Food Allergy Kids Hosting Safe Halloween Party

Halloween can be a scary holiday for many children for real-life health reasons. For the roughly 9% of kids in the Atlanta area who have food allergies to common Halloween candies, the act of “trick or treating” can result in a visit to the ER or even be fatal. Exposure to the wrong food or candy can cause a deadly attack of anaphylactic shock – which has caused the deaths of three children in Georgia in just the last year:

• Another Georgia child dies from food allergy reaction
• Gwinnett Teen Who Died After Eating A Cookie Will Be Laid To Rest On Sunday
• http://www.atlantaallergy.com/blog/index.php/2011/08/25/peanut-allergy-claims-another-life/   

That is why the Food Allergy Kids of Atlanta (FAKA) has put together a safe Halloween alternative for children suffering from food allergies.  

On Saturday, Oct. 20, FAKA will host an allergy-safe Halloween Trick or Treat Pirate Party in Duluth. Dr. Luqman Seidu, a local immunology and asthma specialist, and other advocates will be in attendance for Saturday’s event to help provide information to parents and children on how to stay safe this Halloween and beyond. The Pirate Party is planned for 10 a.m. to noon at Pirates Cove Adventure Golf at 3380 Venture Pkwy. RSVP at Confirm@fakidsatl.org.

Remember these facts on Halloween night:

• Between 6% and 9% of all children have a food allergy.
• Georgia is one of the seven states with the highest rates of food allergies in children.
• In 2007, approximately 3 million children had a food or digestive allergy in the previous 12 months – and rates have continued to increase.
• Many common Halloween candies contain peanuts or other products that can cause life-threatening reactions in children allergic to those items – so awareness is critical this Halloween and at all times.