In recent years we have stopped checking bags, and instead, using up our full carry-on allowance. One of these bags is dedicated to food, EpiPens, and clean plastic cutlery.

The Dedicated Food Allergy Bag

• Safe snacks which I have eaten before- this is especially essential in light of a recent airline allergy fatality. 
  • Noodle Bowls
  • Granola & Fruit Bars 
  • Instant Oatmeal
  • Mars Bars
  • Homemade cookies and 
  • Cheese
  • The “legal limit” of liquid Boost
  • My own thermos for oatmeal etc
  • Plastic Cutlery  (essential if backpacking in Asia with a peanut allergy)
• Medical Necessities
  • Epipens, Epipens and more epipens 
  • Expired EpiPens (Labelled “USE LAST” and bundled together)
  • Asthma medicines (having your asthma under control is key)
  • Benadryl 
  • Reactine 
• Water bottles and beverages (purchased in the gate) 
• Wet wipes (which do not remove allergens however I wipe down the seat, armrest and tray regardless

The Peanut-Free Backpack:

My backpack is where I keep clothes, most toiletries and generally anything not needed during the flight. I use “stuff sacks” for quick and easy packing.

The Purse or Laptop Bag

My purse becomes home to dry items and electronics:

• Chargers
• Tablets
• Passport

I have modified my procedure as I’ve found myself in unsafe situations such as being surrounded by cross-contaminated items and door handles preflight in the Toronto Pearson and Gatwick Lounges, and hearing about the tragedy of 15-year old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse’s who devastatingly lost her life following a British Airways flight from Heathrow to France.

We first learned what had happened on a layover in London Gatwick, after 14 hours of travel without food, and deciding to hazard a safe meal at Jamie Oliver’s Restaurant, being that we were only 1.5 hours from our destination and flying over land, with many airports in the event of an absolute emergency. It was then we learned what had happened to Natasha from our server, and how everything from the food manufacturer, to the airline, flight staff, and the airport in Nice entirely failed this poor young girl traveling with her father.

This information and additional awareness has been updated in Natasha’s memory.