ALLERGY ALLY

Food allergies are a growing public health crisis.

Individuals diagnosed with a Food Allergy in America are growing at an exponential rate. The number of Americans diagnosed with a life threatening food allergy has increased to over 30 million people. Severe food allergies in children are growing at an exponential rate, faster than can be currently measured.  More than 150 foods can cause a serious and potentially fatal reaction.

Public awareness is falling behind. How fast an allergic reaction is identified and responded to could be the difference between life and death. People are the first line of defense during a food allergy emergency. An educated population can reduce reaction time during a food allergy emergencies, and ultimately save lives.

The Allergy Ally initiative was established to improve food allergy literacy. We believe continuous compassionate engagement can increase food allergy awareness, establishing safer environments and social sensitivity for individuals affected by severe food allergies.

FACTS

There are 9 primary food allergens that account for more than 90 percent of all severe allergic reactions to food, and more than 150 foods and allergens that can cause a serious and potentially fatal reaction.

ALLERGENS

More than 150 foods can cause a serious and potentially fatal reaction. The nine most common food allergens cause more than 90 percent of all allergic reactions.EGG
Foods That Contain Egg
Egg Whites, Dried Eggs, Powdered Eggs, Eggnog, Mayonnaise, Meringue, SurimiFISH
Foods That Contain Fish
Anchovies, Barbecue Sauce, Caesar Salad, Fish Oil, Fish Flour, Salad Dressings, Seafood Flavoring, Sushi, Sashimi, Worcestershire SauceMILK
Foods That Contain Milk
Butter, Buttermilk, Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Cream, Cream Cheese, Custard, Ice Cream, Pudding, Sour Cream, YogurtPEANUT
Foods That Contain Peanut
Artificial Nuts, Ground Nuts, Mixed Nuts, Peanut Butter, Peanut Flour, Peanut ProteinSESAME
Foods That Contain Sesame
Sesame Seeds (Often Listed As Other Flavors), Sesame Oil, Hummus, TahiniSHELLFISH
Foods That Contain Shellfish
Clams, Geoduck, Crab, Crawfish, Lobster, Mussels, Octopus, Oysters, Prawns, Scallops, Sea Cucumber, Sea Urchin, Shrimp, Snails, SquidSOY
Foods That Contain Soy
Edamame, Miso, Soybeans, Soy Cheese, Soy Flour, Soy Ice Cream, Soy Milk, Soy Nuts, Soy Yogurt, Soy Sauce, Teriyaki, Tempeh, Textured Vegetable Protein, TofuTREE NUT
Foods That Contain Tree Nut
Almond, Beechnut, Brazil Nut, Butternut, Cashew, Chestnut, Coconut, Ginkgo Nut, Hickory Nut, Lychee Nut, Macadamia Nut, Marzipan, Nut Butter, Pecan, Pine Nut, Pistachio, Praline, WalnutWHEAT
Foods That Contain Wheat
Bread, Cereals, Couscous, Crackers, Flour, Kamut, Matzoh, Pasta, Wheat Bran, Wheat Germ, Wheat Sprouts, Wheat Malt, Wheat Grass, Wheat Berries

SYMPTOMS

More than 150 foods can cause a serious and potentially fatal reaction. The nine most common food allergens cause more than 90 percent of all allergic reactions.

MILD SYMPTOMS
Hives, itchy skin, swelling
Eczema, dry itchy rash
Redness of the skin or around eyes
Itchy mouth or ear canals
Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Sneezing, dry cough, funny taste in mouthSEVERE SYMPTOMS
Trouble swallowing
Turning blue
Loss of consciousness
Swelling of throat, lips, and/or tongue
Feeling faint in the head, weak, confusion, passing out
Chest pain
Weak pulse, drop in blood pressure
Sense of impending doomCHILDREN'S DESCRIPTION OF SYMPTOMS
Tongue is tinging
Tongue itches
Tongue is hot or burning
Tongue feels heavy
Tongue feels like hair on it
Mouth feels itchy
Mouth feels funny
Frog in my throat
Somethings poking my tongue
Bumps on back of tongue
Something stuck in throat
Lips feel tight
Throat feels thickANAPHYLAXIS
Anaphylaxis is an allergic reaction to specific allergen triggers. Food Allergens are the leading cause of Anaphylaxis. Over 170 foods can cause food allergies. Allergic reactions to food can be life threatening. Anaphylaxis can be caused by a microscopic amount of an allergen. The reaction may take place immediately or many hours after allergen contact.Children with food allergies are 3 times more likely to suffer from additional allergies or asthma. About 20 percent of allergic reactions to food occur when children are at school. Approximately 25 percent of life threatening allergic reactions to food occurred to food at school occurred to children with no previous allergic diagnosis. Non-food items commonly found in schools such as finger paint, paste, or clays may contain allergens.WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ANAPHYLAXIS?
Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal allergic reaction whereby symptoms could be categorized as mild to severe. Every symptom should be responded to as if it were a severe reaction to avoid death. These are the most common symptoms of Anaphylaxis:

Skin

Repiratory

Gastrointestinal

Cardiovascular

Other Symptoms

TREATMENT

PREVENTION
Prevention is the best defense in avoiding an adverse allergy reaction.The problem of children with food allergies is larger than the allergy itself. Food Allergy and health related bullying is increasing just as the rate of children with food allergies. Effective Food Allergy Management Plans must include preventative measures to mitigate health related bullying.

