What does it mean to be an Allergy Ally?
Food allergies are serious — but when kids, parents, and teachers work together, every child can feel safe, included, and understood.
The Allergy Ally Project is here to help.
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.
3 Things Everyone Should Know
Reactions Can Be Severe
Food allergies can cause severe, life-threatening reactions — not just discomfort. Every exposure is serious.
Allergies ≠ Intolerances
Food allergies are different from intolerances or sensitivities. Allergies involve the immune system and can be life-threatening.
Everyone Can Help
Small actions from kids, parents, and teachers make a real difference — keeping classmates safe, included, and understood.
The Big 9
These are the nine most common food allergens — responsible for most serious allergic reactions.
Safe or Not Safe?
Read real snack-time scenarios and decide if the behavior is allergy-safe!
Your friend brings homemade cookies to school and offers to share them with the class. No one checked the ingredients.
Free Downloads
Printable resources for your classroom, home, or school.
Classroom Poster
A colorful, printable poster that reminds students about allergy-safe habits.
Parent Guide
A printable guide for families on food allergies, school rules, and how to help.
Word Search
A fun allergy-themed word search puzzle for kids to find key food allergy safety words.
A Day With a Food Allergy
For families living with food allergies, every single day requires careful attention. Before breakfast, labels get checked. At school pick-up, lunches get reviewed. At birthday parties, the parent calls ahead. At restaurants, the server gets asked four questions before anyone orders.
It’s not worry for its own sake — it’s vigilance born from knowing how quickly a reaction can become an emergency. It is exhausting, necessary, and constant.
When a classmate, a parent, or a teacher understands this — it means everything.