Travelers With Food Allergies Gain New Legal Backing From U.S. Government

A Department of Transportation (DOT) ruling issued in May has strengthened the rights that air passengers with food allergies have when boarding an aircraft. It also means that some U.S. airlines may have to change their policies to avoid noncompliance. The case in question was a complaint made by the parent of a seven-year-old girl who was denied early boarding on an American Airlines flight in September 2016. The gate agent's refusal meant the parent was not able to wipe down the child's seat area to avoid exposure to peanuts and tree nuts, a common step that allergy sufferers take to mitigate the risk of exposure when boarding an aircraft. The Departmen