Hosted by the BDA Food Allergy Specialist Group
Join us for an exciting update on the latest developments in food allergy management and dietetic practice across paediatric and adults.
Study day overview
Following an introduction the session will be chaired by Ruth Chalmers and Rachel De Boer. Attendees will hear about the latest research on milk and egg ladders in paediatrics and a review of current knowledge on adult milk and egg allergy. A series of quick-fire presentations highlighted new resources and research, including an allergy prevention weaning booklet, parental perceptions of allergen introduction, and the implementation of Benedict’s Law in dietetic practice will follow before a brief comfort break. Then Professor Fox will discuss 5 papers, before exploring how dietitian supplementary prescribing can be successfully utilised in paediatric allergy. The day will conclude with an update on Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES), focusing on recent developments and their implications for clinical practice.
Overall, the programme provided a comprehensive overview of current evidence, emerging research, and practical strategies to support dietitians working in allergy services.
Speakers and sessions
- Dr Carina Venter – Milk and egg ladders: what does the new data tell us?
More about Carina - Carina Venter is an Allergy Specialist Dietitian and a visiting Professor of Allergy and Clinical Immunology from the University of Southampton, UK. She conducts research on food allergy prevention and treatment and sees patients with food allergies. Dr. Venter earned her B.Sc. in Dietetics from the University of the Free State (South Africa) and her PhD in Allergy and Immunology from the University of Southampton (UK). She is a registered dietitian in both the UK and the US.
- Dr Kate Grimshaw – Adult milk and egg allergy
More about kate - Dr Kate Grimshaw is a clinical academic dietitian based between Manchester Metropolitan University and the Northern Care Alliance, at Salford Care Organisation where she is Clinical Research fellow in the NCA Centre for Clinical and Care Research. She continues to work clinically at Salford Care Organisation seeing adult patients with a variety of adverse reactions to food.
- Professor Adam Fox – “If you only read 5 papers on food allergy…”
More about Adam - Adam read Medicine at Cambridge University and is Professor of Paediatric Allergy at King's College London and Consultant Paediatric Allergist at Evelina London Children's Hospital. At Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, he served nine years as Clinical Lead for Allergy, three as Clinical Director for Specialist Ambulatory Services, and five as Deputy Medical Director (Commercial). He was founding Director of the KCL Allergy Academy, a postgraduate programme and BMJ Awards finalist in 2018.From 2018 to 2021, Adam was President of the British Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology — the first paediatrician elected to the role. Since 2022 he has chaired the National Allergy Strategy Group, jointly chairs the Department of Health & Social Care's Expert Advisory Group for Allergy, and leads the 2025–35 National Allergy Strategy.
- Pascale Varley – Dietitian prescribing in allergy
More about Pascale - Pascale is a paediatric advanced dietitian practitioner, supplementary prescriber and paediatric clinical dietetic lead at Kingston hospital. She completed her Master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice (Child) in 2024 and is the first dietitian in her NHS Trust to become advanced practitioner and prescriber. Pascale has over ten years’ experience in paediatric allergy and runs autonomous allergy clinics, where she regularly prescribes allergy medication.
- Rachel De Boer and Ruth Chalmers (FASG grant) - New allergy prevention weaning booklet
More about Rachel - Rachel is a Principal Paediatric Allergy Dietitian within the Children's Allergy Service at Evelina London Children's Hospital. She has worked in the field of paediatric allergy since 2010 and has extensive experience in the dietary management of allergic conditions in children. Rachel serves on the advisory committees of both Anaphylaxis UK and Allergy UK. She also works closely with the Allergy Academy, supporting the development and delivery of allergy education and training for healthcare professionals.
- Karen Wright - Parents’ perception of active allergen introduction
More about Karen - Karen is a paediatric specialist dietitian and a senior research fellow in Dietetics at the University of Southampton. Karen has specialised in the field of food allergy for many years in the UK and overseas and is the past joint chair of the British Dietetic Association Food Allergy Specialist Group and is a member of the BSACI Dietitians Interest Group.
- Ruth Chalmers RD presenting on New allergy prevention weaning booklet
More about Ruth - Ruth is one of the principle paediatric allergy dietitian working with the paediatric allergy service at Evelina London and joined the Trust in 2014. Ruth qualified as a dietitian in 2006 before developing a passion for paediatrics. Her interest in allergy developed while in a rotational post at St Mary's Hospital in 2008 and she completed the Allergy MSc at Imperial in 2014. At present my clinical role mainly cover extended role dietetic clinic and jointly managing our team. I am also a member of FASG committee.
- Annette Weaver - Benedict’s Law implementation – what dietitians need to know
More about Annette - Annette Weaver is a specialist allergy dietitian and Clinical Dietetic Advisor at Allergy UK. In her role, she provides expert leadership on food allergy and nutrition-related aspects of allergic disease. She supports healthcare professionals and patients through education, clinical resources, and evidence-based guidance. Annette is committed to improving allergy care, awareness, and patient outcomes across the UK.
- Dr Marta Vazquez-Ortiz - FPIES update
More about Marta - Marta is a Consultant Paediatric Allergist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. She founded and leads BIO-FPIES, an international translational research programme investigatingFPIES mechanisms, biomarkers and diagnostic tools, with a focus on improving clinical decision-making and patient-centred care.
Cost
- Food Allergy Specialist Group members - £10
- BDA members - £40
- Food Allergy student member - £5
- Non BDA members (HPCs only) - £55
Admin code: SLA
