Durbin, Fischer’s Protecting Children With Food Allergies Bill Signed Into Law

Durbin, Fischer's Protecting Children With Food Allergies Bill Signed Into Law

The legislation, which is an amendment to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, will train school food service staff to prevent and respond to food-related allergic reactions

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today celebrated that their bipartisan Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act became law through an amendment in the newly signed Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Durbin and Fischer's legislation will ensure school food service staff receive essential training about food allergies, so that they are better equipped to prevent, recognize, and respond to food allergic reactions, which can save lives.

"When parents drop their kids off at school, they should have peace of mind knowing that their children are safe with personnel who are trained to handle their children's food allergies," said Durbin. "I'm pleased that our bipartisan Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act earned the support of both chambers of Congress and the White House. Its enactment will ensure that kids will be safer in the event of an allergic reaction."

"I'm grateful President Trump signed our bipartisan, commonsense Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act into law. Now, parents can have the peace of mind knowing that school food service personnel nationwide will know how to respond if a student experiences a serious allergic reaction," Fischer said.

Food allergies are a growing public health concern. Over the past two decades, the number of children with food allergies in the U.S. has more than doubled. Approximately six million children are estimated to have food allergies, about two students per classroom. Further, 20 percent of all epinephrine shots administered in schools are given to children who have undiagnosed food allergies-which makes it even more important for school food personnel to understand how to recognize and respond to an allergic reaction.

USDA requires annual trainings to school food personnel who work under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP). Required trainings include modules in nutrition, health, and food safety standards. USDA also makes available trainings that address food allergies, but those are not required as part of these annual trainings. The Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act will add "food allergies" to the existing list of trainings to ensure that school food personnel receive essential information about food allergies.

The Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act has endorsements from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), and School Nutrition Association (SNA).

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