CAI Goals
A “National Anaphylaxis Strategy”
A The Canadian Anaphylaxis Initiative has a 5-point Policy request of the Federal Government. These policy objectives are the group’s primary goals:
- Federal Coordination – of programs and services dealing with anaphylaxis and food allergy information; seeking a comprehensive and coordinated response by federal government offices and agencies to the various health and quality of life issues relating to anaphylaxis.
- Coordinated Awareness Campaigns – of national, general public information initiatives, and accurate and targeted information to groups such as medical professionals, first aid and emergency training providers, child care workers, food service providers and to those who work in the hospitality industry.
- Long Term Commitment to Research – supporting a strategic response and more dollars for research, and standardized and evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis, management and treatment of food allergies and anaphylaxis needs to be developed.
- Improved Allergen Labeling – for foods, drugs, cosmetic and personal care products. Welcomed labeling regulations were announced February 2011, but more needs to be done, for example, regulating the use of precautionary allergen statements such as “may contain,” and consideration of an “allergy aware” symbol indicating that an item has indeed been reviewed for the 10 major allergens; and Health Canada should follow-through on commitments to improve allergen labeling.
- Improved Transportation Safeguards– relating to airline and public transportation policies that reduce risks for food allergic passengers; made in consultation with the anaphylaxis community
Travelling with food allergies can be stressful. Airline policies vary from one service provider to the next. The CAI has approached the Minister of Transportation with a proposed policy that offers a simple, thoughtful solution. This policy could easily be implemented on any size aircraft and other modes of transportation. View CAI’s proposed policy to reduce the risk for anaphylactic passengers. You and your MP can help by writing letters of support and forwarding this proposed policy to the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Lisa Raitt:
In Ottawa: The Honourable Lisa Raitt Minister of Transport 307 Confederation Building House of Commons OTTAWA, ON K1A 0N6 E-Mail: lisa.raitt@parl.gc.ca Tel: (613) 996-7046 Fax: (613) 992-0851 In Halton: The Honourable Lisa Raitt Minister of Transport 86 Main Street East MILTON, ON L9T 1N3 E-Mail: lisa.raitt@parl.gc.ca Tel: (905) 693-0166 Fax: (905) 693-0704