Latest news with #AnaphylaxisUK
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Waitrose issues ‘do not eat' warning for popular ready meal which poses allergy risk
Waitrose is recalling a popular ready meal after it said some products were 'mispacked', causing an allergy risk. The supermarket own-brand 'Indian takeaway for two' has been pulled from shelves because it contains sesame and soya, which are not mentioned on the label. According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which published the recall warning, the product is a health risk to anyone with an allergy to sesame or soya because spring rolls were mispacked in the box. All of the takeaway products sold in 1,412g boxes with the sell-by date 25 July 2025 are affected. No other products are affected by the recall. Those with an allergy to sesame or soya have been told not to eat the product and instead return it to their local Waitrose and Partners branch for a full refund. The FSA explained: 'Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk. When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an allergy alert.' A point-of-sale notice has also been issued to its customers. These notices explain why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Soya is a food ingredient made from soy beans and is used to make soy sauce and tofu. Those with an allergy to soya can suffer an immediate reaction or a delayed reaction, according to Anaphylaxis UK. Symptoms of an immediate reaction include a rash, tingling or itching in the mouth, and swelling of the lips, eyes or face. It can also cause stomach pain and vomiting. Those who suffer from a delayed allergic reaction may experience stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. Sesame seeds and sesame oil can cause allergic reactions, and these can sometimes be serious, Anaphylaxis UK said. In many cases, those who are allergic to sesame can experience a rash, known as hives, anywhere on the body. It can also trigger tingling or an itchy feeling in the mouth, swelling of the lips, face or eyes, and stomach pain and vomiting. In more serious cases, it can cause anaphylaxis, triggering swelling of the throat and breathing difficulties. Waitrose said in the recall: 'We apologise it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Classmates threw Snickers at me to test my allergy'
A woman is raising awareness on social media of the severe food allergy she lives with, saying she had Snickers bars "snapped in half and thrown" at her when she was at school to test her peanut allergy. Chloe Dickson, 26, from Brighton, has anaphylaxis - a condition which causes her to go into anaphylactic shock when exposed to peanuts. Garnering millions of views through her Peanut Free Zone social channels, she says she has received death threats and been called "selfish" due to "misunderstandings" about her allergy. "In secondary school, kids didn't believe I'd react without eating something," Ms Dickson told BBC South East. Posting videos to TikTok and Instagram, Ms Dickson showcases her daily life from taking trains and planes, to working at a cafe and documenting allergic episodes. A life-threatening reaction in a pub, when none of her friends knew how to use her EpiPen, was a "turning point" that compelled her to raise the profile of her condition. Charity Anaphylaxis UK says that about one in 50 children and one in 200 adults in the UK have a nut allergy, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Having worked in the hospitality industry since she was a teenager, Ms Dickson said she had been fired before as an employer wanted to serve dishes with peanuts. She said being told that she was "too high risk" by potential employers had been a "massive anxiety" and made her condition feel "like a secret". In response to critical online comments, she said: "I'm just a human and enjoy working in a café. "I want to be doing fun and exciting things too." Working at Moksha Caffe in Brighton, which became a peanut-free space five years ago to accommodate her, she said management had been "incredible". Ms Dickson said her goal was to encourage Brighton hospitals to go peanut-free. Analysis of NHS data hospitalisations between 1998 and 2018 reveals that 86 (46%) fatalities out of 152 from food-induced anaphylaxis were triggered by peanut or tree nuts, according to research from the Food Standards Agency and Imperial College London. In the UK, restaurants, cafés and takeaways serving "non-prepacked food" must provide accurate information on the major 14 allergens, following the Food Information Regulations 2014. Paul Carey, a spokesperson from allergy campaign group Owen's Law, told BBC South East that best practice allergen information should "always be provided in writing at the point of ordering without the customer having to ask". He wants this to become law after his son, Owen, died during his 18th birthday celebrations after unknowingly eating a burger containing buttermilk. On having dedicated peanut-free spaces for people like Chloe, Mr Carey said: "If people with allergies want to feel safe, then going to a place which is guaranteeing that can only be a good thing." Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Bereaved dad says allergy advice must become law Nut bans little help to allergic air passengers 'My peanut allergy nearly killed me - now I eat them every day for breakfast' Anaphylaxis UK Moksha Caffe Food Standards Agency
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Classmates threw Snickers at me to test my peanut anaphylaxis'
A woman from Brighton is raising awareness on social media of the severe food allergy she lives Dickson, 26, has anaphylaxis, a condition which causes her to go into anaphylactic shock when exposed to millions of views through her Peanut Free Zone social channels, she says she has received death threats and been called "selfish" due to "misunderstandings" about her allergy."In secondary school, kids didn't believe I'd react without eating something, so snapped Snickers bars in half and threw them at me," Ms Dickson told BBC South East. Posting videos to TikTok and Instagram, Ms Dickson showcases her daily life from taking trains and planes, to working at a café and documenting allergic episodes.A life-threatening reaction in a pub, when none of her friends knew how to use her EpiPen, was a "turning point" that compelled her to raise the profile of her Anaphylaxis UK says that about one in 50 children and one in 200 adults in the UK have a nut allergy, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Condition 'feels like a secret' Having worked in the hospitality industry since she