As Allergy Awareness Week 2025 puts the spotlight on the growing allergy crisis, personal stories like those of Rheia Walia and Lakshmi Kaul offer a sobering reminder of the very real dangers allergies present and the urgent need for stronger laws, better awareness, and a more compassionate, informed society.
Rheia Walia has lived with severe allergies since the age of one. She is allergic to nuts, coconut, kiwi, grapefruit, aubergine, and prawns, and also suffers from oral allergy syndrome, which triggers reactions to tree pollen.
The tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction to hidden sesame seeds baked into the dough of a baguette purchased from Pret A Manger, became a defining moment for Rheia. Motivated by her own experiences and Natasha’s story, Rheia, now a Law graduate from the University of Dundee with a Master’s in Medical Law and Ethics from the University of Durham, turned her personal struggle into a mission for change. She became an allergy awareness campaigner, a cause she believes helped shape her legal career.
Natasha’s death exposed critical gaps in food safety legislation and, for Rheia, was a painful reminder of the urgent need for reform.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Rheia reflected on her life with allergies stating, “How I dealt with my allergies, and my mindset around them, has evolved from childhood into adulthood. Living with severe allergies has become second nature to me. I’m constantly aware of everything I touch and eat, as well as what others around me are handling. I never leave home without my medication.
“Severe allergies are both a disability and a long-term health condition, but they are not always treated with the respect or understanding they deserve. This is often due to misconceptions about allergies and a lack of public awareness. My early experiences taught me to trust my own intuition — I know my body best, I know what I can and cannot have, and I will always rely on that knowledge.”
The dangers of allergies became devastatingly real for another family when Lakshmi Kaul’s nine-year-old daughter, Nainika, passed away after an allergic reaction to blueberries hidden in a dairy-free pancake.
After taking just one bite, Nainika turned completely blue and collapsed. Her father immediately administered an Epipen, and paramedics arrived at their Harrow home within seven minutes. Despite their efforts, Nainika suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away days later, after her family made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw life support.
Lakshmi described the experience as a "nightmare we will live and relive every single moment of our lives remaining." Writing on a JustGiving page created to fund allergy research in her daughter’s memory, she added, “We knew she was allergic to dairy and she had asthma, so we looked after that for the last nine years.”
Since Nainika’s passing, Lakshmi has dedicated herself to raising awareness and supporting allergy research in her personal capacity.
Both Lakshmi and Rheia’s stories highlight the deep impact of severe allergies on individuals and families, as well as the urgent need for better public awareness, safety education, and stronger protections. The call for change, whether through law, policy, or everyday practices, has never been more critical.
Rheia reiterates the same, stating, “Following my two law degrees, one thing I have repeatedly said and will continue to do so is that in current legislations and public policy, all measures are reactive to deaths rather than proactive.
“There needs to be ongoing and diligent processes in place to keep the allergy community safe and prevent allergy deaths. We deserve that dignity before death and no measure should be implemented as a result of a tragic death. In my opinion, not enough is being done until that is the case. The areas of most improvement need to be restaurant policies, they are not strict enough and not all institutions follow them at a high enough level. In addition to that, allergy awareness needs to increase: without an influx in awareness how can anything change. I strive to be that awareness and I strive to make that change.
“I know firsthand how debilitating and dangerous allergies can be and no one should have to go through life not knowing if something is safe or not. Allergies do not define you but they are a part of our life and something that needs to be adapted for by the wider community. At the end of the day it’s between life and death and that should be enough for change, but sadly it isn’t.”
As Allergy Awareness Week 2025 unfolds, stories like these remind us that awareness must be followed by action. Whether it’s checking a label, asking a question, changing a policy, or fostering compassion in the community, every small step matters. Until safety becomes second nature for everyone, not just those living with allergies, the work is far from over.
