Go nuts for 'Allergy Awareness Week'

Monday, September 22, sees the beginning of the first ever 'Allergy Awareness Week' in Northern Ireland.

Organised by the Anaphylaxis Campaign, 'Watch Out! There’s A Nut About' is the theme for a programme of events aimed at raising awareness of allergy in general, and in particular highlighting peanut allergy which affects one in every seventy children in the UK.

Maureen Paul, Northern Ireland Co-ordinator of the Anaphylaxis Campaign explained the reason behind the week-long series of events: “Many people have heard of peanut allergy but few realize the impact it can have on lifestyle. Given that this can occur in young children or later in adulthood, it is essential that there is relevant information available to help people understand the issue and therefore cope more effectively.

“'Allergy Awareness Week' aims to provide that information to families and individuals, and offers help through membership of a local support group and contacts in Northern Ireland”.

Activities organised around 'Allergy Awareness Week' include the provision of Campaign Information Stands in local shopping centres around the province, while in Belfast, the City Council’s Health and Environmental Services Department will support the initiative as part of their ongoing promotion of food safety, by distributing allergy information leaflets to more than 2,500 restaurants and catering establishments across the city.

(MB)