European travel with Celiac Disease

[CJF]

I'm heading to the UK for a vacation the end of this month on a tour with Road Scholar. I haven't been out of the US since my diagnosis so I'm a little concerned about exposure to gluten during my travels. Most of our meals are provided by the tour. Either the hotels we are staying at, or places we will visit. Road Scholar is aware of my dietary needs as well.

Any helpful hints about navigating the restaurants in England is greatly appreciated.

Also are there any medications out there to help mitigate the effects of exposure to gluten?

Thanks in advance.

[Scott Adams]

Traveling to the UK with celiac disease is actually one of the easier European destinations thanks to strong allergen labeling laws and widespread awareness. Since Road Scholar is already aware of your dietary needs, take these extra steps for peace of mind: First, pack gluten-free translation cards (even though English is spoken, these clearly explain cross-contamination risks to kitchen staff). The UK uses the "Crossed Grain" symbol for certified GF foods, and most supermarkets (like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer) have excellent GF sections—stock up on snacks like GF biscuits or cereal bars for backup. When eating at restaurants, pubs are often surprisingly celiac-friendly (look for places displaying Coeliac UK accreditation), and don’t hesitate to ask about dedicated fryers for fish and chips. For your tour meals, politely double-check with staff at each location—hotel breakfasts can be tricky with shared toasters, so request sealed GF bread or yogurt/fruit alternatives.

As for medications, there’s currently no FDA-approved treatment for gluten exposure—some find digestive enzymes (like GliadinX -- they are a sponsor here) help with minor symptoms, but they don’t prevent damage. Pack your usual remedies (peppermint oil for bloating, anti-nausea meds, etc.) and consider bringing a doctor’s note for any prescription medications. The Coeliac UK website has a fantastic restaurant guide and emergency food listings—download their app before you go. Bon voyage, and enjoy your trip with confidence!

[cristiana]

@Scott Adams has done an amazing job at explaining the situation.  Shop at Asda, Morrisons, Tesco's, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencers and Waitrose which have great gluten free sections and you won't go hungry.  Even small Co-op corner shops tend to have a dedicated gluten free area.  I haven't had much luck with the German store, LIdl.  Can't speak for Aldi but I think they may have a gluten free section.. 

Food labelling has become very strict here so you should be able to shop anywhere and trust their labels - if the product comes from a shared line, it will say 'May contain traces of gluten'.  If that is the case, avoid those products.  I am not sure how long you are here for but if you are here for a while I second that you join Coeliac UK who produce an app which will help you navigate the supermarket.

Personally, I would not eat pasta or pizza out., as in the words of a Food Inspector I know, there is just too much glutenous flour about in these places.  

When you order anything, make a big deal about the fact that you are a coeliac.  My line is... "I'm very sorry to be a pain but please can you make sure to tell the chef that I am a coeliac and because I throw up very quickly after being served gluten by mistake!"   That tends to work get the message home!  I find as soon as they hear that they type/write coeliac/or allergy in very big letters on the chit for the kitchen!

When the food comes out,  at the point of service, always double check what they are serving IS actually gluten free.  Twice I have narrowly avoided being glutened because my daughter or I double checked the bread was gluten free:  the poor, harried waiting staff had made a mistake and put the wrong bread on the plate.

We don't seem to have the medication that you have for glutening episodes, as you do in the US, so if you can I'd bring some with you.  

 

Edited May 5, 2025 by cristiana

[CJF]

Thank you for your response. I had read that they are more careful in the UK and the wait staff are much more aware. 

I always bring gluten-free snacks with me when I travel even here in the US. Airports are  a nightmare to find anything that is gluten-free to eat. If you are lucky enough to find a Chick-fil-A in the airport the fries(chips) are a safe bet as they are fried in a fryer that is dedicated. Five Guys is also a pretty safe bet. While the only thing they fry is their fries, they also are very careful when cooking their burgers and will change gloves, and put them on a clean grill.

Thanks again for all the info. All I don't want is to get sick on a much anticipated trip from food that has gluten in it.

[CJF]

Safely home from my recent trip to the UK. I had zero gut issues while traveling around this pretty country.

Our tour leader was very good at making sure the 2 of us with gluten issues on our tour were well taken care of. 

We often got our meals before the rest of the group and adaptations to the menu for us were well thought out and very tasty.

I just wish restaurants here in the USA took as much pride in making food that everyone can enjoy. Many of the hotels and pubs we ate at had numerous options that were safe for us with wheat/gluten restrictions to eat.

 

[Scott Adams]

It's great to hear that the trip went well, and the general consensus I hear about gluten-free travel in Europe, including my own experiences, is that it is much easier done in comparison to traveling and eating gluten-free in the USA.