Food Allergy Awareness Week lasts from May 8 to 14 this year, but Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) hasn’t let that stop them from implementing a month-long to-do list of actions people can take every day.
The group’s to-do list takes the form of a calendar with a single action prescribed per day that people can take to either improve their own understanding of food allergies or to raise awareness in others.
Sample Activities
- On May 6, people are urged to check FARE’s event calendar and find local buildings that are lighting up in teal to support food allergy awareness
- May 10 is when people are urged to learn how to use an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) or to train someone else in their use
- May 12 is when people should wear teal and make use of the #TealTakeover hashtag on Twitter
- For May 19, FARE wants people to view a PSA about the role food allergies can play in bullying
- May 25 is the FARE Walk for Food Allergy, so people should walk themselves or sponsor someone who is
- May 27 is Foodie Friday for trying out and sharing allergy-friendly recipes
Although not on the calendar, anyone in New York City can also see the Empire State Building light up in teal starting at sunset on May 8.
Food Allergies: Quick Facts
- About 15 million Americans have some form of food allergy
- This number includes around six million children, enough for two in every classroom in the country
- 40% of children with food allergies experience a life-threatening reaction before they reach age 18
- About 30% of children with food allergies are allergic to more than one food
- The eight foods behind most food allergy reactions are milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish
- The most common allergen is peanuts, with milk and shellfish taking second and third place respectively
Sources:
“Allergy Facts and Figures,” Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America web site; http://www.aafa.org/page/allergy-facts.aspx, last accessed April 29, 2016.
“Facts and Statistics,” FARE web site; https://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stats, last accessed April 29, 2016.
“Events and Monthly Calendar,” FARE web site; http://www.foodallergy.org/food-allergy-awareness-week/calendar#.VyNfffkrJ1t, last accessed April 29, 2016.