Important Safety Note Before You Read This Testimonial below from Lianne, No Nut Traveler
Airlines are not legally required to provide complete ingredient disclosures for in-flight meals and snacks. An ingredient list may appear reassuring while still omitting allergens—including top allergens—leading passengers to a false sense of security. I have documented this issue extensively in my investigative reporting for Allergic Living. My steadfast advice is to never accept an airline meal- no matter the assurances. MORE INFO HERE -PLEASE READ: https://www.allergicliving.com/2023/12/21/the-trouble-with-airline-meals-and-food-allergies/
Testimonial: I boarded a 13-hour United flight from Sydney to Los Angeles thinking I had done everything right.
As someone with a severe peanut allergy, I always advocate for myself. When I stepped onto the plane, I told a flight attendant about my allergy. She casually directed me to “the woman in the back who handles food.”
So I walked down the aisle, past my seat, just to make sure I was heard.
I told that flight attendant clearly: I have a severe peanut allergy. I’m in seat 54L.
Her response? Confusion. She said she didn’t know what to do with that information.
I was stunned. Still, I tried to guide the situation myself and asked if she could check the ingredients in the meals being served. Her answer: “Uh, I guess.”
Living with a food allergy means you learn to prepare. I had packed snacks—but there’s only so much you can bring for a 13-hour international flight. At some point, you have to rely on the airline for a real meal.
I was given a gluten-free meal with no ingredient list. No labeling, no transparency. I thought I was making the safest choice by eating what appeared to be plain vegetables and quinoa—especially after informing the crew of my allergy.
I was wrong.
Not long after eating, my stomach started cramping. I rushed to the bathroom, where I became violently ill—vomiting, sweating, trying to purge whatever I had just eaten from my system. The pain didn’t pass. For the next five hours, I sat curled in the fetal position, barely able to function, quietly moaning through the pain.
And I didn’t tell the flight attendants.
Because at that point, it was clear—they weren’t equipped, trained, or willing to help.
When I landed, I contacted United Airlines. I explained everything: the dismissive response, the lack of care, and the allergic reaction I suffered mid-flight.
Their reply was almost as shocking as the experience itself.
They said they couldn’t confirm my story—so there was nothing they could do.
To have your safety questioned is one thing. To have your reality denied is another.
They also suggested I should have listed my allergy on my reservation—something that, notably, isn’t even an option on their website.
What’s even more alarming is what I learned afterward: airline meals aren’t required to list ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration classifies airline food as “restaurant food,” which exempts it from labeling laws.
But this isn’t a restaurant.
In a restaurant, I can speak to a chef. I can ask questions. I can trust that my concerns will be taken seriously. On this flight, I was met with confusion, indifference, and ultimately, harm.
After pushing back on United’s response, they backtracked—offering me 5,000 points.
But accountability isn’t a rewards program.
If they had acknowledged the issue from the start—if they had shown even a baseline level of care—I might feel differently. Instead, I’m left feeling dismissed, angry, and deeply concerned for others in similar situations.
And this wasn’t an isolated experience.
On my way to Australia, I was traveling with a broken toe, wearing a medical boot. Due to a delay, I had to switch flights and asked a gate agent if there was a seat where my foot wouldn’t be stuck in the middle of a row.
Her response? “You should go back on your original flight.”
After getting help from an online agent—who thankfully was understanding and suggested I pre-board for extra time—I returned to the gate.
The same agent stopped me and said, in front of others: “You’re not disabled.”
It was humiliating.
Once again, I reported the incident. And once again, United refused to take responsibility.
At this point, the pattern is clear.
This isn’t just about one bad flight. It’s about a lack of training, a lack of accountability, and a disregard for passenger safety and dignity.
I will not be flying United again.
And more importantly—this needs to change.
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