Allergy sufferers banned from joining the UK Army

July 16, 2008

The UK ministry of Defence has admitted that the Army is barring people with food allergies from signing up.

Anyone with allergies to wheat, nuts, eggs, seafood or other foods is automatically graded as unfit for service because of the risk that they may come into contact with allergens that may harm their health.

Because all Army personnel, no matter what their trade, must be fit to serve anywhere in the World a medical emergency due to a food allergy could be disastrous. With medical care limited in many locations they may find themselves serving, it would also be impossible to guarantee that the food they were provided would be allergen free.

Although this policy has been in effect for some time, it has hit the headlines because of a parliamentary question from an MP who had a constituent with a nut allergy turned down for recruitment.

What do you think about the UK Army banning food allergy sufferers from joining up... have your say