MP Gallant Sponsors All-Party Motion for May as Food Allergy Awareness Month in Canada
OTTAWA, Ontario, – Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, was pleased to seek and receive unanimous consent from all political parties in the House of Commons to support her motion to recognize May as Food Allergy Awareness Month in Canada. More than 1.3 million Canadians are at risk from severe allergic reactions.
“The issue of food allergies and food labelling is a particularly sensitive issue in the Ottawa Valley as a result of the tragic death of then 13 year-old Sabrina Shannon from Pembroke, who died in September 2003 after she had a severe allergic reaction to french fries served in a school cafeteria,” said Cheryl Gallant, MP. “The food had been contaminated with a dairy product, which was fatal for Sabrina. Before staff could retrieve her medicine from her locker, Sabrina died from anaphylactic shock.”
“I was pleased to assist Anaphylaxis Canada, the national advocacy and educational group for individuals and families managing severe allergies, in securing the first ever declaration of a national Food Allergy Awareness week last year,” remarked Cheryl Gallant, MP.
Anaphylaxis is the most serious result of an allergic reaction; without proper diagnosis and treatment, it can be life-threatening. As there is no known cure for anaphylaxis, avoidance of food allergens is the key to allergic individuals staying safe. The most common food allergens in Canada include peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, egg, milk, sesame, soy and wheat.
“Thank-you to Anaphylaxis Canada for bringing this initiative to my attention on behalf of the all Sabrina Shannons and children just like her from across Canada. Education of the risks associated with food allergies is our best tool to avert preventable deaths. I thank my fellow Parliamentarians for supporting this measure to observe the month of May as Food Allergy Awareness Month,” said Cheryl Gallant, MP. “I was very pleased to have Sabrina’s Mother Sara Shannon present in the gallery to witness the motion being passed. Sabrina would have been 21 years old on May 29th. This is my Mother’s day present to Sara and all Mothers who worry about their children who have severe or life-threatening allergies.”
Anaphylaxis Canada, a national non-profit organization, is working to educate and advocate for individuals with severe food allergies. Their organization hopes to leverage Food Allergy Awareness Month to educate the general public (and food allergic individuals and their families) about tools for staying safe (e.g. how to read a food label, how to recognize signs of a reaction and use epinephrine, etc.) and to positively illustrate how communities are working together to keep allergic individuals, especially children, safe with reasonable and responsible solutions.
