Florida Senate - 2011 (NP) SR 2202 By Senator Flores 38-04739-11 20112202__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing the week of May 8-14, 2011, 3 as “Food Allergy Awareness Week” in Florida. 4 5 WHEREAS, 12 million Americans have food allergies, 6 including 3 million children under 18 years of age, and 7 WHEREAS, research shows that the prevalence of food 8 allergies is increasing among children, and 9 WHEREAS, eight foods cause 90 percent of all food-related 10 allergic reactions in the United States, with symptoms including 11 hives, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and swelling of 12 the throat, and 13 WHEREAS, nationwide, food-related allergic reactions cause 14 as many as 125,000 visits to the emergency room each year and 15 often occur when an individual unknowingly eats a food 16 containing an ingredient to which he or she is allergic, and 17 WHEREAS, the most serious allergic reaction is anaphylaxis, 18 which is rapid in onset and may cause death, NOW, THEREFORE, 19 20 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 21 22 That May 8-14, 2011, is recognized as “Food Allergy 23 Awareness Week” in Florida and all residents of this state are 24 encouraged to become involved in efforts to raise the awareness 25 of restaurateurs and the public at large of the dangers 26 associated with food-related allergic reactions.