The immune system reacts to certain proteins in food as though they were harmful pathogens. There are many possible food allergies, but some allergenic foods are more common than others.
Symptoms of a food allergy can affect any part of the body, including different parts of the body at the same time. You may get symptoms straight after eating the food you are allergic to, or days later.
What you can do to try and prevent allergic reactions:
• Cook and prepare separately any food known to cause allergies. I.e., wash down surfaces and utensils that have been used prior to making other dishes or cakes
• Raise awareness of the ingredients used to production teams and or label the cakes/products if being donated to bake sales with the name of the person who made them, the date they were made and a list of ingredients. This is particularly important for cakes and other products containing nuts
• It may be necessary to take additional measures to protect someone, and this might include things like banning the eating of peanuts at desks, or the storage of shellfish in shared fridges
• Make sure that first-aiders know the location of EpiPens, and the proper procedure for using them
• If offering for sale or taste testing any products that may contain allergens, ensure they are sliced or sampled with the same knife and ask the tester about any known allergens or food sensitivities before testing. Tell people what allergens food may contain
• In serious cases, consider providing the employee with their own fridge and eating utensils
• If you have a catered event, make sure the caterer is aware of their needs. If you go out for a meal, ask the employee about restaurants that work for them
• Always check with a child parent or guardian before allowing a child to taste test products
• If staff are expected to eat out at restaurants, e.g., for work meetings with clients or for celebrations, ensure the restaurants can cater safely for food allergies
• If you think it could be work related ask your manager to refer you to Occupational Health