The Prince of Wales joined leading scientists for a global symposium on allergies at Dumfries House this week.
Prince Charles was said to be “moved beyond words” by the news of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse’s death in 2016 from anaphylactic shock caused by the mislabelling of a prepackaged sandwich that contained an ingredient to which she was severely allergic.
After inquests and government intervention, in October 2021, a new law in the UK was enacted: the Natasha Law. Natasha was allergic to sesame seeds; they weren’t listed on the packaging nor visible to the naked eye. This law requires that all PPDS (PrePacked for Direct Sale) foods include a complete ingredient list with allergens. This requires all display foods, foods made on premises, and foods sold at mobile or temporary outlets to have labels.
Prince Charles said in a statement: “I was moved beyond words by the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse and the way her parents have selflessly dedicated themselves to preventing other families suffering in the same way.
“That is why my Prince’s Foundation is hosting leading scientists and experts in the field to tackle the environmental causes of allergic disease, so that no more lives are needlessly lost due to allergic reactions,” he continued.
“We are absolutely thrilled that His Royal Highness has pledged the support of his Prince’s Foundation to tackle the allergy epidemic,” said Natasha’s parents, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, in an interview with ITV News.
The couple set up the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation in their daughter’s memory. The foundation aims to eradicate allergies, raise awareness, and generate research on the health issue.
“It is quite clear that biodiversity and the environment are key factors affecting the huge rise in the numbers of people with allergies,” the couple added. “The learnings from this inspiring and informative symposium provide us with a blueprint toward eradicating allergies, and it is crucial that new landmark studies in this field are fully funded now.”
The two-day symposium saw scientists from the United States, Hong Kong, Denmark, Germany, and Finland, alongside scientists from the UK, gather to discuss their findings.
