Rex, aged nine, suffered anaphylactic shock after eating a hot cross bun whose glazing contained pea protein. Rex is allergic to peas and lentils, ingredients not commonly expected in baked goods. The packaging revealed pea protein, which is not among the 14 allergens legally required to be listed on UK/EU food labels. Rex later had another reaction after eating an ice cream whose formulation had changed to include pea protein. His father says Rex is terrified of accidental exposure and supports expanding the 14-allergen list to include pea. Current regulations require highlighting common allergens such as egg, peanuts and sesame.
One morning before school, Rex, aged nine, ate a hot cross bun. Minutes later, he was struggling to breathe and went into anaphylactic shock. Rex is allergic is to peas and lentils - ingredients you would not commonly expect to find in a hot cross bun. However, when Rex's mum looked at the packaging, it turned out the glazing used on the bun contained pea protein - causing Rex's allergic reaction.
Pea is not one of the 14 allergens required by law to be listed on food labels but earlier this week, experts said it among others should be. Rex's father, Tom, says it "feels like a lot of these things are booby-trapped". "We couldn't understand why," he says. "It wasn't a vegan recipe. What is pea protein doing in a hot cross bun?"
After he went into anaphylactic shock, Rex was quickly given his EpiPen and taken to hospital. He made a full recovery but hot cross buns aren't the only unassuming product he's been tripped up by. During June's heatwave, Rex bought an ice cream after school from a corner shop. As he'd eaten this particular brand before, he didn't check the packaging but, unbeknownst to him, the ice cream now contained pea protein and caused another allergic reaction.
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