A gluten-intolerant passenger experiences a severe medical emergency mid-flight after mistakenly being served the wrong meal.
A gluten mix-up causes a nightmare for a traveler with coeliac disease
A backpacker with coeliac disease endured a distressing 15-hour flight after mistakenly being served a gluten-filled croissant.
The severe reaction left her battling sickness and diarrhea while documenting the ordeal online.
A mistaken meal leads to an allergic reaction mid-flight
Chloë Chapdelaine, a Canadian content creator, boarded an Emirates flight from Dubai to Los Angeles on June 5.
She ordered a gluten-free meal but received a mislabeled tray containing a regular croissant. After eating half, she realized something was wrong.
‘As I was eating one of the croissants that was on the tray, I had a really bad feeling. It tasted so good and I have never tasted such a good gluten-free croissant before.” SHE SAID.
‘I then questioned why they would have such a good gluten-free brand on a flight and this is when I questioned whether it was actually gluten free to a flight attendant.’ She added.
The croissant tasted unusually good for a gluten-free product. This led her to question a flight attendant, who soon confirmed the mistake.
The air hostess returned pale-faced, admitting that the pastry was not gluten-free and should not have been on her plate.
Severe symptoms set in quickly
Chapdelaine immediately panicked. She knew her body would react badly even to trace amounts of gluten.
Her symptoms began within minutes. She rushed to the airplane bathroom, where she vomited for an hour.She later experienced stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and itchy skin. She feared lasting effects, including brain fog and depression, for weeks.
‘It was a moment of panic,’ she added. ‘I went to the bathroom and made myself physically sick and was in there for about an hour throwing up, which was horrible.
‘I knew if I didn’t do this it would cause my body a lot more damage.
Coeliac disease and the risks of gluten exposure
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where gluten damages the small intestine.
The NHS states that around 1 in 100 people suffer from it. Exposure can cause severe digestive issues, inflammation, and long-term health complications.
Chapdelaine, who had been gluten-free for nine years, knew the impact would be serious. She wasn’t upset about breaking her diet but rather about the prolonged health consequences she would face.
Documenting her experience to raise awareness
After recovering slightly, Chapdelaine shared her experience on TikTok.
She wanted to highlight the seriousness of food allergies and intolerances, especially on flights. She emphasized that this was not the first time she had faced a similar situation.
On past flights, she had almost consumed gluten but caught the mistake in time. She noted that gluten-free meals are often forgotten, making travel difficult for those with dietary restrictions.
The challenges of carrying safe food while traveling
Some questioned why she didn’t bring her own food.
@chloe.chapdelaine I’m feeling defeated today. I often share about gluten free travel, but not the struggles. This stuff happens too often 🥺 did you spot the outlier? 🥐 @Emirates #glutenfreetravel #glutenfreelife #airplanefail #celiacdisease
Chapdelaine explained that travelers don’t always have access to kitchens to prepare meals. Additionally, certain foods are restricted at border security, making it challenging to carry safe options.
She called on airlines to take food allergies more seriously. If she had a nut allergy, she believes the reaction from the airline would have been different.
Airlines must do better for passengers with food allergies
Chapdelaine stressed that people with coeliac disease deserve to travel safely. She urged airlines to improve their handling of dietary restrictions to prevent such incidents.
Emirates acknowledged the complaint, stating they offer special meals to accommodate dietary needs.
A spokesperson confirmed that the airline is investigating the issue. However, Chapdelaine has not yet received a formal response to her complaint.
Her story serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of food safety, especially for passengers with medical conditions. Airlines must ensure better accuracy in meal service to protect travelers from avoidable health risks.