Channel Islands allergy campaigner joins UK food safety group

Monday, 7 April 2025 09:31

Dominic Jones has joined a strategy group to help inform the UK Government on challenges faced by people suffering from food allergies.

The National Allergy Strategy Group was founded in 2002 to address the need for better NHS allergy services.

It now addresses challenges for the 'allergy community'.

Those in the group include campaigners, medical professionals and organisations.

Dominic, who heads the Jersey Food Allergy Group, says it will be looking at how food allergies can be managed across all areas in the UK.

"[The sectors include] education, food retail and in the health service to provide better outcomes for those suffering from alergies.

"Ultimately, it will culminate in a set of recommendations for the UK Government to put in better provisions for management of allergies in the community in the UK."

The focus for the group over the next few years includes improving GP education and training, increasing the number of specialists and creating a higher standard of care for people suffering from allergies.

When asked how this will help the Channel Islands, Dominic says that given the closeness, any recommendations adopted in the United Kingdom will ultimately influence practice here.

"Whether that's through educational practices, healthcare practices or generally allergy awareness in the community.

"It helps everybody understand what those with food allergies go through and indeed help those with food allergies understand the challenges of others in the community in helping them with their food allergies.

"I'm under no illusion that having a food allergy and turning up to a restaurant presents challenges to those restaurants.

"Ultimately, working together, we can create an environment which is much safer for everybody so that we're all better prepared."