Anaphylaxis Campaign

Supporting people at risk of severe allergies

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Valentine’s day romantic traditions pose deadly threats to lovers with severe allergies

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As the 14th February approaches, love is in the air.

For people living with a severe allergy, this innocent annual celebration can lead to unpleasant and potentially serious consequences with a not so romantic trip in an ambulance to the nearest hospital.

Valentine’s day is a day for love, romance gifts, and activities. Maybe flowers, chocolates, a candlelit dinner, stolen kisses, and embraces, but people with severe allergies still need to stay vigilant and careful.

To ensure cupid’s arrow hits the right spot on Valentine’s Day, please be aware of these potential risks;

  • Relationships:  We advise that you talk to your partner and remind them of your allergies in advance and equally to ask if your partner has any allergies
  • Meals out:  It is important that you make your allergies known to the staff and management of the restaurant and food outlets
  • Takeaway meals: Make sure you always ask about the ingredients and allergens in dishes and double check when the food arrives that it is free from your allergen
  • Kissing:  allergens can remain in the saliva for several hours (2-24 hrs) and brushing teeth before kissing may not get rid of them effectively
  • Condoms: These can pose a real risk to people with latex and, also milk allergies
  • Chocolates:  Nut and milk risk and possibly soya
  • Flowers:  Some individuals may be allergic to pollen commonly found in trees, grasses, and weeds – but also flowers. In individuals with allergy and asthma, inhalation of pollen can trigger asthma symptoms and could bring on an attack
  • Adrenaline auto-injector: ensure you are always carrying two in date AAIs with you
  • Perfumes: Food ingredients, such as oils, can also turn up in non-food products including cosmetics, toiletries, medicines and bath and massage oils.

Lynne Regent, Chief Executive Officer of the Anaphylaxis Campaign said; “Severe, life-threatening allergy is often underestimated or even completely ignored when it comes to annual special occasions.  We want to raise awareness of this issue and, also let severe allergy patients know our tips and advice to enjoy these events safely.”

If you have a severe allergy, be aware of the risks, be careful, but above all enjoy yourself!

We have more information and advice about eating out when you have a food allergy on our website here.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our helpline team at [email protected] or call 01252 542 029.

Companies that produce food for vegans are facing an interesting allergy-related dilemma

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The question arises where a product made for vegans is made on a line on which non-vegan foods are also produced – products that contain ingredients such as milk, egg or fish.

The problem here is that adding an allergy warning – ‘may contain’ milk, egg or fish – could deter many vegans from buying such products. But if there is no warning, then people with allergies could be placed at risk. There is no point in arguing that people with very severe food allergies will be well-informed enough about cross-contamination issues to be suspicious of vegan products. Not all people with allergies have that degree of understanding.

However difficult the problem is for producers of vegan foods, it is our view that ‘may contain’ statements must always be present whenever there is a genuine risk of allergen cross-contact. This may annoy both vegans and people with food allergies. The latter will probably conclude that the companies concerned are just ‘covering their backs’.

On its website, the Vegan Society makes it clear it is not against foods labelled as vegan also carrying a ‘may contain’ warning about animal allergens. To encourage manufacturers to give a serious commitment to avoiding cross-contamination with animal ingredients, the Vegan Trademark licence agreement asks companies to confirm that they strive to minimise cross-contamination from animal substances used in non-vegan products as far as is reasonably practicable.

As everyone in the industry knows, precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) is not a legal requirement but is necessary where any product poses a real risk. It is our view that a thorough risk assessment should be undertaken before any decision about PAL is made. The problem here, of course, is that food industry regulators have not yet provided clarity on thresholds (that is, the amount of allergen below which the risk of an allergic reaction is negligible). Although scientists have reached clear conclusions on the thresholds for certain individual foods, the industry has not yet received guidance on action levels they need to use to keep cross-contact below those levels and avoid the need for PAL.

The issue is a matter for the regulatory authorities to attend to. The thresholds proposed need to be reviewed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the FSA in the UK before they can be adopted into official guidance. Stakeholders are actively working to ensure that the European Commission gives this matter a high priority.

For now, we advise that companies producing food for vegans should bite the bullet and realise that PAL is necessary where food products pose a genuine risk.

 

Links

FSA guidance on allergen management and consumer information: www.reading.ac.uk/foodlaw/label/allergens-maycontain-2006.pdf

Food and Drink Europe guidance on food allergen management: https://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/uploads/publications_documents/Guidance_on_Food_Allergen_Management.pdf

CIEH/TiFSiP white paper on improving the use of ‘may contain’ allergen statements: https://www.cieh.org/media/1234/lmproving-the-use-of-may-contain-allergen-statements.pdf

Vegan Society statements on allergens: https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/allergen-labelling-0

 

New research reveals challenges facing young people with food allergies and intolerances

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Survey shows over half of young people with a food allergy or intolerance have avoided eating out in the last six months due to their condition.

The results are from a bespoke survey, released by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), in partnership with Allergy UK and the Anaphylaxis Campaign, on the views of young people living with food allergies and intolerances. The survey also revealed that while 67% of respondents reported being aware of the legal requirement of food businesses to provide information on the top 14 allergens, only 14% felt extremely confident asking for allergen information when dining out and 14% reported feeling not at all confident.

The FSA, working with Allergy UK (AUK) and Anaphylaxis Campaign (AC), has launched easy to ASK, a campaign designed to empower young people to ask food businesses about allergens when eating out, so that they can make safe choices. The campaign follows several allergy-related deaths among young people – data shows that children and young adults are disproportionately more prone to die from an allergic reaction than adults.

