A statewide action has taken place as a result of a national epidemic of childhood food allergies. According to Hobart paediatrician Andrew Tulloch, there was a rise in childhood allergies and these allergies were mostly to peanuts, eggs, fish, tree nuts, and cow's milk.

A school-based program will be introduced by the Asthma Foundation Tasmania for combating an increase in allergies and anaphylaxis among Tasmanian children.

Admissions in hospitals due to food anaphylaxis had doubled in the past 10 years, health services manager Glenn Freeman said. There was a further fivefold increase seen in children who were from one to four years of age.

He felt that this program meant for children and teachers would do a lot of benefit by safeguarding children's health.

Presently the program is being run in about in 30 schools. This program would be introduced in the whole state from April.

Freeman further added, "There are no guarantees, but by introducing a comprehensive training program for staff and minimising risks we can help prevent life-threatening situations and give parents peace of mind."

The news follows post Ray Mullins, president of the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, stated that about said 15,000 OZ children who are born this year would be under the clutches of a potentially fatal food allergy before they reached school age.