As part of the program, the first lady
and the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network will offer food allergy
educational kits to approximately 5,000 Illinois schools and
licensed child-care centers in order to help schools become better
equipped to protect children from potentially life-threatening food
allergies.According to the
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, more than 11 million
Americans have food allergies, and approximately 3 million children
under the age of 18 years old, or one in 25 American children, have
a food allergy.
There is no cure for food allergies, so individuals with these
allergies must be very careful to avoid foods that pose a health
risk. Although an individual can be allergic to any type of food, 90
percent of all food-allergic reactions are related to eight foods:
milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts such as walnuts and cashews, fish,
shellfish, soy and wheat.
[News release from the governor's
office]
