Anaphylaxis Campaign

Supporting people at risk of severe allergies

DonateEMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS

Covid-19 Vaccinations and Allergies

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Numerous clinical trials are now completing with early data that demonstrate that various Covid-19 vaccines are both safe and effective.

The MHRA has now approved the Pfizer/BioNTec Covid-19 vaccine. This vaccine was trialled in 43,538 adult participants with 42% having diverse backgrounds and no serious safety concerns were reported. Safety and additional efficacy data continue to be collected. With so many participants having taken part in this trial it is reassuring that there were no early allergy concerns reported.

None of the early Covid-19 vaccine candidates for use in the UK (such products may be under investigation in other Countries) are attenuated (live) vaccines and hence are unlikely to require egg proteins in the vaccine product. However, even if egg were to be required as a constituent, we know from other live vaccines such as influenza and MMR vaccines that these products are safe for those with egg allergy (the only contraindication being for those with a history of severe egg-induced anaphylaxis requiring intensive care, as no data was collected for such patients).

Egg allergy is outgrown in the first decade of life in the majority of patients, hence the greatest burden of egg allergy is borne by younger children. It is yet to be decided when Covid-19 vaccination will be offered to all children as children and young people have a very low risk of Covid-19, severe disease or death due to the virus compared to adults. Covid-19 vaccine trials have only just begun in children so it may be some time before data for children is available, but safety concerns relating to egg are not anticipated as the products are unlikely to require egg protein as a constituent.

This is obviously a fast moving scientific area and there are over 100 vaccine candidates under research so if there are specific allergy concerns related to Covid-19 vaccines please assess the following resources for more detailed information:
• GreenBook
• WHO
• NHS
• Cambridge University Vaccine Website

UPDATE 03/12/20

Information for patients and Information for Healthcare Professionals has now been released for Covid-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 which was authorised for temporary supply by the MHRA on 2/12/20. This information includes a full list of vaccine ingredients and materials in the pack contents. If you have any queries about your allergies and vaccination you can call our Helpline 9am-5pm on 01252 542029.

Statement regarding the inquest of Muhammed Musa Akbar

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Derby Coroner’s Court has ended the inquest into the death of Muhammed Musa Akbar, (known as Musa) a 12-year-old boy who died on 15 January 2019 after suffering a suspected severe allergic reaction whilst at a football birthday party at Powerleague in Derby.

The court was told Musa had a history of asthma and a number of food allergies including to chickpeas and legumes but had eaten similar food before with no issues. The inquest found that no blame could be attributed to Powerleague or the takeaway who provided food for the party as it was not possible to identify the food that triggered the reaction, and neither business had been notified of Musa’s allergies.

The inquest found that the medical and nursing staff who treated Musa in hospital had done everything they could to save him but he tragically died three days later in hospital. This was found to be as a result of brain oxygen starvation caused by cardiac arrest, which was in turn caused by anaphylaxis.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Muhammed.

There will not be a Prevention of Future Deaths report.

The role of the coroner and purpose of an inquest

We wish to make it clear that the Anaphylaxis Campaign are not legal experts.

A coroner is appointed by a local authority and investigates deaths reported to them to find out who has died and how, when, and where they died. An inquest is a public court hearing held by the coroner to discover the facts about the circumstances of someone’s death. There are a very limited number of specific legal terms used to record cause of death. The coroner decides who should be called to give evidence as a witness. If a witness lives in England or Wales, they must attend if they are asked; if they live abroad, they do not have to attend.

An inquest is different from other types of court hearing because there is no prosecution or defence. The purpose of an inquest is to establish the relevant facts and cannot blame someone for someone’s death. The coroner or jury cannot find a person or organisation criminally responsible for someone’s death. For legal reasons, therefore, we cannot comment on certain aspects of any inquest. The Ministry of Justice has produced a booklet called a ‘Guide to Coroner Services’ and if you are interested in the coronial process, you may find it helpful to read: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-coroner-services-and-coroner-investigations-a-short-guide.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign would like to reinforce the following advice;

In an emergency call 999, ask for an ambulance and say anaphylaxis (pronounced as ‘anna-fill-axis’). For more information on what to do in an emergency, please visit our What to do in an Emergency page.

