Dodd Highlights Food Allergy Awareness Week

Press Release

Dodd Highlights Food Allergy Awareness Week

On Saturday, May 15, as part of Food Allergy Awareness Week, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) will hold a public forum for individuals and families affected by food allergies at Central Connecticut State University. The forum will feature a panel of individuals involved with food allergy issues as well as a presentation by Dr. Hugh Sampson of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

"Food allergies affect more children than most people realize," said Dodd. "For some, it's minor reactions that can be treated by avoiding certain foods, like milk and nuts. But for others, food allergies can be deadly. Although we have come a long way in helping others to understand and manage food allergies, a lot of parents still have questions and worry about keeping their children safe outside of their home."

"Jackie and I have organized this forum to help answer some of those questions and share new information from some of the country's leading experts and advocates on food allergies. I look forward to Saturday's forum and to continuing my work to help these children live regular lives, in their homes, at school and in other public places," Dodd continued.

Dodd, whose daughter has food allergies, is the author of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2009, which would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop voluntary, food allergy guidelines to help individuals manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood programs. And, it would provide grant funding to schools to assist them with implementing the voluntary, food allergy management guidelines.

Dr. Sampson is a Professor of Pediatrics and Immunology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Director of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute and Dean for Translational Biomedical Research at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Source