While the Virginia legislation is critical, Maria Acebal, Chief Executive Officer of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, wants to raise the discussion up a level.

FORBES: Connect

Admissions for anaphylaxis and food allergies rose most over the 11 years.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Severe allergies 'rising sharply'

While anaphylaxis normally occurs within minutes or seconds of eating a certain food, this is not the case with alpha-gal patients, who suffer anaphylactic shock anywhere from four to six hours after eating certain meats.

CNN: Ticks causing mysterious meat allergy

Food-allergy reactions range from hives and eczema to asthma, vomiting and anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction in which the body's major systems quickly shut down.

WSJ: Food Allergy Advice for Parents: Start Peanuts, Eggs and More Sooner

The only way to stop a life-threatening reaction, called anaphylaxis, is an epinephrine auto-injector, which allergists recommend that everyone with severe food allergies should carry.

CNN: Allergy bullying: When food is a weapon