Our online e-learning courses for individuals, families and schools are available free and are the easiest way to learn about anaphylaxis, the risks of severe allergies and how to manage them. Find out more here.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Helpline on 01252 542029 or email [email protected]

LOVE ISLAND’s Jack Fowler joins ‘Break the Stigma’ campaign to empower young people with life-threatening allergies

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The May Contain Break the Stigma campaign empowers young people to speak up about their allergies and feel confident addressing them throughout their lives. The campaign features inspiring allergy advocates from TV, theatre, sport, and news.

LINK TO THE HERO IMAGES – https://we.tl/t-ttjNFzbFly

Daniel Kelly, 27, founded May Contain, an allergy awareness and lifestyle platform, in 2018, and wanted to create a campaign to highlight the problems people face when diagnosed with an allergy:

“I have lived with a severe nut allergy since the age of five, I understand first hand how getting diagnosed with an allergy can change your life. It can be really scary speaking up about your allergy when you meet new people and friends, but overtime I now feel much more confident speaking up about it in restaurants”

A 2018 study from The Food Standards Agency showed that only 56% of young people with a food allergy reported telling others when eating out.

Love Island star and TV personality Jack Fowler who lives with a severe nut allergy knows first hand about the importance of speaking up, having experienced anaphylaxis in the past:

“It is important for young people to talk about their allergies because a lot of them feel embarrassed, especially going through different stages of life like University and mixing with different and new people.”

“It was important for me to get involved in this campaign because I’m someone who has an allergy and it’s difficult at times, but I found it more easier the more I spoke about it and found out that a lot more people have allergies just like me.

Jack shared a picture of himself in hospital due to anaphylaxis shock back in October 2018.

“When I put the picture up of myself in hospital after my anaphylaxis reaction, I got a lot of feedback and I was kind of surprised. I didn’t expect so many people to be able to relate to me and maybe that’s because there are not enough people talk about it. It was massively important to tell everyone about it so more people could speak up about their own experiences.”

The Break the Stigma campaign also features advocates who are currently navigating childhood and teenage years with allergies too.

Callum Newman, 9, lives with 28 different allergies including nuts, dairy and shellfish but won’t let them hold him back and wants other children to feel as confident as he is, he said:

“I’ve had lots of allergies ever since I was little, 28 in total, which is a lot, but I don’t let them stop me from doing things like football, playing with friends, eating out (when we’re allowed to)! It’s important that I can still do everything my friends do, I just make sure I take my medipack that has my EpiPens, antihistamine and inhaler with me everywhere and ask lots of questions so I stay
safe!”

Daniel is using his platform May Contain and his role as Youth Ambassador for the Anaphylaxis Campaign to educate and empower the many young people around the world living with allergies, but to instill in them a confidence that they are not defined by it. They are more. They can break the stigma.

Lynne Regent, CEO of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, said: “Dan Kelly has been involved with the Anaphylaxis Campaign since his childhood and continues to be an inspiring influence for young people affected by severe allergy. We proudly welcomed Dan as our Youth Ambassador earlier this year to help us respond to the increasing demand for support for young people who are most at risk of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition. We support Dan’s new campaign #BreakTheStigma and hope it will help open up the conversation on allergy.”

Wellingborough and Chester restaurants fined after customers suffer severe allergic reactions

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In two unrelated incidents, two restaurant owners have received substantial court fines this month, following successful prosecutions after their customers suffered severe allergic reactions as a result of being served their allergens in error.

In Wellingborough, a woman had called the Akash Tandoori last June to order a takeaway for her family, including her 19-year-old daughter who has a nut allergy. The woman was assured that the meal she ordered did not contain nuts, however, her daughter suffered a severe reaction 30 minutes after eating it and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

An investigation by Northampton County Council Trading Standards found that a test meal later purchased and ordered nut-free, actually contained 2,000mg of peanut protein.

Restaurant owner Mohammed Uddin, 50, was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and will also have to complete 40 hours of community service. The restaurant was also fined £10,000.

