what food can you bring on planes?

[goofy4tink]

It does make sense to make a general announcement, at the gate, several times just to make passengers aware that there is going to be a 'nut ban' on that particular flight. That way, if need be, people can make different snack choices.

That would be a much better idea than having everyone at each other's throats because so and so's child was denied their pbj sandwich. I will say that when my blood sugar drops, the two things that make me feel better the fastest are a bowl of cereal or a peanut butter sandwich. Not sure why that is...I tend to be hypoglycemic and when I start feeling yucky, it goes downhill fast. But, when I fly, I now leave my pb at home. I'm just not taking the chance that someone is going to suffer an ill effect because of my sandwich. I now carry crackers, cheese with me..that helps. Soda does not help at all.

So...I think we can all agree that we have to realize that there are going to be others out there who may suffer if we are not careful in our choice of airline snack. I mean, come on....do you really need that salami sandwich?? Yes, I sat in back of someone who brought one...could have just been an Italian sub but man, did it stink!! Just try to be considerate of others.

 

[Laurabearz]

I always buy starbursts and gummy bears for the take off and landings... I find the chewy candy's help pop my kids ears. And then I usually buy some terrible wrapped sandwich for DH and I.

When I read this thread the first thing I thought of was that Curry Chicken dish that make the Capt land the plane for fear that something exploded or was some noxitous gas...

And once on a flight back from NYC my DH and I brought our left over Carnigy (sp) deli sandwiches for the plan ride home... Stunk up the whole plane, but boy were they good. I felt bad.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You should have felt bad... for not bringing enough to share with everyone!!!!

 

[CarolA]

I'm sorry you found this insensitive because it is clearly not meant to be. I knew that someone would have this reaction and that is why I stated that I understand allergies. I have a child with a very rare skin condition in which he produces too many mast cells. Mast cells produce histamine and he can have an anaphylaxis reaction to many different things. However, if my child had that severe of an allergy to something airborne and out of my control, I would not take him anywhere that he could be exposed. What do you do if someone in line behind you is eating peanuts? Ask them to put them away? I just do not believe in inconveniencing other people this way.

Well we would certainly hate to inconvenice you.

So here's what you do. Go ahead and let you child do whatever he wants.

And then when the child has the reaction the plane gets to make an emergency landing to obtain medical treatment.

I mean now you will have only inconvienced a few hundred people, but it's really not a big deal and you got to do what you wanted!!!!

Occasionally in the world you have to suffer some inconveniece for the greater good.

 

[crashbb]

So which flavour potato chip did you end up wearing? Ketchup? or dill pickle?

Just plain lightly salted kettle chips. My biggest fear (more than making a mess) was the bag making a big BANG sound and people thinking I had some sort of bomb. But why is it that we are the only ones with Ketchup chips?

My bigger complaint about the flight (there and back) is that AC serves fresh hot cookies in business class on cross-country flights. You can smell them being made. Since I don't eat gluten or dairy (though we just re-introduced dairy), I had to watch everyone else eat cookies, milk, and ice cream while they gave me a rice cake! Think I could get some compensation?

Due to my food issues, I used to travel with peanuts for my snack. Since my food issues are all ingestion issue, I just didn't think about causing problems for other people. I then noticed that I created a lot of peanut dust and have stopped using peanuts as a snack. I've never been on a flight where they announced no peanuts, but I'd rather not be counting on my peanuts only to find that I cannot/should not eat them.

 

[gigi1313]

I completely understand allergies...but this seems a little excessive to incovenience that many people! What if I am traveling with my 2 y/o and I brought him a PB&J, I have to tell him he can't eat until we land? What happens in a restaurant? Do they ask the people sitting next to them to not order anything with peanuts too? I'm not looking to stir up and trouble here, but I think that is asking a little too much of other passengers!

