Food allergies are the rise in the United States and no one knows the reasons why. Food allergies are often misunderstood by the public and used as punchlines in jokes. But food allergies are no laughing matter.

A food allergy occurs when the body's immune system sees a certain food as harmful and reacts by causing one or more symptoms. Mild and severe symptoms can lead to a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis (anna-fih-LACK-sis). The treatment for anaphylaxis is an injection of epinephrine. The best way to avoid an allergic reaction is to stay away from foods that have caused symptoms. 

To spread awareness about what it is like to live with food allergies, we asked our community, "What do you wish those without food allergies could understand?"

Here are some of your replies:

1. My son's allergies are a serious health issue, not just a preference. – Will

2. This is not something that we chose. It is not my son's fault that he can't eat or be near peanuts or tree nuts. – Bodie

3. I'm not being rude by making sure your kids wash after eating - because it could cause a reaction in my kid. – Chrissy

4. An invisible amount is enough to cause a reaction. – Frustrated Mama

5. My daughter’s milk allergy IS NOT the same as being lactose intolerant! – JZ

6. With a little effort, community activities can be made safe for kids with food allergies. They just need to reach out and ask. – Glenda

7. I have no way of knowing if you really understand how serious this is, so please don't be offended, but I don't really trust you and I DO need to see all the labels myself.  – Jac

8. It is not a choice for my child not to eat certain foods. – Jill

9. We don’t make requests to be a pain or an inconvenience, the request is for the safety and inclusion of our child. – Betsy

10. Food allergy responses are unpredictable. – Karen

11. My vigilance is about keeping my child alive, not about being picky or overprotective. We did NOT choose this life; but it is what we must deal with on a daily basis. – Kimberly 

12. How much time goes into planning regular life. - Errands, chores, activities, spur-of-the-moment fun  is viewed through an unwavering lens of "How can I make this safe?" – KS

13. I wish folks understood it's not a choice ... we are not being "picky" or trying to be "high maintenance." - Susan

14. I wish those without food allergy understood how isolating it can feel for a child. Also, how it makes going out for things that would otherwise be simple just a little more complicated.   – LJ

15. The emotional toll that food allergies take on a child from constantly being excluded from having the same food as his friends and classmates. – Maria

16. My children are not broken. Food allergies are not a contagious disease to be avoided. – Stefani

17. All the hard work and diligence a parent must do to keep their child safe. We're not over protective; we're cautious, alert, "always on", never wavering, planning, thinking ahead ... Just so our child can enjoy the same simplicities as every other child. - Hauer

18. FA kids and families can never, ever, never let their guards down around food. Ever. – Steph

19. The difficulties in finding safe food for our family to eat. The high cost of the few foods that are safe for all to eat. – Ward

20. Cross contact can and does cause allergic reactions! Be it contact with foods at a plant or in the home, cross contact is a serious issue for those with severe allergies.  – jdoc284

21. How expensive epinephrine auto-injectors are. – jpros

22. PEOPLE are more important than food. – Graham