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New EU allergy rules could mean life or death for sufferers this Christmas New EU allergy rules could mean life or death this Christmas
(about 7 hours later)
As one of very few children living with a nut and peanut allergy in the 60s, I can remember all too clearly the telltale throat tingle and lumpy lip as a reaction started, often followed by gripping “car sickness” and the onset of frightening wheeziness. Unexpected ingredients in marzipan, stuffing and chocolate box selections were all potential poisons. Most childhood reactions were mild and resolved relatively quickly. However, as a teenager and young adult reactions became more dangerous, leading to very severe breathing difficulties, dizziness and occasionally unconsciousness, and a few days getting over the shock and the impact of medication administered at life-saving speed.As one of very few children living with a nut and peanut allergy in the 60s, I can remember all too clearly the telltale throat tingle and lumpy lip as a reaction started, often followed by gripping “car sickness” and the onset of frightening wheeziness. Unexpected ingredients in marzipan, stuffing and chocolate box selections were all potential poisons. Most childhood reactions were mild and resolved relatively quickly. However, as a teenager and young adult reactions became more dangerous, leading to very severe breathing difficulties, dizziness and occasionally unconsciousness, and a few days getting over the shock and the impact of medication administered at life-saving speed.
This Saturday, an EU regulation comes into force that may be the difference between life and death in this hazardous festive season. Any food outlet supplying, preparing and serving food will have to list information about potential allergenic ingredients. My food allergy may have been rare when I was growing up, but it’s all too common now; about 1-2% of adults and 5-8% of children live with this risk across the UK. The good news is that in spite of this, the number of UK people dying each year from a food allergy has not increased over 20 years – it’s still between seven and 10. The burden of food allergen avoidance is better understood, both for those at risk and those who provide their food. However, there has been a significant increase in severe allergic reactions to foods requiring hospital admission for both adults and children.This Saturday, an EU regulation comes into force that may be the difference between life and death in this hazardous festive season. Any food outlet supplying, preparing and serving food will have to list information about potential allergenic ingredients. My food allergy may have been rare when I was growing up, but it’s all too common now; about 1-2% of adults and 5-8% of children live with this risk across the UK. The good news is that in spite of this, the number of UK people dying each year from a food allergy has not increased over 20 years – it’s still between seven and 10. The burden of food allergen avoidance is better understood, both for those at risk and those who provide their food. However, there has been a significant increase in severe allergic reactions to foods requiring hospital admission for both adults and children.
Talk to any conference organiser, catering manager or chef and they will show you pages of “special dietary requests” – all carefully communicated on behalf of those who are making personal, ethical, religious, medical or other health-related choices to eat or avoid certain foods. Among these are the requests for those of us with the most severe food allergies, food intolerances which may take longer to ground you and even longer to resolve, and coeliac disease, an auto-immune condition that can affect your gut function in the short and medium term, and if not properly managed (by avoiding gluten in the diet) can also lead to serious longer-term health consequences including bowel cancer.Talk to any conference organiser, catering manager or chef and they will show you pages of “special dietary requests” – all carefully communicated on behalf of those who are making personal, ethical, religious, medical or other health-related choices to eat or avoid certain foods. Among these are the requests for those of us with the most severe food allergies, food intolerances which may take longer to ground you and even longer to resolve, and coeliac disease, an auto-immune condition that can affect your gut function in the short and medium term, and if not properly managed (by avoiding gluten in the diet) can also lead to serious longer-term health consequences including bowel cancer.
The EU list of “key allergens” is not a perfect match with the foods causing reactions in the UK. While allergies to peanuts and nuts, milk, egg, fish and shellfish and sesame are common here, far fewer people have to avoid mustard or celery (and celeriac). On the other hand foods such as kiwi, bananas, tomatoes, peas, beans and a range of other legumes are not on the allergen list but represent a risk for a growing number of people.The EU list of “key allergens” is not a perfect match with the foods causing reactions in the UK. While allergies to peanuts and nuts, milk, egg, fish and shellfish and sesame are common here, far fewer people have to avoid mustard or celery (and celeriac). On the other hand foods such as kiwi, bananas, tomatoes, peas, beans and a range of other legumes are not on the allergen list but represent a risk for a growing number of people.
Questions still remain. This law does not include the issue of “may contain” – the perennial challenge of managing cross-contamination from other foods being prepared or served. We might also remember that this is EU legislation. I’m looking forward to seeing its impact for those of us at risk amid the torrone, elk burgers and glühwein at Christmas markets across Europe.Questions still remain. This law does not include the issue of “may contain” – the perennial challenge of managing cross-contamination from other foods being prepared or served. We might also remember that this is EU legislation. I’m looking forward to seeing its impact for those of us at risk amid the torrone, elk burgers and glühwein at Christmas markets across Europe.