May 9-15, 2021: Food Allergy Awareness Week

WHEREAS, according to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), as many as 32 million Americans have food allergies, and nearly 6 million are children under the age of 18; and,

WHEREAS, research shows that the prevalence of food allergies is increasing among children and adults; and,

WHEREAS, eight foods cause the majority of all food allergy reactions in the United States: crustacean shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and wheat. Symptoms of a food-allergic reaction can range from mild to severe, including anaphylaxis; and,

WHEREAS, anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death; and,

WHEREAS, food allergies results in more than 200,000 emergency department visits each year. Reactions typically occur when an individual unknowingly eats a food containing an ingredient to which they are allergic; and,

WHEREAS, according to FARE, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room every three minutes, with a 380 percent rise in medical procedures to treat anaphylaxis resulting from food allergies between 2007 and 2016; and,

WHEREAS, FARE is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and the health of individuals with food allergies and to providing hope through the promise of new treatments; and,

WHEREAS, this week is designated to raise public awareness of food allergies and their symptoms, support those with food allergies, and promote more research for improved treatments;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 9-15, 2021 as Food Allergy Awareness Week in Michigan.