A mum has revealed how a lifetime of terrifying allergic reactions inspired her to create a groundbreaking app she believes could save lives.
Sophia Turner has spent decades battling a complex mix of allergies and intolerances that have shaped every aspect of her daily life from what she eats to how safe she feels leaving the house.
As a child, the 40-year-old suffered repeated episodes where food became stuck in her throat, leaving her feeling like she was unable to breathe.
She says that one particularly harrowing experience never left her, and is speaking out as we enter Allergy Awareness Week (20-26 April), fronted by Allergy UK.
“My worst reaction was when food became lodged in my throat and wouldn’t shift for over 20 minutes,” Sophia, from Leicester, told Need To Know.
“The longer it stayed stuck, the more panicked I became.
“It’s a frightening feeling, not being able to swallow or clear it.
“When it finally did come out, it had caused significant bruising to my oesophagus.
“The trauma from that episode was severe enough that I wasn’t able to eat solid food for several days afterwards.
“It’s something that really stays with you, and it highlights just how serious and physically impactful these conditions can be, as well as the mental toll it takes on you.
“I was around 10 years old when I first experienced a reaction.
“I was eating, and suddenly the food became stuck in my throat, it felt like I was choking and suffocating at the same time.
“It was incredibly distressing.
“I tried drinking water to force it down, but that didn’t work, and I eventually had to make myself sick just to dislodge the blockage.
“This continued to happen throughout my childhood, but at the time, I didn’t fully understand what was causing it.”
Sophia was eventually diagnosed with eosinophilic oesophagitis, a chronic allergic condition that affects the oesophagus, in her twenties.
The mum-of-three, who also suffers from allergies to nuts, shellfish, pollen, dust mites and animal dander, as well as intolerances to dairy and gluten, says managing her condition has been a constant challenge.
Her symptoms can worsen unpredictably, particularly during the summer months when pollen triggers cross-reactions with certain foods.
This led Sophia to create Safe Appetite, a new app designed to help people with allergies make safer choices in real time.
The app allows users to build a personalised profile detailing everything they are allergic to, intolerant to, or simply wish to avoid.
They can then scan food products using their phone, with the app instantly flagging any ingredients that could pose a risk.
Civil servant Sophia said: “We’re incredibly hopeful that the app will not only change lives, but ultimately help to save lives.
“One of the biggest challenges for people managing allergies is that ingredients aren’t always clearly labelled in a way that’s easy to understand.
“Many allergens can be hidden behind unfamiliar names, and things like E-numbers and additives can often be derivatives of allergens without it being obvious to the consumer.
“This makes reading and interpreting ingredient labels incredibly difficult and, at times, overwhelming.
“People are time poor these days and if someone is in a rush they may skim read the ingredient list, which are usually in tiny font too, and miss a vital ingredient that is contained within the food they are about to eat.
“That’s exactly the problem we’ve designed the app to solve, by identifying these hidden risks and translating them into clear, simple information that people can actually use with confidence.”
In it’s next phase, it will allow customers to share their dietary requirements with restaurants and businesses in advance, so people with allergies can feel safe when eating out.
Sophia is so passionate about helping people feel safe when eating out that she has funded the app herself.
She added: “The app is incredibly important to me because it’s helping to provide a solution to a very real problem that I’ve lived with for most of my life.
“Living with allergies can be terrifying, isolating, frustrating and, at times, expensive.
“It can limit what you do, where you go, who you interact with and how confidently you live your day-to-day life.
“We envision it as a space where people can ask questions, learn more about their specific allergies, and access real-time support when they’re out and about and need reassurance that what they’re eating is safe.
“Just as importantly, we want to address the mental health side of living with allergies, something that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
“By creating a supportive community space, we hope people will feel more connected, able to share their experiences, support one another, and ultimately help raise awareness for those living with or alongside allergies.
“It’s definitely been a busy and demanding few years balancing a full time job and caring for my children but I’m starting to see the hard work pay off which makes it all worthwhile.”
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