‘Long overdue’: Local allergy app founder supports new school safety guidance
A Leicestershire tech founder has welcomed new government guidance designed to strengthen protections for children with allergies in schools across the UK. Sophia Turner, creator of the food safety app Safe Appetite ( SAPHE ), spoke on BBC Radio Leicester this week about the importance of allergy awareness following new guidance announced by the government which aims to improve how schools manage food allergies.
The updated guidance is designed to support teachers and school staff in recognising allergic reactions, improving allergy management and ensuring schools have clearer procedures in place to help protect pupils.
Speaking on the Ben Jackson show, Sophia said the changes are a positive step forward for families living with allergies.
“It has been a long time coming but it is really welcomed news within the allergy community. Allergy awareness and management in schools is incredibly important and these changes will help people better understand how to support children safely.”
Food allergies affect millions of people in the UK. According to the Food Standards Agency, around 2 million people in the UK live with a diagnosed food allergy, including approximately one in every 13 children.
For many families, school can be one of the most worrying environments to navigate safely.
The new government guidance aims to ensure staff have better awareness of allergies and clearer procedures to help prevent and manage allergic reactions among pupils.
Sophia knows these challenges first hand. She experienced allergic reactions as a child but was not formally diagnosed until her mid twenties. The experience later inspired her to develop Safe Appetite ( SAPHE ), a technology platform designed to help people manage food allergies more confidently.
The idea for the app came while she was travelling abroad shortly after receiving her diagnosis.
“I suddenly realised I could not read the language or understand menus. I thought, how do people with allergies navigate this safely?” she explained during the BBC Radio Leicester interview.
Safe Appetite ( SAPHE ) allows users to create a personal allergy profile and identify ingredients that may trigger reactions. Future versions of the app will also allow users to scan food products and receive alerts if allergens are present.
Sophia says education and awareness remain one of the biggest challenges when it comes to allergy safety.
“Unless you have lived with allergies, people often do not realise how frightening it can be. Every day you could be exposed to something that could make you seriously ill and in extreme cases it can be life threatening.”
She also highlighted that misunderstandings around allergens can sometimes increase risk.
“Allergens are not bacteria. People often think wiping surfaces with antibacterial products removes the risk, but that can actually spread allergens rather than remove them. Awareness and proper management are essential.”
Sophia hopes the new guidance will help schools feel more confident supporting pupils with allergies and ensure children can learn in a safer environment.
“I am hoping the new policies will give schools the confidence to manage allergies properly and protect children in their care.”
The Safe Appetite ( SAPHE ) platform is currently in development and aims to help people identify allergens, find safer food alternatives and navigate food choices more confidently.
People can find out more at www.safeappetite.com