From Avoidance to Treatment: How Food Allergy Care Is Changing in Canada

For decades, living with a food allergy meant one thing above all else: avoidance.

Families were told to read every label, avoid restaurants and birthday parties, and always carry emergency medication. While these precautions are still important, they place a heavy burden on daily life. Food allergies don’t take a day off, and neither do the families managing them.

But slowly, the story is changing.

A New Chapter in Food Allergy Care

Thanks to advances in research and clinical care, food allergy treatment is no longer just about avoiding risk, it’s about building protection.

Food allergy immunotherapy is a medical approach that helps the body become more tolerant to an allergen over time. Under the supervision of trained healthcare providers, patients are exposed to very small, carefully measured amounts of a food allergen. These amounts are slowly increased, allowing the immune system to adapt.

The goal isn’t that someone can suddenly eat unlimited amounts of a food they’re allergic to. Instead, treatment aims to reduce the risk of severe reactions from accidental exposure, and in many cases, dramatically improve quality of life.

Canadian Research, Powered by Community Support

Importantly, this progress is happening right here in Canada.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, the FAIT Program (Food Allergy Immunotherapy) is at the forefront of this shift. Led by Dr. Edmond Chan and a dedicated multidisciplinary team, the program is helping redefine how food allergy care can be delivered safely, effectively, and at scale.

The FAIT Program is donor funded, made possible through the generosity of individuals, families, and community partners who believe in advancing food allergy treatment. The Canadian FAIT Foundation is proud to raise funds in support of this work, ensuring that innovation continues and that more families can benefit from evidence-based care.

Dr. Chan and his team are leading the charge by developing practical immunotherapy protocols, studying how these treatments work in real-world clinical settings, and sharing their findings with the broader scientific community. Their work bridges the gap between research and everyday care so progress doesn’t stop at the lab, but reaches the families who need it most.

By training healthcare providers, refining treatment pathways, and contributing to a growing body of evidence, the FAIT Program is helping position Canada as a leader in food allergy immunotherapy.

What This Means for Families

For families, this shift can be life-changing.

It can mean less fear around everyday situations like school lunches, travel, or social events. It can mean fewer emergency room visits and more confidence navigating the world. And for many children, it can mean growing up with more freedom and less anxiety around food.

Importantly, immunotherapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires careful assessment, medical oversight, and ongoing commitment. But for the growing number of families who are eligible, it offers something that was once unthinkable: an active treatment option.

Why Access Still Matters

Despite this progress, access to food allergy treatment in Canada remains limited.

Not all families live near specialized clinics. Not all healthcare providers have access to training in immunotherapy. And not all donor-funded research and clinical programs have the resources they need to expand and reach more communities.

That’s where the Canadian FAIT Foundation comes in.

Moving Beyond Avoidance

The Canadian FAIT Foundation exists to help move food allergy care forward by raising funds for the FAIT Program, supporting research and education, and helping bring proven treatment models to families across Canada.

Avoidance will always be part of food allergy management. But it no longer has to be the whole story.

Together, we’re helping write a new chapter where families have more options, more protection, and more hope.