[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 23633]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            RESOLUTION ON POTENTIALLY LETHAL FOOD ALLERGIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, as we complete this week of business here 
in Congress, I wanted to remind my colleagues of a resolution I 
introduced a little earlier; it is H. Res. 309, because it is an 
important resolution expressing the sense of the House regarding 
strategies to better protect the millions of Americans with food 
allergies from potentially fatal allergic reactions and to further 
assure the safety of manufactured food from inadvertent allergen 
contamination.
  The majority of the 5.2 million people who have serious and 
potentially fatal allergic reactions to foods such at peanuts, fish, 
shellfish, tree nuts are children. These children will never outgrow 
their allergies, and there is no vaccine to prevent these deadly 
allergic reactions. All that these children can do is avoid eating or 
coming in contact in any way with peanuts, fish, shellfish or tree 
nuts.
  Even a small trace of peanuts or shellfish can produce a severe 
allergic reaction. Many children spend their day at school in fear, 
afraid to touch a door knob or a desk top that might have a smear of 
peanut butter. While it would be difficult to control the school or the 
work environment, there are steps that can be taken to protect children 
and adults from severe allergic reaction to food.
  For instance, major commercial food processors and producers should 
produce products on separate dedicated manufacturing lines. Allergens 
in food should be identified in terms that are clear, understandable to 
the average citizen. Most consumers have no idea that products that are 
labeled with ingredients such as natural flavors contain peanuts or 
that shrimp extract is used to enhance the flavor of frozen beef 
teriyaki. Any food product that lists natural flavors as part of the 
ingredients should specify on the package that the product includes 
peanuts. Foods which are common, life-threatening allergens should not 
be added gratuitously to products where their taste is negligible.
  Industry, consumer and scientific groups should voluntarily work 
together on initiatives to better educate food industry workers and the 
public on the issues of food allergy safety, and after 1 year an 
assessment should be made of the success of these initiatives.
  Mr. Speaker, every year about 125 people die from fatal allergic 
reactions to food in the United States, and every year the number of 
people who have potentially fatal allergic reactions to food is 
increasing. I have a number of constituents who fall into that 
category, and I am sure that all of my colleagues will find the same in 
their districts.
  H. Res. 309 will increase awareness of the serious impact of severe 
food allergies on the American people and the need to address this very 
important health problem.

                          ____________________