You Can Be an Allergy Ally!
Learn about food allergies, play games, and discover how YOU can help keep your classmates safe and happy.
What does “ally” mean?
An ally is someone who looks out for others — even when it’s not about them.
Being an Allergy Ally means learning how to keep your classmates safe and making sure nobody feels left out because of a food allergy.
What Is a Food Allergy?
Some foods can make certain people very, very sick — even in tiny amounts.
It’s different from just not liking a food, or having a tummy ache after eating too much. A food allergy means a person’s body treats that food like a danger signal — and reacts by trying to fight it. That reaction can happen very fast and can be really serious.
The Big 9 — the most common food allergens
Be a Brave Helper
Being an Allergy Ally isn’t just about not sharing food. It’s about being the kind of friend who helps keep everyone safe. Here’s how:
Remind others not to share food without checking first
Tell an adult if someone ignores allergy rules at school
Help keep eating areas clean after snacks and lunch
Stand up for a classmate if someone makes fun of their allergy
Heroes don’t need capes.
Every time you wash your hands after a meal, remind a friend to check before sharing, or speak up for a classmate — you’re being a real hero.
The Allergy-Safe Friend Rules
Three things every great Allergy Ally knows how to do.
Rule 1
Don't share food unless an adult says it's safe
Even a tiny bite of the wrong food can make someone very sick. Sharing food without checking first is never worth the risk.
Rule 2
Wash your hands after eating
Soap and water help wash away allergens so you don't accidentally spread them to classmates.
Rule 3
Tell an adult if someone feels sick
If a friend says they feel funny, look different, or can't breathe, tell an adult right away — acting fast can keep them safe.
Test Your Allergy Smarts
Play these interactive games to practice what you’ve learned!
Choose a game to play!
What I Wish My Classmates Knew
“Every single day, I have to check the ingredients on every food I eat — even foods I’ve had before, because recipes can change. At lunch, I have to sit carefully and make sure no one puts certain foods near mine.
At birthday parties, I sometimes can’t eat the cake. At holidays, I have to ask what’s in the treats before I can have any. It’s not that I don’t want to join in — I really do. It’s just that one wrong bite could send me to the hospital.
When a friend remembers my allergy without being asked, or says, ‘Let me check if this is safe for you’ — it matters more than you know.”
— Liam, age 9
Take It Home!
Word Search
A fun allergy-themed word search puzzle — find key food allergy safety words!
Spot the Differences
Can you spot all the differences? Practice looking closely — just like reading food labels!