Bill Text: VA HJR74 | 2022 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Food Allergy Awareness Month; designating as May 2022 and each succeeding year thereafter.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-03-01 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ74ER) [HJR74 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2022-HJR74-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Food Allergy Awareness Month was established as a national occasion to raise awareness about food allergies and support those who are impacted by food allergies and anaphylaxis; and
WHEREAS, food allergies affect as many as 32 million Americans, including six million children or approximately two students in every classroom; and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1997 and 2011, the prevalence of food allergies rose 50 percent; and
WHEREAS, the prevalence of food allergies also appears to be increasing among children younger than the age of 18; and
WHEREAS, a food allergy is an immune system response to a food the body mistakenly believes is harmful; eight foods account for 90 percent of all food allergy reactions: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish; and
WHEREAS, when a person with food allergy eats the food, his or her immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, that trigger a cascade of symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, and the cardiovascular system; and
WHEREAS, there is no cure for food allergies, and strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction; and
WHEREAS, managing a food allergy on a daily basis involves constant vigilance; even trace amounts of an allergen can trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals; and
WHEREAS, anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that comes on quickly and has the potential to become life-threatening; and
WHEREAS, Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team is a national nonprofit organization that strives to provide education about food allergies and to support and advocate for all individuals and families affected by food allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis; and
WHEREAS, overall health and quality of life for those Virginians affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis will be improved with an increased statewide awareness on food safety and food allergies, innovative prevention and treatment strategies, and support for patients managing food allergies; and
WHEREAS, all Virginians are encouraged to increase their understanding and awareness of this potentially life-threatening medical condition and seek opportunities to improve the quality of life of the 32 million Americans affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate May, in 2022 and in each succeeding year, as Food Allergy Awareness Month in Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it
RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this month on the General Assembly's website.
