Recent research reveals that food allergies affect 2.4 million adults and up to 4% of children in the UK, with cow’s milk allergy and hen’s egg allergy being among the most common food allergies in the UK. Over 152 food allergy–related deaths recorded in just two decades.
Though estimates suggest at least two children in every classroom have a food allergy, in Northern Ireland the absence of a central registry for people living with food allergies makes it extremely difficult to protect public health effectively, leading to reactive rather than proactive policy responses such as Natasha’s Law and Owen’s Law.
This data gap undermines our ability to understand the true scale of the challenge and implement preventive measures, leaving those with food allergies at risk in schools, restaurants, and public spaces.
Behind these statistics lie devastating human stories. In 2023, 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs from Wales died after being served cow’s milk instead of soy milk at a major coffee chain; she was allergic to dairy. This revealed critical gaps in food service training and a call for the public to know how to administer lifesaving medication in these situations. Other tragic cases have highlighted similar systemic failures: Natasha Ednan–Laperouse’s death after eating a baguette in England in 2016 led to groundbreaking changes in food labelling law; Owen Carey died on his 18th birthday after being served dairy at a burger restaurant in London despite informing staff of his allergy.
42–year–old, mother of four, Celia Marsh in England 2017 died after eating a vegan wrap which had dairy in it. This case led to a coroner’s stark warning about the risks of undeclared allergens in food products and called for an Anaphylaxis Register to be maintained at a national level and the need for better public understanding of the phrases such as free–from and vegan. The coroner emphasised that future deaths will occur unless systematic changes are implemented at policy level to keep people with food allergens stay safe.
While these tragedies have sparked important individual policy changes like Natasha’s Law and Owen’s Law, this piecemeal approach to reform is insufficient. What’s urgently needed is a comprehensive public health policy framework that coordinates and strengthens these individual measures to provide robust, consistent protection for people living with food allergies.
In 2021, five–year–old Benedict Blythe’s death from anaphylaxis at primary school highlighted the fact that anaphylaxis occurs more often in educational spaces than anywhere else. The tragedy of Benedict Blythe’s death in school led to a House of Commons parliamentary debate about school allergy policies and an immediate need for schools to have effective management policies in place to protect these young lives.
Freedom of Information research by the Benedict Blythe Foundation revealed an alarming lack of consistent allergy policies across schools, despite clear ministerial direction that schools should own and implement their own allergy policies. This gap between policy expectation and implementation highlights a critical failure in protecting vulnerable children in educational settings, teaching and support staff need tiered education on how to keep children with food allergies safe in an inclusive model of learning.
Recognising these challenges, the 2024 Darzi Report highlights the need to enhance the role of school nurses and calls for a school nurse to be present in every school in England, so the health and wellbeing of children and young people can be prioritised. School nurses play a vital role in managing food allergies by creating and maintaining individual healthcare plans, training staff in the use of emergency medication, coordinating with families and healthcare providers, providing education on allergen awareness, and ensuring rapid emergency response during anaphylactic reactions. Their presence ensures medical expertise is immediately available during school hours, providing reassurance to both families and school staff while helping to create a safer environment for children with food allergies. However, school nurses alone cannot solve this crisis – what’s needed is an integrated public health policy that connects education, healthcare, food service, and emergency response systems to create comprehensive protection for people living with food allergies.
The tragic death of 14-year-old Emma Sloan, who died in Dublin in 2013, highlights the critical need for an integrated approach to allergy management. Emma suffered fatal anaphylaxis after consuming peanut satay sauce; she didn’t have her EpiPens with her. At the 2014 Joint Committee on Health and Children, her mother revealed she hadn’t fully understood the potentially fatal nature of food allergies. The committee identified schools and restaurants as high–risk areas for anaphylactic reactions and noted the lack of statutory protocols. In response, they proposed a Public Health Bill to establish formal guidelines and reduce liability risks.
In another heartbreaking case, 21–year–old tourist Giulia De Simone died in Dublin in 2021 after accidentally consuming peanuts, she too did not have her EpiPen nearby. The coroner emphasised that carrying EpiPens is crucial for survival during severe allergic reactions. However, young people often avoid carrying them due to social stigma about being “different.” This highlights the urgent need for public health campaigns to normalize EpiPen use and provide better support for young people with food allergies.
The challenges faced by people living with food allergies require a coordinated societal response – families cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. The daily reality for those affected extends far beyond avoiding specific foods. As illustrated in the quality–of–life factors below, individuals with food allergies face multiple interconnected challenges:
These factors compound daily: they face anxiety about every meal, social isolation, educational disruptions, and significant financial burdens from specialised foods and medical care. Children miss school days, parents may need to leave careers, and families often struggle with reduced social participation and constant vigilance. Dating, kissing, intimacy and sex present unique challenges for young people with food allergies – challenges that often go undiscussed.
Educational resources show these intimate aspects of life need to be addressed through comprehensive public health campaigns that go beyond just medical management. Changing public attitudes, reducing stigma, and creating safe environments demands a comprehensive approach that spans all sectors of society. A recent severe anaphylactic reaction at a Belfast restaurant in October 2024 serves as a stark reminder of the risks in Northern Ireland, where the next incident could prove fatal without systemic change. Only through collective action and robust public health policy can we ensure that people with food allergies can live full, inclusive, and above all, save lives.
The Way Forward: A Call for Reform
Current policy frameworks critically fail to protect individuals with food allergies. A comprehensive national response must include:
Immediate Actions
- Public health campaign positioning food allergies as serious medical conditions
- Mandatory education across food service, schools, and care sectors
- Standardised safety protocols in all institutional settings
- Economic support for affected families
- Creation of a national food allergy register
Research and Development
Government must declare food allergies as a priority research area of interest, focusing on:
- Prevention strategies and early intervention
- Treatment innovations and emergency response
- Healthcare delivery models
- Quality of life improvements
- Policy effectiveness and implementation research
The financial investment in prevention pales in comparison to the current costs – from emergency medical care to lost productivity and, most critically, the loss of human life. While individual laws have made progress, only a comprehensive strategy will prevent more unnecessary deaths.
Claire McGuigan is a Central Academic for Advanced Clinical Practice at The Open University, bringing over 25 years of nursing experience. Her research interest in food allergies was inspired by her teenage daughter’s experiences with multiple food allergies. Listen to ‘Making Food Allergies Your Business’ Podcast Series for practical insights on creating safer dining environments. Her policy influence extends through her former role as Northern Ireland Representative on the Royal College of Nursing’s Professional Nursing Committee (2017–2019), where she gave the voice of Northern Ireland’s nursing profession to campaigns for organ donation, and abortion law reform.
