Food Allergies & Other Food-Related Issues
Awareness and Education

Gayle Elam
Seattle area

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FAAN - The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network

FaanKids - Food Allergy Website for Kids

Food Allergy Basics

The most common allergy-causing foods in the U.S. are peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy. Recent studies showed that 3.3 million Americans are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, and 6.9 million are allergic to seafood. This year our elementary school has 20 kids with severe food allergies (1 in every 25 kids). In the lower grades, there are often several children in a class who have food allergies.

Strictly avoiding the food that triggers the allergy is the only way to prevent a reaction. Eating even a trace amount of the allergy-causing food can cause a big reaction that requires a trip to the emergency room. Touching a food may cause rashes or swelling. (Some people have emergencies from touching, but no one at our school.)

Other Food-Related Issues

Lots of people have medical reasons to be extremely careful about the foods they eat. Here is just a small list of medical conditions that require special diets:

food allergies (mild, moderate, or severe)
food and additives intolerances (preservatives, artificial colors, etc.)
Celiac disease/gluten intolerance
diabetes
lactose intolerance
autism
ADD/ADHD
migraine headaches
heart disease
high blood pressure
medication interactions, and many more

Some of the problems are severe enough that a mistake sends them into a medical emergency (severe food allergy, diabetic coma), some aren’t immediate health crises but worsen a chronic medical condition, some are immediately troublesome, and some are relatively mild intolerances. However, everyone feels best and stays healthiest eating the foods that are right for them. What is a healthy food choice for one person could be a huge danger for another person.

Our Story

I am the mother of a peanut-allergic second grader in the Seattle area. I have a wheat intolerance (identified Spring 2009). I am raising awareness of food allergies and dietary restrictions in our community, for my daughter who has a severe peanut allergy, and for the many other children and adults affected by food allergies and other food-related issues. Our family participated in FAAN's 2008 Walk for Food Allergy in Seattle, and I give training presentations by request.

"Taking action against allergic reactions" - Reporter article