FARE Blog

Duane Wesemann, MD PhD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a principal investigator in the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

As molecular biology research has become more sophisticated and personalized genetic testing has become more popular, some members of the food allergy community have asked us when genetic tests and treatments for food allergy will become available.

Michael learned the value of community at a FARE’s Food Allergy Heroes Walk and quickly became an advocate for the entire food allergy community. Michael shares his story:

Heidi is a food allergy mom who became a leader in her workplace and local community, recruiting 100 of her co-workers to join FARE’s Food Allergy Heroes Walk in Baltimore! Heidi shares her story:

In 2018, FARE is awarding more than $104,000 for 42 projects through our Community Outreach Award Program. In 25 states and in Mexico, FARE-Recognized Support Group Leaders and FARE Food Allergy Heroes Walk Chair volunteers are spearheading initiatives designed to educate others about the severity of food allergies and raise awareness in their local communities.

Brandy’s daughter, Lauren, was first diagnosed with food allergies as an infant. Since then, she and Lauren have been involved in many different areas of FARE, most recently springing into action by advocating for national legislation to require labeling of sesame as the ninth most common allergen. They share their story:

If you’re managing food allergies, you’ve probably encountered precautionary allergen labeling. After you’ve carefully read the ingredients list and any “Contains” statement, you might also find suggestions that other ingredients – allergens – are hiding in the package.

Guest post by Teen Advisory Group member Kate Stack

“Better safe than sorry!”, “It can’t be that bad, right?” and my personal favorite, “It doesn’t taste that good anyway!” are all things teens with food allergies hear on the daily. While there can be truth to some of these, it can be hard to manage the constant exclusion and deal with situations regarding your allergies.

When faced with the challenge of dining out with food allergies, Katie set out to find a solution. Her creativity and innovation led to My Teal Ticket, a restaurant order form that helps people with food allergies have a safer dining experience. Katie shares her story:

Last weekend, representatives from FARE attended a joint congress of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) in Orlando, FL.