Thank you for your article on Food Allergy Warning. So sorry to learn about the deaths in your article. I am also a sufferer of food intolerance. My first experience was in June 1962 at College Hostel, with swelling around the eye and frequent problems. All checks with foods, stool exams etc did not reveal the cause of allergy, in my first year in Mumbai.
Now I think it must have been related to aubergine seeds, common vegetable in hostel meals as the culprit. In 1963 I went back to Tanga (Tanzania) and the GP gave me blood injections, 1ml 2ml and 3mls for three days, taking blood from my veins and injecting into muscle mass. This procedure reduced the frequency since 1963 onwards but is not advocated by dermatologists here in the UK.
Luckily mine was only serious only, after evening meals at my Salaajis house in North London. I had that night swelling of the throat and tongue. An ambulance attended and took me to the A&E department at Kingston Hospital. I have idiopathic allergy and keep and epipen (2) with me at all times. I am ok with all nuts, sesame seeds, but intolerance to vinegar, strong citrus juices/drinks, tamarind, aubergines and get on occasions reactions to alcohol (some types only), sulphide content high can trigger reactions.
Even strawberries/sweets can trigger off reactions/asthma in children. I know of one girl who had this problem. Oral reactions are quite common afecting the mouth mucosa, lips, tongue and throat (more serious/urgent). I was surprised Natasha had sesame seeds reaction, as one can see seeds on baguette and taste with first bite. Intolerance foods/drinks should be avoided with extra care, when eating outside home. All at home/school should know how to use an Epipen (adult and paediatric) and all the ambulance once the Epipen has been used in an emergency.
JG Thekerar
Kingston
