Food allergies affect more than 12 million Americans, including 3 million children and teenagers. .

Eight foods -- peanut, tree nuts, cow's milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish -- are responsible for 90% of all allergic reactions. Gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, rye and oats) can also cause serious problems for people with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance.

Labeling of these eight top allergens on all food sold in the USA has been enacted into law in the FDA's FALCPA (Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act) of 2004. Gluten labeling is currently under review by the FDA.

There is no cure for food allergies, and the only way to prevent an allergic reaction is strict avoidance of problem foods. It is estimated that anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially fatal reaction, results in approximately 125,000 emergency room visits and 150 deaths every year. There is no medication to prevent anaphylaxis -- only emergency treatment with epinephrine, administered after a reaction has begun.

For many, ingesting even a minuscule amount of the wrong food can lead to serious problems.
Many food service employees lack basic information that could literally mean the difference between life and death for someone with a food allergy.

It has made it difficult for people with allergies to eat at restaurants because of how dangerous it could be to eat things that might be cross contaminated with allergens. The scary thing is, most people do not realize how detrimental these allergies can be to one's health and overlook them, causing severe allergic reactions. Many restaurants do not train their staff to deal with allergies and do not even know what exactly is in their food.

Recap of above mentioned  facts: 
-Food allergy is a growing public health concern
-8 kinds of food account for 90% of all allergies; however individuals are allergic to a multitude of foods 
-The top 8 foods are: peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, wheat, dairy, egg, soy 
-There is NO cure; absolute avoidance is the only sure way to prevent a possible life-threatening reaction 
-An epinephrine auto-injector, also known more commonly as an Epi-Pen, is not a sure safe guard. The Epi-Pen essentially “buys” time for the allergic individual, typically about 15-20 minutes until EMS arrives.

Massachusetts and New York have taken a step further in keeping their people safe by passing a bill that has approved a proposal to require posters with information on food allergies to be placed in food service establishments. The posters would have to be available in multiple languages, including but not limited to Chinese, English, Korean, Russian, and Spanish. This bill needs to become a security blanket for those with allergies so they could go out and eat at restaurants without worrying that their food is contaminated.