In Chester, a customer with a sesame allergy had ordered an afternoon tea from Oddfellows bar in March 2019 after having made the venue aware of the allergy. The customer was served a sandwich containing sesame and suffered a severe allergic reaction resulting in a trip to hospital for emergency treatment.

The junior chef who had prepared the food had not understood that hummus contains sesame, despite having received allergy training. Food businesses in the UK have a legal duty to provide allergen information about any of the 14 major allergens when they are used as ingredients in the food and drink they provide.

Oddfellows pleaded guilty to the food safety offence and were fined £2000 and ordered to pay £500 compensation, a £170 victim surcharge, and a cost of £1704.

For more information on food information regulations see our Guidance on Food Regulation or download our Protecting Allergic Consumers guide.

For Allergy Awareness Training go to www.allerywise.org.uk

DBV Technologies announces filing and validation of marketing authorization application for Viaskin™ Peanut by European Medicines Agency

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DBV Technologies, a biopharmaceutical company and Corporate Member of the Campaign, announced on November 5 that its product Viaskin™ Peanut (DBV712) has been validated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The validation confirms that the submission is sufficiently complete to begin the formal review process for the investigational non-invasive, once-daily epicutaneous patch to treat peanut allergies in children ages 4 to 11 years.

To read the full press release, please go here

#FOODSENSITIVE impact study

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Please take part in the survey on the impact of food hypersensitivity, led by Dr Rebecca Knibb at Aston University in collaboration with Universities of Surrey, Manchester and Newcastle, Allergy Action, Guys and St Thomas and Birmingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts.  The study is funded by the Food Standards Agency.

If you or your child has food allergy, food intolerance or coeliac disease we would like you to complete some questionnaires about how it affects your quality of life and has an impact on day-to-day life.  We are looking for adults, parents of children aged 0-17 years and young people aged 8-17 years to take part.

To take part in the study, please use the following links

 

All of our #FOODSENSITIVE impact study surveys are also available in Welsh. 

 

2020/2021 Influenza vaccine recommendations for children with egg allergy and/or asthma

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The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI ) has today issued guidance on the administration of the flu vaccine for children with egg allergy. The nasal influenza vaccine (Fluenz Tetra, also known as Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV).

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that children with egg allergy can safely be vaccinated with Fluenz Tetra in any setting (including primary care and schools). This includes children with previous anaphylaxis to egg. The only exception is for children who have previously had anaphylaxis to egg so severe that they required ventilation on an intensive care unit as a result.

To read the full article please click here

Isolated university students with allergies at increased risk

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The Anaphylaxis Campaign is urging universities to take allergies seriously after reports of a student receiving unsafe food while in lockdown.

Research already suggests that 16 to 25-year olds are at the highest risk of having a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis. Living with a severe allergy can impact all areas of life and a lack of understanding from others can leave young people feeling isolated.

Going to university during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a daunting time for many students, but lockdown measures at some UK universities are making managing allergies even more challenging. Thousands of students have been told they must stay in their halls of residence, often with very little notice, leaving them reliant on the university to deliver food parcels.

Raising awareness

The Anaphylaxis Campaign has developed a suite of resources to help students manage the transition to university and to increase allergy awareness amongst university staff and other students. These resources were sent to all university student unions and wellbeing centres at the beginning of the semester. Now with many allergic students confined to lockdown and dependent on food deliveries it is vital that these resources are used effectively to help all parties understand their roles and responsibilities.

The booklet ‘Preparing for and Managing your Allergies at University’ is packed with useful information including top tips to stay safe, questions to ask food providers and an Allergy Action Plan that can be shared with fellow students and staff.

There are posters available on the Anaphylaxis Campaign website that can be printed and displayed in university accommodation and catering facilities. These include life saving tips to use in an emergency as well as questions to ask food providers before eating.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign Youth Ambassador, Dan Kelly, founder of the ‘May Contain’ blog and podcast, has recorded an ‘Allergies at Universities Q&A’ YouTube video packed with helpful hints. Dan has also written ‘Tips for Managing University with an Allergy’.

