Aussies with food allergies feel unsafe

Peanuts can cause a severe allergic reaction in some people – almost three in every 100 children have a peanut allergy.

New research conducted by Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia (AAA) has shown four out of five respondents have had an allergic reaction while eating away from home.

The findings released as part of last week’s Food Allergy Week encourage Australians to learn about the potentially life-threatening effects of food allergy; how to prevent exposure to allergens and how to manage an allergic reaction.

AAA chief executive officer Maria Said believes there are too many incidents occurring outside the home for consumers with food allergies.

“There are still too many incidents involving consumption of a known food allergen when eating out of the home,” she said.

“During Food Allergy Week we are asking all Australians – those who prepare and serve food (including family and friends), plus those with food allergies – to further educate themselves on how to better avoid allergic reactions, and how to manage them when they do occur.”

The research conducted by AAA revealed nearly 80 per cent of AAA members have suffered a reaction/been served food that they are allergic to whilst eating away from home; 70 per cent of AAA members don’t feel confident eating away from home, and 94 per cent of AAA members don’t think people have a good understanding of the seriousness of food allergy.

Food Allergy Week also sees the launch of Allergy Pal – a free smartphone app that helps parents better manage a child’s allergies and allergic reactions by enabling fast access to their current ASCIA Action Plan.

Allergy Pal helps reduce the stress of leaving your child with family and friends by giving them free, fast and easy access to the ASCIA Action Plan and the educational material needed to care for a child with food allergies.

This includes on-the-spot access to life saving personalised information about a child’s allergy triggers and safe foods as added by the parent/carer.

Allergy Pal has been developed by Australian paediatric allergists, professors Mimi Tang and Katie Allen at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in conjunction with AAA Australia and the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA).

For more information, head to foodallergyaware.com.au