Food Allergies Can Kill!
Some people experience allergic reactions to foods that are harmless for other people. These food allergies are abnormal reactions to foods such as nuts or shellfish.
Severe Allergy Reactions
In some cases food allergies can cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis (pronounced 'anna-fill-axis'). Anaphylaxis affects the whole body, often within minutes of eating the food. Peanuts and tree nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts and pistachios), shellfish and sesame seeds are among the most common foods to cause life-threatening reactions. Minute (trace) amounts of these foods can cause allergic reactions to develop. Symptoms can include swelling of the throat and mouth, difficulty in breathing, collapse and unconsciousness. Research suggest that as many as 1 in 200 people could develop severe reactions to peanuts/tree nuts.
Most people who suffer from serve food allergies know about the foods that they need to avoid. But they need help from others-
to ensure that they are aware of the content (ingredients) of the foods that they consume.
Legal Requirement
The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 place a continuous responsibility upon food business proprietors to identify hazards in their food business and operate adequate safety measures to protect consumers (a process of Hazard Analysis).
A food hazard is described by these regulations as anything that has the potential to cause harm to the consumer. Food allergens (e.g. peanuts) can cause a significant hazard to as many as 1 in 200 people.
The Tandridge Approach
Having recognised the potential risk to some consumers, the Council's Environmental Health Officers now include food allergens potential to cause harm as part of their inspection procedures of a food business. The Officers provide information and advice to the businesses with regard to the risk posed to food allergy sufferers and the steps that can be taken to avoid any potential life-threatening incidents.
The Responsible Retailer Allergy Awareness Scheme
This is a cross-departmental partnership involving Tandridge Environmental Health Department, Surrey County Council Trading Standards, The Anaphylaxis Campaign, The British Allergy Foundation and other Environmental Health Departments within Surrey.
The scheme aims to enhance trader knowledge about food allergies and encourages businesses to follow a Code of Practice. This covers such matters as compliance with food safety and trading standard laws, undertaking the voluntary labelling of foods that contain harmful allergens and the recognition of consumer rights.
Food Standards Agency Allergy Text Service
The Food Standards Agency launched a free Allergy SMS Text Message Service on 21 March 2007. This TEXT system will alert people with a food allergy, who have signed up to the service, with an immediate notification that a product may be of risk to them.
This service has been devised in response to the number of product withdrawals and recalls the Agency manages. On average, the Agency issues advice relevant to people with allergies once a week. Each year, there are between five and 15 fatalities associated with food allergies.
Subscribers to the service will receive fast, accurate information as soon as it becomes available highlighting the allergen, the product and where to obtain further details. This supplements information that is routinely published on this website and through email updates.
To sign up to this free service, simply send the text message 'START ALLERGY' to 62372. Texting 'STOP ALLERGY' unsubscribes you. The initial text will be charged at your network provider's rate.
Useful Links:
The Anaphylaxis Campaign -www.anaphylaxis.org.uk
The British Allergy Foundation -www.allergyfoundation.com
Food Intolerance Eat Well
The Food Standards Agency -www.foodstandards.gov.uk
Surrey County Council Trading Standards - www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/surrey
