Campaign aims to cut food allergy deaths

Hartlepool Borough Council has joined forces with 11 other North-East local authorities to send life-saving messages to food businesses through a series of short videos.

The videos explain the measures food businesses should have in place to protect customers with food allergies.

The campaign involves the councils working alongside NHS health professionals to change the lives of people with anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition which results in around 20 deaths each year in the UK.

A common cause of anaphylaxis is the consumption of or exposure to food allergens – most commonly in peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk, egg, fish and shellfish, and sesame seeds/sesame oil.

Symptoms range from mild itchy skin and swollen lips, face or eyes to vomiting, abdominal pain and anaphylaxis – these symptoms can cause difficulty swallowing or breathing, poor circulation and loss of consciousness and, although rare, symptoms can be fatal. 

Judith Hedgley, Chair of the North East Public Protection Partnership, said: “There are well over 20,000 food businesses across the North East and we want to work together regionally to provide simple messages to help these businesses prepare their food safely and manage the risks around food allergens.

“Environmental Health Officers and Trading Standards Officers work closely with local food manufacturers, restaurants, takeaways and food retailers to help them understand the potentially severe health effects of food allergens and their legal obligations to identify and control allergenic ingredients in the foods they handle and serve.

“Consumers should be able to make an informed and safe choice when buying or ordering food."

Dr Andrew Bright, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Allergy and Editor in Chief of BeatAnaphylaxis.co.uk, said: “This is a vital campaign to help food businesses across the North East protect their customers from potentially life threatening allergic reactions through safe handling of allergens.

“This fabulous video series also highlights key measures and legal requirements surrounding provision of allergen information. “

The videos which are available as a simple and readily accessible education and training resource for all food businesses, can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz3yV2kde1-OwXMtTWiwmx6O1w5JMhvST