As the mother of a child with life threatening peanut allergy, I find this post very insensitive and offensive. Please understand that a person with severe peanut allergy can DIE from exposure to peanuts, and many people are airborne and contact reactive. The recirculated air, enclosed atmosphere, and inaccessibility of emergency medical care in an airplane make it particularly important to avoid exposure. No, I don't think that it's too much to ask to "inconvenience" the other passengers for a short while to protect my child's life.

imo it's far better to have to find alternate snacks for your 2yo than having to make an emergency landing...

like dizcrazee, i, too, am the mother of a child that suffers from severe peanut/tree nut allergies, although, unlike her, i did not find your post insensitive nor offensive... i found it in need of some education and enlightenment... and that is what these boards are all about... educating and enlightening one another...

thank you to those that support "accomodating" individuals with life-threatening allergies... i concur that a gate announcement as opposed to an in-flight announcement would make a world of difference... wish i had thought of that!

i know, for us, when we fly, we always put it on our reservations in the disability section (we typically fly swa)... we follow that up with a phone call on the day prior to flying... once we get to the gate, we are typically first in line to let the gate attendant know, and get the blue sleeve for pre-boarding as we wipe down ds' entire area, seat/armrests/windows/tray table/etc (we also always sit near the back so as not to inconvenience anyone) with clorox wipes... as we board the aircraft we inform every FA we pass to let them know and request that they make an announcement (although now we will make that request first at the gate!!)... when they are making the announcements and fail to include it, we raise our hands, and remind them that they need to make the announcement and they do... we then fly in peace to our vacation destination!

 

[bavaria]

Thanks for your post gigi. To give you an example:

A few months ago I was flying UA out of ORD. I had some of my usual snack items in my laptop case. I was in the gate area about 40 minutes before boarding. After we had boarded and the door was closed (I was in First, in row 2) the purser announced that someone with a nut allergy was on board, and that no items made in a facility where nuts are processed were to be eaten, nor would the crew serve the buy on board meals, nor we would receive our nuts in F.

I understand all of that, however what really frustrated me was that the passenger was a woman in her 30's or 40's; she was one of the first to board and I saw her stop and have a long discussion with the purser at that time. Instead of having the GA make an announcement, or asking the purser to do so at the start of boarding, she simply asked that they ban all nuts.

At that age, she should have been able to take responsibility for herself to ensure that announcements were made in a timely fashion. That flight was almost 6 hours, and I can assure you that passengers reacted very strongly when they heard the announcement.

I do fault the purser for not dealing with it proactively, but I also hold that passenger accountable for her failure to advise 150 other people at a time when they could have made alternate arrangements.

I would never and have never eaten products with nuts after hearing that annoucement, but I will also recommend whenever possible here that parents or adults ensure that the GA makes announcements prior to the flight, as a courtesy to other passengers.

Also remember that on some flights (such as ones I take from SFO and LAX) many passengers are connecting from other countries and may not speak English, and thus may not understand the announcement from the FA not to eat nuts.

 

[goofy4tink]

You should have felt bad... for not bringing enough to share with everyone!!!!

You know...I did fly home with a nice gentleman beside me....a complete stranger. When he pulled out his nice roast beef sandwich (which looked really good!!) he actually offered me half of it!! Now, you just don't see that happening all that often nowadays. I thanked him but declined. I had just eaten at the gate and had my gummi bears ready to eat.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

But why is it that we are the only ones with Ketchup chips?

You're not. They're sold in Belgium. Officially they've been taken of the Dutch market, but there still are some shops around that sell them (simply will buy them from the belgian product selection)

You guys are bringing weird chips tastes our way, if you ask me. Pickles, ham, chicken, they just keep coming. And still I never run into bell peper chips outside of the Benelux.

 

[crashbb]

You're not. They're sold in Belgium. Officially they've been taken of the Dutch market, but there still are some shops around that sell them (simply will buy them from the belgian product selection)

You guys are bringing weird chips tastes our way, if you ask me. Pickles, ham, chicken, they just keep coming. And still I never run into bell peper chips outside of the Benelux.

