Bill Text: PA HR677 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing the week of May 13 through 19, 2012, as "Food Allergy Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2012-05-07 - Adopted (190-0) [HR677 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR677-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 3380
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 677 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY DEASY, M. SMITH, READSHAW, BAKER, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HARKINS, HARRIS, HELM, HESS, HORNAMAN, KILLION, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MATZIE, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, QUINN, RAVENSTAHL, ROCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, K. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TOOHIL, VULAKOVICH, WATERS AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 16, 2012
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 16, 2012
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of May 13 through 19, 2012, as "Food
Allergy Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Food allergy reactions cause 30,000 visits to
emergency rooms and 150 deaths each year when individuals
unknowingly eat a food containing an ingredient to which they
are allergic; and
WHEREAS, Children are the largest group affected by food
allergies; and
WHEREAS, Researchers estimate that approximately 12 million
Americans have food allergies; and
WHEREAS, Food allergy symptoms can include hives, vomiting,
diarrhea, respiratory distress and swelling of the throat; and
WHEREAS, Ninety percent of all food allergy reactions involve
shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy or wheat;
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and
WHEREAS, There is no cure for potentially fatal food
allergies, and strict avoidance of the allergenic food is the
only way to prevent a reaction; and
WHEREAS, Anaphylaxis resulting from a food allergy produces a
sudden, severe, potentially fatal systemic reaction that can
involve various areas of the body such as the skin, respiratory
tract, gastrointestinal tract or cardiovascular system; and
WHEREAS, In severely allergic individuals, anaphylaxis can
cause death in a matter of minutes; and
WHEREAS, Eating in restaurants and at schools poses the
highest risk for people with food allergies; and
WHEREAS, Restaurant and cafeteria staff members are often not
aware of the ingredients used in preparing the food and may not
be prepared to handle a patron with an allergic reaction; and
WHEREAS, The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is a
national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the
public about food allergies and anaphylaxis; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
week of May 13 through 19, 2012, as "Food Allergy Awareness
Week" in Pennsylvania.
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