You know I can’t let this one go.  Basically, this European penned article, “Happy Thanksgiving, You’re More Likely to be Murdered Than Die From a Food Allergy Today,” has a great title I admit, but is a HUGE step backwards for all people living with food allergies.  The authors were comparing statistics of murder versus food allergies deaths.  The article states, “One in 10 children has a food allergy and due to media coverage and political grandstanding about disasters that occur, many sufferers and their parents experience anxiety…”  Call me old fashioned, but the recent food allergy deaths of  Natalie and Giovanni are NOT grandstanding, but horrific tragedies.  Their selfless, strong and impressive families have gone to the media to save lives–not to receive media attention.

Natalie who was lost over a peanut butter on a rice krispie treat

I’m upset over this ignorant statement.  At the very end of this article, the authors make a statement about not belittling the concerns of people managing food allergies and that precautions must be taken.  I wish they would have started off with that statement and then explained, that statistically, the odds are better for food allergic people since they can take precautions, whereas victim of murder don’t always have this ability.  Also, statistics are NOT accurate.  Anaphylaxis is fairly new to death certificates, if I am correct.  So, upon death, the coding in hospitals often reflect the cause of death as cardiac arrest, etc.  I understand that in the US, physicians are working on this issue.  In  my world, I post far too often about food allergy deaths.  Not every death hits the mainstream media.  Just this last year, I’ve heard of three deaths that never hit the media.

Giovanni was lost over trail mix

I would have loved to have seen the authors continue regarding some of their fabulous points that made about anxiety and statistics.  But alas, I don’t have the magic wand in my hand–I keep looking for it!  I’m worried that the average person will read the article only part way and believe that my kid’s allergies have stats in their favor, so no need to take the precautions that we do.

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving and I encourage you to write a comment to the authors. I’m zipping out of the door right now, so I will add a comment later in my own attempts to encourage the author to think twice about grandstanding and that some of their stats are not complete–or maybe they are?  Maybe in Europe the coding in hospitals is betters?