Food Allergy & Intolerance Week Jan 25th-29th 2010 - Know Your Enemy

Charity report says food allergy and intolerance sufferers are being forgotten. 

A report by Allergy UK, the country’s leading Medical Charity for allergy sufferers.

At a time of year when most people are looking to shake off the excesses of Christmas or are attempting to get fit, little thought is given about the person with food allergies or intolerance.  Deciding whether you should have a salad or a burger for lunch seems insignificant compared to the choices that someone with a life-threatening allergy or a debilitating food intolerance have to make every day.  A slip-up in eating a food that you are intolerant to could leave you bed ridden with migraines or unable to leave the toilet.  More frighteningly if you are allergic, it could be fatal.

Too often allergy or intolerance sufferers become labelled as fussy eaters or just thought to be following the latest fad, this could not be further from the truth.  Stolen Lives 7 – Food Allergy and Intolerance Report by Allergy UK highlights how difficult it is to live with a food allergy and intolerance.  The most simple of choices such as what to make for dinner or what to put in their child’s packed lunch becomes a nightmare.

Allergy UK says, “From those that took part in our survey two main points came to light.  The main priority being labelling.  It was all too clear that there is a definite lack of understanding in supermarkets and restaurants surrounding the needs of the allergy or intolerance sufferer.”  Allergy labelling on foods is frustratingly confusing and needs clearer guidelines.  This along with a much better choice of healthy tasty foods that are easily available in the supermarkets was paramount in people’s desire for improved services, which is why Allergy UK are working with Sainsbury’s to address those needs by offering inspirational cooking tips and recipes.

“It affects our family a lot.  I am actually terrified of him dying, which sounds extreme, but it’s the worst fear of any parent; when a tiny mistake like food, especially when he is with other people, can be fatal.  The risk is a reality we face every day.”

Finding out what you are intolerant to was another priority for many.  The lack of understanding regarding food intolerance within the medical profession leads many to search for a reliable test to identify the cause of their problems.  A staggering 88% of respondents reported that they had suffered for years before they found help in managing their food intolerance with little or no help from their GP.  Thankfully a new food intolerance testing kit which detects foods specific IgG antibodies, Food Detective™, has been launched by Cambridge Nutritional Sciences Ltd.  Food Detective™ is reliable and simple to use at home and information on the test kit can be found at www.allergyuk.org or by calling the Helpline on 01322 619898.

 

Press Release Supplied With the Kind Permission of Raegan Chambers, Allergy UK