HR0666 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0666 LRB101 16810 LAW 67039 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 children and their families' well-being; 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 FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May Food Allergy Awareness Month.