The Children’s Services and Education Legislation Amendment (Anaphylaxis Management) Act 2008 came into force on 14 July 2008. This legislation has been enacted by the Government in order to ensure there are minimum safety standards in schools and children’s services for children who have been diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis.

During the first quarter of each membership year (the membership year is 1st April to 31st March), two positions become available on the Allergen Bureau Management Committee. These positions are open to employees of Full Member companies who have allergen management responsibilities. An election process was undertaken in June 2008 and the Allergen Bureau is pleased to announce that David Henning and Kirsten Grinter were re-elected unopposed to these two management committee positions.

As promised in the last issue of the Allergen Bureau eNews, the following is a review of some additional highlights from the 2008 Allergen Bureau conferences that were held in February 2008, in Brisbane and Sydney.

Innovations in food allergen management

The Allergen Bureau Conference series will continue in September this year, with a one day event being held in conjunction with the 15th Australian HACCP Conference at the Holiday Inn, Adelaide. The conference runs from 8–12 September 2008, with the one day Allergen Bureau Conference - Innovations in food allergen management - being held on 11 September. A half day workshop on the VITAL tool will also be presented the following day.

A recent article in the American Family Physician (2008;77(12) pp1678-1686) provides an overview of clinical aspects of food allergy, including the different manifestations of food allergy, the means of clinical diagnosis, and recommendations for patients with regard to optimal management of their condition.

In 1994, the UK Food Standards Authority established the Food Intolerance Research Program T07 with the aim of investigating the causes and mechanisms underlying food intolerance and food allergy. Their work has in recent years focused on severe food allergy, in particular peanut allergy, and a major aim is to identify risk factors associated with the development of food allergy.