Food Allergy Votes kicks off to connect families with election candidates across the country
April 2, 2025 – As Canada enters a critical federal election, the more than three million Canadians living with potentially life-threatening food allergy and the people who care for them are preparing to make their voice heard – calling for federal leadership to support our efforts in advancing food allergy prevention, management, and care to help keep Canadians living with food allergy safe. Food Allergy Canada and the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Canada’s leading food allergy-related patient and medical associations respectively, are urging all parties to support Canadians at-risk. Over the next five weeks, the organizations will be reaching out to major political parties requesting their support and assisting their members in reaching out to local riding candidates to educate them about the needs of this community through the Food Allergy Votes campaign.
Each year, more than 25,000 infants will be diagnosed with food allergy. This chronic condition, for which there is no cure, poses an enormous burden on those living with food allergy, their families, their communities, and the public health care system. In addition to creating a significant impact on the psychosocial well-being of affected individuals, food allergy costs the average Canadian family more than $2,200 per year. Emergency department visits due to allergic reactions have doubled in seven years, and now account for one percent of all such visits.
“The current system for managing food allergy is inadequate, potentially putting lives at risk,” said Jennifer Gerdts, Executive Director of Food Allergy Canada. “Effective treatments, particularly for young children, are available and can even modify the course of the disease—but access and awareness are shockingly limited. It is time to ensure these treatments reach those who need them, and federal leadership is crucial.”
Historically, strict allergen avoidance and the use of epinephrine autoinjectors during severe reactions were the only options. Today, innovative methods offer new opportunities to reduce risks and improve quality of life. Prevention of food allergy is a real possibility, and it offers enormous benefits. Consider, a 50% reduction in peanut and egg allergy could reduce excess household costs by $3.3 billion and prevent 20,000 emergency department visits over a 10-year basis.
“Advancements in research and innovation have provided a deeper understanding of how to prevent, diagnose, treat, and manage food allergy. To fully realize these advancements, coordinated federal action is necessary to develop policies and systems that ensure equitable access to care, resources, and education nationwide,” said Dr. Harold Kim, Past President, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Among the specific recommendations, Food Allergy Canada and CSACI call for federal leadership in:
- Building public awareness of anaphylaxis and how to treat it
- Taking action to mitigate the risk of drug shortages and prioritizing the review of new epinephrine delivery systems: Canada is currently vulnerable to epinephrine auto-injector shortages with just one manufacturer (EpiPen®)
- Mandating prevention of food allergy as a public health priority, and including early introduction guidance into infant health programs and policies
- Working with the provinces to develop a care pathway that supports hesitant parents/caregivers in early introduction of allergenic foods to infants, and early treatment in the form of oral immunotherapy (OIT) for those who have an allergic reaction
As Canadians head to the polls, we must come together to prioritize the well-being of our nation and support one another. For the food allergy community, this means making food allergy prevention, management, and care a national priority by taking proven, evidence-based steps to avoid preventable deaths and implementing simple, cost-effective measures to improve the lives of millions of Canadians. We call on all candidates to learn more and support Food Allergy Votes.
About Food Allergy Canada
Food Allergy Canada is a national non-profit and Canada’s leading patient organization committed to educating, supporting, and advocating for the more than three million Canadians impacted by food allergy. The organization focuses on providing the education and support needed to effectively navigate food allergy, building informed and supportive communities, and acting as the national voice on key issues.
About the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI)
The CSACI is the largest national professional medical specialty organization in Canada
representing physicians, allied health professionals and scientists with special expertise in the management of allergic and immunologic diseases. The Society is also dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with allergies through research, advocacy, continuing professional development and public education.
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For more information or to arrange a separate interview please contact:
Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting, for Food Allergy Canada
416-996-0767/ christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca