As we approach 2023, we look back on the strides we made throughout 2022 to advance the health and safety of the food allergy community. We are grateful for all we have been able to accomplish with your help. Because you gave generously, we were able to support, educate, and advocate for the millions of people with food allergies so they can have a better quality of life. Below are some of the ways you helped us fulfill our mission this year. In 2022, you helped us: Update our brand,...

The FASTER Act of 2021 made sesame the 9th major allergen in the U.S. and required food manufacturers to label sesame like the other 8 major allergens beginning in 2023. This was a long-fought victory that began for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and our Kids with Food Allergies division back in 2008. We are concerned and disappointed over reports of food companies intentionally adding sesame flour to products as a way to comply with required sesame allergen labeling.

As 2022 comes to an end, we wanted to reflect on another year of great advocacy efforts. We had another successful virtual fly-in to Capitol Hill . At Kids with Food Allergies (KFA), our top advocacy priorities continue to center on: Access to care, medicine, and coverage Food allergy labeling Healthy settings for people with food allergies Funding for federal programs that benefit people with food allergies RELATED CONTENT: AAFA’s Advocacy Positions and Statements Healthy Child Care Centers...

In October, Southwest Airlines® stopped allowing passengers with peanut allergy to pre-board flights. Pre-boarding allows those with a peanut allergy to wipe down the surfaces and seating around them. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the parent organization of Kids with Food Allergies (KFA), immediately voiced opposition to this boarding policy change and began contacting the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other administration officials. On Nov. 16, AAFA joined...

Nearly 32 million adults and children in the United States have food allergies. Even though food allergies have increased over the last few decades, many people still don’t understand allergic reactions and how serious they can be. Families managing food allergies often take a lot of precautions to avoid triggers and prepare to treat reactions if they occur. But the challenges of managing food allergies often go unnoticed. Hearing stories directly from people who manage food allergies helps...

When you manage food allergies, and other conditions like asthma or eczema, health insurance can be very important. But health care can also be confusing. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) gives people the opportunity to get health insurance if they can’t get coverage through an employer, Medicare, Medicaid or elsewhere. People with ACA coverage also cannot be denied for pre-existing conditions. Open enrollment for the federal Health Insurance Marketplace (Healthcare.gov) goes from Nov. 1, 2022,...

Around 32 million adults and children in the United States have food allergies. 1,2 People who manage food allergies carry a significant emotional, social, and financial burden. To bring the voice of patients and caregivers impacted by food allergies to the forefront of drug treatment development and research, the Food Allergy Collaborative (FAC) collected insights and perspectives of people living with food allergies to produce the Voice of the Patient Report: Food Allergies . READ THE...

On July 15, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) , submitted a letter to the White House on behalf of the food allergy community. AAFA sent the letter to help advise the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health that will be hosted in September 2022. AAFA is the oldest and largest non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and reducing the burden of allergic diseases. AAFA’s food allergy division, Kids With Food Allergies, hosts the world’s largest online...

Every year, thousands of adults and children in the U.S. are diagnosed with digestive and metabolic disorders. They often need access to medical foods. The Medical Nutrition Equity Act of 2021 ( S.2013 / H.R.3783 or MNEA) is a bill that would require public and private insurance to cover medical foods, vitamins, and individual amino acids. Digestive disorders covered by Medical Nutrition Equity Act of 2021 include: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome...

On this final Friday of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month , the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) , our food allergy division, are holding a Remembrance Day in honor of family members and loved ones who’ve died from asthma or allergies. We also take time to remember others who have needlessly been lost to preventable deaths. On average, more than 4,100 Americans die from asthma each year. 1 A few hundred more die each year because of...

Advocating for children with food allergies and asthma is a great way to spread awareness during National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month . We invite you to help us take action on Advocacy Action Day! When creating policies, Congress needs to consider what families managing food allergies and asthma need to live full, healthy lives. Around 5.6 million children and 26 million adults in the U.S. have food allergies. 1,2 About 25 million people have asthma. 3 And because these are related...

Many children with food allergies also have asthma . Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Americans carry the heaviest burden of asthma. Reducing this burden is a key mission of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) . On May 3, 2022 – World Asthma Day – AAFA launched the Health Equity Advancement and Leadership (HEAL) program . The purpose of HEAL is to address findings from AAFA’s Asthma Disparities in America report. The HEAL program reinforces AAFA’s commitment to drastically...

Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) declares May to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month . All month, we all work together to educate patients, family, friends, co-workers, and others about food allergies, asthma, and other allergic diseases that impact more than 65 million Americans. Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) is the food allergy division of AAFA. Each year, AAFA continues to spread awareness in May during National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month...

On Feb. 25, 2022, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and the Elijah-Alavi Foundation (EAF) released the “Child Care Policies for Food Allergy: Elijah’s Law Report for the U.S. States and Territories.” Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) is the food allergy division of AAFA. Our report looks at state and U.S. territory child care licensing regulations against nine policy standards. The standards aim to protect children with food allergies in child care settings. The report also...

The state of food allergies is changing at a fast pace. As the rate of food allergies have increased, it has become more and more evident that change must happen to help people managing this condition. With greater awareness comes more research studies, more clinical trials, and more hope for treatments. Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), the food allergy division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) , has been on the front lines of awareness efforts. We saw our hard work pay...

Happy December! Welcome to your 2021 advocacy update from Kids with Food Allergies (KFA), a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) . This year was a truly important year for the food allergy community. Here are some of the highlights. The School-Based Asthma and Allergy Management Program Act KFA kicked off the year with the passing of an important bill in January. Former President Trump signed the School-Based Asthma and Allergy Management Program Act on Jan. 5.

Shreaya Madireddy is a senior in high school near Dayton, Ohio. She has asthma, eczema, and animal and environmental allergies. She is also allergic to all nuts, peanuts, coconut, beans, and soy. But Shreaya doesn’t let her food allergies and asthma hold her back. She coaches youth volleyball and volunteers at local nursing homes through the Key Club. She volunteers with Be the Match to help set up bone marrow registration drives. And she uses her voice to make a difference for people with...

Update: The comment period has now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted comments. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts to get updates about this topic and other advocacy efforts. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking for comments on the “ New Era of Smarter Food Safety Summit on E-Commerce .” The summit is meant to help the FDA understand how people shop online for food. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) will be sending comments to the FDA about how people with...

Eczema is common among children with food allergies. That's not surprising since they are both caused by reactions of the immune system. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common form of eczema. Many people think of it as “dry skin” or “sensitive skin.” But people who don't know about AD aren't aware of the social, emotional and financial impact it can have on families who manage it.

The Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2021 (FLMA, H.R. 4917/S. 2954 ) has been introduced in the House and Senate. If passed, the bill would make long overdue changes to food labeling in the United States. The FLMA aims to make food labels clearer and more accessible for all Americans, including people living with food allergies. “This bill will bring much-needed clarity to food labels so Americans can make informed, healthy decisions for themselves and their families. Current labels are a...