A young traveller with a medical gluten condition says a simple meal mistake on a long-haul flight left her seriously unwell and shaken.
Chloë Chapdelaine, who has coeliac disease, requested a gluten-free meal while flying from Dubai to Los Angeles. Although the tray was labelled gluten-free, one item was not. After eating part of the pastry, she checked with cabin crew and was told it contained gluten.
Because her condition reacts strongly even to small amounts, Chloë became ill soon after. She spent much of the 15-hour flight suffering stomach pain, nausea, and extreme discomfort, making the journey very distressing.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition in which gluten damages the small intestine. According to NHS, about one in 100 people are affected and must follow a strict gluten-free diet to stay well.
Chloë says this was not the first time a special meal request had gone wrong while flying. She believes airlines need to take food intolerances more seriously, as small mistakes can lead to serious health problems for passengers.