Allergy New Zealand

30/11/2025

It may not be the best news if you’re heading to the beach, but scientists suggest that a wetter La Niña summer could be a blessing in disguise for allergy sufferers. 🏖🏊‍♀️🌞🏄‍♀️

In this article, Rewi Newnham, Professor in Physical Geography at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, explains why periods of excessive or sustained rainfall in spring and summer can lead to shorter pollen seasons.

Read more here: https://theconversation.com/parts-of-nz-could-be-heading-into-a-wetter-summer-a-blessing-in-disguise-for-allergy-sufferers-251818

27/11/2025

🎉🎉We’re thrilled to hear that the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research has been awarded four grants from the Marsden Fund to continue its groundbreaking research.

In one of these projects, Dr Olivier Lamiable will look at whether repurposing ‘metabolic modulators’ could provide cost-effective future allergy treatments.

Read the full story, here:

Home > News & resources > News > Marsden funding to drive discovery and innovation in cancer, allergy and infectious disease research

25/11/2025

🐱Did you know that when someone becomes allergic to cats, they are reacting to the Fel d 1 protein in their saliva? 🐱

When cats clean themselves by licking their fur, it sticks to fabrics and furnishings, making the particles widespread, and taking them to places where cats haven’t even been.

To learn more about feline allergies, visit: https://www.allergy.org.nz/conditions/environmental-allergies/animals/

23/11/2025

Struggling with pollen allergies and allergic rhinitis (hay fever) this spring? You’re not alone!🌸🌷🌼🌷

To help manage your symptoms, it’s important to know what you are reacting to. Our pollen calendar may help you to narrow this down.

Find out more here: https://tinyurl.com/4entnk3b

20/11/2025

An allergist at Massachusetts General Hospital says people need to “move on” from using diphenhydramine – known as Benadryl – after an allergic food reaction.

Dr Anna Wolfson says she sees daily, dangerous misuse of the medication, which can cause drowsiness and may lead to people missing signs their symptoms are worsening.

“If someone has an allergic reaction to a food, people will say, ‘Don't worry, I have diphenhydramine in my purse,’ and I would say, ‘Really, epinephrine is the first-line treatment for food allergies’,” she said.

“It's time to move on. For every single indication that people are using diphenhydramine, there are better drugs that are more effective at treating the symptoms people are trying to treat with fewer side effects. I've had patients where I worried that diphenhydramine was impairing their ability to drive or fully participate in their daily lives.”

Read the full article here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/568766/benadryl-common-allergy-medication-s-risks-outweigh-its-usefulness-experts-say

18/11/2025

📣📣 It’s almost time for another Allergy Today newsletter to arrive in your inbox!

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16/11/2025

It’s essential we slip, slop, slap, and wrap to protect against the sun’s harsh rays, but did you know that a small percentage of the population will experience sensitivities or reactions to ingredients in sunscreen?

The New Zealand Cancer Society says reactions are rare, affecting fewer than 1% of people, but may include various forms of contact dermatitis. Speak with your GP if you are worried you or your child is reacting to sunscreen.

Read more here: https://sunscreen.org.nz/education/sunscreen-reactions/

11/11/2025

The authors of a new study have identified more food products that they argue should be considered for mandatory labelling because of their “frequency, severity, and potential for hidden exposure”.

After analysing nearly 3000 cases of food-induced anaphylaxis reported to the Allergy Vigilance Network, eight foods not currently on the EU and UK mandatory labelling list were identified that were responsible for about 1% of anaphylaxis cases.

These include goat’s and sheep’s milk, buckwheat, peas and lentils, pine nuts, kiwi, apple, beehive products, and alpha-gal (a sugar found in red meat).

The study’s authors say that at least four of these (goat’s and sheep’s milk, buckwheat, peas, lentils and pine nuts) should be considered for mandatory labelling. Ingredients such as pea protein, lentil flour, and buckwheat are increasingly being used in food products due to the rise of vegan and plant-based diets.

For more, visit: https://theconversation.com/from-pea-protein-to-buckwheat-surprising-foods-that-can-trigger-severe-allergic-reactions-263935

09/11/2025

HRV Black Friday deals are back

We know it’s important that people with allergies live in a healthy home environment with clean, filtered air.

One of our sponsors, HRV New Zealand, has shared the following offer that might be of interest to you.

HRV’s Black Friday deals have 15% off all HRV ventilation systems and upgrades, Panasonic heat pumps and HRV water filtration.

Deal ends 7 December. hrv.co.nz

*Terms and conditions apply. Offer not available in the Waikato Region.

https://www.allergy.org.nz/news-events/hrv-black-friday-deals-are-back/

06/11/2025

We’re coming up with some fresh new ideas for Allergy Today. What topics would you like to see? Would you like to read more about...

- Allergy New Zealand’s advocacy work
- Scientific research
- Human interest stories
- Recipes

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below...

04/11/2025

The parents of a teenager who died from an allergic reaction and fought to introduce Natasha's Law in the UK say their daughter would be "very proud" of the impact the law change has had for people living with food allergies.

In 2016, 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse had a severe allergic reaction to sesame that had been baked into a Pret A Manger sandwich. The seeds were not clearly seen and were not listed as an ingredient on the packaging.

Her parents pushed for a law change requiring food outlets to provide a full ingredients list and allergy labelling for foods made and packaged on the premises for direct sale.

They have since founded the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation. Read more here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q79kyj9geo

30/10/2025

🎃 Have you heard about the Teal Pumpkin Project?

🎃 While it may not have caught on quite yet here in New Zealand, in the US at Halloween people can register their location and place a teal-coloured pumpkin on their doorstep to indicate they have non-food treats available for trick-or-treaters.

🎃 Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) has shared information about the project on its website that you may find interesting.

https://www.foodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/teal-pumpkin-project