Holiday food shock warning

Friday December 14th, 2012

Allergy experts have issued a warning to party hosts and parents to take care about dangerous reactions over the holiday season.

Hospital emergency departments are already facing a seven times increase in patients suffering from severe anaphylactic reactions from ten years ago, according to the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The academy, based in Zurich, Switzerland, says 17 million people across Europe suffer from food allergies.

Its experts say urbanisation and globalisation are set to increase allergy rates - leaving up to half the population vulnerable.

The academy warns that travel is becoming dangerous. Its surveys find that only a minority of food allergy sufferers are happy with the arrangements made for them by airlines - and 9% report suffering reactions on aircraft.

Outside the European Union, food labelling cannot be trusted, it says. It suggests sufferers carry their own safe snacks with them.

Professor Antonella Muraro, who leads its food allergy and anaphylaxis campaign, said: "Our hope is to improve public knowledge and education on food allergy and to increase access to adrenaline pens in public places and schools.

"Children are a particularly vulnerable group, with one third of all allergic shocks occurring for the first time at school with teachers largely unprepared."

Tags: Allergies & Asthma | Diet & Food | Europe | Traveller Health

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