Wishing you a safe Christmas and a Happy New Year

With the festive season upon us, excitement is in the air and Christmas music fills every corner – the most joyful time of the year. Children are eagerly counting down the days until Santa’s arrival, while the grown-ups may be looking forward to a well-earned break with delicious food and a festive tipple or two! 

Christmas is synonymous with indulgence – tasty food, sweet treats and meals with loved ones. 

Christmas should be all about fun, excitement for the little ones, and a chance for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves without added stress. But for people living with food allergies, it can be a challenging time.  

So how can we make sure no one misses out?  With a bit of planning, it’s possible to make the season safe and inclusive for all. 

1. Make sure you have checked expiry dates and have enough medication to last the holiday season, especially if you are away visiting family or friends. 
2. Ensure your, and your child’s, allergy medication is always with you – and if you live with anaphylaxis, always carry two adrenaline devices. 
3. Keep information about your allergies on your person (consider wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace) and/or keep your allergy action plan with you when travelling. 
4. Ensure you know how to use your emergency medication e.g.  Adrenaline Auto-Injectors, EURneffy and inhalers. Tell someone you are with that you are carrying them and where they are, should they need to help you find them. 
5. Always check labels when food shopping or before eating food-based gifts, even if you’ve eaten it safely in the past. Ingredients can change with no clear notice on the packaging, and “festive food” may have ingredients that you are not expecting especially foods from outside the EU where allergens and labelling practices vary.  
6. Communicate food allergies in advance when eating out, ideally when making your booking, and double-check when ordering and again before eating. Good communication is vital. 
7. Be cautious with anything you eat/drink. If in doubt, don’t risk it.   
8. Be aware that alcohol  can contain allergens and also affect your judgement – be wary with cocktail ingredients and garnishes and remember that alcohol can make some reactions worse and mediations less effective. Drinking and drugs
9. Ensure a friends and work colleagues know what to do in case of an emergency and who your person of contact is (next of kin). 
10. If you have an Allergy UK translation card for travel abroad, consider using the English language version on the reverse side which may be helpful when ordering food or drink in a noisy bar or restaurant.