Food Allergy: How Labelling the Food you Serve can Save Lives

Abstract

Food allergy and associated anaphylaxis is an issue that plagues an unfortunate section of the world population and at times can prove fatal. Modern immunology has devised techniques for prevention, early diagnosis and to an extent, cure through desensitisation for food allergies. It is as important for clinicians to be aware of these developments to educate their patients, as it is for them to know how to manage a case of food-induced anaphylaxis in the emergency room. Labelling food items served at gatherings, with details of the ingredients and allergen information is a simple yet highly effective strategy to prevent fortuitous anaphylactic episodes and threats to life.