鈥楯ournal Tribune鈥 publishes article by Meghan May on food allergies
Meghan May, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical sciences in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, wrote an article on food allergies that appeared in the May issue of Health & Wellness, a monthly publication of the Journal Tribune.
鈥淔ood allergies should not be taken lightly鈥 addresses the differences among various types of allergic reactions, from pollen-induced sniffles to life threatening reactions to certain foods.
May defends so-called 鈥渁llergy moms鈥 who are in favor of keeping schools free from those foods, such as nuts, that are the most common culprits of severe food allergies. Sometimes derided as 鈥渙verprotective helicopter parents,鈥 these mothers and fathers, says May, 鈥渃an be seen as choosing to inconvenience everyone else for the sake of their child.鈥
May argues that given the severity of anaphylactic shock, a deadly condition caused by an allergic person coming in contact with a food allergen, and the miniscule amount of contact required to set off this reaction, those who are not allergic should comply with food allergen bans without complaint. 鈥淒oes that mean that those of us who are non-allergic have to modify our behavior somewhat?鈥 she asks. 鈥淵es,鈥 she replies. 鈥淚, for one, am happy to do it.鈥