National Allergy Strategy launched to improve allergy care, food allergy safety and anaphylaxis awareness across the UK
The UK is being urged to take stronger action on allergies following the launch of the first ever National Allergy Strategy, a major new framework designed to improve allergy prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient safety across the country.
Presented in Parliament during Allergy Awareness Week, the strategy has been developed by The National Allergy Strategy Group (NASG), bringing together leading allergy charities, clinicians, researchers and people with lived experience of allergic disease.
The strategy comes at a time when food allergies, asthma, eczema, hay fever and other allergic conditions are continuing to rise across the UK, with allergic disease now affecting millions of adults and children. Campaigners say the current allergy system is fragmented, under-resourced and failing too many families living with food allergies and anaphylaxis.
Developed in collaboration with more than 150 experts and patient charities including Natasha’s Foundation, the National Allergy Strategy sets out recommendations to improve allergy care across healthcare, schools, food businesses, workplaces, transport and public policy.
Organisations involved in the strategy include , , and .
Why the National Allergy Strategy matters
The launch of the National Allergy Strategy reflects growing concern around the scale of allergic disease in the UK and the lack of coordinated national leadership surrounding allergy prevention, food allergy safety and anaphylaxis awareness.
Research referenced within the strategy suggests allergies affect around 30% of adults and almost 40% of children in the UK. Yet despite increasing hospital admissions linked to severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, allergy services remain inconsistent across the country.
Many families face long waiting lists for allergy testing, limited access to allergy specialists and a postcode lottery of care depending on where they live.
The strategy argues that allergic disease should be recognised as a major long-term health condition and embedded into national decision-making across healthcare, education and food policy.
Professor Adam Fox, Chair of NASG, said the strategy aims to create long-term systemic change by improving accountability, awareness and allergy safety in everyday environments.
Food allergies and anaphylaxis remain a major public health issue
Food allergies can have a significant impact on every aspect of daily life, from education and employment to eating out, travel and mental wellbeing.
For millions of people living with food allergies, safety often depends on clear allergen information, properly trained staff and fast access to emergency treatment in the event of anaphylaxis.
The strategy highlights the need for stronger food allergy awareness and better allergen management across society, particularly as severe allergic reactions continue to rise.
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse said too many families are still navigating a system that lacks consistency, accountability and joined-up allergy care.
The strategy also reinforces calls for the appointment of a national Allergy Tsar to help coordinate allergy policy and improve outcomes for people living with allergies across the UK.
Benedict’s Law and improving allergy safety in schools
The launch of the National Allergy Strategy comes alongside growing momentum for improved allergy safety in schools.
New statutory guidance, known as Benedict’s Law, is due to come into force in England from September 2026. The measures are expected to strengthen allergy awareness and anaphylaxis preparedness within education settings. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation offers FREE online allergy awareness training through Allergy School to ensure schools are compliant with Benedict’s Law. The accredited course covers everything schools need to create safer, more inclusive environments for children and young people living with allergies.
The guidance includes recommendations around allergy policies, staff training, individual healthcare plans and access to spare adrenaline auto-injectors in schools.
Benedict’s Law is named in memory of Benedict Blythe, who died following an allergic reaction at school in 2021.
We are also continuing to support Owen’s Law, proposed legislation that would require written allergen information to be available at the point of ordering in food businesses.
The campaign is named after Owen Carey, who died after suffering a fatal allergic reaction after eating food from a restaurant.
The future of allergy care in the UK
At Natasha’s Foundation, we hope the National Allergy Strategy will mark a turning point for allergy care in the UK and encourage the Government to take meaningful action on food allergy safety, allergy prevention, anaphylaxis awareness and access to specialist allergy services.
The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed it is reviewing the recommendations outlined within the strategy and continuing discussions with organisations involved in its development.
For people living with food allergies and allergic disease, the strategy represents an important step towards improving understanding, accountability and safety nationwide.
Natasha’s Foundation believes everyone deserves to feel safe, supported and understood when living with food allergies. Through research, education, campaigning and advocacy, we remain committed to helping to create a future without food allergy.