was a teenager, Ms Dickson said she had been fired before as an employer wanted to serve dishes with said being told that she was "too high risk" by potential employers had been a "massive anxiety" and made her condition feel "like a secret".In response to critical online comments, she said: "I'm just a human and enjoy working in a café."I want to be doing fun and exciting things too."Working at Moksha Caffe in Brighton, which became a peanut-free space five years ago to accommodate her, she said management had been "incredible".Ms Dickson said her goal was to encourage Brighton hospitals to go peanut-free. Analysis of NHS data hospitalisations between 1998 and 2018 reveals that 86 (46%) fatalities out of 152 from food-induced anaphylaxis were triggered by peanut or tree nuts, according to research from the Food Standards Agency and Imperial College London. Peanut-free spaces In the UK, restaurants, cafés and takeaways serving "non-prepacked food" must provide accurate information on the major 14 allergens, following the Food Information Regulations Carey, a spokesperson from allergy campaign group Owen's Law, told BBC South East that best practice allergen information should "always be provided in writing at the point of ordering without the customer having to ask".He wants this to become law after his son, Owen, died during his 18th birthday celebrations after unknowingly eating a burger containing having dedicated peanut-free spaces for people like Chloe, Mr Carey said: "If people with allergies want to feel safe, then going to a place which is guaranteeing that can only be a good thing."
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning over TikTok Shop food listings: Fears shoppers 'at risk' after items sold without vital information
Experts have issued an urgent warning over TikTok Shop food listings - amid fears that shoppers could be 'at risk' as items are sold without vital information. Vendors on the social media site are flogging sweets and snacks without warning that they may contain any of the 14 primary allergens UK businesses are required to declare by law. And experts say people with allergies could be putting themselves in 'grave danger' by buying the products. MailOnline found dozens of items where the products' allergens were incorrectly labelled or even denied by vendors on TikTok shop. Some products even described their allergen information as 'not applicable' - despite also being said to include ingredients such as flour, milk, eggs and nuts. Chief executive of Anaphylaxis UK Simon Williams warned: 'If the ingredient and allergen information isn't there, don't buy it. You're putting your life in grave danger.' He told the BBC: 'At the moment it's being used as a platform to sell things that may not be safe. They [TikTok] do need to do more. One company, Alma Trade Ltd, used the platform to advertise Tigreat French chocolate crepes. They claimed that allergen information was 'not applicable' in their listing - despite the continental pancakes including wheat flour, whole milk and eggs RM Wholesale is using TikTok shop to flog Fray Bentos pies, again saying that allergen information for the product is 'not applicable'. The pie makers, on their own website, warn that their products contain both wheat and barley 'There's a lot of people making a lot of money, great side hustle, but they're putting people at risk.' One company, Alma Trade Ltd, used the platform to advertise Tigreat French chocolate crepes. They claimed that allergen information was 'not applicable' in their listing - despite the continental pancakes including wheat flour, whole milk and eggs. In the UK, 14 allergens have to be listed on any product containing them. They are: celery, cereals containing gluten (such as wheat, rye, barley, and oats), crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs and lobsters), eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs (such as mussels and oysters), mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (if the sulphur dioxide and sulphites are at a concentration of more than ten parts per million) and tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts). The Food Standards Agency advises that food sold online or over the phone must provide allergen information at two stages in the order process. This generally means giving them in the online description and on the packaging. RM Wholesale is using TikTok shop to flog Fray Bentos pies, again saying that allergen information for the product is 'not applicable'. The pie makers, on their own website, warn that their products contain both wheat and barley. A listing by DaCakeGasm, meanwhile, lists their Nutella stuffed red velvet Oreo cookie and hazelnut stuffed M&Ms Cadbury cookie as just having eggs as an allergen. Eggs, flour and milk are listed in the ingredients - while both Nutella and hazelnuts contain nuts. A huge three kilogram of Nutella, sold by Bibis Direct, says there are 'no allergens' and that it is a 'safe choice with no applicable allergens listed'. The product contains hazelnuts, milk and soya. A listing by DaCakeGasm, meanwhile, lists their Nutella stuffed red velvet Oreo cookie and hazelnut stuffed M&Ms Cadbury cookie as just having eggs as an allergen. Eggs, flour and milk are listed in the ingredients - while both Nutella and hazelnuts contain nuts A huge three kilogram of Nutella, sold by Bibis Direct, says there are 'no allergens' and that it is a 'safe choice with no applicable allergens listed'. The product contains hazelnuts, milk and soya A fourth, JasatsLtd, advertised Lancashire butter pies, saying they contained milk and nuts. The ingredians also include wheat flour and soya flour Bakedays Ahead said their 'creamy delicious cheese cake' only contained 'cream cheese' as an allergen. Cream cheese generally contains milk, while flour is also listed in the ingredients A fourth, JasatsLtd, advertised Lancashire butter pies, saying they contained milk and nuts. The ingredients also include wheat flour and soya flour. And Bakedays Ahead said their 'creamy delicious cheese cake' only contained 'cream cheese' as an allergen. Cream cheese generally contains milk, while flour is also listed in the ingredients. After the BBC investigated adverts on the site, TikTok deleted adverts that were highlighted by the corporation. But all the companies complained about continue to sell products on the site without providing full allergen information. A spokesperson told the broadcaster: 'We have policies and processes in place with our sellers to ensure the safety of food and beverages sold on our platform and we will remove products that breach these policies.'
