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It is safe for ALL people (6 months and older) with an egg allergy to get a flu vaccine every year. This is true no matter how severe your egg allergy was in the past. This includes people who have had anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) to egg. Five organizations recommend that people get the flu vaccine every year, even if they have an egg allergy. These organizations are: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) American Academy...

Teal is the color of food allergy awareness and teal pumpkins have become the symbol of food allergy awareness at Halloween. When you see a teal pumpkin, it means non-food treats are available for kids with food allergies or other dietary restrictions. Kids With Food Allergies has tips to help you have a safer and more inclusive Tealoween. 1. Raise awareness about food allergies and being inclusive. Change your social media profile picture to show people you support a safer, more inclusive...

We thank Enjoy Life Foods for their sponsorship of this blog post to help us share information about candy options for children with food allergies. This is a sponsored post and is not an endorsement of any company or its products, nor is it a guarantee of the products’ safety. The funding we received for this advertisement helps support our free food allergy and asthma programs. The scary part of Halloween should be stories of witches and ghosts, not the candy. Food-centered holidays can be...

Update as of Sept. 2, 2021: We have updated our Teal Classroom™: Food Allergy Awareness Kit! This version includes updated resources, such as posters, stickers, activity sheets, educational information, and more. Each school year, Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) wants to help parents, teachers, and school staff create healthy and inclusive learning environments for children with food allergies. One resource we offer to school staff is our Teal Classroom™: Food Allergy Awareness Kit . It is...

Has your allergist suggested an oral food challenge ? The thought of feeding your child a food they may be allergic to can be scary. But an oral food challenge is the best way to confirm a food allergy diagnosis. And it can have benefits – whether you get the results you are hoping for or not. What Is an Oral Food Challenge? Simply put, an oral food challenge is where your allergist feeds your child a food to see if they have an allergic reaction. Oral food challenges are the gold standard...

Recognizing Severe Allergic Reactions in Infants and Toddlers Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening if not treated quickly and properly. But the signs and symptoms can be hard to recognize, especially in infants and toddlers. One of the biggest challenges is that this age group is nonverbal. Infants cannot talk about their symptoms, so parents and doctors may not notice or identify the signs of an allergic reaction. Research also suggests infants and toddlers...

Even though about 5.6 million children and 26 million adults have food allergies, many people still don’t understand what it’s like to live with them. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared May to be “ National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month .” All month long, we will be raising awareness to help dispel misinformation about asthma, allergies, and food allergies. (Kids With Food Allergies is the food allergy division of AAFA.) Food Allergy Awareness Week is also...

Update: The president has signed the FASTER ACT! On April 23, 2021, President Biden signed the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021, also called the FASTER Act (H.R.1202/S.578), into law. This bill expands the definition of major allergens to include sesame and requires analysis of food allergy research. Under the FASTER Act, food manufacturers have until Jan. 1, 2023, to update labels of products containing sesame. But you may see sesame appear on labels...

Updated for 2021, the Kids With Food Allergies’ Easter candy guide is filled with food allergy-friendly sweets. Even favorites such as chocolate bunnies and jelly beans are included. Please remember to read all labels and make sure the product is right for your family.

The manufacturers of epinephrine auto-injectors have extended their U.S. savings card programs through 2018. Epinephrine is the only treatment for a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis (anna-fih-LACK-sis). It is only available through a prescription by your doctor. Each prescription comes with two auto-injectors in a set. People with food allergies need two of these auto-injectors with them at all times.

Many children with food allergies have other allergic diseases – like asthma, eczema, and nasal allergies (allergic rhinitis) . If your child sniffles and sneezes more with the changing seasons, pollen allergies could be the cause. Allergic sensitivity to airborne pollen from trees, grasses, or weeds can cause allergy symptoms. The reason many children have related allergic conditions is because of the "allergic march" or “atopic march . ” It often starts with dry skin, which may lead to...

New law will protect students with allergies and asthma!