Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE comments on plans for New York City-owned grocery stores

McLEAN, Va.—May 20, 2026—FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) today commented on the recently announced grocery plan to bring one city-owned grocery store to each of the five boroughs of New York City by 2029. In the state of New York, there are approximately 2 million residents including roughly 900,000 people in NYC living with food allergy. 

CEO Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, said, "Urban areas can create particular challenges for those living with food allergy. In some neighborhoods, limited grocery options within easy distance leave families relying on convenience stores, where pricing is often significantly higher and safe options may also be limited. Families are often forced to choose between proximity, affordability, and safety—and cannot always get all three. We hope that as New York City pulls together plans for the newly announced government owned grocery stores, city leaders will pay close attention to ensuring there are safe and affordable options for all shoppers in the area, including those managing or caregiving for someone with food allergy."