Knowledge is powerful, especially if you live with food allergies. It is important to learn about the foods you are allergic to, how to avoid them, and how to prevent and treat allergic reactions. It is also critical to know about what to do in emergency situations and how to administer treatment. Throughout your food allergy journey, it is important to have an allergist who will provide specific medical guidance, but also know that there are a number of resources available to help you manage living with food allergies.

There is a wonderful food allergy community you can find on MyFoodAllergyTeam and other websites. Below is a list of some advocacy groups and organizations to turn to for more information. There are several more community groups and organizations beyond this list, so it can be helpful to ask others what resources they find to be the most helpful.

Food Allergy Research & Information (FARE) is an advocacy organization that works to improve the quality of life for those living with food allergies. FARE also funds research into food allergies. The FARE website is a great resource for food allergy information and tips, including sections on how to read food labels, talk to kids about food allergies, and safely dine out at restaurants.

The mission of Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) is to educate, advocate, and raise awareness for all individuals and families affected by food allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis. Whether it’s keeping children safe at school, responding to food allergy bullying, traveling, preparing for college, dealing with workplace issues, or simply taking the family out for dinner, FAACT has the facts you need to manage food allergies and stay healthy. Among its resources, FAACT offers a printable poster to help recognize and treat anaphylaxis, tips for school field trips, and advice on identifying and stopping bullying related to food allergies.

Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), a division of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), focuses on supporting parents with children who have been diagnosed with food allergies. KFA offers free resources and tips, as well as one of the largest searchable “free-from” recipe database to be found online.

EFA, short for European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations, represents 30 allergy, asthma, and COPD patients’ organizations across 25 European countries. EFA works to advocate for the rights of people with these conditions and to help ensure their access to quality care and safe conditions.

Anaphylaxis Campaign is focused on helping those who suffer from severe allergies. Anaphylaxis Campaign has developed a set of online AllergyWise courses designed to educate parents, schools, pharmacists, and caregivers about how to prevent, recognize, and treat anaphylaxis.

Living with a food allergy can sometimes feel isolating, but you are not alone. Researchers estimate that 32 million people in the United States and 17 million people in Europe have food allergies.^1,2 There are dozens of organizations working to advocate for those with food allergies and fund research for treatments. Many who have navigated the challenges of life with food allergies offer their advice and support. We hope that these links provide some ideas for you to start on your way to even more understanding and support for you and your loved ones.

Sources

1. Facts and Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.foodallergy.org/life-with-food-allergies/food-allergy-101/facts-and-statistics. Accessed February 2019.

2. Anaphylaxis. (2015, July 20). FOOD ALLERGY: A burden carried by more than 17 million Europeans. Retrieved from https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/2015/07/20/food-allergy-a-burden-carried-by-more-than-17-million-europeans/. Accessed February 2019.