Food Allergy Awareness Month

With an estimate of approximately 33 million Americans living with food allergies (and probably many additional milder cases that remain undiagnosed), this medical condition has become an important topic of conversation in today’s world.

As food allergy prevalence among children has been increasing significantly in recent decades, it’s vital to keep everyone safe by sharing information and resources.

Food Allergy Awareness Month is here to improve public knowledge and understanding about this medical condition, showing support and care for everyone in the community who needs it!

History of Food Allergy Awareness Month

Sometimes called Food Allergy Awareness and Action Month, this event is organized by the folks at the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) and it has been observed annually since at least 2018.

This medical awareness campaign is celebrated in the United States as well as Canada, seeking to improve public awareness about the serious nature of issues specifically regarding food allergies.

This might be connected to questions of how to live with food allergies and stay healthy, how to parent a child with food allergies, or how to support a friend or coworker who has them.

While Allergy Awareness Week is celebrated in late April, related to allergies of any sort, including hay fever, penicillin, or some other allergy, Food Allergy Awareness Month is celebrated soon after with a target specifically aimed at food allergies.

How to Celebrate Food Allergy Awareness Month

Help everyone in the family and the community stay happy and healthy throughout the year by promoting Food Allergy Awareness Month with some of these ideas:

Get Tested for Food Allergies

Although people who have severe food allergies would likely get a diagnosis rather quickly, those who suffer from very mild food allergies might be less aware of what is happening in their bodies.

Stomach issues, itchy hives or rash, swelling in the face, difficulty breathing, or tingling in the mouth can all be signs of a food allergy.

Be sure to contact a medical professional right away to get tested, whether during Food Allergy Awareness Month or whenever the symptoms are noticed.

With more than 170 foods that are reported as causing allergic reactions, for many people, allergy testing is a vital part of living an active and healthy life.

Access Resources About Food Allergies

One way to observe Food Allergy Awareness Month is to get more informed about the different resources and tools available to those who have food allergies.

Seeing a doctor is the first step on the way to diagnosing and learning more about food allergies, whether mild or severe.

Other options of resources may be found at the local public library, or through trustworthy websites such as the FDA, the Food Allergy Resource & Education (FARE) organization, and others.

Schools can also get free resources from the FAACT website with a curriculum for students along with posters and other promotional materials.

Support a Food Allergy Awareness Month Proclamation

To better promote this event, many folks show support by advocating for Food Allergy Awareness Month with their local mayor or governor to have it proclaimed as a special event.

FAACT offers a toolkit to help concerned citizens approach their government representatives with all the needed information.