The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have announced a grant to help local authorities enforce new food labelling laws.

Businesses already had to ensure foods pre-packaged off site showed a full ingredients list, with major allergens highlighted. The new law, known as Natasha’s Law, which came into force in October 2021, means food packed on site must also meets the same standards.

For local authorities, this means an increased workload of inspecting businesses to ensure they’re meeting the new requirements.

Defra and the FSA will pay for these extra costs until 31 March 2023. Their calculations have been based on the assumption that businesses selling pre-packaged foods will be inspected once every two years. The total value of the grant is £1,529,855.

To find out more and to see a full list of local authorities set to receive the grant, see the government website.

 

 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has updated its guidance on which oils may be used as a substitute for sunflower oil, in light of the continuing supply issues caused by the conflict in Ukraine.

The FSA previously advised that fully refined rapeseed oil, fully refined palm oil, fully refined coconut oil and fully refined soybean oil could be used as a substitute. The FSA has now added fully refined corn (maize) oil to this list.

These oils can replace sunflower oil as a temporary measure. Businesses have been asked to inform consumers using posters and website information if they have not had time to update ingredients labels.

All the substitute oils are fully refined. In most cases it is the protein in a food item that will cause an allergic reaction, and the process of refining and oil removes this protein. For more information on vegetable oils, see our knowledgebase article. If you have any concerns about the new guidance, please call our helpline on 01252 542029.

To see the full guidance from the FSA, click here.

New research investigating the emotional impact of living with a peanut allergy has empathised the importance of exploring potential treatments.

The study entitled Exploring Health-Related Quality of Life Burden in Peanut Allergy and the Potential Benefit of Oral Immunotherapy: Estimation of Health State Utility Values for Children and Adolescents and Their Caregivers highlighted the detrimental impact living with a peanut allergy can have on both the person with the allergy and their parent or caregiver. Data collected from over 150 families showed that the fear of life-threatening reactions can have a negative impact on a child’s health-related quality of life, including their mental and physical wellbeing. Peanut avoidance can cause emotional issues such as anxiety and stress, feelings of frustration and isolation, and experiencing restrictions on activities, including socialising, and travelling.

People diagnosed with peanut allergy are advised to avoid their allergen, but even with strict avoidance, accidental exposure can occur. The study developed by the Anaphylaxis Campaign, Aimmune Therapeutics, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Acaster Lloyd Consulting LTD, not only showed the burden that peanut allergy creates but also how treatments such as oral immunotherapy (OIT) can alleviate these concerns. OIT works by desensitising the patient to their allergen by giving them small quantities of that food overtime.

You can read the full article here.

The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations are almost upon us! With an estimated 16,000 street parties planned across the country, if you have allergies, it’s important to think ahead. See below for our top tips on staying safe and making sure nothing gets in the way of you and your guests/customers having a fantastic Jubilee weekend.

Food allergies

Remember that most street parties are not hosted by registered food businesses and, whilst organisers are encouraged to provide allergen information, it’s not a legal requirement.

Follow our top tips for staying safe with food allergies:

• Make sure you have your medication with you, that it’s in date and that you know how to use it.
• Ask about ingredients, how the food is prepared and whether cross-contamination with your allergens is likely. Speak clearly, factually, politely and calmly.
• If the risks seem high because you cannot find out ingredients, or you suspect the food has been prepared with or near your allergens, don’t eat it.
• Bring some pre-packed safe food from home as a backup if needed.
• Always tell someone you’re with if you think you’re having a reaction.
• Treat your reaction according to your emergency care plan and dial 999, or get a friend to do so.
• If you feel at all faint or dizzy, lie down on the floor, ideally with your knees up on a chair. Don’t stand up suddenly.

If you purchase food from a registered food business, for example a catering truck, allergen food information regulations apply – see our guide to eating out for more details and tips.

If you’re hosting a party and would like more information, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published a handy guide here: ‘How to safely host a street party’. The FSA recommends that you provide as much information about allergens as possible.
‘The more information you can provide about the ingredients in the food you serve the better. This will allow everyone to make safe choices when choosing food to eat, particularly those with specific food allergies. There are resources available if you wish to display?allergen guidance.’

Natural rubber latex allergy

If you have an allergy to natural rubber latex, it is important that you avoid enclosed spaces that might have latex balloons on display.

Latex allergens may become airborne and inhaled, which can mean party balloons are a real concern for people living with natural rubber latex allergy.

• Check in advance with party organisers to find out if they’re planning to have latex balloons.
• Ask if foil balloons could be used instead or alternative decorations.
• Share our Latex Allergy Factsheet with party organisers to raise awareness.

For more information see our Latex Allergy Factsheet.

The Food Standards Agency has released the below statement following its investigation into peanut contamination in soya lecithin:

“In response to a small number of concerns raised by people with peanut allergy relating to contaminated soya lecithin, the Food Standards Agency is advising that there is currently no evidence of unsafe food having been placed on the market.

“The FSA has been urgently working with businesses and local authorities to investigate the issue and is reassured that evidence provided by industry to date suggests that the incident has been controlled.

“Food Standards Agency Head of Incidents, Tina Potter, said:

“‘Following FSA and Food Standards Scotland guidance, retailers acted quickly and responsibly to carry out their own food safety risk assessments and hold products until they could be sure they were safe.

“‘All the information we have so far received from businesses indicates that no unsafe food has been placed on the market, and we have received no reports of allergic reactions linked to this issue.

“‘We will continue to work closely with key partners and industry to establish a clearer picture and will provide further updates should there be any change to our understanding.

“‘My advice to those with peanut allergy is to continue to closely follow precautionary allergen labelling on products as you normally would and sign up to our allergy alerts so you can be notified in the event that any product recalls are later undertaken.’

“It is important that those with peanut allergy take extra care to avoid consuming products labelled with precautionary warnings that they may contain peanut, or may contain nuts, while further investigations are carried out.”

We are saddened to learn of the tragic death of Ingrid Dale, aged 67, who sadly died on 9^th May 2022. We would like to offer our deepest sympathies to her family at this difficult time.

Ingrid is reported to have suffered an allergic reaction when she was stung by a wasp at a restaurant near Benidorm, Spain. She was attended by paramedics who performed CPR but they were unable to revive her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign advises:

For a small minority of people, an allergy to the venom in a bee or wasp sting can cause a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. If you experience anaphylaxis to a bee or wasp sting, it’s important that you are taken to hospital and afterwards visit your GP as soon as possible to discuss treatment options.

In the UK, venom anaphylaxis is the second most frequent cause of anaphylaxis outside medical settings and more people are allergic to wasps than bees.

If you are at risk of insect venom anaphylaxis and would like more information and support please call our national helpline on 01252 542029 or contact info@anaphylaxis.org.uk.

Please also see our factsheet on Insect Venom Allergy here