‘We are delighted to be working with the Food Standards Agency on the Ask the Question project. It is unfortunate that most serious allergy related instances and even deaths happen when young people are eating out, or buying takeaway food. We have communicated extensively with young allergy sufferers to make sure they take responsibility for their condition when eating out, but it is also vital that foodservice establishments take the initiative to help prevent tragic accidents. Ask the Question is a timely development which will provide important materials for foodservice staff and will give allergic consumers more confidence when they go out to eat. We are happy to provide access to our extensive range of information resources to any food business that needs further help and advice.’ Chief Executive, Lynne Regent.

Easy to ASK is also a reminder to businesses to be up front about the provision of accurate allergen information, particularly with this vulnerable group. Asking a customer if they have food allergies could save a life. The campaign includes the simple mnemonic:

  • Always ask about allergies
  • Speak up
  • Keep safe

Research reveals worrying challenges

When meeting new people, 5% of respondents with a food allergy and 11% with a food intolerance reported not telling anyone about their condition at all, potentially risking allergic reactions or fatal consequences. When asked why, some respondents said they felt embarrassed and some said that their condition was too complicated to explain.

Other findings include:

  • 59% reported they tend to visit the same places when eating out
  • 55% reported always researched the menu online before going to a new or unfamiliar place
  • only 9% reported always contacting a restaurant in advance to check they provide allergen information

Food businesses step up

Commenting on the easy to ASK campaign, FSA Chairman Heather Hancock, said:
“We’ve seen real progress in how food businesses approach customers with allergies. However, 60% of the young people surveyed tell us they’ve avoided eating out in the past six months because of their condition.

“Living with a food allergy or intolerance is not easy and can have fatal consequences. Many in this age group will be students starting out at university or college, in new surroundings and with new friends. It’s crucial that they feel confident to speak up and ask for allergen information, and that the people around them make that easier.

“Food businesses have an important part to play in making this age group feel more at ease. They are required always to provide accurate allergen information. Through our easy to ASK campaign, we’re raising awareness and understanding to boost the confidence of young people, and we’re encouraging food businesses to make it easier for everyone to ask the question, speak up and help keep those at risk safe.”

Speaking for the Anaphylaxis Campaign, Lynne Regent, CEO, commented:
“We are delighted to be working with the Food Standards Agency on the easy to ASK campaign. It is unfortunate that most serious allergy related instances and even deaths happen when young people are eating out, or buying takeaway food.

“We have communicated extensively with young people with an allergy to make sure they take responsibility for their condition when eating out, but it is also vital that foodservice establishments take the initiative to help prevent tragic accidents.

“The easy to ASK campaign is a timely development which will provide important materials for foodservice staff and will give allergic consumers more confidence when they go out to eat. We are happy to provide access to our extensive range of information resources to any food business that needs further help and advice.”

Survey report

Young people and food allergies/intolerances was conducted by the Food Standards Agency in partnership with Allergy UK and Anaphylaxis Campaign. The survey is based on responses from 2599 young people aged 16-24 in the UK.

Many respondents skipped some of the questions. Therefore, tables are based on the respondents to the relevant question, rather than all 2599 respondents.

Statement regarding the death of Sadie Bristow

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The Anaphylaxis Campaign is saddened to learn of the death of talented young tennis player Sadie Bristow, a 9-year-old from Canterbury, following a tragic accident in August this year as a result of a severe allergic reaction. Sadie Bristow was known to have a milk allergy and nut allergy and have asthma and eczema.

Our general advice on managing a severe allergy is:

Carrying your medication

If you have been prescribed treatments for your allergy — such as injectable adrenaline — the golden rule is, carry it everywhere at all times, with no exceptions. It’s important to make sure others are aware of what to do when a reaction occurs, such as relatives and close friends.

Asthma control

If you have asthma as well as allergies, your asthma should be well controlled. Poorly-controlled asthma will raise the chances of any allergic reaction being severe. If your asthma needs more treatment than usual, you should take extreme care to avoid those foods or substances that might cause a reaction. You will also need to discuss your asthma with your GP.

If you suspect a reaction is serious or becoming serious, use your injector immediately, any delay could be extremely serious. Dial 999 or get someone else to do it. Immediately after your adrenaline has been administered, you will need to get to hospital because the symptoms can return and you may need further treatment.

Symptoms to look out for:

Children may appear weak and ‘floppy’. Swollen lips and/or eyes, itchy skin or a rash like hives, wheezing and finding it hard to breathe or speak, feeling faint, dizzy or confused, vomiting or having diarrhoea are just some of the symptoms of severe allergy and need immediate action. This is by no means a full list of symptoms, so always speak to your doctor about what you should watch out for.

Sometimes there are other factors that on the day can increase the severity of your reaction. These are called co-factors and these can include exercise, feeling unwell with a viral illness, alcohol and tablets, such as some painkillers.

For some people with allergies, more serious reactions such as anaphylaxis may only occur if they have eaten a specific food, or taken the medication to which they are allergic, then they exercise. People with asthma and allergies are known to be more at risk of severe reactions than those without.

Lynne Regent, Chief Executive of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, said:

“We are deeply saddened to learn about the death of Sadie Bristow as a result of this tragic incident. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sadie’s family and friends at this difficult time. Sadly, we also know teenagers and young people are a particular at risk group.

“We continue to highlight our advice for all people living with allergies or intolerances to always carry two adrenaline auto-injectors if prescribed, ensure that you have well managed asthma and for people with food allergies, they must read the ingredient list every time they buy a product, even if they have bought it before.

“We would welcome anyone with an interest in managing allergies to become a member of the Anaphylaxis Campaign to receive information, advice as well as our personalised alerts, factsheets and our online courses.”

 

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our helpline team at [email protected] or call 01252 542 029.

For further information, please contact our press office via [email protected] or call 01252 893 862.