What Every School, Nursery, Parent and Workplace Needs to Know about the new UK allergy laws.
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- Jul 6
- 8 min read
“No parent should have to send their child to school worried that a life-threatening allergic reaction won’t be handled swiftly.”
Olivia Bailey, Minister for Early Education
Food allergies affect thousands of children and adults across the UK and for many, exposure to even tiny amounts of an allergen can trigger a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. What was once considered relatively uncommon has become an increasingly significant public health issue, particularly within education.
Over the past two decades, the number of children living with food allergies has risen dramatically. Research from Imperial College London found that diagnosed food allergies in England more than doubled between 2008 and 2018, with the largest increase seen in young children. At the same time, hospital admissions for food-induced anaphylaxis have more than tripled over the last 20 years. Today, it is estimated that around two children in every classroom have a food allergy, making allergy management an essential part of safeguarding in every school and nursery.
With more children than ever requiring support, schools are increasingly being called upon to balance inclusion with safety. From managing lunch times and school trips to ensuring staff can recognise the signs of an allergic reaction, allergy awareness has become everyone's responsibility. As a reception teacher, this can impact every school moment – whether that is ensuring playdough is gluten free or that all children get included in bake sales and biscuit treats it's something that teachers are embedding in their day to day practice.
Following several tragic and preventable deaths, the UK has seen significant changes in allergy legislation and guidance. From Natasha's Law to the introduction of Benedict's Law and strengthened Department for Education (DfE) guidance, organisations now have greater responsibilities than ever before to protect those living with allergies. These changes are not simply about meeting legal requirements—they are about creating safer environments where children with allergies can learn, play and thrive with confidence, knowing that the adults around them are prepared to keep them safe if an emergency occurs.
Learning from Tragedy
Many of the changes to allergy legislation have been driven by families campaigning to prevent others experiencing the same devastating loss.
One of the most well-known is Natasha's Law, which came into force on 1 October 2021 following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction after eating a pre-packed sandwich that did not clearly display its ingredients. The law requires all foods that are prepacked for direct sale (PPDS) to carry a full ingredients list, with any of the 14 regulated allergens clearly highlighted. This has significantly improved transparency for people living with food allergies and allows consumers to make more informed and safer choices.
More recently, Benedict's Law has introduced a new chapter in allergy safety within education. Named in memory of Benedict Blythe, a five year old boy who tragically died after suffering an allergic reaction at school, the legislation strengthens expectations for how schools manage allergies. From September 2026, schools are expected to have comprehensive allergy policies, provide annual allergy awareness training for staff, ensure individual healthcare plans are in place, maintain spare emergency adrenaline auto-injectors and establish clear emergency procedures. The aim is to ensure allergy management becomes an embedded part of safeguarding rather than something that depends on individual members of staff.
These expectations are reinforced through updated Department for Education guidance, which places greater emphasis on identifying pupils with allergies, maintaining accurate healthcare records, ensuring staff receive appropriate training and making emergency medication readily available. Together, these measures represent one of the most significant improvements in allergy safety within schools in recent years.
However, having policies in place is only one part of keeping children safe. Successful allergy management relies on creating a culture where every member of staff understands their role in reducing risk and that every single member of the school community know how to respond appropriately if an emergency occurs.
Schools should ensure that every child with a diagnosed allergy has an up-to-date Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP), developed in partnership with parents or carers and healthcare professionals. These plans should clearly outline the child's allergies, known triggers, signs and symptoms of a reaction, prescribed medication and the steps to take in an emergency. Allergy information should be communicated to all relevant staff while respecting the child's privacy and dignity.
Preventing exposure to allergens is equally important. This means having robust procedures for food preparation and storage, minimising the risk of cross-contamination, checking food labels carefully and ensuring that catering staff understand allergen management. Good communication plays a vital role in keeping children safe. Schools should work closely with parents and carers to ensure allergy information is accurate and updated whenever circumstances change. They should also establish clear procedures for school trips, extracurricular activities and special events so that allergy risks are considered as part of routine planning rather than as an afterthought.
Activities involving food should always be risk assessed, and schools should also consider potential allergens used in classroom activities such as cookery, science experiments or arts and crafts. School trips and educational visits require careful planning to ensure children with allergies can participate safely and confidently. Allergy risks should form part of every trip's risk assessment, with staff identifying potential allergens, considering catering arrangements and ensuring emergency medication is readily available throughout the visit. Staff accompanying the trip should be familiar with each child's Individual Healthcare Plan, know how to recognise the signs of an allergic reaction and feel confident administering an adrenaline auto-injector if required. It is also important to communicate with venues, activity providers and transport companies in advance to discuss allergen management and any necessary adjustments. With thorough planning and clear communication, children with allergies should be able to enjoy the same opportunities and experiences as their peers without unnecessary restrictions.
