Food and drink manufacturers can no longer ignore the case for providing free-from options, after data showed that the number of hospital admissions for food allergies grew by nine times the rate of the general population.
That is the finding of UK-based private label specialist Trace One, which submitted freedom of information requests to healthcare trusts in Scotland and combined them with readily available figures for the National Health Service (NHS) in England.
It found that, during the last ten years, the number of “admissions for serious reactions” to food allergies grew by almost 75% in England – far above the 8% increase in population during the same period of time. The pattern was repeated in Scotland, where the number of patients consulting a doctor for a food allergy increased by over 20% between 2004 and 2013, against a population increase of less than 5%.
If allergy-related admissions were to continue growing at the same rate, there would be almost four times as many cases in 2040 as there were last year.
The rate of anaphylactic shock caused by food intolerance – the most severe form of allergic reaction – rose from 887 cases in England in 2004 to 1,709 in 2015, representing an increase of almost 100%.
The equivalent figures for Wales were not available, Trace One said.
“Transparency will become increasingly critical for the industry and consumers, both to know exactly and reliably what potential allergens products contain and to swiftly recall products in the event of supply chain issues that could put higher-risk allergy sufferers in significant danger,” the company added.
Shaun Bossons, executive vice-president for global business development for Trace One, continued: “The rise in demand for ‘free-from’ products started in the UK but is now a trend in all industrialised countries. It has often been dismissed as a fad, with lifestyle choices rather than genuine health reasons driving the majority of purchase decisions. However it’s clear from our research that we are facing a huge rise in both minor and major food allergies that can’t be explained away by factors such as population growth.
“Our research found that hospital admissions in England due to food reactions rose from 2,758 in 2004 to 4,744 in 2015. For anaphylactic shock specifically – the most severe of allergic reactions – it almost doubled. Transparency in the food supply industry will be a major step in limiting any further growth in the admissions rate. It’s a life-and-death responsibility for retailers.
“No research team investigating potential reasons for rising food allergies has identified a specific culprit. However, what really needs to concern the food industry is consumer trust. If consumers believe a processed food product is responsible for their allergies, they’ll be quick to abandon it. Owners of consumer brands need the wider food industry to adopt the use of new information tools to achieve full supply chain transparency, in order to ensure the integrity of their brands and also to both protect and reassure their consumers.”
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