![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
FALCPA . . .
Aug. 3rd, 2004 10:33 pmI don't always like synchronicity. I posted to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
food_allergies about FALCPA a little while ago. Then I ate a salad with a new (to me) dressing on it. The only sketchy thing on the label was "natural flavor", but it's a brand that's usually pretty good about listing major allergens.
And now I'm having a reaction. Anaphylactic, but hopefully I've prevented my airway from being compromised by using an epinephrine inhaler. I really don't want to use the epi-pen, since that means I get to go to the ER and -oh, yay, be exposed to natural rubber latex in the air. I will, of course, use it and go if I have the slightest sense that I need to.
And this is why labeling needs to be more comprehensive. It sucks that our government has to force companies into compliance, but I'm glad our government has the authority to do so. It's estimated that 150-200 people die in the US each year due to food reactions. There are over 29,000 emergency room visits due to food allergies each year in this country. This is the type of legislation we need.
Parents shouldn't have to worry that a cracker will kill their kid. My husband shouldn't have to have his heart skip a beat when he sees me diving for my purse in our own home. It's one thing when I'm stupid enough to eat in a restaurant that has less than competent staff. It's another thing to suffer because a company wants to protect proprietary ingredients or save ink.
Of course, I'm not voting for Bush just because he signed it. I'm not crazy. I'm just grateful that he removed his asshat long enough to sign it.
I'm still breathing with no more throat/tongue swelling, so all is well for the next 20 minutes.
food_allergies about FALCPA a little while ago. Then I ate a salad with a new (to me) dressing on it. The only sketchy thing on the label was "natural flavor", but it's a brand that's usually pretty good about listing major allergens.And now I'm having a reaction. Anaphylactic, but hopefully I've prevented my airway from being compromised by using an epinephrine inhaler. I really don't want to use the epi-pen, since that means I get to go to the ER and -oh, yay, be exposed to natural rubber latex in the air. I will, of course, use it and go if I have the slightest sense that I need to.
And this is why labeling needs to be more comprehensive. It sucks that our government has to force companies into compliance, but I'm glad our government has the authority to do so. It's estimated that 150-200 people die in the US each year due to food reactions. There are over 29,000 emergency room visits due to food allergies each year in this country. This is the type of legislation we need.
Parents shouldn't have to worry that a cracker will kill their kid. My husband shouldn't have to have his heart skip a beat when he sees me diving for my purse in our own home. It's one thing when I'm stupid enough to eat in a restaurant that has less than competent staff. It's another thing to suffer because a company wants to protect proprietary ingredients or save ink.
Of course, I'm not voting for Bush just because he signed it. I'm not crazy. I'm just grateful that he removed his asshat long enough to sign it.
I'm still breathing with no more throat/tongue swelling, so all is well for the next 20 minutes.
