Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    Flight from Dubai to LA Turns into a Gluten-Induced Nightmare for TikTok Star

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Canadian woman has ‘worst flight of her life’ after getting a non-gluten-free croissant on 15-hour flight.

    Flight from Dubai to LA Turns into a Gluten-Induced Nightmare for TikTok Star - Boeing 777 - Emirates Airlines. Image: CC BY 2.0--Sony SLT-A57
    Caption: Boeing 777 - Emirates Airlines. Image: CC BY 2.0--Sony SLT-A57

    Celiac.com 06/23/2023 - We've run our share of stories on the occasional horrors of gluten-free travel. In the most recent episode Chloë Chapdelaine, a popular TikTok star, experienced a distressing incident on a 15-hour flight from Dubai to Los Angeles. As she suffers from celiac disease, she carefully selected gluten-free meal options before boarding the Emirates aircraft. 

    However, she was informed halfway through eating a plain croissant that it was a regular one that contained gluten, which she had avoided for nine years. This revelation caused her to become emotional, and she tearfully documented her experience in a viral TikTok video from the plane's bathroom.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    Chapdelaine believes that celiac disease is not always taken as seriously as other food allergies, and she feels that people with food allergies or sensitivities deserve to be treated with respect and understanding. The video garnered over 1.4 million views and included footage of the croissant that caused the incident.

    The Canadian TikToker, who is highly sensitive to gluten, immediately felt the effects of consuming it. She took measures to expel the substance from her system by inducing vomiting, spending about an hour in the bathroom. 

    Severe Celiac Disease Symptoms

    Despite her efforts, she experienced symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and itching skin.

    Chapdelaine stated that it will take her approximately two weeks to recover from the mental repercussions caused by this incident, including brain fog and depression. She has filed a formal complaint with Emirates, although she acknowledged that the flight attendants were understanding of her situation.

    This incident highlights the challenges faced by individuals with celiac disease and the need for greater awareness and understanding of food allergies and sensitivities.

    Have any stories to share about the good, the bad and the ugly of gluten-free air travel? Share them in the comments below

    Read more in nypost.com



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments



    Guest BarbaraDH54

    Posted

    I would NEVER trust an airline to give me gluten-free food, and especially if it was a croissant. I actually have Celiac Disease, so for me the gluten-free diet isn’t just a choice; it’s a medical necessity. I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 53, despite having classic symptoms. I’ve accidentally eaten gluten-containing foods since, but it was always someone else serving it and SWEARING it was gluten-free. I know better now. If traveling, I take my own food.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Russ H

    I do the same thing. Mercifully, I don't go into anaphylaxis as some people do if exposed to allergens, but on the other hand don't know whether I have been exposed enough to provoke an immune response and all the sequelae that involves. Apart from a handful of local places that I know are safe, I don't eat out. I got badly glutened several times in Sweden and just don't risk it. Some countries are a nightmare due to the culture. Certainly, I would never trust an airline to provide safe food.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Dillpickleson

    I always bring or buy a snack for long flights. If I have to go without food for a few hours, it is WELL worth not being glutened. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Celiac for 25 years

    Posted

    I am hesitant to eat out period. But we do have a red robin in town who does an excellent job of serving safe food to a celiac. I feel very confident eating there. For travel, I take my own food. I can't afford to end up on a bathroom floor in a plane or train. So I travel with my own food. I've even learned how to travel with an ice pack (TSA approved). Its a tough lesson to learn but once you've been glutened, you learn quickly. As far as family goes, they don't seem to care that there's nothing for me to eat. They just say sorry while others consume cake for a birthday party and then they wonder why I don't attend. Sometimes I just go for the celebration and don't care about the food. But sometimes I would like someone to accommodate me. In the end, you have to advocate for yourself and not leave securing gluten-free food to others.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Awol cast iron stomach
    On 6/24/2023 at 2:13 PM, momofceliacteen said:

    We have the Nima- she did not test bc it was supposed to be gluten-free and was wrapped separately and all. We live by the Nima though now. 

