In Memoriam · Awareness · Advocacy

For every child who didn't come home from lunch.

A tribute to the children and adults whose lives were cut short by food-allergy anaphylaxis and cross-contamination — and a promise that their stories will keep driving change.

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Why Awareness Matters

The numbers behind the names

Food allergy is the #1 cause of anaphylaxis outside the hospital — and children are the most affected.

~200

U.S. food-allergy deaths per year

Source: FARE / NIAID estimates

1 in 13

Children in the U.S. with a food allergy

Source: FARE prevalence data

40%+

Of food-allergic children have had a severe reaction

Source: FARE

~25%

Of school anaphylaxis cases occur in children with no prior diagnosis

Source: AAP / FARE

The names on this page are a small fraction of those lost. Many fatalities are never publicly reported. FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) and the National Food Allergy Death Registry continue to document these tragedies so they are not forgotten — and so the laws, labeling, and school policies needed to prevent them keep moving forward.

In Loving Memory

Their names. Their stories. Their legacies.

Each life lost has changed laws, schools, labeling, and millions of families. We carry their stories forward.

In memory of

Sabrina Shannon

Age 13 · 2003

Pembroke, Ontario

Dairy (cross-contact in school cafeteria fries)

Sabrina suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction at her high school after eating cafeteria french fries that had been contaminated by tongs used to serve cheese. She had publicly advocated for food allergy awareness through her CBC documentary 'A Nutty Tale.'

Legacy: Her death led to Sabrina's Law (2005) — the first legislation in North America requiring schools to maintain anaphylaxis policies. The Sabrina Shannon Memorial Award continues in her name.

Sabrina's Law — Food Allergy Canada

In memory of

Ammaria Johnson

Age 7 · 2012

Chesterfield County, Virginia

Peanut (shared by another student at recess)

Ammaria died after another child gave her a peanut at school recess. The school did not have her epinephrine on hand because policy required parents to supply it — even though her severe peanut allergy was known.

Legacy: Her death helped drive Virginia and federal legislation allowing schools to stock undesignated epinephrine for any child experiencing anaphylaxis.

ABC News — Allergic Girl Died at School

In memory of

Natalie Giorgi

Age 13 · 2013

Camp Sacramento, California

Peanut (hidden in a Rice Krispies treat at family camp)

Natalie bit into a treat that unknowingly contained peanut butter. She was given three EpiPens by her physician father — but anaphylaxis had already progressed too far. She died that night.

Legacy: Her family founded The Natalie Giorgi Sunshine Foundation to fund food-allergy research and remind families that even prepared, EpiPen-equipped households can lose a child.

In memory of

Oakley Debbs

Age 11 · 2016

Maine / Florida

Tree nut (a single bite of cake at a family gathering)

Oakley ate a small piece of cake that contained walnut. His symptoms initially looked mild and were treated with antihistamines. By the time epinephrine was administered, the reaction was unrecoverable.

Legacy: His parents founded the Red Sneakers for Oakley Foundation to fight 'wait and see' management of allergic reactions and to push 'epinephrine first, every time.'

In memory of

Alexi Stafford

Age 15 · 2018

Brownstown, Michigan

Peanut (Chips Ahoy cookie with deceptive packaging)

Alexi ate a Chips Ahoy cookie at a friend's home from packaging she recognized as a safe variety. The package was a different formulation containing peanut. She went into anaphylaxis and died despite emergency response.

Legacy: Her family's story drove a national conversation about clearer allergen labeling and the danger of similar packaging across product variations.

In memory of

Elijah-Alavi Silvera

Age 3 · 2017

New York City

Dairy (exposure at daycare)

Elijah was given a grilled cheese sandwich at his preschool despite his documented severe dairy allergy. Staff did not call 911 or administer epinephrine in time. He died at the hospital.

Shared by Thomas Silvera (Father)

Elijah-Alavi was our beautiful little boy. Full of life, laughter, joy, and love. He had the brightest smile, the warmest spirit, and a heart that touched everyone around him. He was only 3 years old.

Elijah lived with eczema, asthma, and multiple food allergies, yet he never let any of it take away his light. He was happy, playful, loving, curious, and brought so much joy to everyone who knew him. He loved deeply, smiled often, and had a presence that filled every room.

Our lives changed forever the day we lost Elijah-Alavi to anaphylaxis after being exposed to dairy at his daycare. No parent should ever have to experience the pain of losing a child, especially from something preventable. The grief is indescribable. It is a pain that never leaves you. There are no words strong enough to fully explain the emptiness, heartbreak, and trauma that comes with losing your baby.

We often think about the life Elijah should still be living — the milestones, the laughter, the hugs, the first days of school, the dreams he would have had, and the young man he could have become. That was stolen from him. Stolen from us. But through unimaginable pain, we made a promise that Elijah's life and legacy would never be forgotten.

In Elijah's honor, we founded the Elijah-Alavi Foundation to fight for awareness, education, policy change, and protections for children living with food allergies and asthma. Elijah's story became the driving force behind Elijah's Law, helping push for stronger food allergy safety measures and emergency preparedness in childcare settings so that no other family has to endure this kind of heartbreak.

Every advocacy meeting, every training, every law passed, and every family we support carries Elijah's name and spirit with it. While we carry grief every single day, we also carry purpose. Elijah may have only been here for 3 short years, but his impact continues to save lives around the world.

He was, and always will be, deeply loved. 💙

Legacy: The Elijah-Alavi Foundation, founded by his family, drove Elijah's Law — now passed in 6 states and 2 cities — requiring anaphylaxis policies, staff training, and stocked epinephrine in childcare and school settings.

Elijah-Alavi Foundation

In memory of

Benedict Blythe

Age 5 · 2021

Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK

Cow's milk (school morning snack)

Benedict, a five-year-old with severe dairy allergy and asthma, collapsed and died after a reaction at primary school. A 2025 inquest jury found that anaphylaxis safety measures were not properly followed.

Legacy: His mother founded the Benedict Blythe Foundation, pushing for 'Benedict's Law' in the UK — mandatory anaphylaxis policies, training, and stocked epinephrine in every school.

BBC — Inquest verdict

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Share your loved one's story with us. We'll review with care and reach out before anything is published — nothing goes live without your blessing.

Schools · The Frontline

Most preventable deaths happen where children spend their days

A disproportionate share of childhood food-allergy fatalities happen in schools, daycares, and at school-related activities — where allergens are shared, supervision is split, and seconds matter.

Stocked epinephrine. Every classroom, cafeteria, gym, and field-trip bus needs undesignated EpiPens — for any child, even one with no prior diagnosis.
Staff training, every year. Recognizing anaphylaxis. Using an auto-injector. Calling 911 first. No "wait and see."
Cross-contact protocols. Dedicated utensils, separated prep surfaces, allergen-aware menus, and labeled meals — not "best efforts."
No child sits at a separate table. Inclusion is safety. Isolation increases bullying, anxiety, and risky behavior.

We carry their names into every cookie, every classroom, every cafeteria.

Lucian's Food exists because these children should still be here. Help us build a world where the next name is never added to this page.

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Families, advocates, school nutrition leaders, and journalists — reach out to add a tribute, share resources, or coordinate awareness work.