IL HR0008

Designates May 2021 as Food Allergy Awareness Month in the State of Illinois

Establishes that approximately 32 million people in the United States have food allergies, with 5.6 million children (8%) affected, representing roughly one in 13 children or two per classroom

Notes that eight types of food (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat) account for over 90% of allergic reactions

Identifies that food allergy reactions send someone to the emergency room every three minutes, with 200,000 annual emergency medical cases for allergic food reactions and a 377% increase in anaphylaxis treatments between 2007 and 2016

Recognizes that caring for children with food allergies costs U.S. families nearly $25 billion annually and that food allergies may qualify individuals for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act