Food Allergy and Intolerance Week 2009

19th January - 23rd January 2009

One of the busiest weeks at the start of the year is about to hit Allergy UK. Since Christmas and the New Year, the volume of calls from people suffering with symptoms which could be related to food have been steadily climbing.

The majority of people contacting us will be suffering food sensitivity, a true food allergy affects only a small number of the population, in the region of 2% but for this 2% it is unbelievably difficult particularly as a mistake could be life threatening.

With the food allergy and intolerance awareness week people who have been silently suffering wondering what could be causing their problems will often decide to telephone and just check out what they could possibly do to identify the cause of their symptoms and what to do about it.

Thousands of people suffer from food related illnesses and symptoms such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Coeliac Disease, Migraine, Eczema , joint pains etc. yet are unaware of how they should manage their conditions and this is where Allergy UK can help. Through our helpline 01322 619898 and our websites www.allergyuk.org and www.foodintoleranceawareness.org people are able to receive individual advice, download fact sheets and watch videos of specialists explaining the difference between food allergy and food intolerance.

Whether suffering from food allergy or food intolerance life is severely impacted making social events a nightmare, reducing productivity at work and limiting achievements in education. However there is good news in that due to the increased awareness of the problems, that in the region of 45% of the population suffer, increased attention is being paid to producing special 'free from' food which is a million miles away from the tasteless food of a few years ago.

In a recent survey carried out by Allergy UK many people mentioned specific supermarkets and the 'free from' foods they produce and we want to know more, so we are currently carrying out an online vote on both the above websites, on the shopping habits of those with food allergy and intolerance problems. We suspect from comments made to us, that shoppers will completely change their regular store if they discover a particular supermarket has a range of 'free from' foods that suit them.

We want to know whether this is really the case, whether ease of finding the product, price etc. are major factors. We want to hear from people with food problems about the services they want and expect to be provided by the supermarkets. Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Awareness week with your help will enable us to do this.

For general information please call our helpline advisors on 01322 619898.

For press information contact:-

Muriel Simmons:	01322 611649	muriel@allergyuk.org	Mobile 07795 694183
Jules Payne:	01322 619647		Mobile 07771 502451
Lindsey McManus	01322 611648	lindsey@allergyuk.org	Mobile 07828 106439

 

FACTS FOR EDITORS:-

2% OF THE POPULATION SUFFER FROM IgE MEDIATED FOOD ALLERGY .

SYMPTOMS OF SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIC REACTION:-

• Tingling of the lips.
• Swelling of the lips/tongue/throat.
• Projectile vomiting.
• Difficulty in breathing.
• Faintness and collapse.

FOOD INTOLERANCE/SENSITIVITY IS A COLLECTIVE NAME FOR A GROUP OF SYMPTOMS AND ILLNESSES WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO FOOD. THIS AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 45% OF THE POPULATION.

TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF FOOD INTOLERANCE ARE:-

• Urgent need to go to the toilet.
• Bloating.
• Nausea.
• Migraine/Headaches.
• Skin rashes.
• Joint pain.
• Runny nose.