• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Food Allergy Awareness Week Celebrates New Laws and New Hope to Find a Cure for Food Allergies

Posted on: Friday, 12 May 2006, 09:07 CDT

FAIRFAX, Va., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), the largest international nonprofit, patient advocacy group for food allergy will kick off this year's Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) beginning on May 14 and ending on May 20. Activities to educate and spread awareness on food allergies are planned for the week with the theme, "New Tools, New Laws, New Hope."

An estimated 12 million Americans have an allergy to common foods such as milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy, making it a significant public health and food safety issue. Since there is no cure, the food allergic individual must rely on ingredient information from others. As a result, food allergy impacts everyone -- the allergic individuals, friends, family, classmates, restaurateurs, etc.

FAAW marks a crucial time for educators, patients, and medical staff to educate others about the seriousness of food allergies in order to prevent reactions and save lives. Reading ingredient labels and avoiding the allergen is critical for preventing an anaphylactic reaction, a severe allergic reaction. Since January 1st of this year, food manufacturers have had to comply to a new law, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), requiring companies to list, in simple language, the major allergens that cause 90% of food-allergic reactions. For the first time, food-allergic consumers won't need to take a dictionary to the grocery store to decipher the scientific terms such as "ammonium caseinate" for milk. Even a seven-year-old will soon be able to read and understand ingredient information.

"The 2006 Food Allergy Awareness Week campaign kicks off on Mother's Day, such an appropriate day to salute the millions of mothers of children with food allergy who do so much to educate others in order to keep their children safe," said Anne Munoz-Furlong, CEO and Founder of FAAN. "The new labeling law marks a new beginning as we continue to increase awareness about this growing public health concern within our communities and ask ourselves to help keep children safe."

This past fall, The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2005 (HR 4063) was introduced requesting the federal government to create food allergy management guidelines for schools nationwide. FAAN's primary goal is for school staff across the country to have the tools they need to develop a plan for keeping food-allergic students safe.

According to Munoz-Furlong, "Scientists around the world are investigating food allergy to determine why some people become allergic, how to stop the reactions and how to cure the disease. We are hopeful that in the next ten years or so, there will be significant breakthroughs -- until then, education is key."

Leading up to Food Allergy Awareness Week and throughout the campaign, FAAN will diligently work with its approximately 30,000 members to spearhead food allergy education events and activities across the nation with health care professionals, schools, companies, community groups, government leaders, and others.

FAAN would like to acknowledge this year's FAAW Platinum Sponsors including the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; Dey Pharmaceuticals; Verus Pharmaceuticals; and Nature's Recipe.

To request an interview with Anne Munoz-Furlong, please contact Lauren Lawson at 703.563.3052 or at llawson@foodallergymail.org

ABOUT FAAN

Founded in 1991, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in food allergy information. FAAN, a nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, VA, is dedicated to increasing public awareness about food allergy and anaphylaxis, to providing education, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies. The organization has just under 30,000 members in the United States, Canada, and 62 other countries.

FAAN provides information about food allergy and educational resources to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. Educational materials published by FAAN are reviewed for medical accuracy by the FAAN Medical Advisory Board, which is comprised of 14 of the world's leaders in food allergy science and medicine. In addition to printed materials, FAAN also sponsors awareness programs such as Food Allergy Awareness Week, Food Allergy Conferences, and the Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference as well as fundraising walks across the country. Educational materials and information about special programs are also available online at http://www.foodallergy.org, http://www.fankids.org, and http://www.faanteen.org.

Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network

CONTACT: Lauren Lawson of The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network,+1-703-563-3052 or llawson@foodallergymail.org

Web site: http://www.foodallergy.org/http://www.fankids.org/http://www.faanteen.org/

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category