Food Allergy Awareness Week 2026
May 10–16, 2026 — See what we’re doing to spread awareness this year.
The Allergy Ally Project
Building allergy-aware schools and communities where every child feels safe, included, and understood.
What is an allergy ally?
Someone who checks first, takes it seriously, and makes sure everyone feels included.
No child should feel unsafe — or left out — because of a food allergy.
The Allergy Ally Project creates free educational resources for kids, parents, and teachers — because awareness is the first step toward a safer, more inclusive classroom for every child.
Safe
Small habits like hand-washing and not sharing food help protect classmates from dangerous reactions.
Included
Every child deserves to participate fully in school life — birthday parties, lunch, field trips, all of it.
Understood
When the people around a child take their allergy seriously, it changes everything about how that child feels at school.
Who We Help
Free resources for every person in an allergy kid’s world.
1 in 13
children has a food allergy.
That’s about two students in many classrooms.
At least 2 in 5 children with food allergies have been treated in the emergency department for a reaction.
Why This Project Exists
When my daughter was about to turn three, we learned she had a severe nut allergy. Until that moment, food allergies were something distant—something that happened to other families. We had no history, no experience, no frame of reference. I didn’t know what an EpiPen was, what anaphylaxis looked like, or that even a trace amount could be life-threatening.
Nothing in my life had prepared me for that shift.
Since then, every meal, every playdate, every birthday party has required a level of planning most parents never have to think about. I’ve stood in grocery store aisles, turning over packages of what should be simple, fun treats, fighting back tears—not because that moment was hard, but because it never stops being hard.
What I also wasn’t prepared for was how isolating it can feel. Most people aren’t dismissive—they just don’t know. They don’t realize that “a little bit won’t hurt” can mean an emergency room visit. They don’t see that for my daughter, every bite comes with a calculation, every meal a quiet vigilance.
And yet, this past year has shown me something else, too.
I’ve met incredible people—parents, teachers, friends—who have shown up in ways that mean more than they probably realize. A simple text to say they’re bringing a treat. A quick check about ingredients.
Small acts that say: we see you, and we care. That kind of community changes everything.
The Allergy Ally Project was born from that experience. It’s about making sure no family has to navigate this alone—and helping the people around them understand why it matters, and how to show up in ways that are thoughtful, safe, and deeply meaningful.
Because awareness isn’t complicated. Inclusion isn’t hard. And for a child with allergies, the smallest act of care can make the biggest difference.
— Yamuna Rajasekhar, Founder
Explore by Age Group
Whether you’re learning to be an ally or managing your own food allergies, we have games, quizzes, and real-world skills made just for you.
Free Downloads
Printable resources for classrooms, homes, and schools.
Word Search
A fun allergy-themed word search puzzle for kids to find key food allergy safety words.
Parent Guide
A printable guide for families on food allergies, school rules, and how to help.
Classroom Poster
A colorful, printable poster that reminds students about allergy-safe habits.
How You Can Help
Everyone has a role to play. Here’s where to start.
Learn
Understand what food allergies really are, how reactions happen, and what a day with a food allergy actually looks like.
Share
Pass along our free resources to teachers, school administrators, and other parents in your community.
Advocate
Speak up in your school and neighborhood. Small policy changes and kind habits create safer spaces for all kids.