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Warning over TikTok food sellers not listing allergens
TikTok users are selling food without listing allergen information, the BBC has on TikTok Shop show people selling snacks and sweets without highlighting they contain one of the 14 main allergens that UK businesses are legally required to the BBC brought these listings to TikTok's attention, it deleted them and said: "TikTok Shop is committed to providing a safe and trustworthy shopping experience."Simon Williams, chief executive of Anaphylaxis UK, warned allergy suffers: "If the ingredient and allergen information isn't there, don't buy it. You're putting your life in grave danger." "We have policies and processes in place with our sellers to ensure the safety of food and beverages sold on our platform and we will remove products that breach these policies," a TikTok spokesperson it is currently possible to sell food on TikTok Shop without providing any ingredient or allergy BBC found one seller, Mega Buy UK, selling a sweet treat related to the popular Netflix show Squid Game and listed the ingredients and allergens as "not applicable". Another UK-based seller called The Nashville Burger listed a burger-making kit that contained milk - one of the 14 allergens food businesses in the UK are required to declare on labels. It also contained wheat - which should be listed as an allergen under cereals containing on TikTok Shop, the allergen information was given as "spices" and the ingredient description simply said "flour".The BBC also found a seller called UK Snack Supply advertising lollipops and crisps with no ingredient or allergen has deleted the adverts the BBC highlighted, but all three companies are still on TikTok Shop selling other products without providing full allergen BBC has approached all of these sellers for comment but could not independently verify that the sellers were all listed in the allergy charities say regardless of where the firms are based more should be done to keep consumers safe. TikTok is a place where food trends go viral - from the pickle challenge which involved eating a hot pickle wrapped in a fruit roll-up - to Dubai chocolate which sparked a shopping while users consume the videos TikTok has also become a platform to buy and sell a bite of the Lancaster's two children both have milk allergies and she regularly posts advice on TikTok as The Dairy Free thinks TikTok has a responsibility to ensure all products sold on its shopping platform meet safety and labelling standards."It's completely unacceptable and really worrying. Failing to provide ingredient information is potentially very dangerous, and it feels like a complete disregard for the safety of those living with food allergies," she said. Tanya Ednan-Laperouse co-founded The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation in the name of her daughter who died after an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger said: "'TikTok is responsible for ensuring that all their UK food sellers meet legislative requirements to sell food products on their app. "Any that don't should be immediately removed from the app and investigated, but ideally this should not happen if their checks and balances are rigorous and in place."After her daughter's death, new safety rules, known as "Natasha's Law", were introduced which require full ingredient and allergen labelling on all food made on premises and pre-packed for direct sale. 'Putting people at risk' Kate believes TikTok is allowing sellers to "swerve" basic food labelling requirements as the app allows people not to list any ingredients at all and thinks the platform should penalise those who don't provide the correct information."Since Natasha's Law has come into effect I feel that, in general, allergy labelling has improved, but it's frightening that a huge platform like TikTok does not have adequate measures to ensure that labelling is in place," she said."The thought of someone with a food allergy, or an allergy parent, buying items that they assume are safe, when in fact they may not be, is really scary."Mr Williams from Anaphylaxis UK says the ultimate responsibility lies with the seller but does think TikTok could do more."At the moment it's being used as a platform to sell things that may not be safe. They [TikTok] do need to do more," he said, "There's a lot of people making a lot of money, great side hustle, but they're putting people at risk." Dr James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which is responsible for food safety in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said: "Wherever people buy their food, it needs to be safe and what it says it is."Food businesses in the UK must be registered with their local authority and follow food law. All food businesses have a legal responsibility to sell safe food and provide allergen information."The FSA website says that if food is sold online or over the phone through "distance selling" then allergen information must be provided at two different stages in the order usually means providing allergy information in the online description and then also on the packaging so a buyer has two opportunities to check if their allergy could be triggered.
