Food Allergy Aid

Food Allergy Poll

2009-05-30T18:44:00.002-05:00

If you have ANY additional comments, please leave them under the "comments" section below. Thanks for taking the survey!!

Online Surveys & Market Research

We Want To Hear From You!

2008-10-15T20:55:00.002-05:00

Please submit any stories about you or your child's food allergies. We would love to hear stories, advice, or anything related to food allergies! It always helps other to know that someone else has "been there, done that!"

Please submit any information to sherry.w.langston@foodallergyaid.com

Rice Chex - NOW Gluten Free!

2008-10-05T09:13:00.002-05:00

My son loves Rice Chex and has been eating them since he was 7 months old. I found it interesting the other day when I bought a new box. It has on the side panel that it is "Now Gluten-Free". When I checked he ingredients, I realized that they have removed the "Barley Malt Extract" ingredient which is the ingredient that would include gluten. It now includes molasses instead!

Gluten is not tolerated by many people - especially those individuals with Celiac Disease. Gluten may be found in barley, wheat, oats, etc.

Check out this article from General Mills and check out new Gluten-Free Rice Chex in stores now!

http://www.bellinstitute.com/stream_document.aspx?rRID=6219&pRID=6173

Check Out Divvies for Halloween!

2008-10-01T17:01:00.001-05:00

Check out Divvies for some yummy allergy-free Halloween treats! You're sure to find something for everyone - even those without food allergies! I have tried their products before and they are fantastic!!

www.divvies.com

Pre-Marinated?!

2008-10-01T16:47:00.002-05:00

Our son has eaten the same chicken breast at a restuarat that we trust for about 4 years now. He has severe allergies still to wheat, milk, egg, and peanut - he used to also have corn and soy. Well, my husband and I always ordered him a "plain" chicken breast almost every time we visited. About two weeks ago, the manager told me that he noticed that the chicken breast was not on their "gluten free" list. Interesting! Well, apparently the chicken breasts are pre-marinted with a LONG list of ingredients including a "contains: wheat and soy" disclaimer. We were shocked! He usually broke out in some red spots on his face after he ate there but we just assumed it was nothing - he has very sensitive skin and breaks out in splotches for no reason sometimes! Although, I did have to give him benadryl after one visit.

The lesson learned: always ask about whether or not meat is marinated - never assume that it is just meat. Marinades may contain ANY of the top allergens including wheat, soy, peanut, sesame, etc. Always be safe and ask!

Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network Allergy Alert

2008-09-24T17:32:00.003-05:00

**THE FOOD ALLERGY & ANAPHYLAXIS NETWORK SPECIAL FOOD ALLERGY ALERT NOTICE** ANCHOVY, SOY, AND WHEAT ALLERGY ALERT

September 24, 2008 CaJohns Fiery Foods Company is recalling "HDH Grillin Sauce" due to undeclared anchovy, soy, and wheat. The product was distributed nationwide through retailers, mail order, and websites.

The product is in 16-oz. glass bottles with lot numbers 249154, 249181, 249197, 249242, 249298, and 249304.

Consumers with questions may call (888) 703-3473.

Allergy-Free Chocolate Bars

2008-09-20T20:53:00.002-05:00

Enjoy Life Food has done it again! They have created a "milk" chocolate bar that is free of ALL common allergens. It is made with rice milk. They have 3 delicious choices: cripsy rice bar, dark chocolate, and milk bar. They are taste tested by my 5-year-old and they pass with 2 thumbs WAY up. He loves them and eats them daily.

Enjoy Life is offering $0.75 off the new chocolate bars with their coupon that you can download at their site. They also have another coupon that you can download on their home page for $0.55 off their products.

www.enjoylifefoods.com

New Tests for Food Allergy Sufferers

2008-09-19T21:12:00.002-05:00

Check out this news story on testing for "harmful" foods that may irritate conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, fatigue, and eczema:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Health/IgG-antibody-test-food-allergies-irritable-bowel-syndrome/Article/200809315103111?lpos=Health_First_Health_Article_Teaser_Region__1&lid=ARTICLE_15103111_IgG_antibody_test_food_allergies_irritable_bowel_syndrome

There is Hope!

