WHEREAS, food allergies affect nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States and almost 6 million children under the age of 18; and
WHEREAS, research shows that the prevalence of food allergies is increasing among children and adults; and
WHEREAS, eight foods cause the majority of all food allergy reactions in the United States: shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and wheat; symptoms of an allergic reaction to food can range from mild to severe and can include hives, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and swelling of the throat; and
WHEREAS, food allergies result in more than 200,000 emergency department visits each year; reactions typically occur when an individual unknowingly eats a food containing an ingredient to which he or she is allergic; and
WHEREAS, the number of food allergy reactions requiring emergency treatment has increased significantly over the past decade, with a 377 percent rise in diagnoses of anaphylactic food reactions between 2007 and 2016; and
WHEREAS, anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death; and
WHEREAS, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and health of individuals with food allergies, and to providing hope through the promise of new treatments;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 9 – 15, 2021, as “FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.