The FSA has launched a campaign to encourage young people to speak up about their allergies in a bid to avoid potentially fatal reactions while eating out and on the go.
Coinciding with freshers’ month, its ‘Easy to ASK’ campaign, in association with Allergy UK and the Anaphylaxis Campaign, has been backed by Aldi and Just Eat.
The campaign comes amid news of several recent deaths of young people from food allergies, and follows research by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the US that found teens and those in their 20s were disproportionately more likely to die from a food allergy.
Citing its own poll of 2,599 UK residents aged 16 to 24, which found just 14% felt ‘extremely confident’ asking for allergen information when dining out, the FSA said its campaign would encourage young people to ask for allergen information, while also reminding businesses to be up-front and accurate with the provision of it.
West London Coroner’s Court last week heard evidence suggesting 19-year-old Alice Brooks lost her life after suffering a severe allergic reaction during a meal at Wagamama in 2014. This week, the same court is due to host the inquest of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, who died after eating a baguette from Pret a Manger containing sesame seeds.
When products are made on site, as in the case of Ednan-Laperouse’s baguette, businesses are not required to list ingredients or allergens as they are if the product is assembled elsewhere. Instead, Pret signage tells customers to speak to a manager who is trained to provide allergen advice.
“We’ve seen real progress in how food businesses approach customers with allergies” said FSA chair Heather Hancock. “However, 60% of the young people surveyed tell us they’ve avoided eating out in the past six months because of their condition,” she added.
“Many in this age group will be students starting out at university or college, in new surroundings and with new friends. It’s crucial that they feel confident to speak up and ask for allergen information, and that the people around them make that easier,” Hancock said.
“Food businesses have an important part to play in making this age group feel more at ease.”
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