Cooplands Bakery and their parent company EG Group have partnered with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, a charity set up by Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, to make allergy history by pioneering medical research through the prevention and eradication of allergic disease to create a world that is safe for all individuals.
Up to 3 million people in the UK have a food allergy, with cow’s milk being the most common and fatal food allergy in children in the country. To help raise awareness, Cooplands undertook the challenge of removing milk from one of their most loved products, the Gingerbread Teddy Biscuit. The dairy free product will go on sale for four weeks throughout June and July, where a portion of sales will go towards advancing medical research.
To ensure the product is dairy free, not only are the ingredients changed but all equipment and product batches are thoroughly cleaned and tested to ensure there is no risk of contamination. This required many months of trialling, but the team at Cooplands didn’t give up until they found the perfect combination that does not compromise on taste.
Earlier this month, the Cooplands team welcomed Tanya and Nadim for a tour of the bakery and were presented with information about the work of Natasha’s Foundation and the rise of food allergies in the UK. The Natasha Trial, which is funded by The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, focuses on children and young people with cow’s milk and peanut allergies between the ages of 2 and 23 years old. It is a 3-year oral immunotherapy trial that aims to show that everyday foods, when taken carefully under medical supervision, can be used by children – and adults – with food allergies to live safer, more fulfilling, and inclusive lives, marking a critical step on Natasha’s Foundation’s journey to making allergy history.
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, Co-founder of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation said:
“Who doesn’t love a good biscuit? The team at Natasha’s Foundation certainly do, which is why we’re thrilled that Cooplands have created a dairy-free gingerbread biscuit, helping raise awareness of the rise of food allergies in the UK.
Cooplands support means we can continue to fund pioneering medical research to directly and positively impact as many people as possible who live with food allergies. We aim to prove that with medical support, everyday foods rather than expensive pharmaceutical drugs can help children, and adults, lead safer and more fulfilled and inclusive lives. Every gingerbread sale brings us one step closer to delivering our mission to #MakeAllergyHistory and better the lives of up to 3 million people in the UK living with food allergies
“We aim to bring a product to customers with a dairy allergy and also raise awareness with our colleagues to help them understand allergies more clearly.” Said Peter Graham, Compliance Manager at Cooplands.