Milk, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, and shellfish account for 90% of the cases of food allergies that around 19 million people — including 5.5 million kids — in the U.S. contend with.

Severe allergic responses send people to the emergency room 33,000 times a year, and each year around 150 adults and children die from an anaphylactic reaction that triggers low blood pressure, respiratory distress, a weak and rapid pulse, gastrointestinal woes, dizziness, and fainting.

So it's great news that the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a medication to help anyone age 1 or older mute their food allergy if they accidentally ingest the culprit — and in many cases, make it possible to eat a small amount of once-risky foods.

Stanford researchers published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that found regular injections of the drug omalizumab, AKA Xolair, for 16 weeks could protect youngsters and adults from severe allergic responses to food, including breathing difficulties. It also benefited people with more than one food allergy (40% of kids and 46% of adults are allergic to multiple foods).

If you or your child has a food allergy, always carry an EpiPen so you can stop a life-threatening allergic reaction, and ask your doctor about taking advantage of this breakthrough in protection.

We're not sure about insurance coverage yet, but keep checking.