Bill Text: PA HR212 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating the month of April 2009 as "Food Allergy Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2009-03-31 - Adopted [HR212 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR212-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1342
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 212 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY MURT, BELFANTI, BEYER, BOYD, BRENNAN, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, KORTZ, MAJOR, MARSICO, McCALL, MELIO, MILLARD, MOUL, D. O'BRIEN, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, ROHRER, ROSS, SANTONI, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, STEVENSON, SWANGER, J. TAYLOR, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 27, 2009
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 27, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2009 as "Food Allergy Awareness
Month" 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;
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 designate the
month of April 2009 as "Food Allergy Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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