The treatment of choice for anaphylaxis from all causes, including as a result of food allergy, is injectable epinephrine. In fact, most cases of fatal anaphylaxis are linked to the lack of, or delay in, the administration of epinephrine.
Injectable epinephrine kits come in various brands, including EpiPen, Twinject, and Avi-Q. All of these devices have a relatively short shelf life due to the instability of epinephrine: approximately one year from the date of manufacture. Epinephrine breaks down with exposure to light, air, and high temperatures. Therefore, manufacturers recommend that epinephrine is stored in a dark place at room temperature, but not refrigerated.
Unfortunately, because injectable epinephrine kits are rarely used and are relatively expensive, it’s common for people to (knowingly or unknowingly) keep expired epinephrine kits.