FARE research Featured at AAAAI Meeting

March 22, 2022 (McLean, VA) – A team from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) presented results from a needs assessment survey of those in underserved communities as it relates to food allergy at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) conference in late February 2022, earning them a top-five spot in their focus area. Jenna Yost, lead author for this groundbreaking research, teamed with Anita Roach and Marie Malloy at FARE through the Community Access Program, working with community partners, clinicians, and survey methodologists to launch this survey in July 2021. 
 
This research revealed impactful results regarding social determinants of health and barriers in access to care and management of food allergy. While food allergy is a potentially life-threatening disease affecting 32 million Americans, Blacks and Latinos are affected at a higher rate than whites and are also less likely to have access to testing, care, safe food, and other vital life-saving resources. Specifically, the disparities highlighted by this research provide a road map for additional efforts and dollars to close gaps in addressing the food allergy community.

• Fifty-nine percent of respondents reported non-White race or Hispanic ethnicity and 91% reported an annual household income lower than $75,000.
• Fewer than 11% of participants reported having access to epinephrine within five minutes compared to 51% nationally. 
• More than three-fourths reported utilizing a food bank in the last month and 70% screened positive for risk of food insecurity. 
• Respondents at risk of food insecurity were significantly less likely to report receiving helpful resources at the time of food allergy diagnosis (e.g., emergency action plans, EAI prescription, and EAI use training)
• One in every four parents/guardians reported experiencing anxiety due to their child’s food allergy and 30% of adults reported experiencing anxiety due to food allergy.  

FARE is proud of this team for their dedication to the food allergic community as well as their impactful research. For more information about these survey results and to download the case study poster, please visit foodallergy.org.