podcastsinenglish Level 3.147 Look before you eat
Dec 6, 2018
Food allergies can be especially challenging during the festive season. Discover how the immune system mistakenly targets harmless foods and the range of allergic reactions from mild to life-threatening. With a surge in cases, especially among children, clear labeling of food allergens has become crucial. Learn which 14 allergens must be declared and the importance of specific labeling practices. Plus, don't forget about keeping your pets safe from holiday treats that can be harmful to them!
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What An Allergic Reaction Is
- An allergic reaction is your immune system wrongly attacking a harmless substance it perceives as foreign.
- Jackie explains the body 'thinks it's a bug' and mounts an attack causing symptoms from rashes to worse.
Severity And Rising Prevalence
- Food allergies range from mild rashes to life-threatening reactions.
- Jackie and Richard note that some reactions can be fatal and the number of peanut allergies in UK children has trebled.
Unknown Causes And Mortality
- Nobody knows exactly why allergies have risen, though many ideas exist.
- Jackie notes around ten people die each year in the UK from acute allergic reactions.