Making Allergy History

With the rising tide of food allergies in the past 2 decades, we now all know, love or are someone with a food allergy. They particularly affect babies and children and we now have 2 to 3 million people in the UK living with diagnosed food allergies; that’s at least one food allergic child in every classroom with 1 or multiple food allergies. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has made national breakthroughs and a huge difference already in the 3 years since being created.

Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse received OBE’s earlier this year for their work and contribution to help the lives of allergic people, many of whom live in fear of the very foods they eat. They created The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation as a legacy to their 15 year old daughter who tragically died in 2016 from a severe allergic reaction to a sandwich that had a partial ingredients label and had omitted the sesame seeds to which she was highly allergic to. Many of you will know the story of her avoidable death from the coverage that went worldwide following her inquest in 2018. Founded with the vision of making allergy history, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation is dedicated to preventing and eradicating allergic disease starting with food allergy. From their campaigning which resulted in the world first change in food legislation, Natasha’s Law which was implemented on 1st October 2021, to the launch of the Natasha Clinical Trial in May 2022. The 3-year trial aims to enable a cost-effective treatment by using “everyday foods” instead of expensive pharmaceutical drugs as the very treatment for food allergy which would be at a fraction of the cost to the NHS.

Natasha’s Foundation has already brought food allergies out of the shadows, from a private tragedy - to being a voice for allergic people and increasing food allergy education, awareness, inclusion and respect for this life-threatening disease which now affects millions.