Whereas, Food allergy reactions cause 30,000 visits to the emergency room and 150 deaths each year are caused by individuals unknowingly eating a food containing an ingredient to which they were allergic; and,

Whereas, Children are the largest group affected by food allergies and researchers estimate that approximately 11 million Americans have food allergies, whose symptoms can include hives, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and swelling of the throat; and,

Whereas, Eight foods cause 90 percent of all food allergy reactions; and,

Whereas, Eating in restaurants and at school are the situations posing the highest risk for people with food allergies; and,

Whereas, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, FAAN, is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about food allergies and anaphylaxis, a potentially life threatening allergic reaction; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of May 14, 2006, as Food Allergy Awareness Week in Michigan.