Carroll Meets With Local Allergy Counselor to Discuss Ways to Improve Food Labeling in Illinois

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. – State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Buffalo Grove, is embarking on a new push to improve food labeling for allergens in Illinois by meeting with local activists and hearing their stories.

Carroll met with Tamara Hubbard, a local resident and activist for allergy awareness in Illinois. As a clinical counselor, Hubbard works with children coping with the physical and emotional stress of having food allergies, especially children with uncommon or potentially lethal allergies to everyday food items.

Among the items discussed were inadequate labeling requirements for food products, and the need for more awareness about how to handle food allergies for adults who work with young children, the group most likely to have severe reactions. Both Carroll and Hubbard agreed that Illinois should be a national leader on allergy-related issues.

“Tamara is a tireless advocate for children with allergies in Illinois. When I asked community members to share their food allergy stories, she was the first to step forward because she knows the struggles that people with food allergies face better than anyone else,” Carroll said. “We have a chance to make Illinois the national leader on this issue. I want to thank Tamara for taking the time to talk to me about how we can take the first step.”