Food allergies affect approximately 1 in 10 people around the world. Yet, there is still a lack of awareness and policies when it comes to safe food handling and supporting the needs of the food allergy community. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s Food Allergy Awareness Month?

👉 Official Name: Food Allergy Awareness Month
💚 Cause: Raise awareness of food allergies and how to keep food allergy sufferers safe
📅 Next Date: May 1-31, 2027
🐦 Hashtag: #FoodAllergyAwarenessMonth #CelebratingTealMoments #TealTakeover

Keep on reading to find out all the important information about Food Allergy Awareness Month at a glance, including its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.

The Most Important Information About Food Allergy Awareness Month at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: Food Allergy Awareness Month is designed to raise awareness of food allergies and learn how we can all keep people with food allergies safe. In addition, the second week of Food Allergy Awareness Month is designated as Food Allergy Awareness Week that promotes various activities and resources aimed at informing the public about the dangers of food allergies, as well as how to manage them in everyday life. 

2️⃣ Why it is important: In the US alone, 2% of adults and up to 8% of children suffer from food allergies. Worldwide, an estimated 220 million people suffer from food allergies, which can have severe consequences such as anaphylaxis. About 90% of all food allergies are caused by eight common food items; eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. This can make life very difficult for sufferers because they have to be extremely cautious of the ingredients in most foods to ensure it doesn’t contain their allergen, particularly as there is no way of predicting how severe an allergic reaction will be and there is currently no cure. 

3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can get involved in Food Allergy Awareness Month by educating yourself and others on food allergies, raising awareness on social media, donating to support food allergy research, or advocating for policy changes:

1. Education is key: If you or someone you love has a food allergy, the best thing you can do during Food Allergy Awareness Month is educate yourself and others on the dangers of food allergies. You can also set up educational events in your area or attend food allergy workshops, such as the FARE Food Allergy Summit.
2. Social media awareness: Help to spark meaningful conversations within and outside the allergic community by sharing your experiences of managing food allergies. You can also share information to increase understanding among the general public. 
3. Donate and advocate: Consider donating funds to food allergy research charities that aim to improve our understanding and treatment of food allergies. You can also advocate alongside like-minded individuals and organizations to improve food labeling and food handling practices in schools and restaurants. 

Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for Food Allergy Awareness Month:

• Food Allergy Research & Education
• Kids With Food Allergies
• Kyah Rayne Foundation

A Brief History of Food Allergy Awareness Month

When was this event established: Food Allergy Awareness Month has been celebrated since at least 2018 after it was founded by the Food Allergy Research and Education organization (FARE), the nation’s leading private source of funding for food allergy research, to better understand and raise awareness of food allergies. 

How has it developed since then: Since their founding, Food Allergy Awareness Month and Food Allergy Awareness Week have been marked around the world to improve understanding and support for people with food allergies, with numerous countries adopting their own version of this event, such as Canada and Australia. 

3 Interesting Facts About Food Allergy Awareness Month

1. On the rise: The prevalence of food allergies has risen significantly in recent years, increasing by 50% between 1997 and 2011, and again by another 50% between 2007 and 2021. No one is certain why this trend is occurring but theories include a cleaner, more hygienic modern environment which may affect children’s immune systems, and a drastic difference in diet. 
2. History of food allergies: No one knows for sure when the first food allergy occurred. However, it can be traced back to the BC era, when the Chinese Emperors Shen Nong Cir 2735 BC) and Huang Di (2698-2598 BC) advised patients with certain skin disorders to avoid certain foods. Greek philosopher Hippocrates (460-377 BC) also recorded that food could be responsible for certain health symptoms and even death.
3. Legislative advancements: In recent years, as our understanding of food allergens has increased, legislative change has reflected this. For example, in 2021, a new law came into effect in the UK to extend labeling requirements for people with food allergies and intolerances. 

Upcoming Dates of Food Allergy Awareness Month

Food Allergy Awareness Month is observed every year throughout May.

Never Miss an Awareness Event Again

Sources

• National Library of Medicine: Food allergy in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases
• FARE: How the Media Portrays Food Allergies
• National Library of Medicine: Food allergy risks and dining industry
• School Nutrition Association: Spread the Word About Food Allergy Awareness Month
• FARE: Food Allergy Awareness Week
• US Department of Agriculture: Food Allergy Awareness and Action
• National Library of Medicine: Food labeling issues for severe food allergy patients
• FARE: Food Allergy Summit 2024
• FARE: Home page
• Kids With Food Allergies: Home page
• Kyah Rayne Foundation: Home page
• Food Allergy Canada: Food Allergy Awareness Month
• Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia: Food Allergy Week
• FARE: Facts and Statistics
• FAACT: Why Are Food Allergies on the Rise?
• Npr: Why our allergies are getting worse – and what to do about it
• World Allergy Organization Journal: History of food allergy and where we are today
• Wikipedia: Hippocrates
• Food Standards Agency: Food allergen labeling changes become law