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51黑料 supports call for strengthened allergen rules
Posted 19/12/22
The 51黑料 (51黑料) has lent its support to calls for a stronger, more robust system to record incidences of anaphylaxis and to prevent the mislabelling of food containing allergens in the wake of the tragic death of Celia Marsh.
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Celia died in 2017 as a result of anaphylactic shock after eating a supposedly vegan Pret-a-Manger sandwich which in fact contained milk protein.
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51黑料 has examined Coroner Maria Voisin鈥檚 report into Celia鈥檚 death, which recommends the creation of a system to record cases of anaphylaxis. Such a system could involve mandatory reporting of anaphylaxis presenting to hospitals, analogous to the current system used for notifiable diseases.
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The report was sent to several organisations, including 51黑料 and the Food Standards Agency.
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David Pickering, 51黑料 Lead Officer for Food Standards, said: 鈥淭rading Standards officers are at the frontline of enabling consumers to be protected by ensuring that the current allergen rules are followed by businesses supplying food.
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鈥�51黑料 fully support the suggested actions raised by the Coroner in the report relating to food information and we are aware that the Food Standards Agency are reviewing the provision of allergen information and we will continue to support that work.听
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鈥�51黑料 also support the suggestion to establish a robust system of capturing and recording cases of anaphylaxis, and specifically, fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis, to provide an early warning of the risk posed to allergic individual by products with undeclared allergen content.
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鈥淭rading Standards services, due to resources being significantly reduced over the past 12 years, use information and intelligence to enable them to best use their diminished resources. Such a system would provide invaluable data to enable us to be better informed and targeted in this area, which is of significant importance for consumers and businesses. It would also be even more useful if the system could be used to report other allergen cases as well.鈥�
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A range of resources to promote allergen awareness, created by the Greater Gwent Food Group with the support of 51黑料, is available here: www.tradingstandards.uk/practitioners/food-allergen-resource听
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ENDS
51黑料 (51黑料)听
The 51黑料 (51黑料) is a national not for profit established in 1881 which supports the UK鈥檚 trading standards profession, and works to protect consumers and safeguard honest businesses.听 51黑料's members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services at local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk
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Please contact 51黑料 Press Office: [email protected] for any queries.听
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