He had a late-night snack after graduating from college. An allergic reaction killed him.
After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Timothy Howard had his whole life ahead of him.
But that bright future was tragically cut short when he died just days later from a severe allergic reaction to a late-night snack — a chocolate bar — that was contaminated with peanuts, his mother, Patty Howard, told USA TODAY.
Timmy's whole body went into shock. He went into his parents' bedroom, and they administered three EpiPens, a life-saving drug used by people at risk of anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions, but the reaction was "very fast," and the EpiPen "didn't work."
Now, his family is sharing their story to prevent other families from losing a loved one to food allergies. His sister, Julia, says manufacturers need to make food labels clearer instead of relying on "may contain" warnings. His dad, Tim, says that individuals also need to carefully read those labels.
Timmy's college fraternity brothers are raising money for the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), a nonprofit advocacy organization that spreads awareness and funds research for food allergies. They've raised nearly $28,000 as of June 10, according to his mother.
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"We don't want people to go through what we're going through after burying our child. This is hell," his mother says.
How to check food labels for allergies
Howard's story is frightening and not entirely uncommon.
Food allergies impact more than 33 million people in the U.S. You can never assume a food or object is free of your allergen, experts say, as it can lurk in the most unexpected places.
Fish and shellfish, for example, are sometimes dipped in milk to reduce their fishy odor, putting those with dairy allergies at risk. Cross-contamination – when an allergen is accidentally transferred from one food to another – can also expose you to an allergen.
Federal laws require that the nine most common allergens – milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish and sesame – must be labeled on packaged foods sold in the U.S.
However, there are no laws requiring manufacturers to say whether a product may have come into contact with a specific allergen, allowing potential cross-contamination to fly under the radar.
The chocolate bar Timmy ate said "may contain" peanuts on the label, according to his parents. His mother wants other parents to tell their kids – regardless of their age – to "be aware of what they're eating."
"If it does say 'may contain,' don't eat it," she added.
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How to treat anaphylactic reactions
Anaphylactic reactions most commonly occur in response to foods, insect stings, medications and latex, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
In addition to EpiPens, the FDA approved a new nasal spray in August 2024 as the first needle-free emergency treatment for potentially fatal allergic reactions.
Neffy FDA approval: First nasal spray for allergic reactions gets green light
The spray, which is made by ARS Pharmaceuticals and sold under the brand name Neffy, is seen as an alternative to EpiPen and other autoinjectors that are filled with epinephrine, a life-saving drug used by people at risk of anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions.
However, these treatments don't always work. Epinephrine begins to work immediately after it is administered, but its full effect may take 5-10 minutes. And, the drug can begin to wear off within 20-30 minutes — sometimes before the allergic reaction has subsided.
Timing is also crucial. For an epinephrine injection to work, it should be given at the first sign of an allergic reaction.
"Let's come together in remembrance of Timmy and help build a safer future for all," Timmy's friends wrote on the fundraising page.
Contributing: Katie Camero.
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