The 5.6 million children in the U.S. with food allergies need safe school environments. A bill called the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act (S.121/H.R.9550) could help do that. If passed, it would require training for school food staff to prevent, identify, and respond to food-related allergic reactions.

Children spend around seven hours a day in school. This doesn’t include before and after school activities. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 15% of school-aged children with food allergies have had an allergic reaction while at school.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) does offer food allergy training, but it is not required. Some states may also have certain food allergy policies in place, but they can vary and may not be required.

The Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act will:

• Require National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) staff to have food allergy training
• Require FNS to make food allergy training available to staff under the Special Milk Program (SMP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
• Require FNS to create and include food allergy information in its nutrition education for people who receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is proud to have worked with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) on this important bill. We now need your help to make this bill a law.

Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) is the food allergy division of AAFA. The KFA community is very important to food allergy advocacy.

Use our tool below to ask your U.S. congresspeople to support the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act!