Food allergies in the UK

Food allergies have had a lot of coverage in the press recently, with reports of people having severe allergic reactions to ingredients such as nuts, shellfish and sesame.

The increased coverage is down to the number of food allergies rising over the last 30 years. There has been a five-fold in peanut allergies in the UK between 1995 and 2016.[1] This shocking data highlights how serious this issue is.

With an estimated 2 million people living with a diagnosed food allergy in the UK, it’s vital that we spread awareness and try to remember the ABC symptoms:

  • Airway obstruction – hoarseness, swollen tongue, itching, swelling in the tongue.
  • Breathing difficulty – shortness of breath, wheezing, noisy breathing, tiredness, blue colouring around the mouth.
  • Circulation impairment – pale or clammy skin, feeling faint, a rapid or weak pulse.

Other indications of an allergic reaction include confusion, agitation and vomiting.

Spreading awareness can save lives. Our step-by-step guide explains what to do in case of an emergency. Feel free to download it here and stick it around the office.

For more advice on how to help make your workplace a safer place, please get in touch today.

[1] MR, Perkin. (2016). Randomized Trial of Introduction of Allergenic Foods in Breast-Fed Infants. – PubMed – NCBI. [online] NCBI. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26943128 [Accessed 13 Dec. 2018].

Find out more about our Occupational Health and Health Surveillance services.