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Food allergy campaign launched to save lives
Councils across the North East have joined forces to launch a regional campaign aimed at cutting food allergy-related illnesses and deaths.
They are working alongside the NHS to change the lives of people with anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition which results in around 20 deaths each year in the UK.
It is estimated that one in 300 people will experience anaphylaxis at some time in their life. In the North East in 2019 there were 76 cases of anaphylaxis under the age of 18 and one fatality.
A common cause of anaphylaxis is the consumption of or exposure to food allergens, most commonly peanuts, tree nuts, cow's milk, egg, fish and shellfish, and sesame seeds/sesame oil.
To raise awareness of the dangers, the region's 12 local authorities have produced a series of short videos for food businesses on the measures they should have in place to protect their customers who have a food allergy.
The series of videos on food allergies and anaphylaxis are available as a simple and readily accessible education and training resource for all food businesses. They can be viewed here, via YouTube.
Local authority Environmental Health Officers work with food businesses to ensure that they have good allergy management arrangements in place.
Statement from Councillor Jim Foreman
Lead Member for Housing and Community Safety at South Tyneside Council, Jim Foreman said "This campaign highlights the huge importance of making sure those who have a food allergy are safeguarded."
"Businesses, whether they are food producers, suppliers, restaurants or catering companies, must make sure they can manage and handle allergens safely."
"They also have a vital role to play in ensuring customers have all the information they need about the exact ingredients in any food so that they can make safe choices."
"We fully support this work in the region. Our Environmental Health teams will continue to work closely with businesses to ensure they are on the right side of the law and are protecting the health of their customers."
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Statement from Judith Hedgley
Chair of the North East Public Protection Partnership, Judith Hedgley said "There are well over 20,000 food businesses across the North East and we wanted to work together regionally to provide simple messages to help these businesses prepare their food safely and manage the risks around food allergens"
"Environmental Health Officers and Trading Standards Officers work closely with local food manufacturers, restaurants, takeaways and food retailers to help them understand the potentially severe health effects of food allergens and their legal obligations to identify and control allergenic ingredients in the foods they handle and serve."
"Consumers should be able to make an informed and safe choice when buying or ordering food."
"When our officers inspect food businesses they check that food handlers have a good awareness and understanding of the effects that food allergens can have on their customer's health who suffers from a food allergy."
"Food handlers must be able to identify whether the foods they handle contain allergenic ingredients, know how to control food allergens, and provide accurate information to customers when asked about food allergens."