For universities wishing to implement clear policies and guidance, the University of Cambridge has produced ‘Guidance on the Recognition and Treatment of Individuals at Risk of Anaphylaxis’ document that could be used as a template.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign offers a FREE AllergyWise online training course which includes how to recognise the signs of a severe anaphylactic reaction, what to do in an emergency, how to understand food labels and tips on general allergen avoidance.

Lynne Regent, CEO of Anaphylaxis Campaign said:

“It is really concerning to hear reports of students with allergies in lockdown being given unsafe food. It is vital that university staff understand that severe allergies can be life-threatening and must be taken seriously. We urge all university staff to use our extensive free resources to help them keep allergic students safe during this extremely challenging time.”

If you would like further information and support, please call our national helpline on 01252 542029 or contact [email protected], open between 9am – 5pm Monday-Friday.

Codex adopts new allergen management code of practice for food businesses

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A new code of practice for food business operators to help them manage food allergens in their supply chains has been adopted by the international Codex Alimentarius Commission.

The Codex Alimentarius (Latin for ‘Food Code’) Commission is the standard setting body of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Set up in the early 1960’s, they develop internationally recognised food standards and guidelines to help protect the health of consumers, ensure fair trade and promote co-ordination of standards between different countries.

There is an 8-step process to approve new standards during which all member countries have the opportunity to comment and contribute before the new standard can be adopted at the yearly general meeting.

This year’s meeting was held online for the first time in September, and one of the standards that has reached stage 8 and has now been adopted is the Code of Practice on Food Allergen Management for Food Business Operators.

The code of practice is designed to be used in conjunction with the existing General Principles of Food Hygiene standard and gives further detailed guidance on allergen management throughout the supply chain, from primary production and manufacturing to retail and food service end points.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign participated fully in the consultation process to represent the voice of the allergic consumer.

CEO Lynne Regent commented:

“We are delighted that after the lengthy consultation process, this new code of practice has now been adopted. With ever increasing globalization of the food industry it is so important to have internationally recognised standards to help food businesses proactively manage allergens throughout the supply chain and prevent cross-contamination.”

To find out more about the work of Codex Alimentarius visit:- http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/en/

New investigation highlights allergen risks posed by vending machines

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The trading standards service of Torfaen County Borough Council have released the results of their investigation into the risks posed to consumers with food allergies from drinks purchased from vending machines.

During their investigation between April and September 2020, the service visited ten businesses in the Torfaen area that sell hot drinks dispensed from vending machines.

They found serious failings in the provision of allergen information, and also found cross contamination of milk to products that did not contain milk as an intended ingredient.

The investigation showed that 50% of the businesses they visited were not providing consumers with statutory food allergen information as required by The Food Information Regulations 2014.

Of the businesses that were providing allergen information, investigators found that it was either incorrect, inadequate or difficult to find and, in the case of information that was provided verbally, staff could not confidently confirm the correct allergen status of the products.

The investigating team also submitted drinks purchased from all ten vending machines to a laboratory for analysis. The results showed that two of the drinks that were not supposed to contain milk had detectable levels high enough to cause a reaction in the most severely allergic individuals. Both of the contaminated drinks came from businesses where the only source of allergen information was orally via members of staff.

This report highlights how food and drink that is not pre-packed and is sold from vending machines is failing to meet the legal requirements for allergen information and allergen hygiene.

It is vital that vending machine manufacturers and operators understand their legal responsibility to provide the statutory allergen information to allow consumers to make safe choices. If there is a risk of cross contamination that, despite all best efforts cannot be eliminated, this must be adequately communicated via precautionary allergen information prior to purchase.

Anaphylaxis Campaign CEO Lynne Regent said:

“We commend Torfaen Trading Standards for undertaking this important piece of work and highlighting the potential risks to consumers with allergies from non-prepacked vended products. Allergic consumers need to be on their guard when purchasing from vending machines and if adequate information cannot be provided about allergens, don’t take the risk. Any concerns should be reported to the local trading standards so they can be investigated.”

You can download the full report by clicking here.