    "I don’t eat food from airplanes. It’s not worth the risk and so few people are aware of celiac disease and truly understand. "

     

    Agreed I have gotten sick on a flight, and then had flight attendants banging on the bathroom door because I went to the bathroom too much. It was an unpleasant flight experience. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Jefferson Adams
    Did Japan's ANA Airlines Really Give a Single Banana as a Gluten-free Meal?
    Celiac.com 05/04/2017 - Japan's ANA airline is catching some public relations heat this week after reports that a man flying from Tokyo to Australia received a banana instead of the gluten-free meal that he booked in advance.
    London resident, and celiac disease sufferer, Martin Pavelka flew All Nippon Airways flight from Tokyo this week, a nine-hour flight.
    Numerous media have reported Mr. Pavelka's plights in glaring terms, such as the Independent's alarming headline: Man Given Banana as Gluten-free "Meal"Â on Nine hour Flight, with the equally sensational sidebar: Londoner flying from Tokyo to Sydney was handed a banana as the gluten-free inflight "meal." However, a closer reading shows those claims to be pretty misleading.
    The fact is that Mr. Pavelka did receive his specially-...


    Jefferson Adams
    Airlines are Finally Stepping Up with Vegan and Gluten-free Options
    Celiac.com 10/25/2018 - The surging demand for gluten-free, allergen-free, vegetarian and other food options is changing the way many companies do business. However, food and beverage manufacturers are not the only businesses working to keep up with plant-based and gluten-free demands from consumers. The latest effects of that demand are shaking up food offerings in the airline industry.
    Major airlines are among the numerous businesses that are shifting gears to cater to the growing demand for gluten-free, allergen-free, vegan, and other options from customers. Gone are the bagged peanuts of days past. The new kid on the block avoids gluten, and wants ample vegetarian and other options. To meet those changing demands, airlines are hiring celebrity chefs to devise new menus.
    ...


    Jefferson Adams
    UK Celiac Man's Gluten-Free Meal for a 10-Hour Flight on TUI was 'Popcorn and Crisps'
    Celiac.com 11/25/2019 - Anyone with celiac disease or gluten-intolerance who has ever flown commercially knows that reliable gluten-free food can be hit or miss, depending on many factors. Many people simply bring their own food and leave it at that. Others choose to trust that the airline will get it right, and order a special meal in advance. What's the best solution? The story of a UK Man who was 'given popcorn and crisps' as a gluten-free meal on 10-hour flight on TUI Airways might serve as a warning against placing too much trust on airlines.
    Celiac disease sufferer James Howe, of UK chose to order a gluten-free meal, along with shelling out over $1,000 for premium seats for his 10-hour flight. The 39-year-old says he ordered the three course, gluten-free meal three months bef...


    Jefferson Adams
    What People Say About Gluten-Free Airline Travel
    Celiac.com 12/03/2019 - Stories of gluten-free airline travel are legion, and we’ve covered more than a few tales of gluten-free airline food woe. Here are some insights from Celiac.com and our Gluten-Free Forum about dealing with gluten-free airline travel. 
    Airlines are Finally Stepping Up with Vegan and Gluten-free Options Did Japan's ANA Airlines Really Give a Single Banana as a Gluten-free Meal? UK Celiac Man's Gluten-Free Meal for a 10-Hour Flight on TUI was 'Popcorn and Crisps' Here’s what people on Celiac.com’s Gluten-Free Forum have to say about gluten-free air travel.
    Airlines are Finally Stepping Up with Vegan and Gluten-free ...
    Major airlines are among the numerous businesses that are shifting gears to cater to the growing demand f...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - trents replied to Dhruv's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      Confused with test results

    2. - Dhruv replied to Dhruv's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      Confused with test results

    3. - trents replied to Dhruv's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      Confused with test results

    4. - knitty kitty replied to Mary Em's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      9

      Passing out

    5. - Dhruv replied to Dhruv's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      Confused with test results


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      125,751
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Xinlu
    Newest Member
    Xinlu
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.8k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Who's Online (See full list)


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • mswhis
    • Dhruv
      17
    • Sking
    • jmiller93
      8
    • MomofGF
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...