Find out what’s next with our National Food Allergy Action Plan, check out our “Creating a better future” webinar recordings and join us in thanking our incredible presenters and sponsors. Plus, get answers to your questions on food allergy and COVID-19, and check out our tips and reminders for an allergy-safe summer!
National Food Allergy Action Plan: Getting ready for the 2021 federal budget submission
Last year we launched our National Food Allergy Action Plan in collaboration with the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Since the launch of the plan, we have continued to engage key stakeholders in government, healthcare, and food safety. We have also been advocating for government funding to initiate the National Food Allergy Action Plan.
As much of the government’s focus this year has been on the COVID-19 pandemic, they have not announced how the 2020 federal budget will be spent, however, they are inviting submissions for the 2021 budget next month.
We are putting together our 2021 budget submission where we will be requesting government funding to help mobilize current knowledge that will make a positive impact now and enable further investigation to define a comprehensive approach to the National Food Allergy Action Plan.
In the coming months, we’ll be asking for your support to #MakeFoodAllergyCount by speaking to your MP and asking them to support the budget submission and the action plan. Stay tuned!
“Creating a better future” webinar series: Watch now
Over the past few months, we hosted many informative webinars with food allergy leaders and experts as part of our “Creating a better future” webinar series. We hope you enjoyed the series and learned a lot!
A big thank you to our distinguished group of presenters for sharing their insights and knowledge with us. The series also wouldn’t have been possible without the immense support from our amazing sponsors. When the in-person conference was cancelled, these sponsors remained committed to ensuring you could still access the incredible educational content we had planned for the conference.
Thank you to our sponsors:
The recordings from the webinar series are available to watch at any time on our recorded webinars page. Check out the recordings below and share with others who may benefit!
Adult sessions
Youth sessions
Your questions answered on COVID-19 and food allergy
Eating out: tips for foodservice
We know that eating out is a challenge when you have a food allergy and within the current environment, it can be even more so. As restaurants prepare to re-open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and you slowly begin to return to your favourite eateries, it’s a perfect time to revisit some key safety tips to help make dining out a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
To help our partners in the foodservice and restaurant industry be well prepared to continue to serve those with food allergy, both in house and through pick up/delivery services, we created a new resource: Serving guests with food allergy during COVID-19. This resource provides useful and practical recommendations for foodservice operators.
Key stakeholders in the Canadian foodservice industry have already started sharing this resource with their members across the country. Special thanks to Restaurants Canada for their feature in MENU magazine, the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association for including us a resource in their DineSafe Program and TrainCan, our food safety training partner for providing their clients with open access to this important resource.
Grocery shopping during COVID-19
Reading and checking ingredient labels has always been an essential part of grocery shopping for households with food allergy. With the current pandemic, this practice has become even more important as individuals and families may be purchasing groceries online or spending less time in the grocery store.
To help ensure you and your loved ones find products that meet your needs at this time, review our key tips for grocery shopping, whether you shop online or in-store.
Managing food allergy
Visit our COVID-19 and food allergy section for answers to your questions including how to prepare for a virtual appointment, whether or not to go the emergency department, and more!
Tips for a safe and happy summer!
As summer camps, parks and other public places begin to re-open, it is important to keep food allergy top of mind and in your safety checklist. Here are some helpful reminders for staying safe with food allergy this summer.
Summer camp
If you’re planning on sending your child to summer camp, prepare with our handy list of tips. Now is a great time to review your child’s anaphylaxis emergency plan, and don’t forget to give the camp a copy.
Outdoor picnic
Create a picnic checklist! Make sure to pack your own safe food and snacks and carry your auto-injectors. If you have an allergy to insect stings, check out our tips to help prevent stings.
Do the triple check
Remember to read food labels thoroughly from start to finish and do the “triple check” with products you purchase in-store and online. There have been some instances where ingredient labels listed on websites are inconsistent with the ingredient labels on the products received. Take extra precautions and follow the triple check by reading labels:
- Once at the store (or online store) before buying a product.
- Once when you get home and put it away.
- Again before you serve or eat the product.
Epinephrine auto-injector reminders and storage
No matter where you go, you should always carry your auto-injector. Make sure your auto-injector devices are not expired. You can check the date on the device, or sign up for a free e-mail reminder at epipen.ca and allerject.ca.
Protect your auto-injector from the summer heat, as epinephrine can lose its effectiveness in extreme temperatures. Keep your auto-injector cool by keeping it in the shade or in a cooler so it stays in a safe temperature range.
Tips to avoid cross-contamination and keep your kitchen allergy-safe
Check out our 10 easy ways to avoid cross-contamination. Plus, keep your kitchen allergy-friendly by following our tips and discovering our recipes!
Be #AllergyAware: Review reaction signs and symptoms
Reaction signs and symptoms can be different every time. Review the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction so that you can give epinephrine, life-saving medication promptly. Plus, take the free 30-minute course at allergyaware.ca to learn the basics of food allergy and anaphylaxis.
Tags: covid-19, Epinephrine, foodservice, National Food Allergy Action Plan, summer camp, webinars