The number of people diagnosed with a food allergy in the UK has skyrocketed in recent years with foods not currently on the mandatory list causing fatal allergic reactions, experts warn in a concerning new study.
Food packaging in the UK and EU has to list the most common allergens for people to be aware of by law—including peanuts, sesame and cereals containing gluten.
But now scientists are calling for at least four more to be added to the mandatory list, with allergic reactions to foods such as pine nuts and goat’s milk putting sufferers at serious risk of deadly anaphylaxis.
After analysing nearly 3,000 cases, researchers say goat’s and sheep’s milk, buckwheat, peas and lentils, and pine nuts should be added to the current 14—based on their frequency, severity and potential for hidden exposure.
According to the researchers, kiwi, beehive products including wax, pollen and honey, apple and alpha-gal which is found in red meat such as beef should also be considered serious emerging allergens.
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Symptoms can appear quickly, causing the throat to swell, often leading to unconsciousness and even death within minutes.
The most effective treatment is an injection of adrenaline, with sufferers of severe allergies encouraged to carry an auto-injector such as an EpiPen with them in case of an emergency.
Researchers say it is time to review the list of foods with mandatory allergen labels and consider adding the most severe of the emerging food allergens, including pine nuts which is often found in pesto
People who know they are allergic to certain foods are advised to carry an adrenaline auto-injector in case of an emergency
Researchers also identified kiwi fruit as an emerging food allergen
In the current study, researchers from the Allergy Vigilance Network identified 413 anaphylaxis cases caused by one of eight ’emerging food allergens’ without mandatory labelling, including two deaths caused by goat’s and sheep’s milk.
Professor Domonique Sabouraud-Leclerc, study co-author, said: ‘We believe it is time to review the list of 14 foods with mandatory labeling to include at least the most severe of these emerging food allergens.’
Perhaps most concerningly, researchers found that allergic reactions to these emerging allergens occur more frequently than those to mustard and sulphites—both of which feature on the mandatory list.
They concluded: ‘Given the severity and recurrence of anaphylaxis, and the possible presence of the allergen in masked form, we propose that goat’s and sheep’s milk, buckwheat, peas and lentils, and pine nuts be considered for inclusion in the European mandatory labelling of foods list.’
The Foods Standards Agency says it acknowledges there are a significant number of foods that can cause allergies and intolerances.
Dr James Cooper, told the BBC: ‘This is why pre-packed foods must list all ingredients, why food businesses must provide clear information about allergens and why we encourage consumers to speak up about their allergens.’
The call to action comes after a series of high-profile tragedies linked to undeclared allergens on packaging.
On 17 July 2016, 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died after eating a Pret a Manger baguette containing undeclared sesame seeds.
Her death triggered the introduction of a new food and safety law in 2021, known as Natasha’s law, which necessitates full ingredient and allergen labelling on all food made on premises and pre-packed for direct sale.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, was on a dream trip to Nice with her best friend and her father when she suffered a severe reaction to sesame seeds baked into an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette she bought from Pret a Manger
