The number of children experiencing potentially life-threatening allergic reactions has soared by 40% in five years, figures reveal.
NHS Digital statistics show 849 under tens were admitted to hospital with anaphylactic shock in 2017-18, up from 601 in 2014-15.
And the number visiting hospital suffering with allergies has also leapt 26% from 4,869 to 6,167 in the same period.
In response the parents of tragic teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died of an allergic reaction to a Pret A Manger baguette, have called for urgent research into why more young people are having allergic reactions.
Her dad Nadim, who has set up a new allergy research charity the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation with his wife Tanya, said: “We are facing an allergy timebomb.
“It is imperative that largescale, properly funded and open-data research projects are established to enable science and medicine to start responding to the spiralling needs of people with allergens.
“The challenge for the scientific community is to start developing cures for allergies.”
Food industry leaders and schools also need to focus and education and allergy awareness, the parents added.
The parents’ foundation is currently in talks with Southampton University about setting up a global research centre to find allergy cures.
About 20% of the UK population now has an allergic disorder, according to Allergy UK.
And in the 20 years to 2012 there was a 615% increase in the rate of hospital admissions for anaphylaxis in the UK, the charity adds.
The Government is introducing “Natasha’s Law” after Ednan-Laperouse family successfully campaigned for reform following 15-year-old Natasha’s death on a BA flight in 2016 to a sandwich which contained sesame seeds.
The new law will force food businesses to list full ingredients on pre-packaged foods from summer 2021.
