On March 21, Niagara MP Dean Allison introduced Motion 546 to the House. It argues that the federal government should take greater measures to ensure Canadians with anaphylaxis maintain a high quality of life. “My greatest goal with this motion is to increase awareness,” said Allison.

The motion builds on the momentum created by regulations passed in February that require food and beverage manufacturers to clearly label top allergens and gluten on their packaging.

Motion 546 argues for:

• A nationally coordinated information campaign to educate Canadians and boost levels of knowledge and understanding among health care providers, “Health Canada can and should play a key role in providing accurate and targeted information to groups such as medical professionals, first aid and emergency training providers, child care workers, food service providers and to those who work in the hospitality industry,” said Allison. 

• A commitment to research. “We, unfortunately, do not yet understand why the disease is becoming so prevalent, how to stop this upward trend or how to prevent food allergies from developing,” said Allison. 

• A transportation policy that makes the use of public transportation safe for those with anaphylaxis. Allison argued that airlines should have to consult with the anaphylaxis community to develop policies to effectively reduce some of the risks. “A long-term financial and program commitment is necessary within Canada, and standardized and evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis, management and treatment of food allergy and anaphylaxis need to be developed. 

• ‘May Contain’ labeling rules. Allison acknowledged the new labeling regulations announced by Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq in February, but argued that more can done, including formalized rules on “may contain” statements on food packages. He also promoted the development of an “allergy aware” symbol that would indicate that an item has been reviewed to be found free of major allergens. 

The debate in the House of Commons lasted an hour, with MPs from each opposition party speaking in favour of Allison’s motion.

Allison began his speech by acknowledging non-profit group Niagara Anaphylaxis Support & Knowledge (NASK), which has been promoting the motion initiative.

Allergic Living interviewed NASK representative Debbie Bruce to learn more about the implications of the motion and where it goes from here.

Allergic Living’s Q&A with NASK Debbie Bruce

Q. What is the importance of this discussion in terms of getting recognition for anaphylaxis?

The discussions led to a new level of appreciation for the seriousness of anaphylaxis and the many challenges of avoiding risk. There was a stated commitment by all four political parties to work towards solutions outlined in the 5 points raised in the motion. There is a new found focus within Health Canada and other government departments relating to allergy issues.

Q. How does the election campaign affect the future of this motion?

The timing of the election is unfortunate for the motion as it is was lost along with the other bills and legislative agenda. The good news is the debate of the motion is on official report (Hansard) and can now be referred to when speaking in Ottawa to MPs and to Health Canada. With continuous reference to the 5 points, the MPs’ debate has put on record many significant matters and an approach to working towards solutions. (See the debate here.)

Q. Are there things motion supporters can be asking of candidates in their ridings?

Now is the perfect time to be speaking to the electoral candidates in your community. When they knock on your door – tell them how important Anaphylaxis Motion 546 is to your family. Talk about some of the challenges you face trying to keep your loved ones safe. Ask if you can count on their support. Don’t hesitate to phone their campaign offices. The candidates want to know what is important to their constituents.

Q. What are the next steps on this initiative?

Niagara area MP Dean Allison has committed to re-introducing motion 546. When Parliament reconvenes, Mr. Allison and families involved with the Canadian Anaphylaxis Initiative will work with new MPs and the returning MPs to raise awareness for the new motion. We will work with MPs to ensure the anaphylaxis motion is fully debated and acted upon within Ottawa’s bureaucracy.

For more information see:

http://www.nask.ca/events.html

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network led the lobby for FAAMA, which will result in voluntary allergy management guidelines for schools across the United States. FAAN started pressing for the legislation back in 2005, when it held the first of three Kids’ Congresses on Capitol Hill.

Allergic Living Editor Gwen Smith interviews Chris Weiss, FAAN’s vice president of Advocacy and Government Relations, about FAAMA and what the guidelines will mean for American students at risk of anaphylaxis.

Q&A: WHAT FAAMA WILL MEAN

Gwen Smith: First, congratulations on FAAMA’s passing – after all the hard work.
Chris Weiss: Thank you.

GS: There was a lot of delay with this bill. After 5 years of lobbying, how did FAAMA finally get passed?

