NEW ROCHELLE, NY - On Halloween, the everyday hardships that come with food allergies are even more pronounced for schoolchildren.  Their strenuous regimen of avoiding allergens are complicated by the treats included in Halloween festivities.  Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) is working to make it easier for food allergic students to avoid potentially deadly interactions with food allergens on Halloween and every school day.

“Halloween should be a fun holiday, full of costumes and candy.  But children with food allergies can’t eat the Halloween treats,” said Lowey.  “I’ve passed legislation to improve food labels, and now I’m fighting to raise awareness in schools about the seriousness of food allergies and help teachers and administrators prepare for and respond to allergic reactions.”

It is estimated that more than 11 million Americans, including 3 million children under the age of 18, suffer from food allergies.  The only way to prevent dangerous reactions is to avoid all foods that contain allergy-producing ingredients.  This can be particularly difficult for children who spend so much time at school or in the care of individuals other than a parent. 

At a press conference at William B. Ward Elementary School in New Rochelle, Lowey announced new legislation, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act, which would provide schools across the country with uniform guidance to create appropriate management and emergency plans for food allergic children.  The bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a policy for schools to voluntarily implement measures to prevent exposure to food allergens and assure a prompt response when a child suffers a potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction.

Lowey was joined at today’s event by New Rochelle school officials who have implemented highly successful programs to decrease students’ exposure to allergens and improve the ability of teachers and administrators to react in case of an anaphylaxis reaction. 

“New Rochelle schools, like Ward Elementary School, are doing their part to keep allergic students safe.  I commend their efforts, and I’m working to expand these programs nationwide,” said Lowey.  “On Halloween or any other day, children shouldn’t be ‘tricked’ by food allergens.  This legislation will help ensure a healthy, safe environment for food allergic children during the school day.”

Lowey is leading the effort in Congress to help individuals avoid food allergens.  Lowey was the author of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, which requires food labels to state in plain English if the product contains one of the eight most common allergens.  This bill was signed into law in 2004 and will go into effect on January 1, 2006.