April 29, 2019
Allergy threat from cultural compliance
A bereaved couple are calling for more to be done to make Māori and Pasifika aware of the risks of food allergies.
Bonita and Morris Misilisi’s daughter Edyn died aged 16 after going into anaphylactic shock, probably from eating food containing traces of peanuts.
Bonita Misilisi says the whānau had been dealing with Edyn’s allergy her whole life, and her death brought home how little understood the condition was by Māori and Pasifika people, and the lack of resources for addressing it – from affordable EpiPen auto injectors which could have saved her Edyn’s life, to culturally-appropriate education materials outlining the risk.
She says when food is an important part of culture, allergy sufferers can be put in a difficult position.
"Turning down food, requesting specific food because of allergies, you come off as being rude, maybe you'e just being fussy, and it's because people don't understand. They just don't take it seriously," Ms Misilisi says.
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