WHITE PLAINS, NY – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today called for federal action to determine the cause of an 18 percent increase in the number of young people suffering from food or digestive allergies since 1997.

“This report confirms what we have suspected for years – food allergies are on the rise,” said Lowey. “The prevalence of food allergies and their potentially fatal consequences demand federal support for research to determine their cause.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today that in 2007, approximately 3 million U.S. children and teenagers under age 18 – or nearly 4 percent of that age group – were reported to have a food or digestive allergy in the previous 12 months, compared to just over 2.3 million (3.3 percent) in 1997. Reactions to allergens can range from a tingling sensation around the mouth and lips, to hives and even death. Children with food allergies are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions such as asthma than children without food allergies.

Despite the large and growing prevalence of food allergies and their potentially fatal effect on allergic children, CDC reports that the mechanisms by which a person develops an allergy to specific foods are largely unknown.

CDC’s findings were presented in its new report, “Food Allergy Among U.S. Children: Trends in Prevalence and Hospitalizations,” and uses data obtained through the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). In February 2008, Lowey contacted CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding to request that NHIS track this information.

Lowey is the leader in Congress on issues affecting individuals with food allergies. In August 2004, President Bush signed into law the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), introduced by Congresswoman Lowey. This law requires food packaging to clearly list any of the top eight ingredients that cause allergic reactions.

This year, the House of Representatives passed the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act (H.R. 2063), also introduced by Lowey. This bill would require the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education to develop guidelines for schools to voluntarily implement to prevent exposure to food allergens and assure prompt response when children suffer potentially fatal anaphylactic reactions.

Lowey called for increased research to determine the cause of food allergies and enactment of her legislation to protect children from exposure to allergens and assure prompt response to reactions.

“Determining the cause of food allergies is critical to protect the health of food allergic individuals,” said Lowey. “In the meantime, we must enforce clear labeling of food allergens and educate schools and parents about how to protect children from exposure to allergens and assure prompt response if a reaction occurs.”