Education

FAACT’s 10 Years of Teal Voices Anniversary

The heart of the 32 million Americans in the
food allergy community

by Eleanor Garrow-Holding, FAACT President & CEO

For years I had been a food allergy mom, a volunteer, a support group leader, and then worked at the national level in the food allergy space, but it felt like a critical connection was still missing.

Did the medical professionals and pharmaceutical researchers working in this field really understand what life was like for families living with food allergies? How could teachers and school administrators—even our own families—help our community if they weren’t truly a part of it?

I founded the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) to give food allergy families a voice. To educate families AND medical professionals. To advocate for children and adults living with food allergies. And to build connections among all of us. Food allergy families always support each other. I wanted to expand that support and share our stories so others could understand what we needed—and why.

When we or someone we love is diagnosed with food allergies, our lives are flipped upside down. But as the years progress, there are still many opportunities for joy. Not only have I watched my own child transform into a responsible adult managing his food allergies independently, I have had the honor of supporting hundreds of children as they grew into self-advocating young adults living their dreams.

There are 32 million Americans living with food allergies. None of us should feel like we have to struggle alone.

FAACT is home for anyone living with or caring for someone with food allergies. FAACT feels like home— welcoming—and room will always be made for you at our table.

I am so honored to share with you FAACT’s 10-year anniversary as an organization and its commitment to the food allergy space, community, and people. Our mission has been to educate, build advocacy for, and increase connectivity among individuals, parents, caregivers, and adults affected by food allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis. And with your support, we’ll keep doing that and more.

We started a top 10 list of accomplishments from the past 10 years—and ended up with 11 great resources for you and your family. So, keep reading!

We also hope you’ll join us in celebrating our 10 Years of Teal Voices social media awareness campaign. Please let us know how FAACT has helped you in the past—and how we can help you today.

Tune in to FAACT's Roundtable Podcast Ep. 160 to hear more about FAACT's 10 Years of TEAL Voices Anniversary Campaign and Celebrating TEAL Moments during
Food Allergy Awareness Month!

FAACT’s Top Teal Voices Accomplishments

As we celebrate FAACT’s 10 years of food allergy support and education, it’s an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve achieved with your support. It was hard to narrow down the list, but here’s what we came up with for our Top 10 accomplishments (plus one!) from FAACT’s first 10 years.

Camp TAG (The Allergy Gang): A safe place for children with food allergies, eosinophilic disorders, FPIES, Celiac disease, atopic dermatitis (eczema), and asthma—and their non-allergic siblings—to have fun, gain independence and confidence, and to be with others who live it and get it. It is a bonding and empowering week for all campers and counselors, including parents and caregivers.
Civil Rights Advocacy Division: Complimentary one-on-one support and guidance for families and individuals experiencing accommodation issues at school, work, and public places. FAACT has helped more than 6,500 individuals over the past 10 years.
Behavioral Health Resource Center: Resources focused on the psychological and social aspects of managing food allergies at every stage of life. Geared towards individuals, caregivers, and families, these resources can also be used by healthcare providers as patient education materials.
Food Allergy Curricula Program for Schools: The only U.S. food allergy curricula for schools, our interactive program offers age-appropriate courses for grades K-3, grades 4-8, and high school. The program compliments best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Voluntary Food Allergy Guidelines. Teacher-designed PowerPoint presentations, lesson plans, and activities can be used to introduce students to common food allergens and safety protocols while encouraging empathy for classmates with a food allergy. This program was funded through a grant from the National Peanut Board.
Accurately Diagnosing and Managing a Food Allergy: Living with a food allergy requires thoughtful planning, communication, and vigilance. An accurate diagnosis is the critical first step, which is why it’s so important to work with a board-certified allergist. This campaign to help patients accurately diagnose and manage their food allergies was developed in partnership with the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and funded through a grant from the National Peanut Board.
Global Food Industry and Research Summit: Provides an open forum for food industry stakeholders to explore ideas on how to safely meet the needs of the food allergy community.
Non-Food Fun Teal Ghost: FAACT partnered with Walmart to raise awareness about food allergies during the Halloween season and offer a fun array of non-food treats. Walmart encourages families to “Know The FAACTs” about food allergies and consider non-food fun for neighborhood gatherings and trick-or-treaters. Look for FAACT’s Non-Food Fun Teal Ghost logo on display cases and packaging!
Prevent Peanut Allergies: Launched by FAACT with the National Peanut Board and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology to increase awareness among parents, caregivers, and medical professionals about new guidance from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases encouraging the early introduction of peanut foods to infants to prevent development of peanut allergy.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resource Center: Thoughtful resources to support every part of our community—support groups, healthcare professionals, and families—and help us all grow our thinking in more inclusive ways.
FAACT’s Roundtable Podcast: Offers important food allergy conversations you won’t find anywhere else, from supporting your family’s mental health, food allergy accommodations in schools, and preparing your child for college to managing holidays safely, dating and dining out with food allergies, and the latest in food allergy research. Tune in for all this and more.
College Resource Center: New resources—including checklists, articles, and podcasts—to help students and families feel confident about navigating college with food allergies. FAACT interviewed college students (with food allergies and without) plus professors, food service personnel, and parents/caregivers to create this resource center.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube for more updates and resources.

Show Your Teal Love on Social for
FAACT’s 10 Years of TEAL Voices

Sponsored by National Peanut Board and DBV Technologies

We are so excited to share our 10-year anniversary with you and hope you’ll join us in sharing some “Teal Love” on social media.

Raising the visibility of food allergies online helps generate awareness about just how many people are affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis—and how others can support us.

Celebrate with us by posting a selfie or a quick video with your hands in a heart and sharing what FAACT means to you and/or your family. Here’s how that might look:

“I am one in 32 million Americans managing food allergies and am allergic to [allergens]. What FAACT means to me…[and share your story]."

#FAACT #FAACT10YearsOfTealVoices #FAACT10Years #FAACTisYourVoice #FoodAllergy #FoodAllergies #Anaphylaxis #LearnTheFAACTs #KnowTheFAACTs #ShareTheFAACTs

If you are posting on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter: Tag us at @FAACTnews
If you are posting on LinkedIn or Pinterest: Tag us at @FAACT
Download FAACT's 10 Years of TEAL Voices infographic

Not sure where to start? See more sample posts below!

FAACT is here to support you in managing your food allergies—today, tomorrow and into the future. We #KnowTheFAACTs about food allergies and anaphylaxis. We live it and get it, and with your support, we will continue to amplify YOUR VOICE!

Sample Social Media Posts

“My child is one in 32 million Americans managing food allergies and is allergic to milk, eggs, and wheat. When my child was diagnosed, I was overwhelmed, but FAACT gave me the resources and tools I needed to manage my child’s food allergies!”