EPINEPHRINE
Epinephrine has been the most effective medication to remedy Anaphylaxis when administered quickly. Many schools are now participating in an Epinephrine For Schools program. Most schools are now legally permitted to stock and administer Epinephrine to students. An Epinephrine For Schools program bridges the gap for students that may not have a prescription. Equal access to an Epinephrine may be limited due to a variety of factors:

Schools that stock Epinephrine are proactive in protecting children with food allergies, and those that may not have been diagnosed with food allergies and have their first reaction at school. When schools are developing their comprehensive Food Allergy Action Plan, they must consider the alternatives if no medication was administered. In many cases, the time for an ambulance to arrive and administer Epinephrine may be too late.EPINEPHRINE EXPIRATION DATES
Always be certain the expiration date is at least 1 year from purchase date. Epinephrine has a 1 year shelf life. Oftentimes, Schools and patients will receive medication with less than one year remaining on the expiration. For a family purchasing multiple auto-injectors that go unused, Epinephrine has become a major household expense.

BULLYING

WHAT IS BULLYING?
The definition for bullying between parents, students, and schools may differ. Bullying is an aggressive, unwanted behavior that involves a perceived imbalance of power. This behavior is often repeated over time and commonly escalates.Bullies and those that have been bullied may suffer from lasting emotional problems. Bullying can be physical, verbal, and social in nature. It can include actions such as teasing, name calling, taunting, threatening to cause harm, physical violence, destruction of personal belongings, cause an accident, harm personal reputation, and public humiliation.Bullied children often never report the bullying for fear of retaliation, shame, or embarrassment. There are more incidences of bullying that go unreported than are reported. Schools may have multiple bully incident reporting systems in place, but how they manage the individuals after a reported incident may differ greatly. Solutions to remedy bullying are failing as bullying behavior continues to grow.FOOD ALLERGY BULLYING
Every child will be acquainted with a student that has a Food Allergy or that has been bullied. Children with Food Allergies and bullying are growing faster than can be reported. Individuals with Severe Food Allergies are considered disabled and are protected by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Food Allergy related bullying is classified as Disability Harassment. Children with food allergies are a rapidly growing target for potential bullies.Food Allergies can be polarizing, both for the diagnosed child and for their classmates. Food Allergy related bullying can be life threatening if the bully tries to expose their victim to their food allergen or hide their anaphylaxis medication. Food Allergy related bullying may not always be from other students and classmates. Parents, teachers, and coaches may also be participants in bullying or hostile behavior. Bullying is a common occurrence for children with Food Allergies, even if a school has a well defined public anti-bullying program.FOOD ALLERGY BULLYING SOLUTIONS
Some form of bullying will always exist, but schools and communities can do more to reduce Health related bullying. As bullying typically peaks in the middle school aged years, it is critical to enact proactive solutions starting in the earliest years of school. Early education about Food Allergies and bullying can make a significant difference in reducing future Health related bullying.Managing Food Allergies and bully prevention is a full time job. The solutions to reducing bullying and Food Allergy safety are closely related. Bullying and Food Allergy education require continuous empathetic engagement to create a continuing culture of compassion and understanding. Effective Food Allergy education and bully prevention must be an ongoing activity to truly impact students in school and beyond the walls of the school. There should be no limit to the time spent on anti-bullying and Food Allergy education.

RESTAURANTS

Do you know what life-threatening ingredients are in the food your favorite restaurant is serving? Could the staff identify an adverse reaction to food? The answers could be the difference between life and death for customers that suffer from serious food allergies.Individuals with allergies to food face a challenge every day in avoiding harmful food allergens. Reactions can occur in minutes or be delayed by many hours. Every reaction has the potential to be life-threatening. Any microscopic amount of a food allergen can produce an adverse reaction. Food allergies send in thousands of people to the hospital annually. Food Allergies are growing a rate faster than can be calculated.Currently there is no National law that forces restaurants to accommodate individuals with food allergies. This does not shield any establishment from legal liability if a consumer is turned away or harmed by a food allergen. Food Allergies are considered a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act and the laws will eventually catch up affecting all organizations handling and preparing food. Restaurants have the responsibility to serve food in a safe manner that does not harm it's patrons. Food Allergies are as serious as Salmonella, E. Coli, Hepatitis A, Norwalk Virus, or any other food-borne illness. It is in a restaurant's best interest to be considerate and collectively work with staff and customers to avoid a severe reaction to food.WHAT RESTAURANTS CAN DO ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES
Restaurants have a challenging task in accommodating customers that play the food allergy card when they only have an intolerance or a dietary aversion to certain foods. By instituting proactive steps, a restaurant can manage the unique dietary needs of every customer in a reasonable manner.Improving food allergy knowledge and communication between staff and customers can go a long way in mitigating a fatal reaction to food. An educated and aware employee can work with concerned customers on a safe meal choice related to their allergy or dietary requirements.

SMART FOOD ALLERGY PRACTICES