Travel is often stressful but trying to ensure personal safety for the duration of a flight is downright scary for people with food allergy, a worldwide survey reveals. 

Airlines frequently fall short of expectations, according to respondents who cited confiscation of their own allergy-safe foods, broken promises about seating and demands from staff to sign liability waivers. 

With some 3.5 billion people a year taking to the skies, “a tremendous number” of food allergic patients and caregivers are flying every day, the researchers said. 

The US team analysed 4700 responses to their survey — including 300 from Australians — finding that many people with allergy took steps to make their journey safer such as calling ahead to the airline (67%), bringing antiseptic wipes (82%) and carrying their own adrenaline (94%).