Hey, that's the Brits (with the chicken and ham potato crisps). I'm Canadian - we draw the line at ketchup and dill pickle (not together though).

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

See, that's how bad my chips-from-abroad knowledge is!

I could've swoarn the pickle taste would've come from the british, good for me I didn't place a bet.

 

[bavaria]

My mom is a very, very brittle diabetic who has been in and out of the hosptials for years and in a coma more than once. She has passed out more than once with low blood sugars. Her blood sugar can go from over 400 to the low 30's within the span of just a few hours. One of the few things that will bring her blood sugar up quickly and keep it up is peanut butter. She never goes anywhere distant without a peanut butter sandwich. Candy or orange juice will bring her blood sugar up, but neither will keep it up.

I completely understand this scenario; one of my travelling colleagues as well as my father are type 1 diabetic and both have had numerous health problems over the years.

My father travels with a liquid drink for diabetics, as well as using DextroEnergen (dextrose tablets - I use those too when I am jetlagged, etc but I don't think that they are sold in the US, although I do see them sold outside of Germany)

My colleague travels with juice and the frozen PBJ sandwiches, which she uses for the same reason that your mother does (like most Germans my father cannot stand peanut butter)

Ultimately, I think that most people would agree that the best option for all parties (the allergic passenger, the other passengers, and the airline crew who need to deal with the outcome) is for the allergic passenger to alert the gate agent and ensure that announcements are made in advance.

Also be aware of your own airline's rules. I mentioned that Delta has a two row zone that they say is nut free - many international carriers have no such rule as nut allergies are not that common outside of the US. The reaction of crew on foreign carriers may surprise some travellers who are used to American crews announcing that all passengers are not to consume nuts on board the flight. Just a caution...

 

[disneymom3]

Back to the OP. I would recommend the little bags of presliced apples you can get now in the produce department. They are nice and sliced up, you hvae no core to deal with and they don't brown like a cut up apple would if you cut it at home. (Unless you soak it in vitamin C, sprite or lemon juice.) We also pack grapes--they travel nicely. My kids also like homemade lunchables with presliced ham, turkey and cheeses as well as crackers to eat them on.

 

[zurgswife]

I didn't want to quote your whole post but I respectfully have many issues with it. My son is both a type 1 diabetic and is touch allergic to peanuts and allergic to tree nuts but would have to eat them.

PB doesn't raise the blood sugar quickly - with all the fat and protein it is quite slow acting. It can keep the blood sugar up but so can other forms of carbohydrates. There is nothing magic about a peanut in that regard. Enough of a fast acting carb works just as well. If it won't work then her insulin regimen needs to be examined (newer insulins like lantus/novolog, an insulin pump which would allow her to discontinue her basal, etc).

Since others are probably not familiar with insulin dependent diabetes I wanted to post that it really annoys me to see this used as a reason that some people might need to have PB on an airplane.

Carol G. You are completely correct. I'm the mother of 2 Type 1's. Peanut butter or other such food helps to keep blood sugar up. It doesn't raise it immeditely from a low like a fast acting carb would.

Brittle diabetic is a very antiquated term. My guess is that your mother has not changed her insulin regiment in many years. There are lots of options out there and depending on where she is being treated her endo might not understand and be comfortable with current insuiln regements. It happens more often then you realize. A change in regiement to something more current could change her issues.

 

[arminnie]

that no items made in a facility where nuts are processed were to be eaten, nor would the crew serve the buy on board meals, nor we would receive our nuts in F.

This is the part that I totally do not understand - that would preclude any food from a home where peanuts and peanut butter are consumed.

Food from a processor who does an allergen wash would be much safer (in general not that I would have a PA person eat it) than the sandwich my 87 year old father made with a knife he washed after using PB.

 

[livndisney]

I have not heard any annoucements about Peanut allergy people on a plane. I wonder how airlines handle other allergies that are just as life threatening.

