Sleaford Quality Foods partners with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation

The Ingredients firm will support the charity’s work to raise awareness of food allergies, as well as help fund new scientific research.

Commenting on the partnership, Sleaford managing director James Arnold said: “As a key importer and supplier of food ingredients and by working with our robust global supply chain, we have a responsibility to ensure we do everything we can to prevent allergic reactions to food products experienced by so many people in the world today, so we are supporting Natasha’s Foundation to help them fulfil their ambition to make allergy history.​

Urgent challenge

 “The issue is close to our heart; the young family of one of our colleagues have directly experienced allergic reactions so we are more than aware of the need for the food sector to urgently address this challenge.”  ​

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation was founded in 2019 by Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse after their daughter Natasha died aged 15 from a severe allergic reaction to sesame.

Their campaigning in the wake of her death led to the creation of ‘Natasha’s Law’ – also known as the UK Food Information Amendment – which requires food businesses to provide full ingredient lists and allergen labelling on all food that is pre-packaged for direct sale.

Global allergy epidemic

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse added: “The unprecedented rise in allergic disease over the last 30 years means there has never been a more important time to understand what is fuelling the global allergy epidemic. So many people today are living with a food allergy, including 1 in 13 school children.​

“That’s why we are delighted that Sleaford Quality Foods are joining us in the fight to make allergy history. Their support is funding the important work we are doing to raise awareness of food allergies and carry out new scientific research.”​

Two years into its three-year run, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has seen positive results from its clinical trial aiming to help desensitise children with food allergies​ ​using a technique known as oral immunotherapy.