Bill Text: NJ SR123 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Declares May 10 - May 16, 2015 "Food Allergy Awareness Week."

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [SR123 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-SR123-Introduced.html

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 123

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 14, 2015

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Declares May 10 - May 16, 2015 "Food Allergy Awareness Week."

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


A Senate Resolution declaring the week of May 10 through May 16, 2015 as "Food Allergy Awareness Week."

 

Whereas, The increasing prevalence of food allergies in the United States is alarming, with up to 15 million Americans having food allergies and one in every 13 children under 18 years of age being affected by these allergies; and

Whereas, A recent report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that food allergies among children increased approximately 50 percent between 1997 and 2011; and

Whereas, Research from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) indicates growing numbers of Americans have severe food allergies to nuts, dairy products, and an ever-increasing list of common foods and food products; and

Whereas, Persons with food allergies may experience a range of reactions after being exposed to certain foods, ranging from a mild response such as an itchy mouth, to anaphylaxis, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction; and

Whereas, Every three minutes a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency department, and this translates into more than 200,000 emergency department visits annually; and

Whereas, Currently, there is no way to prevent food allergies or to cure them once they develop; and unfortunately, the only protection is to aggressively avoid the allergenic food in order to prevent any severe reaction, which can be especially difficult for children who face stigma and daily anxiety about life-threatening allergies found in the simplest of foods; and

Whereas, Over the last several years, the research supported by NIAID has made significant strides to help improve the lives of persons with food allergies; and

Whereas, It is hoped that the momentum on addressing this very important health issue that afflicts millions of children and adults continues; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    This House declares the week of May 10 through May 16, 2015 as "Food Allergy Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey to promote public awareness about the prevalence of food allergies in the United States, the severity of reactions that can occur if persons with food allergies are exposed to certain foods, the difficulty for children who face stigma and daily anxiety about their life-threatening allergies, and the research supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases which has made significant strides to help improve the lives of persons with food allergies.


     2.    The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe "Food Allergy Awareness Week" with appropriate activities and programs.

 

     3.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Commissioner of Health, the organization known as Food Allergy & Research Education (FARE), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution declares the week of May 10 through May 16, 2015 as "Food Allergy Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey to promote public awareness about the prevalence of food allergies in the United States, the severity of reactions that can occur if persons with food allergies are exposed to certain foods, the difficulty for children who face stigma and daily anxiety about their life-threatening allergies, and the research supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases which has made significant strides to help improve the lives of persons with food allergies.

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