House Passes Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act

On April 8, 2008, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2008 (FAAMA) was passed by the House of Representatives.

This act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and make available to local educational agencies a policy to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools to be implemented on a voluntary basis only. It directs that such policy address:

1. the documentation of student allergies and the development of an individual health care plan for each such student;
2. communication with emergency medical services, school staff, parents, and students;
3. reduction of exposure to causative agents of food allergies;
4. food allergy management training; and
5. administration of epinephrine. Provides that the policy developed by the Secretary and the food allergy management guidelines contained in such policy are voluntary.

This bill (known as S. 1232 in the Senate) was introduced by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) on April 26, 2007 and will be reviewed by the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) Committee in the coming months. Please click HERE to view up to date status of this pending legislation.