Food Allergy Research & Education’s Annual Awareness Campaign Encourages Shining a Light on Food Allergy, a Serious Public Health Issue

One in 13 children live with food allergies; nearly 40 percent have experienced a severe allergic reaction

McLEAN, Va. (May 2 2018) – Serious reactions to food have risen at a staggering pace, making efforts to educate the public about food allergies all the more critical. This May, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) is “Shining a Light” on food allergies and anaphylaxis as part of its annual Food Allergy Awareness Week campaign, which will be held May 13-19.

Food allergies are potentially life-threatening; treatment of anaphylactic food allergy reactions climbed to nearly 400 percent between 2007 and 2016, according to data from FAIR Health, a healthcare transparency nonprofit. Roughly two children in every classroom have at least one food allergy.

“The food allergy epidemic shows no signs of abating. While FARE continues to fund scientific studies that have the potential to change the landscape of food allergy research, we must change the conversation surrounding food allergy, said James R. Baker, Jr. M.D., CEO and Chief Medical Officer of FARE. “This means coming together to shine a light on food allergy as a serious public health issue, educate others about how they can help those with food allergies stay safe and advocate on behalf of the food allergy community.”

One of the country’s most famous iconic buildings will shine a light for Food Allergy Awareness Week: the Empire State Building will be lit in teal from sunset on Sunday, May 13, to 2 a.m. on Monday, May 14.

Across the country, families, individuals, schools and corporations will be participating in the awareness campaign throughout the month of May in a variety of ways, including wearing teal on May 17 for a #TealTakeover day. Other campaign highlights include:

• FARE’s “In Their Words: Kids Living With Food Allergies” video provides a glimpse of the childhood food allergy journey.
• Volunteer-driven state proclamations for Food Allergy Awareness Week. To view a map of states with proclamations, visit foodallergy.org.
• Advocacy Days, meetings organized by FARE at state capitols in New York and California designed to educate lawmakers about the importance of supporting legislation to improve the lives of those with food allergies,.
• FARE’s Action Calendar, which provides one action individuals can take each day in May to support the food allergy community.
• Shine a Light shareables for social media provide a simple way of increasing understanding of food allergies among friends, co-workers, caregivers, teachers and partners.

FARE’s comprehensive online headquarters – www.foodallergyweek.org/food-allergy-awareness-week – includes a number of resources to help make awareness efforts a success in local communities.

FARE extends its appreciation to the Empire State Building for going teal and to the food allergy community for joining in efforts to raise food allergy awareness.

FARE thanks National Strategic Partner OWYN – Only What You Need, as well as Pure Encapsulations, Enjoy Life Foods and free2B Foods for their generous support of its Food Allergy Awareness Week campaign.