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Be a Voice Against Food Allergy Bullying

This website is intended for those ages 13 years and older that live in the United States

Some bullies use words. Others use food.

No Appetite for Bullying aims to make a positive, lasting impact on the lives of children, teenagers and students with food allergies, by encouraging them, their parents, and peers to be voices against food allergy bullying. The campaign is a partnership between Kaléo and national food allergy advocacy organizations, Allergy & Asthma Network (the Network), Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT), Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), Kids With Food Allergies (KFA), along with the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

While bullying in any form is unacceptable, when it’s targeted at children and teenagers with food allergies it can escalate from emotional to physical bullying- even becoming life- threatening. Food allergies affect 1 in every 13 children in the U.S.—or roughly 2 in every classroom1—and is a serious, potentially fatal condition.

No Appetite for Bullying is an anti-food allergy bullying initiative that raises awareness of food allergy bullying with the goal of creating solutions and encouraging food allergy acceptance.

Together, we can help put a stop to food allergy bullying.

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Resources to Help You Take Action

Parents play an important role in helping to prevent food allergy bullying. Download these tools to learn more, including how to take action with school administrators to help protect your child.

This content was developed by the No Appetite for Bullying founding partners and represents the views of these groups.

  • Food Allergy Bullying Through the Years icon

    Food Allergy Bullying Through the Years

    From toddlers to teens, food allergy bullying can take different forms. Education should start early and continue through a child's life.
    Download PDF
  • Severe Allergies &  School Safety icon

    Severe Allergies & School Safety

    With proactive communication, families can help school staff be prepared for food allergy bullying and allergic emergencies.
    Download PDF
  • Dialogue Dos & Don’ts icon

    Dialogue Dos & Don’ts

    Addressing bullying can be a difficult subject for both parents and children. Understand the Dos & Don’ts to having open and honest discussions.
    Download PDF
  • Help Your Kids Be Food Allergy Friendly icon

    Help Your Kids Be Food Allergy Friendly

    Is your family food allergy friendly? Helping your child understand what it means to live with a food allergy can help foster greater empathy and understanding with others.
    Download PDF

Additional materials you can download, email or print to share with your community.

  • Understand Your Rights icon

    Understand Your Rights

    The prevalence of food allergies has increased. Know your rights to help protect against bullying.
    Download PDF
  • Expert Psychologist Q&A icon

    Expert Psychologist Q&A

    Dr. Cash, Ph.D., ABPP, answers commonly asked questions about food allergy bullying.
    Download PDF

The Potential Danger of Food Allergy Bullying

Many people do not understand the potentially life- threatening consequences of being exposed to an allergen when you live with food allergies. For those with life-threatening food allergies, consuming even a trace amount of allergen, coming into contact with an allergen, or simply being exposed to an allergen can cause anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction that can occur in susceptible individuals as a result of exposure to their allergens which can include foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, dairy, eggs, soy and wheat; Insect stings or bites; latex and medication, among other allergens and causes2. Children, teens, and adults with life-threatening allergies can experience a dangerous and potentially deadly anaphylactic reaction when bullied, teased, threatened or assaulted with food to which they are severely allergic. To learn more about recognizing the symptoms of anaphylaxis, click here.

Food Allergy Bullying by the Numbers

Kaléo commissioned a survey of 1,000 parents of children currently in elementary through high school, including 750 parents of children without life-threatening allergies (LTAs) and 250 parents of children with LTAs to unearth gaps in knowledge and perception that exist around food allergy bullying.

Not all survey respondents answered all questions. The data represented below is taken from subsegments of the total
survey population.

  • 82 %

    of parents of children with life-threatening allergies that believe children are bullied due to food allergies think their child has been bullied because of their allergies.

    89 out of 108 people are represented in this portion of the data.

  • 79 %

    of parents of children without LTAs indicated that they don’t think food allergies are a reason children are bullied.

    590 out of 750 people are represented in this portion of the data.

  • 87 %

    of parents who believe children are bullied due to food allergies think that if food allergy bullying happens, it takes place in school.

    234 out of 268 people are represented in this portion of the data.

  • 70 %
    of parents that believe children are bullied due to food allergies think that if food allergy bullying happens, kids/classmates are participating in the bullying.

    187 out of 268 people are represented in this portion of the data.

  • 22 %

    of parents that believe children are bullied due to food allergies say school caretakers participate.

    58 out of 268 people are represented in this portion of the data.

  • 68 %

    of parents that believe children are bullied due to food allergies say it’s because they can’t enjoy the same lunch and snacks as other children.

    183 out of 268 people are represented in this portion of the data.

Show You Have No Appetite for Bullying

Let everyone know that you’re an advocate against food allergy bullying by downloading the No Appetite for Bullying badge and sharing it on your social media. Help spread the word today!

Join the Cause

Help us put a stop to food allergy bullying by partnering with us! No Appetite for Bullying was founded by Kaléo, along with Allergy & Asthma Network (the Network), Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT), Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), and Kids With Food Allergies (KFA). Show your support, and add your organization’s name to the growing list of partners who have joined this important effort. Simply complete this form, providing background about your group and/or blog, and someone from our team will be in touch.
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Supporters in the Cause

References:

  1. Food Allergies in the Classroom – Food Allergy Research & Education. http://www.foodallergy.org/resources/food-allergies-classroom. Accessed September 10, 2020.

  2. Lieberman, P. (2015). Anaphylaxis After Cystoscopy. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 3(3), 469-470. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2014.05.007