It’s reported that over 2 million people in the UK have food allergens, therefore it’s crucial those working within the care sector are fully trained and educated to support those who are affected.
Stephen Gallagher, Executive Director at EF-group has shared expert advice on the key allergic symptoms to look out for which indicate someone is suffering with an allergic reaction, as well as important regulation and laws to follow.
8 Key Allergic Symptom Signs to Look out for
“Knowing the most common signs and symptoms of a food allergy is crucial for those in the food industry, including those working in care and education facilities. While some might have a mild reaction, allergy symptoms can be much more severe for others. Being able to spot the signs can help with diagnosing these allergies, alongside keeping people safe. Here, we’ve listed 8 of the most common signs and symptoms that someone might experience when having an allergic reaction to food:
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Hives – itchy skin or a raised rash
- Angioedema – swelling of the lips, face and eyes
- Coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, noisy breathing or a hoarse voice
- Sneezing or an itchy, runny or blocked nose
- Feeling or being sick
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhoea
It’s also important to note that these symptoms may appear straight after eating the food, but in some cases, they can take a few days to show.
Alongside a duty of care to avoid unfortunate situations such as allergic reactions, reviewing recipes, following food regulations and laws, and understanding your residents are all key responsibilities for caterers and businesses in the food industry.
By law, caterers must also inform customers if the food they’re providing contains any of the 14 listed allergens. These allergens include:
- Cereals containing gluten (e.g. wheat, barley and oats)
- Molluscs (e.g. oysters and mussels)
- Tree nuts (e.g. almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts)
- Celery
- Eggs
- Fish
- Lupin
- Milk
- Mustard
- Peanuts
- Sesame
- Soybeans
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites at a concentration of more than ten parts per million
EF-group provides leading procurement solutions and menu management tools across a number of UK industries, including the healthcare and education sectors.
