The 2008 Annual Allergen Bureau Conference in Sydney 26 February has sold out following its enormous success at the Brisbane venue on 12 February with strong participation from all sectors of the industry.

Late last year the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) released a report, 'Economic Impact of Allergies' that states the financial cost of allergies (including food allergy) in Australia was $7.8 billion in 2007. This is due to lower productivity ("presenteeism" $4.2 billion), direct medical costs ($1.2 billion) lower employment rates ($1.1 billion), absenteeism and lost household productivity ($0.2 billion) and premature death ($83 million).

The dates have been set for this year’s series of the Gluten Free and Allergy Show. The event will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre in May, the ASB Showgrounds (Auckland) in July and the Sydney Convention Centre in November this year.

The Allergy Aware pilot program is a joint project with the NSW Food Authority, Food Regulation Partnership and two local councils, and has the support of industry bodies such as Restaurant & Catering NSW/ACT. It is running in self selected food service businesses in the City of Canada Bay and Orange City council areas from October 2007.

The Australian Institute of Environmental Health recognised Maribyrnong Council's food allergen information kit last month with its leadership and strategic planning award for 2007. The kit was launched in May and includes information about food allergens and food intolerances.

Previously it was thought that around three-quarters of children with milk and egg allergies would outgrow the condition by the time they start school, if not before. According to new research from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, milk and egg allergies now appear to be more persistent and harder to outgrow.