Request a Proclamation

Instructions

Please feel free to edit this message to share your experience with food allergies. The more personal your message is, the more likely we are to get a response from your governor. Copy and paste your finished letter into the contact form or email you send to your governor's office, along with the template proclamation found below. Click here for links to each state's proclamation request page. 

Message

On behalf of the one in 10 of residents with food allergies of our state, I am writing to request that a proclamation be issued this year for FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK, May 12-18, 2024.

Food allergies are a life-changing, serious and increasingly prevalent disease that affects more than 33 million Americans. One in every 13 children has food allergies or approximately two children in every classroom. In the U.S., emergency medical treatment for severe allergic reactions to food has increased 377 percent in only a decade.  Every 10 seconds, food allergy sends a patient to the emergency room.  And food allergies are costly – one study found that childhood food allergy costs U.S. families $25 billion each year.

There is no cure for food allergy. Allergic reactions to food can range from mild symptoms to anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that can occur rapidly and is potentially life-threatening. 

With your support in declaring FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK, we can continue to increase public awareness about food allergies. It is our objective to help educate schools, restaurants and the citizens of our state on the serious and potentially life-threatening nature of food allergies.

Please find below a draft of a proposed Proclamation for FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK for the week of May 12-18, 2024, to help build recognition and support for individuals and families managing food allergy. You may send the proclamation to:

FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education)
Attention: FAAW
7901 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 240
McLean, VA  22102

On behalf of all those affected by this life-altering disease, thank you for your consideration and support.
 

Proclamation

FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, as more than 33 million Americans have food allergies; nearly 6 million are children under the age of 18.

WHEREAS, research shows that the prevalence of food allergy is increasing among children and adults.

WHEREAS, nine foods cause the majority of all food allergy reactions in the U.S.: shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, wheat and sesame. Symptoms of a food allergy reaction can range from mild to severe, such as anaphylaxis.

WHEREAS, anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death.

WHEREAS,  every 10 seconds, food allergy sends a patient to the emergency room. Reactions typically occur when an individual unknowingly eats a food containing an ingredient to which they are allergic. 

WHEREAS, emergency medical treatment for severe allergic reactions to food has increased by 377 percent in only a decade.

WHEREAS, childhood food allergies cost U.S. families $25 billion each year.

WHEREAS, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies, and to providing them hope through the promise of new treatments.

THEREFORE I, ________, GOVERNOR for the _________________, do hereby proclaim May 12-18, 2024: Food Allergy Awareness Week in the _______________________ and encourage the residents of _______________________ to increase their understanding and awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis.

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