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PALESTINE, Texas – More than 170 foods have reportedly caused allergic reactions.
according to research and education on non-profit food allergy (FARE), eight of the major allergens are responsible for most serious allergy incidents in the United States.
"May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, and Food Allergy Awareness Week between May 12 and May 17," says Wilson. "So we thought it would be a good reminder for those who know about food allergies or have never heard of it."
Dee and her husband Dustin are parents of two young children: Jackie, 4, and Tom, 3.
"Overall, our kids are just normal kids playing, but if they have a peanut, they may die," says Dustin.
You can not find out just by looking at Jackie and Tom, but these are two of the 5.6 million children under 18 in the country who have at least one food allergy.
"Jackie has an allergy to shrimp and peanuts, and Tom has a peanut allergy," says Dee. "Nobody in our family has food allergies, we were so surprised and shocked."
Dee says that she and her husband discovered that Tom was allergic to peanuts at the age of about 1 year old. Later, they realized that Jackie also had allergies. Their first step was to learn as much as possible about food allergies and possible reactions.
"We try to educate the people around them, but we also try to educate them," Dustin said. "Even though they're young, we want them to know that you're not always going to eat certain foods." It does not matter. "We'll find something else you can have." "
The eight main food allergens include:
- Milk
- Eggs
- peanuts
- Nuts
- Corn
- Soy
- Fish
- Shellfish
According to FARE, more than 40% of allergic children have had a serious allergic reaction such as: anaphylaxis. Every year, around 200,000 people receive emergency medical care in the event of an allergic reaction to food.
"The ingredients change, the manufacturers change, so it's important to read each label every time, including when there are not just food products," Dee says. "The potting soil, toothpaste, everything can contain nuts, shrimp or any of the eight main ingredients allergens."
In addition to raising public awareness, Dee and Dustin wish to see a change in Texas, as they have found in other states. On April 16th, the University of Maryland added EpiPens to all its campus cafeterias due to the increase in food allergies.
"We hope this can be pbaded on to high schools, colleges and elementary schools," Dustin said. "Just like defibrillators, EpiPens should also be available, and I know they're expensive, but they save their lives, so why not have them in all schools?"
In the meantime, the Wilson family has announced that it will continue to do its utmost to ensure that others care as much about protecting people with allergies as about food.
"Food allergies are real," says Dee. "They are deadly.We have had several deaths due to a food allergy in our community, and it's scary."
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