Food allergy legislation: useful sites for further information

The Safefood Food Allergy and Food Intolerance

Network aims to improve quality of life for those who suffer from food allergy; make it easier for food companies to supply safe food; and promote the exchange of knowledge about all aspects of food sensitivity.

It will host annual meetings and publish newsletters and interactive news posts. See safefoodallergy.ning.com

Food businesses need to be aware of the food allergens they handle and ensure that they can track and trace their use in any food destined for caterers or the final consumer.

Businesses need to adopt practices to minimise cross-contamination and ensure that food allergen declarations are accurate.

Staff

training about the identity and handling of the 14 food allergens and how to address consumer concerns is key.

The network has short videos about what caterers need to know when serving customers who have food allergy or food intolerance. Further information is also available. See

fsai.ie

and

food.gov.uk

The Irish food allergy network site was established as a site for healthcare professionals to assist their work with children and families affected by food allergy. Their aim is to help in diagnosing suspected food allergy in the community and hospital. See

ifan.ie

A research team at

University College Cork

is conducting the AlleRiSC study

(Allergic Reactions in Social Context).

They need to recruit a minimum of 50 adult volunteers who have been diagnosed with food allergy to participate.

The study will continue for two years, and volunteers will be asked to use an online questionnaire to report any food-allergic incidents they experience (even the least severe ones).

They will also be asked, where possible, to send in samples of the suspect food for laboratory testing.

If you can contribute or help, further details are available on the food allergy support site: See irishanaphylaxis.org