“We were told it was safe”: a family’s call for better allergy care for young adults  

Saavan and his family have been navigating life with serious food allergies since early childhood. While they have worked tirelessly to manage his condition, inconsistent access to specialist care and limited treatment options have created significant challenges along the way.

As members of our Lived Experience Expert Group (LEEG), Saavan and his mother share their story — highlighting the realities of living with serious allergies and the urgent changes needed to better support others like them. 

Saavan’s experience 

Saavan was just a toddler when he was diagnosed with multiple severe allergies. He was anaphylactic to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, dairy, egg, wheat, and certain beans and lentils. Although he outgrew some of these over time, his allergies to milk, peanuts, and sesame remain life-threatening.  

Growing up in London, Saavan received good care from a specialist allergy clinic. His condition was closely monitored, and as a family, we felt supported. We also came to understand how fortunate we were—many others across the UK do not have access to the same level of care.  

But as Saavan became a young adult, managing his allergies became significantly more difficult.  

Despite carefully checking ingredients and communicating his needs, he suffered multiple severe anaphylactic reactions while eating out—after being assured the food was safe. Each time, the meals contained the very allergens he had been told were absent.  

These incidents were terrifying.  

His reactions would begin with hives, quickly spreading across his body. His skin would turn red, followed by severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and wheezing. In those moments, we had no choice but to act fast—administering an adrenaline auto-injector, calling an ambulance, and rushing him to hospital, where he required further treatment and monitoring.  

Only once the symptoms subsided could we begin to breathe again.  

At the time, oral immunotherapy (OIT) trials were underway in the UK. However, Saavan was not eligible —he was either too old or excluded due to having multiple allergies.  

As parents, we were deeply worried about his future. Eating out, travelling, or simply relying on others to prepare food carried constant risk. We knew something had to change.  

Eighteen months ago, we made the decision to travel to the United States to access OIT treatment. The process involves introducing tiny amounts of allergens and gradually increasing the dose over time. What began as diluted microscopic quantities of powder has progressed to real foods.  

Today, Saavan eats two peanuts a day—something that would once have been unthinkable. He also consumes small amounts of sesame and milk as part of his treatment. As a child, even airborne exposure to peanuts could trigger a reaction. Now, he is building tolerance.  

We hope this will significantly reduce the risk of life-threatening reactions in the future.  

While OIT is now available to some children in the UK, access for young adults remains limited—particularly for those with multiple allergies. This gap leaves many at continued risk.  

Too often, we read tragic stories of young people losing their lives after unknowingly consuming allergens.  

More must be done.  

Young adults with severe allergies need better access to specialist care, more treatment options, and greater protection.  

A coordinated National Allergy Strategy could help reduce health inequalities, prevent harm and ultimately save lives. 

The National Allergy Strategy

In two weeks, the UK’s first National Allergy Strategy will launch in Westminster, led by the National Allergy Strategy Group — bringing together professional bodies and charities, including Anaphylaxis UK.

Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing real experiences from across the allergy community — all pointing to one clear need: a coordinated National Allergy Strategy to prevent harm and save lives.

United, we can tackle allergy.

#NationalAllergyStrategy