Kids Food Allergies Blog

Just as I recognized Trace Adkins for his food allergy advocacy efforts in the reality TV/music realm, I would likewise like to applaud politicians who are championing food allergy awareness at the state and federal levels.

First, I would like to acknowledge Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd and his wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd. Their food allergy advocacy is more than political. It is also personal. Their six year old daughter, Grace, is severely allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, citrus, sesame, fish and shellfish. Grace and her family have been through anaphylaxis 4 times. As a result, Dodd has authored and is championing the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act in the Senate (S. 1232) to establish uniform and consistent food allergy policies in our nation’s schools.

According to Dodd, important work is being done in several states, but a more comprehensive national plan is needed. “Connecticut, I am proud to say, was the first state in the country to enact school-based guidelines concerning food allergies and the prevention of life-threatening incidents in schools…Several other states have passed laws developing school-based guidelines concerning food allergies including (Tennessee), Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, Arizona, Michigan and New York. But, without Federal guidance, a child’s health and safety may be protected in one school but not in another. Policies may vary even among schools within the same school district.”

Dodd’s senate companion to H.R. 2063 differs from its House counterpart in one critical respect: it provides for federal resources to implement legislative and policy directives. Dodd speaks directly to the importance of federal funding for this plan, “Many of our school districts lack the funding necessary to implement a food allergy management plan so if we are going to protect the health and safety of our children, we must provide an opportunity to make funds available to them.”

Also of interest one of the bill’s 11 co-sponsors: Sen. Hillary Clinton. While Senator Dodd’s reason for championing the legislation is clear, Senator Clinton’s link to food allergy advocacy is less apparent. Perhaps she has a personal link to our community as well: I was surprised to learn from a 1992 NY Times Article that Bill Clinton has had skin tests that revealed moderate beef and milk allergies. Kinda makes me wonder how he used to eat at McDonalds.

On the state level, I would like to commend Illinois first-lady Patricia Blagojevich who, earlier this month, kicked off a new statewide education campaign, “Ask Before You Eat,” designed to prevent unintentional and potentially-life threatening harm to children with food allergies. This campaign was inspired by the State of New Jersey’s “Ask Before You Eat” initiative. Hopefully, other states will soon follow the good example of New Jersey and Illinois and begin statewide education initiatives of their own.

If there are other federal or state politicians who deserve recognition for food allergy advocacy or education (particularly at the school level), please leave a comment here to tell us about their efforts.

Meantime, here’s Dodd and his family.