Food allergies (FA) affect over 26 million people in the United States and place a significant burden on individuals and families. The challenges of managing FA extend beyond the physical symptoms to include economic, social, and psychological impacts. Advocacy, research, and education efforts are critical to addressing these challenges, particularly in underserved communities.
Figure 1: Food allergies (FA) affect over 26 million people in the United States and place a significant burden on individuals and families.
Advocacy initiatives have successfully raised awareness about FA and influenced policy changes, such as improved allergen labelling and access to epinephrine. However, disparities remain, with children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds less likely to have access to allergists and more likely to experience FA-related emergencies.
In research, recent breakthroughs in peanut allergy prevention and oral immunotherapy hold promise for reducing FA burdens. However, these advancements need to be made accessible to all populations, particularly those who face socioeconomic barriers to care. Education plays a key role in preventing allergic reactions, especially in schools where training on FA management can save lives. Efforts to improve FA care must include collaboration with diverse communities to ensure that everyone benefits from advancements in advocacy, research, and education.
Journal article: Sansweet, S., Rolling, C. Jr., Ebisawa, M., Wang, J., Gupta, R., & Davis, C. M. (2024). Reaching communities through food allergy advocacy, research, and education: A comprehensive analysis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in Practice.
Summary by Faith Oluwamakinde
