The report goes on to say that a lack of specialist clinics and minimal allergy training within medical curricula means that services for allergy patients in the UK “lag behind” those from many other Western European countries.

The Committee recommends that an allergy centre, headed by a full time allergy specialist should be established in every Strategic Health Authority.

The report goes on to express concern that without specialist training GPs and others are unable to correctly diagnose and treat complex allergies, and recommends that undergraduate medical students should be adequately trained in allergy treatment and generic clinical post-graduate courses in allergy for doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners should also be established.

It also makes a specific recommendation that current Government guidance advising some pregnant women and young children to avoid peanuts should be immediately revoked, as the Committee says it is now “out of date” and there is evidence to suggest that abstinence from peanuts during pregnancy and early life may actually increase the risk of developing peanut allergy. In addition it states that current food labels, such as those saying “may contain nuts” are “vague and defensive” and should be replaced with labels clearly specifying the among of each allergen contained within the produce so as to avoid confusion and an unnecessary restriction of choice.

The report also questions provisions in schools for children with allergies, and recommends that the level of allergy training school staff receive should be audits by the Department for Children, Schools and Families so that “urgent action” to improved training where necessary can take place.

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, chair of the Sub-Committee that conducted the inquiry, said: “Allergies are an ever growing problem in the West and are now reaching epidemic proportions. They can impair people’s quality of life and in extreme cases can even lead to death.

“We have a severe shortage of expert medical provision to deal with allergies in the UK. The Government must now take steps to deal with that problem by establishing a specialist allergy centre in every Strategic Health Authority. These would act as a beacon of good practice and ensure new knowledge about allergies was spread and applied across the NHS.

“We have serious doubts about the advice given to some pregnant women to avoid eating peanuts. A growing body of evidence suggests that in countries where peanuts form a major part of the diet of pregnant women and young children there is actually a lower incidence of peanut allergy in later life. The Government should withdraw this advice with immediate effect.”

The report is available at: www.parliament.uk/hlscience