We talk about food allergies a lot. It’s what we do. It’s also probably what you do. We talk about it with each other. We talk about it when we can with our friends and our kids’ friends (and their parents!.) We talk about it with teachers and coaches. It’s personal and it’s specific. It’s about our family’s challenges and our needs. We pepper in a few general facts to help drive home a point, but these chats are more about securing accommodations or venting about our struggles. They may raise awareness, but that’s not our primary goal.
May is different. The month of May is Food Allergy Awareness, and more specifically, the week of May 10-16, 2026 is this year’s Food Allergy Awareness Week. Advocacy groups, families, and individuals use these set-aside spaces to share their stories and raise awareness. We don our teal, roll up our sleeves, and get busy getting the word out.
Why Does It Matter?
In the USA alone, more than 33 million people are living with food allergies. That’s 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children. If those stats aren’t enough, consider this stat shared by FARE: a recent study estimates the societal costs of food allergies in the US at $370.8 billion. Food allergies impact us all – directly or indirectly. Better understanding the challenges associated with food allergies and how to keep food allergic individuals safer matters.
Where Can You Find Good Info?
Let’s be honest, there’s a lot of chatter about food allergies in various places, but that doesn’t mean it’s all accurate. Sharing erroneous information can be dangerous as it can put someone with allergies at risk for exposure, and in turn, at risk of experiencing a life-threatening reaction. It’s important to cull your data from reputable sources. We’ve got some tips to help you find trustworthy resources here: Navigating Internet Medical Advice and here: Understanding Food Allergy Research News.
Begin your journey for honest, realistic info with these two articles and then branch out to sites linked within them. Spreading authentic, factful, research-backed, peer-reviewed data is helpful. Spreading uninformed, erroneous info is dangerous.
Take It Out of School (and In School)
Food allergy advocacy groups have done a lot to raise awareness in schools and child-focused spaces over the years. As noted above, however, 1 in 10 adults is living with food allergies. This year, the advocacy group FARE is turning the spotlight on how we keep our work spaces more allergy-friendly and aware. Join them in the effort to keep the adults (and future adults!) safe in their offices and workspaces. You can find a fact sheet and more details here: FARE Workspaces.
Of course, Food Allergy Awareness Week is also a great time to step into the classroom to help raise awareness about how to keep allergic students safe. Talk to your child’s classroom teacher or other appropriate school staff about giving a presentation on food allergies. This can be an especially meaningful and empowering opportunity for a food-allergic child to share their specific challenges with peers and a great way to help other students develop understanding and empathy.
Some of the sites linked to the resource articles above have Food Allergy Week resources to help you (or your child!) develop and deliver such a presentation. For younger classes, reading a picture book about food allergies for a special story time can be a great option. Don’t just limit your advocacy to the classroom, either. Consider sharing your presentation with Scout troops, sport teams, and other groups with which you or your child are involved. This is your chance to help others learn how to help your family!
Take It Online
Sure, some of those folks that are connected to you on social media may know food allergies are part of your family’s reality. Some of them may even know your whole story. That’s okay. It’s a good time to share your story again. It’s also a good time to pull up research-backed factoids and links to reputable resources so people can dig deeper and understand better. Despite the fact that more and more of us are living with (or caring for people with) food allergies, there are still many myths and misconceptions about food allergies. This is an opportunity to address some of those. Need a starting point? Here are a few highlights to get you going:
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Individuals can be allergic to nearly anything. In fact, there are more than 170 foods that have been reported to cause reactions in the US.
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Nine food allergens account for about 90% of the food allergy reactions in the US: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame.
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Food allergies don’t just impact what you eat. Allergic individuals must be careful about everything from craft supplies to personal care items and makeup. (Share this story for more details: Beyond Your Plate)
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Food-allergic individuals may qualify for reasonable accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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You’ve developed a healthy hand-washing habit. Great! It’ll also help keep the food-allergic folks you love safe! Hand sanitizers don’t remove food allergens. Soap and water do.
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Don’t assume. Read labels and check for allergens every single time. Allergens can pop up in foods you don’t expect. Ingredients and manufacturing can change, rendering a former staple item no longer safe.
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Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that has the potential to be life-threatening. Learn the signs and how to respond here.
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Food allergy reactions are not predictable. Your last reaction is just that. The last one. It may not look at all like the next one. Always be prepared: Carry your autoinjector at all times.
Need some more ideas? Check this past article on the subject: Shine a Light of Teal.
