“Taking the food intolerance test has helped me to feel informed, reassured and confident in my diet choices.”
31-year-old Alice Fenner, a Global Communications Consultant, had been struggling with her health since 2021. She was experiencing frequent tummy upsets, skin outbreaks and lethargy, and had a strong suspicion that food sensitivities might be playing a part. Her digestion felt unpredictable and, over time, her confidence began to take a hit.
Day-to-day life became increasingly affected. Alice often felt bloated and uncomfortable, to the point where it even influenced what she wore. She went through periods where she was nervous about going out for meals, worried that something in her food would trigger a reaction. Eating out became something she tended to avoid unless she knew she could go straight home afterwards, and long days out felt risky because of how unsettled her stomach could be.
Alice first heard about YorkTest through her workplace benefits, which gave her the opportunity to take a test at a reduced rate and spread the cost over monthly salary deductions. Having already tried cutting out suspect ingredients herself and consulting her GP about possible lactose intolerance, she was ready for clearer answers. A food diary had already suggested that dairy was an issue, but she wanted a fuller picture of what might be going on.
The YorkTest results confirmed she did indeed react to dairy, and also highlighted other sensitivities, including soy and oat. Having this information in black and white was reassuring. For a period, Alice removed her trigger foods and noticed that dairy in particular was easier to avoid because it clearly caused the strongest reaction. However, cutting out all of her trigger foods at once left her feeling quite restricted, so she chose a more balanced, pragmatic approach rather than a strict long-term elimination.
Even so, the knowledge has been powerful. Alice now feels more confident going out for food and making informed choices. Where eating out once felt like guesswork and a gamble, she can now plan ahead, read menus with more awareness and make intentional swaps to minimise symptoms. When she does eat her trigger foods, she knows what to expect: bloating, tummy ache and sometimes an upset stomach, and she suspects her skin flare-ups are part of that reaction too.
The nutritional consultation was a positive part of the process. Alice found speaking with the nutritionist genuinely interesting and felt she learnt practical tips and lifestyle adjustments that could help. She also appreciated the Customer Care Team, who were friendly, proactive and offered to connect her with further support after her results.
While she says her life hasn’t changed beyond recognition, Alice now feels informed, reassured and validated. Knowing that her symptoms are linked to real intolerances – and not “just in her head” – has given her extra confidence around food and helped her take more control of her wellbeing.
