Latest news from Food Allergy Canada – December 2019

Save the date for our 2020 national conference! Check out our update on the National Food Allergy Action Plan and learn how you can continue advocating to #MakeFoodAllergyCount. Watch our latest webinar recording to find out the facts behind common food allergy myths, including the latest news on Benadryl. Read our holiday tips to help you navigate confidently. And, join us in thanking our funders and corporate partners for their generous support of our initiatives this year, they are #FoodAllergyChampions!

Save the date for our 2020 National Conference!

Mark your calendar now for our 2020 National Conference: Creating a Better Future, taking place at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Ontario on Saturday, May 30, 2020.

You will have the opportunity to learn the latest on food allergy from top researchers, scientists, and food allergy stakeholders. The full-day conference is centered around a variety of topics on how to create a better #FoodAllergyFuture. You’ll also have an opportunity to network with others impacted by food allergy and check out various exhibitors supporting the food allergy community.

There will also be two half-day sessions for youth, led by food allergy educator, Kyle Dine – one session for ages 7-11 and another for ages 12-17.

Stay tuned for more information and registration details in January! #FoodAllergyFuture

National Food Allergy Action Plan update

Thank you for all your support this year with the launch of the National Food Allergy Action Plan, the first step in making food allergy a public health priority and driving real change. Whether you called or met with your MP prior to the federal election, sent a personalized letter, or signed up to be an advocacy ambassador, you are making your voice heard on behalf of all 2.6 million Canadians with food allergy.

As we look ahead into the new year, we wanted to share our immediate next steps with you. We will be:

• Engaging with all Members of Parliament by writing to them to let them know about the National Food Allergy Action Plan and how they can support it.
• Meeting one-on-one with Ministers, MPs, and senior political staff to advance our priorities under the Plan.

In the new year, we’ll ask you to reach out to your MPs and encourage them to meet with us and support the Plan. Your voice makes a big impact and strengthens our advocacy. Together, we will #MakeFoodAllergyCount!

ICYMI: Food allergy myths webinar, including the latest news on Benadryl

Learn the facts from our food allergy myths webinar! Earlier this month, we hosted an informative webinar with Canadian allergist Dr. Susan Waserman on common myths about food allergy, including the latest news on Benadryl.

If you have a food allergy or care for someone who does, be sure to watch the recorded webinar to find out the facts behind common myths about food allergens, signs and symptoms, reactions, the use of antihistamines, and more.

Get additional clarity on first-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl with this informative CBC article that speaks to why they should not be taken and what to take instead.

Reminder for webinar participants: For those of you who attended the webinar and did not complete the survey, please take a moment to do so now. Click on the link in the email you received following the webinar on December 6th. Your feedback helps us improve our webinars and provides us with insight into future topics.

Share, share, share! Help us educate others by sharing this webinar with them! Visit foodallergycanada.ca/webinars to find the recordings of all of our past webinars.

Tips to make holidays easier to manage

The holidays are nearly here! Ahead of the hustle and bustle, review our tips to ensure you navigate this holiday with confidence.

Find out how to prevent reactions and stay safe during holiday parties, and while visiting others. Also, check out our hosting tips for those of you who may have guests with food allergy coming to your party.

You’ll find tips for:

• Attending parties: tips for a house, restaurant, or work party
• Hosting parties: tips if you have a food allergy or might host someone who does
• Children with food allergy: have a strategy for the day
• Drinking: tips for being safe while drinking alcoholic beverages
• Preventing and treating reactions
• Travelling: tips for taking a driving trip or flying to another country

Plus, check out our additional resources and tools:

• Holiday tips from the community: get tips from others including our Youth Advisory Panel
• Food Allergy Dos and Donts series: watch these videos on how to celebrate safely
• Allergy Check: use this tool find out if your reaction is from a food allergy

#FoodAllergyChampions: A huge thank you to our funders and corporate partners for their generosity!

Thanks to our funders and corporate partners for their generous contributions in 2019. With their support, we are able to advocate on key issues that are important to the food allergy community, improve quality of life, develop priority educational initiatives, and create awareness activities to help decrease the knowledge gaps in the public around food allergy.

These individuals and organizations greatly contribute to the overall success of Food Allergy Canada and without their generous support we would not be able to carry on our work.

Special thanks to: