The story of teenage
Natasha Ednan Laperouse, who died on a holiday flight from Heathrow to Nice,
from Anaphylactic shock was two things. It was a personal reminder that you
cannot be too careful if you are known to be at risk and it will tell many
people what Anaphylaxis means.
This BBC item featured on the main news arising from the
Coroner's Inquest. The cause of death was not in doubt. The question was where
did responsibility lie? The product, a ready take away of food, did not list
all the ingredients and it was an unlisted one that triggered the reaction.
At present
with the extent and nature of manufactured and processed foods and their
availability, the makers and sellers now assume that consumers prefer strong tastes
as well as being attractive to look at. So there are items or chemicals
designed to appeal to the eyes and the taste buds and very many of them.
One factor
little considered is that while Anaphylaxis is the extreme problem for an
unlucky few there are likely to be rather more with either limited or greater
reactions with one effect or another. We do not know the extent or numbers of
these.
When they have
their ten minutes with the family doctor it is likely he will not be thinking
of allergy but one of the several other potential features of the problems,
such as brain fog. Among the elderly there is the risk of being labelled with
dementia onset. There are others.
We have still
a lot to learn.
My wife and I were recently discussing a similar local case. They are tragedies, but what isn't easy to understand is why people with such severe reactions would ever eat any prepared food bought commercially. Whatever procedures are in place the risks are obvious.
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