%201.svg)
5–8% of UK Children Have a Food Allergy
Food allergy affects approximately 5–8% of children in the UK — one of the highest rates in the developed world. Unlike food intolerances, food allergies involve an immune system response that can, in its most severe form, cause anaphylaxis — a life-threatening systemic reaction. The UK has experienced a series of preventable deaths from food allergy in children and young people that have directly shaped food safety legislation, including Natasha's Law and Owen's Law.
Children are the group most affected by food allergies, and the majority of allergic reactions in children involve the most common allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and soya. Most children outgrow milk and egg allergies; peanut and tree nut allergies are typically lifelong.
Key Facts & Figures (Overview)
- An estimated 5–8% of UK children have a food allergy — one of the highest rates in the developed world
- Approximately 2 million people in the UK have a formally diagnosed food allergy; children are disproportionately represented
- The most common childhood food allergens in the UK are: cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and soya — in roughly that order of prevalence
- Hospital admissions for food anaphylaxis in the UK more than tripled between 1998 and 2018, with the steepest increase in children and young people
- Around 10 people die every year in the UK from food-induced anaphylaxis — several of these deaths are in young people
- Milk allergy affects approximately 2–3% of infants in the UK — making it the most common food allergy in the first year of life
- Peanut allergy affects approximately 1.8% of children in the UK; this figure has roughly doubled over the past two decades
- 80% of anaphylactic reactions to food in children occur in school settings or when eating food prepared outside the home (Food Standards Agency)
- The LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut) trial — a UK clinical trial — demonstrated that early peanut introduction in high-risk infants reduces peanut allergy risk by up to 80%, leading to a major change in global allergy guidance
- NHS guidance now recommends introducing peanuts (in age-appropriate forms) to most babies at around 6 months — a reversal of previous avoidance guidance
- Around 900,000 children with allergies are of school age in the UK
- An estimated 1 in 5 children with a severe food allergy has had a reaction at school
- Adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPens) — the emergency treatment for anaphylaxis — are carried by approximately 20% fewer children than those assessed to need them
- Under Owen's Law (2024), food businesses must be able to communicate allergen information verbally to customers — particularly relevant when children or their parents ask about allergens in food served to children
The Most Common Childhood Food Allergens
Cow's milk allergy affects 2–3% of infants and is the most common food allergy in the first year of life. Most children outgrow it by age 3–5. It must be distinguished from lactose intolerance, which is a digestive rather than immune response and is not typically dangerous. Children with confirmed IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy require strict avoidance and carry anaphylaxis risk from exposure.
Egg allergy affects approximately 1.5–2% of children. Most children outgrow it — around 70% by age 7. Eggs are present in an enormous range of food products including cakes, pastry, mayonnaise, pasta, and many processed foods, making avoidance in catering environments particularly challenging.
Peanut allergy affects approximately 1.8% of children. It is typically lifelong — only around 20% of children outgrow peanut allergy. Peanuts can cause severe anaphylaxis at trace exposures and cross-contamination from shared cooking equipment or surfaces can trigger reactions.
Tree nut allergy — almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, and others — affects around 1–2% of the general population. Cross-reactivity between different tree nuts is common; many people with one tree nut allergy are advised to avoid all tree nuts.
Wheat allergy — distinct from both coeliac disease (an autoimmune condition) and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity — affects a small proportion of children and typically resolves in childhood.
Sesame was added to the list of 14 major allergens requiring mandatory declaration following Natasha Ednan-Laperouse's death in 2016, which involved undeclared sesame in a Pret à Manger baguette.
Children's Food Allergy in Educational Settings
Children spend a significant proportion of their waking hours in schools, nurseries, and childcare settings — all of which have specific obligations around food allergy management:
- Schools must have an individual healthcare plan (IHP) for children with severe food allergies, detailing their specific allergens and emergency procedures
- Adrenaline auto-injectors must be immediately accessible to trained staff for children with severe allergy
- School catering staff must be able to identify all allergens in every dish and communicate this to children and parents
- The Universal Infant Free School Meals policy means that school caterers are now feeding the entire Reception to Year 2 year group — including those with allergies — which increases the scale and complexity of allergen management
- Packed lunch policies — increasingly, schools provide guidance on nut-free packed lunches to protect severely allergic children, though the legal basis for this varies
Written by Food Safety Experts
This guide was produced by the team at Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate, a UK provider of CPD-accredited online food hygiene training. Food allergy management — including allergen awareness, cross-contamination prevention, and emergency response — is a core component of our Level 2 Food Safety qualification, with specific relevance for those working in school and childcare catering.
