Raising PKU Awareness, Building Understanding, Supporting the PKU Community

At Firstplay Dietary Foods, International PKU Day is much more than a date in the calendar. It is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible PKU community while helping our team better understand the impact our work has on the lives of people living with Phenylketonuria (PKU).

In the lead-up to International PKU Day on 28th June, the whole team came together for an afternoon dedicated to learning, sharing experiences and reflecting on our shared purpose – improving the lives of people living with inherited metabolic disorders through innovative low protein foods.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a beautiful bespoke low protein celebration cake, specially created using Promin Low Protein Chocolate Cake Mix. The cake was enjoyed by everyone and perfectly demonstrated that following a low protein diet should never mean missing out on life’s special occasions.

Understanding PKU

The session began with a welcome and an introduction to the importance of International PKU Day and why raising awareness remains so vital.

Katya Sheridan, Marketing Manager and mum to a young adult with PKU, then delivered a presentation covering:

• What PKU is and how it affects the body.
• The daily challenges faced by individuals and families living with PKU.
• Low protein dietary treatments available in the UK and internationally.
• The importance of providing patients with a wide variety of enjoyable low protein foods.
• How Firstplay Dietary Foods continues to support the metabolic community through innovation and patient-focused product development.

Staff also watched a special video message from Professor Anita MacDonald OBE, one of the world’s leading experts in inherited metabolic disorders, who highlighted the importance of dietary treatment and recognised the valuable contribution made by everyone at Firstplay.

Living with PKU – A Personal Perspective

One of the most inspiring parts of the afternoon came from Matthew Sheridan, who shared his personal experience of growing up with PKU.

Matthew spoke openly about:

• Living with PKU from childhood through to adulthood.
• Managing the low protein diet every day.
• The challenges he has faced and overcome.
• The importance of family, healthcare professionals and access to a wide choice of low protein foods.

His honest and engaging presentation gave colleagues a real insight into the everyday realities of living with PKU and reminded everyone why the work carried out at Firstplay makes such a meaningful difference.

Looking to the Future

Managing Director Tom Fletcher concluded the presentations by reflecting on the company’s achievements over the past 12 months.

Tom highlighted:

• Significant business developments.
• Continued investment in product innovation.
• Growth both in the UK and internationally.
• Our ongoing commitment to supporting patients, families and healthcare professionals.

He also shared Firstplay’s vision for the future and reaffirmed the company’s mission to continue improving dietary choice and quality of life for people living with metabolic disorders.

Questions, Discussion and Celebration

The afternoon concluded with an open discussion, giving colleagues the opportunity to ask questions, share their reflections and discuss what they had learned.

The bespoke Promin Low Protein Chocolate Cake was then enjoyed by the team, providing a fitting end to an informative and inspiring event. The cake received fantastic feedback from everyone and was a wonderful reminder that special occasions can still be celebrated with delicious low protein foods.

Thank You

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making the afternoon such a success, particularly:

• Professor Anita MacDonald OBE for her inspiring video message.
• Matthew Sheridan for sharing his personal journey with honesty and positivity.
• Tom Fletcher for outlining Firstplay’s exciting future.
• Sam from Monkey Bakes Buxton (https://monkeybakesbuxton.co.uk) for creating the beautiful bespoke low protein celebration cake using Promin Low Protein Chocolate Cake Mix. The cake was specially made for the Firstplay team to enjoy and was a huge success—everyone loved it! We are incredibly grateful for Sam’s creativity and support in helping us celebrate International PKU Day in such a memorable way.

Events like these remind us that behind every product we manufacture are real people and families whose lives depend on safe, enjoyable dietary choices.

As we celebrate International PKU Day, we remain proud of our commitment to supporting the metabolic community and look forward to continuing our mission of providing high-quality low protein foods that help people with PKU live full, active and enjoyable lives.

Happy International PKU Day from everyone at Firstplay Dietary Foods!