But these allergies come at a huge cost. It is estimated that families across the country combined will spend more than $25 billion annually to keep their children safe, and that will only increase with the cost of inflation. For Alta, who lives in the Capital Region, life at home with two dogs, a toddler and a baby is tough enough. But raising a child with severe food allergies is just another milestone mom has had to deal with. “When it’s three allergies, not just one, it’s very difficult to work through. Even I have a hard time making sure he’s safe,” explains the mother of two. She was a first-time mom when she discovered her daughter had severe food allergies. Now, even with years of practice, it takes a long time to find nut, sesame and dairy-free food for her three-year-old. “And he’s a toddler, so he doesn’t eat most foods,” laughs Alta. “Especially because sesame is not a top eight allergy, so it’s not on the labels. I have to make a lot of calls to find out.” Parents of kids with allergies know they have to go the extra mile, whether it’s visiting multiple stores to get what they need or spending the extra dollars on allergy-safe food. For Alta, this means packing school lunches every day, as her daughter will never be able to eat in the school cafeteria. “It’s very difficult to casually leave the house – I have to think, OK, what’s she going to be able to get her to eat,” he added. “I definitely have to go to a lot of different stores to be able to get all the different things he can eat, and it’s definitely expensive that’s for sure.” One study showed that allergy-safe foods can be 150-250% more expensive than everyday brands on store shelves. Regardless of the exact percentage number, these extra costs are non-negotiable. Add that on top of the 13% grocery inflation seen across the country in July, a 40-year high. When it comes to the school day, Alta must trust the teachers to prevent allergic reactions in her child. There is an “allergy-safe” food label that she can put in her lunchbox, and Alta’s daughter can only eat at a table with other children or teachers who bring allergy-safe foods. “I really trust the people at her school, but whenever I know a teacher is going to be watching her, I always call and make sure they know where her Benadryl and Epipen are in case of exposure,” the little mom said. And while it’s expensive, Alta says this is just a normal life for them now, making sure their kids are safe and happy. “You always want to keep your child safe and give them the best life possible. Also, it’s a steep learning curve, being a new mom. So this process was very difficult at that time. But I think with anything that’s motherhood, you do it, it’s really hard, and then one day you’ll be exactly what I’m used to.”
