Food Allergies and the School Environment

According to Health Canada, as many as 1,200,000 Canadians may be affected by life-threatening allergies and as many as 6 % of young children have food allergies. Unfortunately, these numbers continue to increase, especially among children. While it is possible to be allergic to any known food, there are ten priority food substances which cause allergic reactions (allergens):

  • Peanuts
  • Tree nuts (including almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts or filberts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts or pignolias, pistachio nuts, and walnuts)
  • Sesame seeds
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Fish (including shellfish and crustaceans)
  • Soy
  • Wheat
  • Sulphites
  • Mustard

Allergic reactions, even to the same allergen, vary from individual to individual and range from…

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