Read about our milestone 25-year anniversary and about Health Canada’s approval of neffy® epinephrine nasal spray. Check out our recap of Food Allergy Awareness Month, plus discover our summer tips to help you prepare for the season and manage with confidence, along with 5 tips for reading food labels from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Marking 25 years of awareness and impact
This year marks an important milestone for Food Allergy Canada — our 25th anniversary!
For a quarter century, we’ve been working alongside individuals, families, government, the medical community, industry partners, and more across the country and globally to build a more informed, supportive, and safer world for everyone impacted by food allergy.
In the last two months, there were significant moments for food allergy advocacy that we have been driving for years, including the introduction of Senate Bill S-247: An Act to establish a national framework on food allergy, advancing emergency preparedness with the Anaphylaxis Summit, and global guidance on precautionary allergen labelling (“may contain” statements).
Learn more about these notable events in the advocacy and research section of this newsletter. Plus, find out about our accomplishments and highlights from our latest impact report.
While meaningful progress has been made, there is still more to do. If you’re inspired by our work and in a position to give, please make a donation – of any size – in honour of our 25th year.
We thank everyone who has been part of the journey – from those who helped shape the organization in its earliest days to those contributing today. We look forward to continuing with our mission of helping Canadians with food allergy live with confidence in the years ahead.
ICYMI: neffy® epinephrine nasal spray receives Health Canada approval
On April 15, 2026, ALK Canada announced that neffy® epinephrine nasal spray has been approved by Health Canada. The approval is for a 2 mg dose for treating anaphylaxis in adults and children weighing 30 kg (66 lbs) or greater. ALK has advised that neffy will be available in pharmacies across Canada starting in summer of 2026.
This means there will be two device options in Canada for the treatment of anaphylaxis: neffy epinephrine nasal spray and EpiPen® epinephrine auto-injectors.
The approval of neffy marks an important step forward — giving Canadians another option and the ability to choose the device that best meets their needs. Our advocacy has long focused on ensuring there are a minimum of two affordable epinephrine device options available in Canada, helping to reduce the risks associated with a single-source market, including supply shortages and limited flexibility.
As new epinephrine device options continue to emerge, we remain committed to advocating strongly and consistently to ensure Canadians can access the full range of options.
Read ALK’s statement for details on the neffy launch and other product details.
Food Allergy Awareness Month wrap-up
Thank you to everyone for a successful Food Allergy Awareness Month (FAAM) last month! We had an incredible month of engagement, including 63 teal monument lightings across Canada and many new #KnowItTreatIt stories shared by members of our community.
We received 27 new story submissions from across the country – each one helping to raise awareness about anaphylaxis and the importance of knowing the signs and how to treat it. Everyone who shared a story was automatically entered into our contest, and we will be announcing the winners later this month.
Help us keep the #KnowItTreatIt conversation going. Due to the power of the stories shared, we are keeping this gallery open on our site all year long. You can check it out at foodallergycanada.ca/KnowTreat and get inspired to share your story!
Sincere thanks to our supporters for being #FoodAllergyChampions!
We truly appreciate the generosity of the organizations below for donating a considerable amount of media space so we could spread awareness and education on how to recognize and treat anaphylaxis with the Give and Go ads. Combined, we had tens of millions of impressions across the country (meaning, our Give and Go messages were displayed that many times)!
- VENDO Media for donating a significant amount of outdoor billboard space across Canada.
- Captivate Network for donating an extensive network of office lobby and elevator advertising across Canada.
- Adapt Media for donating a large amount of retail space where our ads appeared in independent convenience stores and small grocery and retail stores within city centres, busy intersections, and condo development areas.
- UB Media for donating a significant amount of advertising space across their national networks, including leading post-secondary campuses, and restaurants/bars.
- RioCan for donating digital media space across all their platforms in Yonge Eglinton Centre and Yonge Sheppard Centre in Toronto.
- Zoom Media for donating GymTV space where our ads appeared in gyms and health clubs across Canada.
- Branded Cities for donating space on the prestigious Atrium Tower at Yonge and Dundas in Toronto.
Check out some of the ad spaces below!
World EoE Day: Global resource and increasing awareness
During FAAM, we also celebrated the second annual World EoE Day on May 22nd by raising awareness of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), a chronic, non-IgE-mediated food allergy that affects the esophagus and can occur at any age.
We spotlighted a global resource on the signs and symptoms of EoE and our other helpful resources on recognizing and managing EoE, including our new webinar.
We also began creating an EoE patient advisory council and we ran a social campaign to drive awareness of the signs and symptoms of EoE.
Get ready to manage with confidence this summer
Summer is coming! Check out our tips and resources to help you manage with confidence throughout the season, along with tips on epinephrine that apply throughout the year.
Get-togethers
Summer is a great time to meet up with family and friends for a meal. Follow our hosting tips sheet so that food allergy is factored in and everyone enjoys these gatherings.
Camps
With some planning, camps can be an enjoyable and inclusive experience for everyone. Before the first day, talk with staff about food allergy, snacks/meals, and emergency steps. Discover our tips for attending camp with food allergy, and share our resources for camps, including a downloadable care guide for camp staff and counsellors.
Travel
Prep work helps whether you’re going across town or around the world. Read our tips about planning ahead and find resources for travelling with food allergy.
General tips
Check out more tips for navigating summer pastimes involving BBQs, icy treats, sunscreen, and more.
Epinephrine devices
During the summer and throughout the year, have your epinephrine devices handy!
For epinephrine auto-injectors, store them at room temperature, not exposed to extreme heat or cold. During the summer months, do not store them in places that can get hot, like the car’s glove compartment or conversely, do not store them in the fridge to keep them cool. Read our sheet on epinephrine for more information and tips.
Pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS)
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. If you notice an itchy mouth or throat after eating certain raw produce, it could be pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS).
Learn more about this common condition and what to watch for. Plus watch our recorded webinar with Dr. Anne Ellis.
Resources
Our care guide offers clear, helpful tips for managing food allergy and anaphylaxis, it’s perfect for babysitters and caregivers as well as camp staff and counsellors. Ensure your child’s anaphylaxis emergency plan is up-to-date and share it with camp staff and trusted adults.
5 tips from the CFIA on reading food labels
Accurate food labelling and reading labels carefully is vital for people with food allergy and those who shop for them. To help Canadians stay safe, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) verifies that food industry partners follow the rules by inspecting, investigating complaints, and sampling and testing products.
Those with food allergy can protect themselves from potential exposure by understanding what’s on the label. Review these 5 tips from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on reading food labels below.
Plus you can find more information on reading food labels on our site.
