Food allergy awareness week 2021

Epinepherine Auto-Injectors are used for self-administration of adrenaline for the emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)

The FSA estimates that there are between 5 and 15 fatalities every year in the UK associated with food allergies and anaphylaxis. In 2016, a Coroner reported allergy labelling as inadequate when 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse went into cardiac arrest and tragically died on a flight after buying a sandwich at Heathrow Airport with packaging which failed to disclose sesame seeds were baked into the bread.

As a result of the lobbying undertaken by Natasha’s family the UK Food Information Amendment 2019, also known as Natasha’s Law comes into effect from 1 October 2021. The law requires any premises which sell foods to label the full list of ingredients, with allergenic ingredients highlighted on all packaging.

If you have a food intolerance this can be quite problematic. Restaurants are aware of the issues and will normally provide warnings on a menu, however, vigilance and caution are always advised. In 2017, Owen Carey informed Bryon Burger staff of his severe dairy allergy. He asked whether his menu choice contained buttermilk and was told not. This was however incorrect as it did contain buttermilk. He sadly collapsed and died shortly after having eaten some. The Carey family were informed last week that they would not receive damages for their 18-year-old son’s death, which is often the outcome when the deceased does not have dependents.

His family are working to change the law, stating: “It’s simply not good enough to have a policy which relies on verbal communication between the customer and their server, which often takes place in a busy, noisy restaurant where the turnover of staff is high and many of their customers are very young”.

Allergy UK provides translation cards, printed in English on one side and the language of the country you are visiting on the reverse, which features an allergy alert message to ensure that a food order is free from a particular allergen that causes the reaction. There are cards for over 70 different allergens available in 36 languages.

At times of a food allergy striking, it is often necessary to act very quickly. If you think that you have suffered a food allergy due to a food product, either incorrectly labelled, or within a restaurant setting, you may be able to make a claim. Contact Hatch Brenner’s Personal Injury Legal Executive, Simon Bransby via [email protected] or 01603 660811.

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