PRINTER'S NO. 1508

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 254 Session of 2003

        INTRODUCED BY HARRIS, ARGALL, BAKER, CAPPELLI, CREIGHTON, DALEY,
           DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FORCIER, GEIST,
           GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, HERMAN, KELLER, LEDERER, McGILL, PAYNE,
           PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROSS, RUBLEY, SCHRODER, TANGRETTI,
           THOMAS, TRUE, WOJNAROSKI AND FRANKEL, APRIL 29, 2003

        INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
           APRIL 29, 2003

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Designating the second week of May 2003 as "Food Allergy
     2     Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

     3     WHEREAS, Hundreds of Americans die each year due to food-
     4  induced anaphylaxis after having unknowingly eaten a food
     5  containing an ingredient to which they were allergic; and
     6     WHEREAS, Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe allergic reaction
     7  involving major organs simultaneously which can cause death in a
     8  matter of minutes; and
     9     WHEREAS, Children are the largest group affected by food
    10  allergies; and
    11     WHEREAS, Researchers estimate that 6 to 7 million Americans
    12  have food allergies; and
    13     WHEREAS, Symptoms can include hives, vomiting, diarrhea,
    14  respiratory distress and swelling of the throat; and
    15     WHEREAS, The eight foods which cause 90% of all food allergy
    16  reactions are shellfish, fish, milk, nuts, peanuts, soy and

     1  wheat; and
     2     WHEREAS, Eating in restaurants and schools poses the highest
     3  risk for people with food allergies when wait staff and
     4  cafeteria staff are not aware of the ingredients used to prepare
     5  food they are serving and are not prepared to handle an allergic
     6  reaction; and
     7     WHEREAS, Since there is no cure for potentially fatal food
     8  allergies, strict avoidance of the food allergen is the only way
     9  to avoid a reaction; and
    10     WHEREAS, The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is a
    11  national nonprofit organization dedicated to education, advocacy
    12  and research about food allergies and anaphylaxis; therefore be
    13  it
    14     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
    15  second week of May 2003 as "Food Allergy Awareness Week" in
    16  Pennsylvania.










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