All political parties were today called upon to urgently appoint an Allergy Tsar, should they triumph at the general election.
More than 50 campaigners and experts including ex-Towie star Megan McKenna and Love Island’s Jack Fowler, said the country was not doing enough to support the millions of Brits living with allergies.
In the open letter, the coalition said the lack of a national leader for allergies has been raised ‘time and time again by coroners at the inquests’ of those who have died following severe reactions, including from products they thought were safe.
Yet of the 45 such leaders appointed by NHS England, who cover issues ranging from obesity to autism, not one is dedicated to supporting people living with allergies.
Latest Government figures suggest around 2.4million adults are living with a food allergy in the UK, with hospital admissions for severe reactions more than tripling within the last 20 years.
More than 50 campaigners and experts including ex-Towie star Megan McKenna (pictured) and Love Island’s Jack Fowler, argued the country was not doing enough to support the millions of Brits living with allergies
In the open letter, the coalition said the lack of a national leader for allergies has been raised ‘time and time again by coroners at the inquests’ of those who have died following severe reactions, including from products they thought were safe. Pictured, Jack Fowler
The letter was published by the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, which was established in 2019 by Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse.
They were forced to watch helplessly as their 15-year-old daughter Natasha died after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret sandwich while on a flight from Nice in 2016.
The artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette sandwich was later discovered to have hidden amount of sesame seeds which weren’t declared on the packet. Natasha was allergic to these seeds.
Megan McKenna, an ambassador for NARF, said: ‘I am supporting the Natasha Foundation’s campaign urging the next Government to give greater priority to allergies and appoint an Allergy Tsar because many people with allergies feel unheard, misunderstood and do not receive the care they need.
‘It’s time to give a voice to the millions of people with allergies in this country.
‘I hope the next Government will appoint an Allergy Tsar who can champion the needs of these people.’
Meanwhile, Jack Fowler said: ‘I am delighted to give my support to the Natasha’s Foundation’s campaign urging the Government to appoint an Allergy Tsar.
‘We desperately need a national lead to stand up for people like me with allergies.
‘I hope the next Government will listen to the millions of people with allergies, and take action to appoint an Allergy Tsar.’
Both stars have a food allergy. Megan, 31, has wheat allergy and has been open about her battle with celiac disease, a condition where the immune system attacks healthy tissues when a person eats gluten.
Meanwhile, Jack, 28, recently revealed how he had to be rushed to hospital following a terrifying allergic reaction on a recent flight to Dubai that left him breathing through an oxygen mask.
The star, who took to Instagram to detail his ordeal, claimed he had told the flight attendant on his Emirates flight several times that he had a nut allergy.
Jack, 28, recently revealed he was rushed to hospital following a terrifying allergic reaction on a recent flight to Dubai that left him breathing through an oxygen mask. The star took to Instagram and claimed he had told the flight attendant on his Emirates flight several times that he had a nut allergy
However, despite his warnings he was served a chicken cashew nut curry and within seconds his throat closed up and he began to struggle to breath. Jack was given five tanks of oxygen and had to administer his Adrenaline Pen (Epi Pen) but confessed he was left with the ‘real possibility of dying on the plane’
However, despite his warnings he was served a chicken cashew nut curry which, within seconds, caused his throat to close up and he began to struggle to breath.
Jack was given five tanks of oxygen and had to administer his Adrenaline Pen (Epi Pen) and said he was left with the ‘real possibility of dying on the plane’.
In the letter, the group also wrote that appointing an allergy tsar would allow ‘a coherent approach to allergies in this country’.
Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, also said: ‘This is an opportunity for the next Government to lead and tackle this modern-day epidemic that affects thousands of people in every constituency.
‘Voters support the appointment of an Allergy Tsar; 20,000 people signed a Parliamentary petition calling for the appointment of a tsar.
‘Now is the time to act to prevent more unnecessary deaths and ill health from allergy.
Nadim Ednan-Laperouse was travelling home with his daughter Natasha (pictured), when she suffered a deadly reaction to nuts during a flight back from a dream trip to Nice on July 17, 2016
‘How many more children can we afford to lose through largely preventable fatal allergic reactions?’
Experts estimate that 10 Brits die from an allergic reaction to food each year, with 5,000 people hospitalised for severe reactions.
Allergies can provoke a variety of symptoms but the most serious is a dangerous inflammation of the airways called anaphylaxis.
This can make it hard and even impossible to breath and can cause the body to go into a cardiac emergency like a cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen.
Children with allergies are considered to be especially at risk from severe reactions as, due to their smaller body size, even small amounts of allergens provoke bigger reactions.
Allergies are also often discovered in childhood meaning parents may not have an emergency injection to hand if an allergic reaction occurs.
Source: Mail Online