CW: Senator [Christopher] Dodd from Connecticut, early in 2010, was able to insert FAAMA into the larger Food Safety Bill. The reason he did that – and it was very smart on his part – was because Congress was pretty busy last year and the chance of Congress considering FAAMA as a standalone bill became sort of unlikely.
The chance of Congress considering the Food Safety Bill, however, became probable. And so Dodd was able to insert FAAMA into the larger Food Safety Bill [officially known as the Food Safety Modernization Act].

GS: The food allergy community is excited by FAAMA’s success. But can you tell readers: What does this new law mean?

CW: It simply calls on the federal government to create food allergy management guidelines for the schools. This is a tremendous thing because, to date, there has been no guidance from the federal level at all on food allergies. A few states have published guidelines, some school districts have done so, some individual schools have done so. But there was nothing coming down from the federal level.

GS: And why is that so important Chris?

CW: Well basically because it gives any school in the U.S. – in any state, in any town, in any city – it gives them something to look to if they need help managing students with food allergies. In essence, we sort of killed 50 birds with one stone by passing this law. Any federal guidance [in the guidelines] would be applicable to all 50 states.

GS: Allergic Living is getting some specific questions such as: “But I live in New York state and there’s a law, or in Massachusetts, we already food allergy guidelines in the state. How will FAAMA work in conjunction with what’s already in place in those states?

CW: This is a good question. There are about 12 states that already have published food allergy management guidelines for schools. Roughly 12, give or take one. If you look at all of those documents, they’re essentially the same. They’re 99 per cent similar.
Whatever comes out of the federal government as a result of FAAMA will likely be similar to these existing state documents.
So it’s not as if the federal guidance will trump the state guidance. It’s not as if the state guidance will trump the federal guidance. Everything is going to be essentially the same content. [CW agrees that federal guidelines will be reinforcement for a state law.]

Next: The Guidelines, Getting to FAAMA

With mock earnestness, Sara Shannon replies, “I think you’re probably the best-looking girl in the world.” Sabrina collapses in a fit of giggles.

SOME KIDS just have that energy, that sparkle in the eyes, that irrepressible spirit. Sabrina Shannon was one of those, a pure pistol of a kid. Her personality shone through in the radio documentary she produced with her aunt, Kathleen Whelan, which originally aired on CBC Radio’s Outfront program back in 2001.

The documentary was a first-person narrative about living with allergies. Sabrina, who was at risk of anaphylaxis to peanut, dairy products and soy, proved a natural at the mike, interviewing her girlfriends, her mother and holding forth about her allergies. It was a great 12 minutes of audiotape.

But this anecdote takes place in the past tense. Sabrina’s tale turns, sadly, to one of tragedy. She is the allergic kid who didn’t make it, the bright light extinguished.

On September 30, 2003, Sabrina died in hospital following an anaphylactic reaction. Her mom, her dad, her Aunt Kathleen, her many other relatives and friends have been devastated by her death. But this is also a story of hope born of tragedy, of an organized effort to do justice to Sabrina’s memory by making sure no other child suffers a similar, likely preventable death.

Sabrina, the girl who had her final lunch from the high school cafeteria at the age of 13, became the rallying point for a new law that requires anaphylaxis safety plans in the schools of Ontario. It is legislation that could influence widespread change in schools across North America.

***

ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2003, Sabrina balked at her mother’s efforts to have her take yet another allergen-free sandwich to school. It was the end of the teen’s first month of Grade 8 at Bishop Smith Catholic High School in Pembroke, a small city in the Ottawa Valley. She told her mom that the previous week, she’d eaten French fries once in the cafeteria after checking that they didn’t contain any of her allergy triggers. The fries were safe – and tasty – and she wanted eat them again at lunch today.

Sara Shannon resisted at first, but she also trusted Sabrina’s judgment. Her daughter had always been responsible about her allergies, asking the right questions before eating, always carrying her EpiPen in her backpack, along with the puffer for her asthma. Sara agreed.

Around 11:40 that morning, Sabrina and her best friend went to the cafeteria, and Sabrina ordered fries after again making sure that they were cooked in vegetable rather than peanut oil.

In the class after lunch, Sabrina began to wheeze. Thinking she was having an asthma attack, the teen headed for the school office at the other end of the building. By the time she got there, Sabrina was in trouble, and kept repeating “it’s my asthma.”

A teacher raced to Sabrina’s locker to get her EpiPen in case it was in fact her food allergies; school officials called an ambulance. Sabrina collapsed and lost consciousness, going into cardiac arrest before the EpiPen could be administered, before the ambulance arrived.