HR0008 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0008 LRB102 04112 LAW 14129 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Approximately 32 million people in the United States have food allergies; results from a 2015 to 2016 survey of more than 38,000 children indicated that 5.6 million children, or nearly 8%, have food allergies; that is one in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom; and

WHEREAS, Children with food allergies are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions, such as asthma and other allergies, compared with children without food allergies; this is of great importance as children with a coexisting food allergy and asthma may be more likely to experience anaphylactic reactions to foods and be at high risk of death; and

WHEREAS, Food allergy is a potentially serious immune response to eating specific foods or food additives; eight types of food (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat) account for over 90% of allergic reactions in affected individuals; and

WHEREAS, Reactions to these foods by an allergic person can range from a tingling sensation around the mouth and lips or hives to death, depending on the severity of the allergy; every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room; each year in the U.S., 200,000 people require emergency medical care for allergic reactions to food; between 2007 and 2016, medical procedures to treat anaphylaxis resulting from food increased by 377%; more than 40% of children with food allergies have experienced a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis; and

WHEREAS, The mechanisms by which a person develops an allergy to specific foods are largely unknown; food allergies are more prevalent in children than adults, and a majority of affected children will outgrow food allergies with age; children under age 5 years had higher rates of reported food allergy compared with children at 5 to 17 years of age; boys and girls had similar rates of food allergy; and

WHEREAS, A food allergy can sometimes become a lifelong concern; food allergies can greatly affect the well-being of children and their families; annually, caring for children with food allergies costs U.S. families nearly $25 billion; there are some indications that the prevalence of food allergies may be increasing in the United States and in other countries; and

WHEREAS, A food allergy is an impairment that limits a major life activity and may qualify an individual for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and

WHEREAS, Increased food allergy awareness will lead to greater public understanding of these health problems and will lead to more life-saving research on the subject; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May of 2021 as Food Allergy Awareness Month in the State of Illinois.