About Anisah
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Qualifications
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Blogger
Food Allergy Activist
Ridgewood NJ FARE Heroes Walk Committee Leader
Team F.A.R.E
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My Story
About 15 million people in the U.S have been affected by food allergies, and this number has continued to increase each year. Putting this number into perspective: if the food allergy community were a state, it would be the 5th largest state in the U.S by population. For those living in the United States that do not have this disease, it has most likely affected each life win some way or another. Maybe someone in your class has a food allergy, preventing you from eating peanuts in the classroom or maybe a relative has an allergy that prevents them from eating the food you cooked during Thanksgiving. Society refers to the “food allergy” community as people that are directly affected by food allergies, but if you ask me, it’s time to make everyone part of the allergy community. On social media platforms, I see so many mothers of children with food allergies, trying to advocate for their child. They spend hours online searching recipes for foods they could could make that does not contain the life-threatening allergen. They go on walks and donate money to food allergy research, in hope that this money will lead to the cure that is currently non-existent. Saying it blunt and simple: food allergies is life-altering, especially those like me who live with it every day of their life. Every meal, every gathering, every outing, every interaction. If people, allergic and non-allergic people alike, take the time and effort to dedicate to this cause, society can greatly change the way it handles food allergies. A more educated society in which each person is aware and can effectively accommodate people with food allergies is all one like me can ask. As I approached my high school years, I came to the realization of the world I want to live in and how I can make this world. How can I build and contribute to this world? As in right now, my world may only be a fantasy, but I want to work each day to make my reality, and each day I’m one step closer to doing so.