The leading allergy charity in the UK, Allergy UK, has expressed significant concern over the doubling of hospital admissions in England for life-threatening allergic reactions in the past two decades.

According to data from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), there were 25,721 admissions for allergies and anaphylaxis in 2022-23, compared to 12,361 two decades ago.

The wider availability of foods from around the world is believed to be a contributing factor to this rise, as people are increasingly exposed to allergenic foods such as lentils, chickpeas, and kiwis that were not previously part of the British diet.

Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, the leading national patient charity for people living with all types of allergies, told The Guardian that “ We are seeing trends in people being allergic to lentils, chickpeas and kiwis, foods that in years past weren’t part of the British diet.”

“We had somebody call our helpline not so long ago, and they had an anaphylactic reaction when they went to a gin bar," Warner said.

“There was some pink peppercorn floating on the top of the gin. Pink peppercorn cross-reacts with cashew and this person had a cashew nut allergy,” the head of clinical services added.

Eating out also poses risks, as allergens may be present in unexpected ways. Moreover, the increase in birch trees being planted has led to a rise in pollen fruit syndrome.

The MHRA has strengthened its guidance on responding to anaphylaxis, emphasizing the importance of immediate action and the use of adrenaline auto-injectors. This alarming trend underscores the need for greater awareness, research, and care in managing allergies and anaphylactic reactions in the healthcare system.

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