Food Allergy Advocacy – Food Allergy Parents

Food Allergy Awareness Week is on May 9-15, 2021. It's honored the second week of May, which is declared by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to be "National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month." The Food Allergy Awareness ribbon color is teal, so you may see more teal ribbons, t-shirts, and accessories around during the month of May. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Ten Easy Ways to Spread Food Allergy Awareness May is the peak season for people with allergies and asthma, so it's the time we recognize National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month and Food Allergy Awareness Week. Below are ten easy ways you can participate, advocate, and educate others about food allergies. Share the Food Allergy Awareness image below or share your food allergy story.Wear Food Allergy Awareness ShirtsWear a Teal Ribbon BraceletDisplay a Food Allergy Awareness StickerWear a Teal Food Allergy Awareness Ribbon PinWatch a Movie about Food Allergies.Read a Children's Book about Food Allergies to Kids.Request a Mayoral/Governor Proclamation using the FAACT Toolkit.Participate in Events such as the Kids with Food Allergies Webinar on May 13. Register here.Share Food Allergy Facts on social media, in schools, with co-workers, etc. 1. Share About Food Allergies on Social Media 2. Wear Food Allergy Awareness T-Shirts Here's a simple Food Allergy Awareness teal heart t-shirt available on Amazon! It's available in Men, Women, and Youth sizes in 5 shades of black and gray. Get This Shirt! This food allergy mom t-shirt reads "Label Reading, Recipe Creating, Epinephrine Carrying Food Allergy Mom" Order on Amazon. Choose from 10 different colors! Get This Shirt! Here's another Cute Food Allergy Mom T-shirt that says, "I wear TEAL for my hero, my DAUGHTER 💙 Food Allergy Awareness" shirt. This is also available on Amazon in Men and Women sizes in 10 fun colors. Get This Shirt! This food allergy awareness shirt reads, "I WEAR TEAL FOR FOOD ALLERGIES AWARENESS." It comes in men, women, and youth sizes in 5 colors. Available on Amazon! Get This Shirt! Here's another cute Food Allergy Awareness shirt with a teal ribbon and hearts. Order on Amazon in 5 colors. Get This Shirt! This funny Food Allergy Awareness t-shirt has a teal gnome, ribbon, truck, tree, and butterflies. Available to order on Amazon! It's available in Men, Women, and Youth sizes in black, navy, asphalt, royal blue, baby blue, grass green, kelly green, brown, pink, and purple. Get This Shirt! Another cute Food Allergy Awareness shirt for moms reads, "Food Allergy doesn't come with a manual. It comes with a Mother who never gives up." Order this shirt on Amazon! It's available in Men, Women, and Youth sizes in black, navy, baby blue, silver, and pink. Get This Shirt! 📍Related: 11 Must-Have Gifts for People with Allergies 3. Wear a Food Allergy Awareness Bracelet A subtle way to show support and awareness for someone with food allergies is a teal bracelet. This one available on Amazon has a teal adjustable bracelet with a sterling silver ribbon charm. Get This Bracelet! 📍Related: Best Food Allergy Awareness Bracelets for Kids 4. Use Food Allergy Awareness Stickers Another subtle way to show support and awareness for those with food allergies is a teal heart Food Allergy Awareness sticker. This would look cute on a tumbler, water bottle, laptop, or notebook. Get This Sticker! 5. Wear a Food Allergy Awareness Pin Another easy way to show food allergy awareness and support is to wear a Food Allergy Awareness Pin on your coat, shirt, lanyard, purse, or bag. You can order just one or order in bulk on Amazon. Get This Pin! 📍Related: Teal Pumpkin: What Does It Mean + Busting Popular Myths 6. Watch a Food Allergy Awareness DVD The PBS All About Allergies DVD is a great way to introduce allergy awareness to kids. This is great for kids who have allergies themselves or those who have classmates, siblings, or friends with allergies. Get This DVD! 7. Read Food Allergy Awareness Children's Books Children's books are an amazing way to educate and spread awareness about food allergies among toddlers, daycare children, or classrooms of students and staff at schools. Our favorite is the Bugabees Friends with Food Allergies book, which talks about each of the top 8 most common food allergens. Get This Book! A Few More Children's Food Allergy Books You may be able to check out some of these books from your public library for free. 📍Related: Review: Pros + Cons of four children's books about food allergies. 8. Request a City or State Proclamation for Food Allergy Awareness Week Help raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxes in your city or state by requesting a Proclamation of Food Allergy Awareness Week on May 9-15. You can use the FAACT Toolkit, created by the Food Allergy + Anaphylaxis Connection Team, to help you with all the steps to do this through your mayor or governor. 9. Participate in Food Allergy Awareness Events Here's a list of some of the events happening in May related to Asthma and Allergy Awareness: May Food Allergy Awareness Calendar of Events May 1-31: Asthma and Allergy Awareness MonthMay 4: National FPIES Awareness Day - food protein-induced enterocolitis syndromeMay 5: World Asthma DayMay 9-15: Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW)May 10: Donations made to support food allergy research, support, education, and advocacy will be matchedMay 13: Food Allergies in Infants and Toddlers with Dr. Michael Pistiner webinar at 1:30 p.m. ETMay 16-22: National Eosinophil Awareness Week (EoE)May 28: Remembrance Day to honor the memories of people lost to asthma or allergy For more details and social media events, check out the Kids with Food Allergies Awareness Events Page. 📍Related: 7 Tips for Fewer Allergic Reactions + Better Health 10. Share Interesting Facts about Food Allergies in the United States Share any or all of these interesting Facts about Food Allergies from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America on social media, in emails to schools, recreation departments, work, etc. A food allergy occurs when the body's immune system sees a certain food as harmful and reacts by causing symptoms.About 26 million (10.8%) adults in the United States have food allergiesNearly 5.6 million (7.6%) children in the United States have food allergiesThe most common food allergies are peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, shellfish, fish, eggs, soy, and sesameChildren with food allergies are more likely to also have asthma or other allergic diseasesSevere allergic reactions to food cause 30,000 emergency room visits, 2,000 hospitalizations, and 150 deaths each year just in the United StatesThere is no known cure for food allergiesFood can cause severe allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening without prompt treatment with epinephrine. 📍Related: Epinephrine Cases: Review of Two Allermates Belt Carriers Guide to Raise Confident Kids with Food Allergies Want to do everything you can to make sure your child with food allergies is a confident self-advocate? Download our free guide with tips you can start today! Read More Food Allergy Tips