As Allergy Safety Week 2025 begins, campaigners, medical experts, and communities across the UK are joining forces to spotlight the growing importance of allergy awareness, prevention, and preparedness.
Organised annually, Allergy Safety Week aims to educate the public on the risks associated with severe allergic reactions and empower people to create safer spaces — whether at home, school, work, or while dining out.
Allergies affect millions in the UK. According to Allergy UK, one in three people will experience an allergy at some point in their lives, with around 21 million adults and children currently managing allergic conditions ranging from hay fever and food allergies to asthma and severe anaphylaxis. Worryingly, hospital admissions for allergic reactions have more than doubled over the past 20 years. In 2024 alone, the NHS recorded over 26,000 admissions for allergic reactions, with children and young adults making up a significant portion of cases.
Food allergies remain one of the most common and dangerous triggers. An estimated 2 million people in the UK live with food allergies, including around 8% of children. Common culprits include peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, and sesame — but even trace amounts can prove life-threatening for some. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, set up in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, continues to advocate for stronger food labelling and awareness following her tragic death in 2016.
This year’s Allergy Safety Week campaign is themed “I Wish I Knew…” which focuses on improving early diagnosis, ensuring accurate labelling in retail and hospitality, raising awareness in schools, and encouraging workplaces to implement allergy-friendly practices.
The campaign has been developed by Allergy UK, in response to rising allergy cases, with 1 in 2 people in Europe estimated to be living with an allergy in 2026. It also highlights the importance of training in recognising and responding to anaphylaxis, including the use of adrenaline auto-injectors like EpiPens.
The campaign will begin by highlighting three things it is important for everyone to know about allergy during Allergy Awareness Week. These are: allergies can develop at any age, allergies can exacerbate other health conditions such as asthma, and getting an allergy diagnosis is crucial – it’s the key to accessing the right care and support.
Simone Miles, Chief Executive of Allergy UK, said, “Allergy Awareness Week 2025 is an important opportunity to raise awareness about the experiences of people living with allergies. Our healthcare system is not optimised to provide adequate care for allergic conditions, so it’s important anyone who is newly experiencing allergy symptoms is able to recognise the red flags to seek support.
“Early intervention can even change the course of an allergy and people need to be empowered with the right information to enable them to take advantage of this.
“An allergy diagnosis isn’t just a label, it’s the key to managing symptoms, preventing severe reactions and complications and improving quality of life. It can open the door to appropriate treatment pathways plus information about how to live safely with an allergy.
“If new persistent symptoms appear or an existing condition worsens without a clear cause, allergy could be the missing piece of the puzzle.”
Allergy charities are calling on both individuals and institutions to adopt a "whole community approach" to allergy safety, recognising that even simple actions — like checking labels, asking about allergies, and knowing how to respond in an emergency — can save lives.
With the number of allergy cases rising globally and no cure yet in sight, Allergy Safety Week 2025 serves as a vital reminder: awareness, preparation, and compassion are the best tools we have to protect the growing number of people living with allergies.
