Scots student calls for better food labelling after spice allergy leaves him in hospital
Oliver Wright says his allergy to Cumin makes mealtimes like playing Russian Roulette
Last updated 1st Sep 2017
A student who was left in hospital with anaphylactic shock last week because of a rare allergy to cumin is calling for better food labelling.
16 year old Oliver Wright, from the Borders had been using a barbecue chicken seasoning that he didn't know had the spice in it.
Oliver's been telling us how going to the supermarket or eating out is like playing Russian Roulette because not every ingredient is listed on food labels.
Oliver posted a picture from his hospital bed and urged friends to learn how to use an EpiPen like the one he carries at all times, and had to use when he went into anaphylactic shock.
Food Standards Scotland told us cumin doesn't have to belisted as an ingredient because it's only found in trace amounts
Amena Warner, the head of clinical services for Allergy UK told us: "It's not an allergy we see very frequently but spices like cumin are what they call 'emerging allergens', so we are hearing about more reactions to spicy dishes."
"We've got food labeling regulations now which labels and enforces the labelling of 14 allergens. This is based on the most commonly causing food allergens like peanuts and crustaceans like prawns."
"For people with food allergy it's a daily struggle, it's like being a detective to find out exactly what it is in the food you are eating."