We are delighted to be launching our Bee and Wasp Venom Awareness Campaign for 2024, supported by an educational grant from ALK. The campaign will offer invaluable guidance on bee and wasp sting avoidance, recognising anaphylaxis symptoms, the steps to take in an emergency and information about venom immunotherapy.

A major study by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revealed that approximately 6% of the UK adult population, or around 2.4 million people, live with a clinically confirmed food allergy. The Patterns and Prevalence of Adult Food Allergy (PAFA)

New research from GS1 UK has found that 56% of those with allergies have had a reaction from incorrect or unclear labelling, and 23% have had multiple reactions. GS1 UK members are piloting next-generation barcodes (a fusion of the linear barcode and the QR code) to allow customers to find product information on their smartphones to make allergen information more accurate and accessible.

A new study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has found that a high index of suspicion is needed to identify pediatric patients with egg-induced anaphylaxis. Children with egg-induced anaphylaxis were younger and presented with more vomiting, less throat tightness and less angioedema than those with anaphylaxis caused by other foods, and often lack a history of food-induced anaphylaxis.

A study published in the March issue of the Journal of Infection has found that direct oral penicillin challenges can be safely given to patients with penicillin allergy labels by non-allergy healthcare professionals.

The need for a delay in skin prick testing after an anaphylactic reaction might be unnecessary, according to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice this April.

University Hospital Waterford has apologised after 76-year-old Elizabeth Murphy died from anaphylaxis as High Court action settled for €400,000. Mrs Waterford died at home in January 2019 after taking antibiotics prescribed by her GP – she had had a serious reaction to antibiotics in hospital in the past but this was not included in her discharge notes.

A study of 61 Irish primary school teachers published in the European Journal of Pediatrics this April has found low levels of competence and confidence in adrenaline auto-injector (AAIs) use.

If you’re an adult from a South Asian background, researchers from the University of Birmingham and Surrey and the NHS are keen to hear about your experiences of living with food allergies. Please contact Clare who is a member of