Haejin Kim grew up with a peanut allergy and is now raising a son with one too.
Kim, an allergist at the Henry Ford Health System, worries about her son's health but said he also faces something she never did growing up - being bullied because of the food allergy.
"That's my biggest fear as a mom is that he would be one of those kids that is bullied and that is just terrible," Kim said. "I worry about that but hopefully with more education, the more people understand it. The more they'll realize that it's not a joke. It's real and it can really affect you."
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FARE, which stands for Food Allergy Research and Education has an "It's Not a Joke" campaign to raise awareness about food allergy bullying and help stop it.
The campaign includes a public service announcement in which child-actors were used to showcase the feelings and stories of children who have experienced food allergy bullying. FARE says that bullying can include threats with food.
Food allergies affect 15 million Americans, about one in 13 children, or roughly two in every classroom.
Dr. Matthew Greenhawt of the University of Michigan's Food Allergy Center and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital also hears about food allergy bullying.
"No child should be made fun of because of a medical diagnosis," says Greenhawt. "Nationally we know that up to a third of kids have reported bullying in certain circumstances in school, it's unfortunate."
Greenhawt is board certified in pediatrics, allergy and immunology. He also serves as an assistant professor in the division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of Michigan Health System.
"I think more kids know somebody who has a food allergy, I think most families know somebody who is affected by food allergy that's already showing you how common that is amongst the population," Greenhawt said. "Bullying will improve with more education, more understanding, more empathy and I think that's what we need to focus on."
FARE wants to educate about the seriousness of food allergies. According to FARE, 40 percent of children with food allergies have experienced a severe or life-threatening reaction, such as anaphylaxis. That reaction requires the allergy sufferer to receive epinephrine immediately.
Greenhawt said he spends a lot of time with families answering all their questions and concerns including about bullying.
"We spend a lot of time in terms of counseling on how to cope with that situation, where (are) the likely stressors to be where you may run into trouble," Greenhawt said. "A lot of parents do face some difficulty with school or other organizations where there are multiple children that all have needs and all of those needs have to be integrated and accounted for simultaneously. That can become very very difficult."
FARE reports that food allergy bullying often goes unreported, and can lead to a lower quality of life for not just children, but parents as well.
They recommend the following tips to deal with bullying:
1. Encourage open communication. Ensure kids know what bullying is and how to react if they or someone they know is being bullied.
2. Teach kids how to stand up to bullies including saying "stop" or "leave me alone," consider using humor or just walking away.
3. Recognize the signs which include damage to books, clothing, unexplained injuries, a child avoiding school, physical ailments, struggling in school including lower grades, loss of interest in school and behavioral changes.
4. If a child is being bullied, try to calm them and assure them you can help.
5. Encourage schools to offer programs to teach about food allergies and bullying.
6. Set up a buddy system, helping children who are bullied stay with a group of trusted friends in high-risk situations.
Food allergies and bullying are no joking matter. Parents are encouraged to talk to their kids about food allergies and how serious they can be. To learn more about food allergy bullying, click here.