Is the hospitality industry taking allergens and anaphylaxis risks seriously?

Unless you know someone with a food allergy, it can be difficult to understand its severity. Having to be aware of every ingredient you put into a meal, and the nature of how it was made is tiresome enough – and this is only in preparing your own food. Eating in public only adds to this anxiety, and although hospitality industries should be clearly labelling allergens and preparing food without cross contamination, this is not always the case.

On February 8^th of last year, 13 year old Hannah Jacobs died after consuming dairy in a Costa drink. After her mother explicitly ordered two soya hot chocolates, and requested staff to wipe down the equipment before making their drinks due to her daughter's severe allergy, a singular sip of the dairy drink was enough to cause anaphylactic shock, and ultimately her death. Allergy UK have released a statement labelling the ‘failure to take food allergies seriously’ as ‘exasperating.’

This incident does unfortunately, not stand alone. In July of 2016, Natasha Ednan- Laperouse died after consuming a Pret baguette which did not list sesame seeds on its ingredients. This incident occurred on a plane, and Natasha was unable to receive proper medical care. Ex Love Island star Jack Fowler had similar experience on a plane in June of this year, where a staff member did not list peanuts as an ingredient in his meal.

Natasha’s law, advocated for by the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, came into effect in October of 2021. This law requires a full ingredient list with the fourteen key allergens clearly labelled on all food products. While this has prevented incidents like Natasha’s, this does not prevent against human error in not taking these allergies seriously. Allergy UK are in the process of devising a scheme to educate hospitality workers on the severity of food allergies.

I urge you to reconsider complaining if you are not allowed to take nuts on a flight, or having to wipe down coffee machines after every use at work. While these actions are a minor inconvenience for you, it could be life threatening for someone else.

In a report made by court on the 20^th August 2024, the coroner has called for action to be made by the 15^th October to prevent future incidents like Hannah’s.

If you want to educate yourself further about allergens and anaphylaxis, go to www.allergyuk.org or www.narf.org.uk