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

Whereas, Children are the largest group affected by food allergies, and researchers estimate that approximately 12 million Americans have food allergies; and,

Whereas, Reactions or symptoms to food allergies include, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and swelling of the throat; and,

Whereas, Eight foods (shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and wheat), cause 90 percent of all food allergy reactions; and,

Whereas, Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe allergic reaction involving major organs in the body simultaneously, and for severely allergic individuals it can cause death in a matter of minutes; and,

Whereas, Eating in restaurants and at school pose the highest risk for people with food allergies, because often times, wait staff and cafeteria staff are not aware of the ingredients used to prepare the food they are serving and are unprepared to handle a reaction; 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 11, 2008, as Food Allergy Awareness Week in Michigan.