07/28/2026
TW: One minute he was celebrating his birthday on vacation. Less than an hour later, he was fighting for his life. While dining out in Malta, Ellis Edwards says he informed restaurant staff about his life-threatening peanut allergy before ordering dessert. He was repeatedly reassured the dessert was peanut-free. After just a few bites, he began experiencing symptoms that quickly progressed to severe anaphylaxis.
Despite using two epinephrine auto-injectors, Ellis required emergency medical treatment, including additional epinephrine and hospitalization.
Food allergy is a serious, life-threatening disease, not a diet or lifestyle choice. People living with food allergy depend on accurate allergen information to make safe decisions every day.
If you or a loved one is living with food allergy, always carry two epinephrine devices and use them immediately at the first sign of a severe allergic reaction. If you're traveling, take extra precautions by planning ahead, knowing the local emergency number, and carrying an allergy translation card if traveling internationally. Through advocacy, education, and efforts to improve allergen awareness and food labeling, FARE is working toward a future where stories like this are far less common.
Thank you to Ellis Edwards for sharing your story and helping raise awareness about the reality of living with food allergy.
