
Country Range Group celebrates one year of collaboration with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
Country Range Group celebrates one year of collaboration with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, aiming to enhance understanding and support for food allergy sufferers.
Country Range Group (CRG) has recently marked the completion of its first year in partnership with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising awareness and funds for food allergy research in the UK. This collaboration, which is set to span three years, aims to enhance understanding, compassion, and support for individuals affected by food allergies.
Martin Ward, Chief Executive of Country Range Group, expressed gratitude towards the members who have actively participated in fundraising efforts for the charity. “We’re pleased to mark the first year of this partnership and want to thank all our members who have raised funds to help the charity with its important work. We're committed to supporting the charity’s aims to make food allergy a thing of the past and are looking forward to growing our partnership over the next two years and bring about positive change,” Ward stated.
The foundation, founded by Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBEs after the tragic loss of their daughter Natasha in 2016 due to an allergic reaction, serves as the only UK charity focused on food allergy research. Natasha's death brought to light significant legal gaps in food labelling, prompting the introduction of Natasha’s Law on 1st October 2021, which mandates clearer allergen labelling for pre-packaged foods sold directly to consumers.
One of the key initiatives of the foundation is the Natasha Clinical Trial, a £2.7 million project involving seven NHS hospitals across Scotland and England. This trial is designed to treat children and young people suffering from milk and peanut allergies and seeks to examine whether everyday shop-bought foods can serve as an effective NHS treatment under strict medical supervision. Nadim Ednan-Laperouse commented, “Parents of children with severe milk and peanut allergies have described how their lives have been transformed by this approach.” The results from this trial are projected to be available in 2027, and successful outcomes could pave the way for NHS availability of the treatment.
Additionally, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation continues to advocate for the appointment of an Allergy Tsar, a national representative aimed at prioritising allergy services and treatments within the NHS. This initiative is endorsed by a coalition of leading food companies, including Country Range Group, which have collectively signed an open letter to the Government stressing the need for such a role. Martin Ward remarked, “For businesses like ours, managing allergies is not only about compliance with regulations but about actively preventing harm to our customers,” highlighting the need for comprehensive teamwork across multiple sectors to ensure effective allergy management and protect vulnerable individuals.
In acknowledging the support received through their partnership with Country Range Group, Nadim Ednan-Laperouse added, “Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to continue our important work, helping to improve the lives of the millions of people in this country living with food allergies.”
Through this partnership with CRG and their continued advocacy, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation strives to make significant strides in allergy awareness, research, and ultimately, management within the food industry and beyond.