The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), located online at www.foodallergy.org, was started in 1991 and helps to raise public awareness and provide education while advancing research.

Speaking on a personal level to promote the network Councilman Al Sadowski, whose two young children are both afflicted with food allergies, recently arranged a golf outing fundraiser with $5,500 going towards FAAN.

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and in may cause death. Common contributors to this include food, medication, insect stings, and latex. However, food allergies is said to be the leading cause of anaphylaxis causing an estimated 30,000 emergency room visits annually across the United States.

A food allergy is a condition where the immune system incorrectly identifies a food protein as a threat and attempts to protect the body against by releasing chemicals into the bloodstream leading to an allergic reaction.

There are eight foods that account for over 90 percent of food allergic reactions including milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nut (walnut, cashew), fish, shellfish, and wheat.

Both of Sadowski’s sons have food allergies. His older son, Evan, who is 6, ate ice with nuts and got sick. Suspicious of that reaction, his doctor tested Evan for food allergies and his results were positive.

His younger son Eric, who is 2, found out he was allergic to milk by accidentally spilling milk down his shirt and his chest immediately broke out in hives.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Weiss, of Riverdale, early signs of food allergies at infancy may include gastrointestinal reflux, or spitting up, eczema, and failure to thrive.

The Food and Drug Administration has mandated within the last few years that all packages must list in simple terms what they contain, said Dr. Weiss.

This phenomenon is fast becoming prominent, although Dr. Weiss it is not exactly known why this is.

"It’s not definitively known why it’s growing so rapidly," Dr. Weiss said.

Not alleging to this theory Dr. Weiss added that the hygiene hypothesis which dictates that a child between the age of 1 and 2 who are not exposed to germs or bacteria favor allergic response simply because their immune systems have not developed standard immune responses could be a reason.

For more information e-mail Sadowski at sadowski@waynetownship.com or log onto www.foodallergy.org.