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Exciting News! FDA Approves First Needle-Free Epinephrine

For decades, people with food allergies and their caregivers have been hoping for needle-free epinephrine options to respond to their severe allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis. Last Friday, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) answered those hopes by approving neffy® – the first non-injectable emergency treatment for people with life-threatening allergies. Neffy, made by ARS…

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Food Allergy Treatment News: FDA Approves Xolair

Exciting treatment news! The FDA has approved the use of Xolair as the first and only medication to help prevent allergic reactions in individuals with food allergies. Xolair isn’t a new medication – it comes with a 20 year track record of safety in use with severe asthma. Trials supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) showed this medication to be effective…

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Testimonies Needed - Help Fix the Addition of Sesame in Bread Products

If you or a loved one has experienced an allergic reaction due to sesame added food products since January 2023, we need to hear from you! As you may be aware, some food manufacturers have begun adding small amounts of sesame to previously safe food products. This addition has mainly been seen in bread products (including sliced bread, buns, rolls, bread crumbs, croutons, etc) and typically…

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Food Allergies on a Budget

Food Allergies on a Budget

It is no shock for those of us who live with this condition to learn that food allergies are expensive. The cost of medical care on top of prescription auto-injectors, grocery bills, time away from work to manage our condition, special child care (and sometimes schooling) can add up quickly. According to a 2013 study out of Northwestern University by Dr. Ruchi Gupta and others, food allergies…

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Taking Care of Your Food Allergies AND Your Health

Taking Care of Your Food Allergies AND Your Health

There are a few simple things that everyone should be doing to protect their health. And while they benefit all, they are particularly important for people with food allergies. These activities aren’t just good for your well-being, they are also important to help prevent serious allergic reactions. GET CONSISTENTLY GOOD SLEEP. Yes, the elusive sleep recommendation… But studies show that sleep…

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Food Allergy Awareness Week

Welcome to Food Allergy Awareness Week! Let's level-set our understanding of food allergies and see how we can make life better for the 32 million Americans living with this condition. #foodallergy #health

AllergyStrong Food Allergy Awareness Month Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) brings attention to food allergies, a growing epidemic worldwide that affects up to 250 million people. But for those of us already living with this condition, FAAW is an excellent time to review important food allergy information, make changes to your food allergy routine and educate yourself on new information to…

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Food Allergies at School: Moving Beyond Food Bans

Do Schoolwide Food Bans Protect Students? #foodallergies #school

For years, school administrators and parents alike have struggled with the question of how to keep students with food allergies safe while in their care. And in some cases, both schools and parents have supported schoolwide bans on allergens in an effort to protect food allergic children. But for many, food bans just don’t work. So what do studies show? And what should schools be doing to…

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The ADA and Section 504: What it Means for Those with Food Allergies

What protections do those with food allergies (and other disabilities) have under the law? #FoodAllergies

Equal Access and Protections Under the Law: The Americans with Disabilities Act (commonly referred to as the ADA) is a law that prevents discrimination against people with disabilities. The ADA applies to workplaces, public schools, state and federal government institutions as well as spaces of public accommodation (private entities such as restaurants, museums, movie theaters, parks, etc). The…

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Can I Safely Get a Flu Vaccine with an Egg Allergy?

Can I Safely Get a Flu Vaccine with an Egg Allergy?

Flu season is upon us and it’s poised to spread like wildfire once again. Patients who are allergic to eggs want to be protected from the affects of the flu, but worry about the risk of anaphylaxis from the ingredients in the vaccine. Those of us with an egg allergy face the same challenge each fall: Can we safely get a flu vaccine? Myth Busting Concern about egg allergy and the flu vaccine is…

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What the PFDD Meeting for Food Allergy Means for You

What the PFDD Meeting for Food Allergy Means for You #FoodAllergies #PFDD

Early this month, the Food Allergy Collaborative (of which AllergyStrong/AllergyShmallergy is a founding member) and its generous sponsors hosted the Externally-Led Patient Focused Drug Development (PFDD) meeting for Food Allergy. This impactful event was held for the benefit of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) who governs therapies for this condition and sets labeling policy. The…

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Understanding the FASTER Act: Protecting Those with Sesame Allergy and Beyond

Understanding the FASTER Act: Protecting Those with Sesame Allergy and Beyond

The food allergy community has cause to celebrate! President Biden signed the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment and Education Research (FASTER) Act of 2021 into law, officially making sesame the 9th major food allergen. The FASTER Act will require manufacturers to label sesame by its common name in their ingredient labels and prioritize research and treatment for all food allergies. Sesame joins…

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The Myth of the “Mild” Food Allergy

The Myth of the “Mild” Food Allergy

Patients and caregivers describe their food allergies in all sorts of ways, but there’s only one term that worries healthcare providers: mild. Patients often list off their food allergies, distinguishing one from the other by stating, “I’m allergic to peanuts and have a MILD allergy to sesame.” or “I’m allergic to egg and have a life-threatening allergy to dairy.” Statements like these are very…

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Diagnosing a Food Allergy

Diagnosing a Food Allergy - What to expect when you suspect you have a food allergy

Anyone can develop a food allergy at any age to any food. So when someone experience symptoms of an allergic reaction after eating, it is CRITICAL that they see a doctor to explore the possibility of a food allergy. Symptoms of a food allergy vary not only from person to person, but from reaction to reaction. Some reactions are mild, while others (even to the same allergen) can be very…

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Food Allergy Prevention Included in USDA and HHS 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines

Food Allergy Prevention Included in Latest USDA and HHS 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines #foodallergy #health

Last month, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Updated every five years, this science-based advice helps Americans make decisions on what to eat and drink in order to promote short and long-term health, reduce the risk of chronic disease and meet nutritional needs. The guideline,…

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The FASTER Act: What It Is and Why it Matters

Exciting update! The FASTER Act: What It Is and Why it Matters #foodallergies @foodallergy @allergyasthmaHq @aafanational @senatortimscott

Moments ago, the Senate unanimously passed the FASTER Act introduced by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). This is fantastic news for all patients with food allergies – and particularly exciting for the millions of Americans who are allergic to sesame seeds. What is the FASTER Act? The Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research (FASTER) Act is a bill aimed at increasing safety for those…

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Celebrities with Food Allergies (4th Edition)

Just in case you were feeling like the only one with a food allergy, here's your regular reminder that you're not alone! #foodallergies #health

Actress Gina Rodriguez at the 2014 Alma Awards

Just another reminder that you are not the only one with a food allergy! 1 in every 10 adults has a food allergy and 1 in every 13 children do as well.

Bethany Frankel (reality star, Skinny Girl founder): fish

Jason Mantzoukas (actor, comedian):  egg

Tia Mowry (actress):  parent to a child with peanut allergy

Zhaire Smith(NBA…

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FDA Issues Guidance Regarding Sesame Labeling

FDA Issues Guidance Regarding Sesame Labeling

FDA APAC Mtg Re: AR101

On November 10, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidance to manufacturers regarding the labeling of sesame seeds and in food products. Allergy Shmallergy and AllergyStrong have tirelessly advocated for better labeling for sesame seeds alongside the Allergy & Asthma Network and others for years. We see this is a positive first step in achieving our goal…