Summary of measures against food allergic diseases of local governments nationwide

Abstract

【Background】

During a disaster, patients with food allergies may have difficulty securing food than during normal times. Thus, self-help is vital for adequately preparing for any catastrophe. Furthermore, disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake force people to live in evacuation centers for a long time, and the role of public assistance is certainly not trivial. Each local government prepares a Regional Disaster Management Plan to determine the tasks to be processed for disaster prevention based on the Basic Act on Disaster Management. We conducted this study to investigate measures undertaken by local governments to address concerns regarding food allergies.

【Methods】

We compiled regional disaster management plans for 99 local governments, prefectural offices, and ordinance-designated cities.

【Results】

Promotion of stockpiling of household allergy-free food: 18%, Stockpiling of stored food in shelters: 38%, Stockpiling of allergy-free formula milk: 9%, Distribution stock of stockpiled food: 6%, Removal food distribution plan: 0%. By the year of revision, the number of municipalities with allergic diseases listed was 45% before 2016 and 63% after 2018; however, this remains insufficient.

【Discussion】

It was thought that measures against food allergy diseases were not sufficiently defined in the regional disaster management plan.

【Conclusion】

It is necessary to work with the central and local governments, centering on academic societies.