Expert Warns Of 'food Allergy Bullying' After Film

Doctors have warned that a recently-released film may have sent the wrong message and encouraged what he dubbed “food allergy bullying”.

In a scene in “Peter Rabbit”, the animated character and his friends throw blackberries at their enemy, who they know is allergic to the fruit. One berry goes into his mouth and he collapses.

The scene has been condemned by many groups globally and the producers of the movie, Sony Pictures, has since apologised for being insensitive to the issue.

The film opened in Hong Kong at the end of last month and is still running in some cinemas.

Speaking at the end of World Allergy Week, the president of the Hong Kong Institute of Allergy, Dr Marco Ho, said many parents are worried that children seeing the film will try to mimic such action, leading to a dangerous situation.

He said cases of food allergies are rising throughout industrialised cities in the world. Though the cause is not clear, many believe that the sanitised environments children grow up in are leading to a loss of natural immunity among people, he said.

Ho also told RTHK's Wendy Wong that people with food allergies should carry cards detailing their problem, and they should also inform school authorities and friends..