According to a recent survey commissioned by Kraft Peanut Butter, the 2016 Food Allergy Check-in Report found that Canadians are unaware of the extent of the risks and challenges that food allergies present to youth in Canada.
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is reporting that the prevalence of allergy is on the rise with an approx. 18% increase in severe allergic reactions over the past 15 years.
As May is allergy awareness month it is important to look at this issue; the findings suggest that greater education is needed so we can all help to make life easier and safer for the 300,000 Canadian children and their families, while SickKids works to find a cure over the next ten years.
Kraft Peanut Butter wants to help Canadians stick together and create meaningful moments, both great and small. For many it’s the simple times, the everyday happenings, that forge the strongest connections – lunch at a best friend’s house, sharing a snack at recess or grabbing a bite while hanging out with friends after school.
When asked by SickKids Foundation to support the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Program at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Kraft Peanut Butter was eager to help. So, the brand commissioned two surveys, fielded by Vision Critical and Food Allergy Canada, to highlight some of the challenges that families with food allergies face and help make life a little easier.
Key Survey Findings:
– Approximately half (51%) of youth with food allergies don’t think that people really understand the risks and challenges they face.
– Four in 10 youth with food allergies agree that people without food allergies don’t make efforts to protect them (for example, by avoiding food with allergens).
-Three quarters of children (76%) with food allergies say that having an allergic reaction makes them “very worried.” In comparison, only one third (37%) of adults think that having an allergic reaction causes them extreme worry.
– More than half of youth with allergies (56%) worry about not having someone around who knows what to do if a he or she has an allergic reaction.
– Only 28% of adult s think youth are very worried about this happening.
– More than half (55%) of adults (parents and non-parents) did not know that severe allergic
reactions have been on the rise, having increased 18 per cent in the past 15 years.
– When asked, eight in 10 adults said not wearing a seatbelt is dangerous while only one -third of them felt forgoing precautions for food allergens is dangerous.
So far, Kraft Peanut Butter has contributed $100,000 to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in support of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Program and is continuing to help build awareness around food allergies and the need for a cure. The ultimate goal is to ensure that #InOnly10Years kids won’t have to worry about their allergies and can get back to focusing on just being kids.
For more info visit www.InOnly10Years.com www.SickKidsFoundation.com/Allergy www.foodallergycanada.ca