergency facilities are going to be. I spent a month eating pizza and fruit, untill I found I could eat quesadillas

I always try to do self-catering where possible as well, so that I am in as much conrol of what I eat as possible. Then my boyfriend and I can enjoy dinner at our accommodation minus all the anxiety, then go out for drinks and enjoy ourselves!

I also always pack Nutri-Grain snack bars (2x however many days I’m away for), so that if there really is nothing I feel safe eating, I will at least not starve altogether. Also, when I do eat out, I go for plain things quite easily identifiable, without sauce- so steak, fresh fish, grilled meat. Pizza is always a go to, though not pasta (hidden pesto has put me in hispital too many times)

For those of you from the US, I’d like to reassure you about travelling in Western Europe- there really is quite a lot of allergy awareness over here- most supermarket food has allergy labels on it, and in restaurants the most important thing, like anywhere, is to speak up about the severity of your allergy, and usually people will try to accommodate you.

Thanks guys, this is a great site! I’d be happy to try and help with any queries anyone might have: liz_johnson03@hotmail.com

I’m a current undergrad student with a severe allergy to tree-nuts but not peanuts. I have been to Germany twice before for long stays and not encountered any problems with my allergy (but I can read ingredients in German and speak the language).

I feel trapped by my allergy,

I would love to get out there and experience other cultures, I’ve been told that if I stick to eating things like plain fruit, plain meat, and very basic non-prepared things I could be alright. I’m still afraid of dying though, of course.

I really appreciate this inspirational info, if you have any advice to an inexperienced traveler with my allergy I would appreciate it!

thank you!

dansh22@gmail.com

Great website. I am just starting to plan a round the world trip next year and I am quite worried about eating in some of the places we are planning to go – North India, Thailand, South America. I was diagnosed with a peanut allergy about 14 years ago and was told at the time that I should avoid all nuts as it was very likely I would develop allergy to them all. I have totally avoided all nuts since then and everything has been fine.

Any additional advice would be appreciated.

Susan Xx