Country singer Trace Adkins helps introduce food allergy bill

June 14, 2008

Tennessee’s U.S. Senators are joining forces with a country music superstar who has a farm in Rutherford County to keep three-million children across the country safe from life-threatening food allergies. Country star Trace Adkins first raised awareness of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network while competing on "The Celebrity Apprentice." Adkins six-year-old daughter Brianna suffers from severe food allergies and that was why he was part of the organization. Thankfully, Adkins says, she’s never had an attack at school. That’s because her teachers and principal know how to keep her safe.

Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker are sponsoring legislation to develop federal food allergy guidelines for schools. Their legislation would also provide grants to local school systems so they can adopt food allergy management guidelines. Food allergies can pose a life-threatening risk to children. Experts say knowing the proper way to respond to allergy symptoms is often a matter of life or death.

Story Contributed by WBRY News

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Written by Michael Lansing · Filed Under News

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4 Responses to “Country singer Trace Adkins helps introduce food allergy bill”

Bonniejean Alexander on June 22nd, 2008 12:15 pm

Is there a way to include latex allergires in this food bill? I for one can’t eat at restaurants and most schools because of food that is handled with latex gloves. Many children have the same allergy but people do not have to tell others if they use latex gloves. For me, this is as life threatening as a peanut allergy, I have to carry and administer an epi=pen and benadryl.
Nicole Sykes on August 23rd, 2008 12:35 am

Hello. My 3 year old son also has SEVERE allergies, also he has Eczema. My son has had his allergies/Eczema since he was just 3 weeks after his first set of shots as a baby. I have serious reasons to believe his health issues are due to the shots. Anyway, My sons case of allergies & Eczema are the WORST any of the DRS he has seen, have ever seen they say. My sons allergies are SO horrible that he is able to eat MAYBE 5 things, and even they are things he is allergic to, but they are the least of his allergies.

My son is allergic to EVERYTHING you can think of. We have had to rush him to the ER once, and had to call the EMS 2 other times besides that time. This is THE worst thing I’ve had to go through in my life, I feel horrible for my son. We are able to do so little with him due to his allergies, we are scared to take him anywhere because you never know what other people eat or touch before touching anything, it terrifies me! I am constantly watching every single little move he makes, and constantly follow him around to make sure he doesnt get into something that could seriously make him ill or kill him. Some people think I’m crazy and tell me I need to let him be a kid and to let him go a little, but it’s obvious they don’t understand how serious this is. Needless to say my son doesn’t get the chance to have a normal childhood like every other little boy and girl, it makes me sadder than I could even explain. Even sitting here typing this, I don’t feel I can even come close to explaining how bad my sons case of allergies is.

Just to give you an idea, here is a few of his allergies;

Peanuts, milk of all types, soy, fish [except white], all seafood, apples, bananas, apricots, bell peppers, red peppers, orange/yellow peppers, grapes, strawberries, carrots, green beans, gluten, peas, peaches, pears, turkey, pork, chicken, deer meat, corn, kidney beans, wheat, rice, oats, watermelon, dogs, and the list goes on and on

We have to carry an epipen everywhere we go, even if its just to the park. I have also had an incident where 1 of the drs “on call nurses” gave my son a perscription for a regular epipen, mind you my son is 3 years old and weighs 31lbs, and can only have epipen-jr if I ended up giving my son an injection from the regular epipen he would have DIED, his heart wouldn’t be able to handle it. I am glad that I read everything, and figured out the math for the dosage. I called the dr right away, and was told my sons DR didn’t write the prescription, that it was an on call dr who did… I said to them ” so the on call dr can write a prescription and sign the DRS name?” they then told me it wasn’t the DRS signature, I responded with “yes, it is his signature, I am looking at another prescription I had received from him and it is the SAME exact sig” we went round and round about that, and finally they put the someone else on the phone and I was finally told that it was the dr, and they made a huge mistake, and they would have the dr call me right away, so needless to say they were trying to save their behinds! I was so upset about this!!

I am so glad they have passed a bill of rights for this. I can’t wait to see where they go with this, and I can’t wait to get some REAL help for my son!!!
Jenny Craig on November 11th, 2008 2:55 pm

Sounds all to familiar to me the whole story. And not do not listen to all of the people telling you to just let him be a kid. Because they probably wouln’t even come to the hospital or worse out of guilt. They are very stupid, it says’ in the bible that we pershish from lack of knowledge. Well they have no knowledge with this situation. My son when he was little was the same way, he is 29 years old now and much better. I on the other hand have much the same life as your son and you. I almost died 2 years ago and still am sick from it. PFChangs resturant put oyster sauce in my rice after I explained to them my allergies. Well after 2 years I have tried to find an attorney to take my case I have lost my home,my job, all the holidays because I was so sick I couldn’t even walk or anything. It put me in a wheel chair for a while, I didn’t eat for 17 days lost 31lbs and then with prednisone I put on 70lbs. But still I’m alive, my immune system has been comparmised from the toxins in the oyster sauce. My prayers are with you and I know God still heals and deliveres I have to belive this with all my heart. I have had 16 doctors tell me I should have died. No way I’m not and talking about not eating out well that part of my life is over. So that’s ok I’m breating. Your son most likley will grow out of some of these allergies, Lord will he will be healed of all of them. If you know of a attorney that will take my case and understand it please call me @ 602-320-3823. And remember I’ll keep you and yours in my prayers. Jenny Craig602-320-3823 Thanks again
Kelly on November 11th, 2008 4:23 pm

I believe that all food establishments should require their employees to take a class about food allergies. Most servers don’t know anything about them. McDonalds as one example doesn’t even have a list of ingredients of their food. I have a dairy allergy and most people think it is the same as being lactose intolerant or that it is not as bad as lactose intolerant! One site that I read said to place your epi pen on the table before ordering and tell the waitress that she/he will have to stab you with it if they bring anything that you are allergic to! Maple Street Grill is the best place to eat if you have allergies. They are very willing to check everything and to prepare food so that it is safe for you.
This is a good bill and a support it. Maybe some awareness will help.