The Anaphylaxis Campaign
The Anaphylaxis Campaign was launched in 1994 to spread
information about
life-threatening food allergies (e.g. to peanuts).
The previous October, 17-year-old Sarah Reading had died
after eating a
lemon meringue pie served to her in the restaurant of a
well-known
department store. The dessert contained peanuts and Sarah
suffered a fatal
allergic reaction.
The Campaign was launched by a small group of parents, including
Sarah's
father David. Immediately they became inundated with calls
for advice and
information. The vast majority of these enquiries came from
the parents of
children who suffer serious allergic reactions to peanuts,
tree nuts, or
both. Occasionally other foods and substances were implicated,
such as milk,
eggs, soya, sesame, shellfish, insect stings and natural
rubber (latex). In
many cases there had been life-threatening episodes.
The Campaign is a membership-based organisation which provides
information
and guidance, primarily to its members and to potential
members, but also to
the media, health professionals and food companies. There
is also a strong
campaigning role, particularly in the areas of product labelling
and allergy
services.
By early 2000, the Campaign had attracted 5,500 members
but prominent
allergists are confident this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Taking peanut
allergy alone, it is estimated that one in 100 children
is affected.
Website: The Anaphylaxis
Campaign
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