Creating an inclusive environment is just as important as reducing risk. Children with allergies should be able to participate fully in school life without feeling excluded or singled out. Educating pupils about allergies in an age-appropriate way can help develop understanding, encourage kindness and reduce the likelihood of accidental allergen exposure or bullying related to food allergies.
Building allergy awareness into the school curriculum can help create a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone. Through age-appropriate lessons in subjects such as PSHE, science and food technology, pupils can learn about food allergies, the importance of avoiding cross-contamination, recognising the signs of an allergic reaction and showing empathy towards classmates with allergies. Educating children from an early age encourages understanding, reduces stigma and helps foster a culture where everyone plays a part in keeping each other safe. As an allergy parent myself I can see the challenges that different ages hold – in your children they do not always know, or cannot read the packaging to check for allergies, for older children there is the ‘perceived inconvenience’ of carrying medication around and the worry of stigma and bullying. Food allergies can also have a significant emotional impact on children. Research suggests that almost one in three children with food allergies experience bullying or teasing because of their condition, often involving threats with allergenic foods or exclusion from activities. By incorporating allergy education into the curriculum and promoting empathy and inclusion, schools can help reduce stigma, prevent bullying and create a culture where every child feels safe, respected and supported.
Understanding Adrenaline Auto-Injectors
One area that often causes confusion is the terminology surrounding emergency medication. While many people refer to an "EpiPen", this is actually just one brand of an Adrenaline Auto-Injector (AAI).
AAI is the generic name for the life-saving devices used to treat anaphylaxis. Common brands include EpiPen, Jext, Emerade (where still in circulation) and the newer nasal adrenaline treatment, EURneffy. Although each device operates slightly differently, they all deliver adrenaline quickly to help reverse the effects of a severe allergic reaction.
Because each device has its own method of administration, regular practical training is essential. Staff should be familiar with the type of injector prescribed to individuals in their care, as well as any spare emergency devices held by their organisation. Schools should also regularly check the expiry dates of all prescribed and spare AAIs and ensure they are stored in locations that are both secure and quickly accessible during an emergency.
Recognising an Allergy Emergency
Recognising the signs of anaphylaxis early can save lives. Symptoms may appear suddenly and can worsen rapidly. Warning signs include difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, wheezing, swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty speaking or swallowing, dizziness, collapse, or a person becoming pale, floppy or unresponsive.
Not every allergic reaction develops into anaphylaxis, but if breathing or circulation is affected, it should always be treated as a medical emergency.
If someone is experiencing two or more symptoms on their healthcare plan it’s important that it is suspected that they could experience anaphylaxis, administer their adrenaline auto-injector immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own. Once adrenaline has been given, call 999 and clearly state that the person is experiencing anaphylaxis.
Where possible, the person should be laid flat with their legs raised to support circulation. If they are finding it difficult to breathe, they may sit up slightly, but they should never be allowed to stand or walk. If symptoms have not improved after five minutes and a second adrenaline auto-injector is available, a second dose should be given. Even if the person begins to recover, they must always be taken to hospital for assessment, as symptoms can return after the initial reaction.
Creating Safer Environments
While knowing how to respond during an emergency is vital, preventing allergic reactions in the first place remains the best form of protection. Good allergy management starts with clear communication between parents, carers and staff, supported by accurate healthcare plans, thorough record keeping and regular allergy awareness training.
Every member of staff should know how to recognise the signs of an allergic reaction, understand the school's allergy policy and feel confident using an adrenaline auto-injector. Regular training and emergency scenario practice help ensure that staff can respond quickly and effectively when every second counts.
Safe food preparation, careful cleaning procedures, avoiding cross-contamination and ensuring emergency medication is easily accessible all play an important role in reducing risk. When everyone understands their responsibilities and feels confident in recognising and responding to allergic reactions, schools become significantly safer and more inclusive places for every child.
The introduction of Natasha's Law, Benedict's Law and strengthened DfE guidance marks a major step forward in allergy safety across the UK and should offer parents and carers reassurance that allergies are being taking seriously. As the number of children living with allergies continues to rise, these changes will help schools move from simply reacting to emergencies to proactively creating environments where allergy safety is embedded into everyday practice.
Ultimately, legislation alone cannot save lives. It is awareness, preparation and the confidence to act quickly that make the greatest difference. Investing in allergy awareness and anaphylaxis training is not just about complying with the law—it is about ensuring that every member of staff has the knowledge and skills to respond when every second counts, helping every child to learn in an environment where they feel safe, included and protected.
References:
DFE - Supporting Children and Young People With Medical Conditions and Allergies Department for Education – March 2026
Anaphylaxis UK - https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/education/benedicts-law/
Benedict Blythe Foundation - https://benedictblythe.com/benedicts-law/
Natasha’s Foundation - https://www.narf.org.uk/
The Allergy Team - https://theallergyteam.com/allergy-safety-toolkit/
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