{"id":1953,"date":"2026-02-05T13:26:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T13:26:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thesaferfoodgroup.com\/knowledge\/?p=1953"},"modified":"2026-07-14T11:02:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:02:21","slug":"what-is-benedicts-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thesaferfoodgroup.com\/knowledge\/what-is-benedicts-law\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Benedict's Law?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Editor's Note, July 2026 Update:<\/strong> The Department for Education (DfE) has officially published its final statutory guidance, Allergy Safety in Schools<\/i><\/a>, marking the formal enactment of the core mandates driven by Benedict\u2019s Law. Ahead of the upcoming academic year, maintaining a whole-school allergy policy and ensuring comprehensive staff training is now a legal requirement for schools, academies, and multi-academy trusts (MATs) across England.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is the history of Benedict's Law?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Benedict Blythe Foundation was created following the tragic death of Benedict, who consumed milk, which he was known to be allergic to, at school. Weaknesses within the school's allergy policy are replicated throughout many UK schools, and the foundation has worked relentlessly to improve allergy safety in schools through research, legislative reform, advice and guidance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is the aim of Benedict's Law?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The overarching aim of Benedict's Law is to improve safety of school children who have allergies. The percentage of children diagnosed with allergies continues to rise, with approximately 2-5% of UK schoolchildren now believed to have a known food allergy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The campaign to improve allergy policy within schools preceded Benedict's sad death, but the principles that are being called for remain the same. Campaigners are fighting for:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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  1. spare adrenaline auto-injectors and devices\u00a0available within all settings\u00a0<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  2. comprehensive allergy and anaphylaxis training given to all school staff, and\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  3. clear and comprehensive school allergy policies supported by individual care plans for pupils with allergies<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    What has the Benedict's Law campaign achieved so far?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Petition for Change:<\/strong> The BBF's petition, demanding stronger protections for pupils with allergies, gained over 13,000 signatures in two weeks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Open Letter to Secretary of State:<\/strong>\u00a0This was supported by over 40 organisations including medical institutions, charities, unions and industry representatives.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Prime Minister\u2019s Questions:<\/strong>\u00a0Benedict's story and the call for legislative change was featured in PMQs<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Westminster Hall Debate:<\/strong>\u00a0The campaign was debated in Parliament, with cross-party support,<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The School (Allergy Safety) Bill<\/strong>: The formal proposal for legislative change was introduced into Parliament on 9 July 2025<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The Schools Allergy Code:<\/strong> Driven by the lack of clear, consistent guidance, the campaign created resources including The Schools Allergy Code<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Amendment to Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: <\/strong>The introduction of the School (Allergy Safety) Bill was passed on 3rd February 2026.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    July 2026 Update<\/h2>\r\n

    Benedict\u2019s Law In Action: The New Statutory Duties<\/h2>\r\n

    Following relentless campaigning by the Benedict Blythe Foundation, the government's official Allergy Safety in Schools<\/i> statutory guidelines<\/a> are now active. The legislation shifts allergy management from an optional \"best practice\" recommendation to a mandatory legal compliance framework.<\/p>\r\n

    Under the finalised guidelines, school leadership teams have a legal duty to:<\/p>\r\n