Supernanny Jo Frost has spoken publicly about living with a life-threatening medical condition, revealing that she has suffered multiple anaphylactic shocks. The 55-year-old, best known for her parenting show Supernanny, shared the details in an emotional video posted to her Instagram account.
Frost explained that she has anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can cause the throat and tongue to swell, leading to difficulty breathing, fainting, and confusion. She is allergic to all nuts, peanuts, crustaceans, and rye, and also has asthma triggered by tobacco, pollen, strong cleaning products, mould, animal dander, certain perfumes, and lilies.
In the video, Frost said: 'I have anaphylaxis, a life threatening medical condition to certain foods that will compromise my body so horrifically to the point of hospitalisation.' She added that she has survived more anaphylactic shocks than she is prepared to discuss, and warned: 'If you ignore the severity of this medical condition, it's as bad as shoving a loaded gun in my face.'
Frost criticised restaurant staff and food manufacturers for not taking allergies seriously, saying she feels forced to take full responsibility for what she eats. She slammed 'lazy' staff who do not check ingredients properly and companies that use 'may contain' labels to avoid accountability. 'I'm unapologetic for my medical condition. I did not ask for it, and it does not define who I am,' she said.
The star, who first rose to fame in 2004, urged establishments to improve staff training and for food firms to create products that everyone can enjoy without fear of falling ill. She added that she speaks on behalf of others with coeliac disease, noting that they are 'not faddy eaters' but simply seeking the same dignity and attentiveness as other customers.
