Flight from Dubai to LA Turns into a Gluten-Induced Nightmare for TikTok Star

My daughter traveled to Israel on El Al and was given a gluten-free meal and got extremely ill 5 hrs into the 10-11 hr flight. Flight attendants were wonderful but after checking online (she was with my grandparents) the gluten-free meal says it has limited gluten and not for those with gluten allergy or sensitivity. 

5 hours ago, momofceliacteen said:

My daughter traveled to Israel on El Al and was given a gluten-free meal and got extremely ill 5 hrs into the 10-11 hr flight. Flight attendants were wonderful but after checking online (she was with my grandparents) the gluten-free meal says it has limited gluten and not for those with gluten allergy or sensitivity. 

She should sue them.

I always take my own food on any trip, whether it is a train, plane or car. I advise all celiacs to do the same.

2 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

I always take my own food on any trip, whether it is a train, plane or car. I advise all celiacs to do the same.

Agreed. We always do too. And now we test any food supposed to be gluten-free if not in gluten-free facility. 

1 minute ago, momofceliacteen said:

Agreed. We always do too. And now we test any food supposed to be gluten-free if not in gluten-free facility. 

Did you have one of those Nima gluten sensors?

29 minutes ago, trents said:

Did you have one of those Nima gluten sensors?

We have the Nima- she did not test bc it was supposed to be gluten-free and was wrapped separately and all. We live by the Nima though now. 

I don’t eat food from airplanes. It’s not worth the risk and so few people are aware of celiac disease and truly understand. 
when I fly anywhere, I bring what I can in my bag and I’ll look for protein bars and nuts at the airport. Sometimes the options are severely limited. JFK was particularly a horrible airport for anyone with dietary restrictions or food allergies! I’m still mad at JFK for food options a year later. I was able to find a decent sized bag of almonds and basically snacked on those until I landed back home at SFO.

preparation is key. We can’t trust the public to be prepared for us who cannot tolerate gluten on any level. Before I consume anything, I always ask myself if it’s worth the risk? If I can afford to be hungry and wait for food, I will. It’s a tough position to be in but the short term discomfort out weighs the painful recovery for me. 

14 hours ago, momofceliacteen said:

My daughter traveled to Israel on El Al and was given a gluten-free meal and got extremely ill 5 hrs into the 10-11 hr flight. Flight attendants were wonderful but after checking online (she was with my grandparents) the gluten-free meal says it has limited gluten and not for those with gluten allergy or sensitivity. 

I’m sorry to hear that! I used to become angry at businesses or workers who served me gluten when I was so clear about my needs, but unfortunately many people just don’t know. ☹️Celiac disease is widely misunderstood. I’ve learned it’s very important to keep your own meals and snacks with you at all times, as often as possible. Sometimes the only safe option I’ve found is a bag of nuts and I take it because it’s certified gluten-free and will keep me until I can find another option guaranteed to not gluten me.

15 minutes ago, Kurlykaitlyn said:

I’m sorry to hear that! I used to become angry at businesses or workers who served me gluten when I was so clear about my needs, but unfortunately many people just don’t know. ☹️Celiac disease is widely misunderstood. I’ve learned it’s very important to keep your own meals and snacks with you at all times, as often as possible. Sometimes the only safe option I’ve found is a bag of nuts and I take it because it’s certified gluten-free and will keep me until I can find another option guaranteed to not gluten me.

 

Airlines should be required to check with customers about food allergies as part of the ticket purchasing process - to have a question on the online form about their food restrictions. That way they could plan to meet needs for each flight. With the ability to cross link information in this day and age of technology that should be quite possible.

Oh heavens, I’m 67, diagnosed at 10 months old.  I have been poisoned so many times 

sometimes by people who just didn’t take my needs seriously, and begged forgiveness as I  lay on the bathroom floor…

sometimes by people who just didn’t want to be bothered 

too often by family…

I learned long ago (even with medical personnel) to not trust, and to take care of myself whenever possible 

Hope to be sweetly surprised, but bring your own food whenever possible 

and you will be sweetly surprised often  

I didn't know people could take food onto a plane. but be aware of nuts, some people have extreme allergies to them. I had been called names before now for not being able to eat gluten at a place in London where the person also swore at me in their language not realising I could understand, when a meal was served, other times been given a tiny meal compared to others who are not gluten intolerant, and also expected to pay the same money as those that can eat it at 'social' gatherings. This means that I don't often go out when people invite me as I don't want to be dealing with the name calling and cussing, or being made to feel you are being awkward. Having said that on occasion I have had great experiences, when I was staying one night in York, I told them at breakfast that I can't have gluten. As they didn't seem to have anything suitable I said I'd go without. They told me they get a lot of people pretending to have gluten intolerance and when they tell them they don't have anything they just go ahead and have the things with gluten in. So as I'd opted to have nothing, they asked if I'd like a full English breakfast... all gluten free and they didn't charge me for it.  So it seems the people who say, 'ok I'll have the gluten then', are affecting the way that people with celiac disease and gluten-intolerant people are treated.

6 minutes ago, Guest Lin said:

I didn't know people could take food onto a plane. but be aware of nuts, some people have extreme allergies to them. I had been called names before now for not being able to eat gluten at a place in London where the person also swore at me in their language not realising I could understand, when a meal was served, other times been given a tiny meal compared to others who are not gluten intolerant, and also expected to pay the same money as those that can eat it at 'social' gatherings. This means that I don't often go out when people invite me as I don't want to be dealing with the name calling and cussing, or being made to feel you are being awkward. Having said that on occasion I have had great experiences, when I was staying one night in York, I told them at breakfast that I can't have gluten. As they didn't seem to have anything suitable I said I'd go without. They told me they get a lot of people pretending to have gluten intolerance and when they tell them they don't have anything they just go ahead and have the things with gluten in. So as I'd opted to have nothing, they asked if I'd like a full English breakfast... all gluten free and they didn't charge me for it.  So it seems the people who say, 'ok I'll have the gluten then', are affecting the way that people with celiac disease and gluten-intolerant people are treated.

Yes, but the staff in the eatery at York were being dishonest when they told you they didn't have anything for you. You called their bluff and uncovered their dishonesty. I'm not sure why the staff there feels a need to act as judge and jury for those who desire to eat gluten free, whatever their reason for wanting to avoid gluten. If they have the ability to comply with the customer's request for a gluten-free meal, they should do so without hesitation. If it costs the eatery more to meet the needs of those desiring gluten free food then the eatery is justified in passing on the extra expense to the customer. We also see this attitude sometimes in physicians who are in denial about the pathologic reality of celaic disease and NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) and dismiss it all as the latest fad disease.