 

[Alexander]

Well we would certainly hate to inconvenice you.

So here's what you do. Go ahead and let you child do whatever he wants.

And then when the child has the reaction the plane gets to make an emergency landing to obtain medical treatment.

I mean now you will have only inconvienced a few hundred people, but it's really not a big deal and you got to do what you wanted!!!!

Occasionally in the world you have to suffer some inconveniece for the greater good.

And again Carol you are jumping down peoples' throats! I would not inconvenience people in this respect. That is clearly what I stated. Ido not believe in inconveniencing people. I would find alterantives instead of asking people to be inconvenienced. I would be teaching my kids to not inconvenience others by making other arrangements. I'm going to go let my kids do whatever they want as you suggested, because I must be a really terrible parent.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have not heard any annoucements about Peanut allergy people on a plane. I wonder how airlines handle other allergies that are just as life threatening.

One would have to assume that if someone had a life-threatening allergy that could be impacted by something during a flight, they would alert the airline to it before boarding the aircraft.
I know that when I had to fly my ds's cat to Florida, from Boston, I did doublecheck at the gate to make sure no one had mentioned any huge dander allergies. Then, I did ask to be seated as far from others as possible...rather than having someone find out after they were seated, that there was a scared cat, producing lots of dander, right behind them.

IF someone has a specific allergy, especially a food allergy that can be dangerous if airborne, they should notify the gate attendant. Then, an announcement should be made. I have yet to feel put out because I was not allowed to take out my pbj sandwich. If it means that someone is going to be able to feel okay during the flight, then it's okay with me. My word...is having a peanut butter sandwich all that important?? I would suggest that people stop bringing any peanut product with them, to the airport. there are plenty of alternatives that would do the trick while in flight.

 

[crashbb]

One thing that I think is important to point out, for those with peanut allergies who think that they can guarantee a peanut free flight. From searching that I've been doing since the thread started, airlines cannot prevent passengers from eating peanuts. They can make the announcement and 'encourage' passengers from not eating peanuts and they can refuse to serve peanut products, but there is nothing that they can legally do if a passenger decides that they are going to eat something that they brought on the plane with them.

Not debating whether there should be a law or not, just pointing out that there isn't one as I don't want people to have a fall sense of security.

Sites such as foodallergy.net offer suggestions about limiting risk while flying.

 

[gigi1313]

And again Carol you are jumping down peoples' throats! I would not inconvenience people in this respect. That is clearly what I stated. Ido not believe in inconveniencing people. I would find alterantives instead of asking people to be inconvenienced. I would be teaching my kids to not inconvenience others by making other arrangements. I'm going to go let my kids do whatever they want as you suggested, because I must be a really terrible parent.

when you say you would teach your children not to inconvenience people, do you mean that by requesting a nut-free flight to keep my son alive, i am teaching him *to* inconvenience people? do you think those w/nut allergies should not fly and find an alternative/make other arrangements?

or conversely were you saying that you would bring food other than peanut butter to teach your children not to inconvenience a possible nut allergic person and you would find alternatives/make other arrangements so as not to bring peanut butter on a plane?

One thing that I think is important to point out, for those with peanut allergies who think that they can guarantee a peanut free flight. From searching that I've been doing since the thread started, airlines cannot prevent passengers from eating peanuts. They can make the announcement and 'encourage' passengers from not eating peanuts and they can refuse to serve peanut products, but there is nothing that they can legally do if a passenger decides that they are going to eat something that they brought on the plane with them.

Not debating whether there should be a law or not, just pointing out that there isn't one as I don't want people to have a fall sense of security.

Sites such as foodallergy.net offer suggestions about limiting risk while flying.

i know we cannot be "guaranteed" a peanut free flight, but we can request it and have our request met as reasonably as possible... but keep in mind, that peanut/tree nut allergies are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which i would guess encourages airlines to cooperate...