May is National Food Allergy Awareness Month. Did you know that food allergies affect over 1.8 million Canadians, and some studies suggest that this number may be increasing? For some people, allergic reactions can be serious, if not life-threatening. National Food Allergy Awareness Month aims to draw attention to the hazards of food allergies and help Canadians better understand how to avoid allergic reactions from food.
Physical reactions to a food allergen can happen quickly and without warning. The most dangerous symptoms include breathing difficulties or a drop in blood pressure with shock, which can lead to a loss of consciousness, anaphylaxis or even death.
Peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts), sesame seeds, soy, seafood, wheat, eggs, milk, mustard and sulphites are the most common food allergens associated with severe allergic reactions in Canada.
There is no cure for food allergies. Avoiding an allergen is the only effective way to prevent a reaction. This can be a challenge, which is why our Government requires the labels of all prepackaged foods to provide clear information about ingredients and declare “hidden” allergens, including gluten sources and sulphites. Health Canada has also recently proposed changes to the way information is displayed on food labels, which includes increasing the legibility and visibility of allergen labelling. This proposed measure would further help Canadians to identify and avoid ingredients to which they are allergic.
As Minister of Health, I encourage all Canadians to learn more about food allergies, including how to avoid allergens, and steps that you can take to protect you and your family from allergic reactions from food.
Sincerely,
Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health, Government of Canada
