Allergy NZ's work extensive, says MP

August 2007 — Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick congratulated Allergy New Zealand in her opening speech at the organisation’s recent conference and said their work was far more extensive than she had realised.

Ms Chadwick appeared on behalf of the Minister of Food Safety Annette King to open the Allergy New Zealand National Conference, held on August 4 and 5.

“You have an amazingly high profile now, and it’s not just because I launched the [New Zealand Food Allergy] Cookbook in May! Now I have had something to do with Allergy New Zealand, I have seen the brand everywhere.”

The National Conference featured two international speakers, as well as leading New Zealand allergy specialists and representatives from the food industry.

The organisation’s inaugural ambassador Peter Leitch, aka The Mad Butcher, was honoured at the conference with the Platinum Award for his huge contribution.

“Peter has used his considerable influence in the business community to highlight and raise allergy issues,” said Allergy New Zealand’s chairman Peter Aish.

In addition, he has organised a number of events and raised $50,000 over the past year to support the organisation’s activities.

“I am glad to report that Peter is going to continue on as the Allergy New Zealand Ambassador,” Aish said.

Information upload: from pollen to food allergy

August 2007 — Allergy New Zealand’s second National Conference was a resounding success, attracting a crowd of over one hundred people who came to listen to expert specialists in a number of different fields of allergy.

The conference started with a plenary session entitled: Surveillance and Monitoring of Food Triggered Allergic Reactions. A panel representing the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, Auckland Regional Public Health, Auckland City Council and ACC discussed each organisation’s role in responding if someone has a reaction to food from a takeaway bar. Dr Penny Fitzharris, Director of Clinical Immunology, Auckland District Health Board, chaired the panel.

Professor Christophe Dupont (from the Hospital Cochin Saint Vincent de Paul, Paris, France) spoke of breakthroughs in diagnostic testing and also about the clinical spectrum of food allergy in children.

Associate Professor Rohan Ameratunga gave an allergy overview from a New Zealand perspective and spoke of a new research project, The National Self-referred Food Allergy Register.

Dr Vincent St Aubyn Crump spoke on birch pollen and oral allergy syndrome, and Dr Allen Liang ended the day with a humorous and enlightening presentation on avoiding allergens with healthy homes.

The second day of the conference was oriented toward the food service industry, and opened with Kim Koeller (co-author of the book Let’s Eat Out), talking on how to travel and eat out with food allergies.

She was followed by Mike Orchard of the New Zealand Food Safety Authority who updated the audience on food control plans and the new Food Legislation proposed for next year.

Michal Haines of the Restaurant Association of New Zealand talked about the challenges for the hospitality industry, and finally, Allergy New Zealand’s allergy educator, Sara-Jane Murison spoke on consumer education.

The conference was sponsored by Nutricia, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, Bissell, DVS and Norman Ellison Carpets.