New figures released by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) show that a worrying number of people who are allergic to animal-based products, such as egg, milk or fish, are unaware that foods labelled vegan or plant-based can still contain traces of ‘animal’ allergens, putting them at risk of an allergic reaction.

The World Allergy Organization and European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition both updated their guidelines for managing cow’s milk protein allergy in infants and children in 2022-2023. This paper in Global Pediatrics summarises the main points of these new guidelines and the debates around some of them.

We’re delighted to welcome Tracey Dunn to the Anaphylaxis UK Team as our Education and AllergyWise Manager.

A home bakery in Northern Ireland has been fined for mislabelling a carrot cake with a generic “may contain nuts” label when the recipe contained peanuts. A customer with a peanut allergy had an allergic reaction after eating the cake which was serious enough to require a trip to A&E.

The Directors of The Little Indian takeaway in Mirehouse in Whitehaven have been fined £1,345 for serving meals containing peanut when peanut-free meals were requested. 

Pembroke student Hannah Mawardi is urging colleges to take action to protect students with food allergies after being served foods containing her allergen at Cambridge formals three years in a row.

A US study has found that only 2% of high-risk infants developed peanut allergy after introduction of peanuts into their diet. The results support other studies showing low rates of new allergies after early introduction of peanut but demonstrate the need for extra guidance, reassurance and support, especially if others in the family have a peanut allergy.

52-year-old Lorraine Madgett, who died after choking on peanut butter and toast at a care home in north Norfolk may have had a peanut allergy, a court has heard. An inquest into Lorraine’s death has been scheduled for July 31st 2024.

Do you have an allergy to either peanuts, seafood, or bee/wasp stings, that requires use of an EpiPen?  The University of Manchester is looking for a member of the public who can give a patient’s perspective of allergies to a group of master’s students who are studying the immune system.