Experiences of tourists suffering from food intolerances

The number of people who are affected by a food intolerance has risen dramatically over recent years. Although food plays a central role in tourism experiences, little is known about how food- intolerant people experience eating out during their holiday (away from home). To fill this knowl- edge gap, and following a constructivist grounded theory strategy, nine in-depth interviews with food-intolerant tourists were conducted. The textual data analysis revealed four main themes, which underpin the experiences of tourists with food intolerances: mistrust of food labeling and restaurant personnel, uncertainty, the feeling of being a burden to others, and the perceived lack of empathy in food-intolerant customers. Each one of these four themes are a source of worry and stress to people with food intolerances. Implications for practice are discussed.