2008-09-19T21:03:00.002-05:00

My son had an anaphylactic reaction to wheat when he was around 18 months old. He has been on a strict elimination diet since he was diagnosed with multiple food allergies at 7 months of age. As we follow his blood work RAST testing every 6 months to yearly, we have watched his "classes" go down. As his classes go down, we test him to see if some of the allergens have been outgrown. He has outgrown 3 so far - soy, oats, and corn. Well, his blood work for soy was still a class 2 but his oral challenge went well and he tolerates soy just fine now! You can actually have a + skin test even after an allergy is outgrown - there is no black and white with food allergies. His wheat RAST is still a class 2 but his recent skin test was NEGATIVE! He is now 5 years old. So, we will be doing another oral challenge. So, keep the faith - things do get better!

Turtle Mountain

2008-05-04T09:46:00.002-05:00

With my son's newfound love of soy (he passed his oral challenge - yay!!), we have a new world with unchartered territory in front of us! We ventured out to Whole Foods and spent an obscene amount of money on soy products. This is one of the ones that he loved. His allergies that remain are wheat, milk, egg, peanut, oat, and green pea.

Turtle Mountain has a variety of products and maintain a comprehensive allergy stand. Their website has a tremendous amount of information regarding allergies and cross-contamination. I felt very informed and comfortable after reading the information on their site: www.turtlemountain.com

Skin Testing

2008-05-04T09:24:00.002-05:00

Dermatographism

In case you were wondering about skin testing, here is an example. In the top picture, this is testing for 1) milk, 3) egg, 25) oats, 54) soy, and a (s) saline and (h) histamine.

The second picture shows + results to milk and egg. Oat was negative. Soy was also a small +.

The histamine is + but it should be because it is the control and shows that there is a normal reaction to histamine. When histamine is released, it can cause itching, redness, hives, etc. You are intentionally pricked with histamine to make sure it is + to ensure that the test results are valid. For example, if you were taking zyrtec regularly (a histamine BLOCKER), the histamine skin test would be negative. It would also mean that you may not turn up + for foods that you may be + to making the results invalid.

in contrast, the saline should be negative because a person should not react to simple normal saline. There are instances where people do react to saline, though. Some people are "dermatographic" which means that a whelp may develop simply by pricking skin. For example, if an object is scraped on your arm in a straight line, you will develop a "straight line" whelp. This would mean that you are dematrographic and it is unlikely that skin testing would work for you - you would probably react to everything although they would not be considered +.

Hard Rock Rocks!

2008-04-25T22:55:00.003-05:00

My family recently went on vacation with our severely-food-allergic 4-year-old. We dine out for basically all meals when we are out of town. This, however, presents challenges when you have a child that is allergic to wheat, milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, oats, and green peas. I also have peanut and sesame allergies. We are always cautious and try to go to the same places if we can find them.

My husband had taken my son to Hard Rock in our hometown and had very good luck with them and felt confident in their abiliy to deal with food allergies. We were able to find a Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Nashville and tried it out for lunch. The waiters and general manager were incredibly helpful and our lunch was wonderful! They answered all of our questions and went to the kitchen numerous times to get any information that we needed to feel comfortable!

So, we have had two wonderful meals with Hard Rock. The best part is that their menu denotes menu items that "contain seeds or nuts". It makes me so happy to see companies that are aware that food allergies are important and wide-spread. Kudos to Hard Rock Cafe!

Kudos to Whole Foods

2008-04-25T22:41:00.003-05:00

As food allergy sufferers, I am sure that most of you have dicovered Whole Foods Market. One of our best friends jokes that it should be called "Whole Paycheck". Seriously, though, thank God for this store! As many of you know, Whole Foods sells many retail products that are specifically for dietary needs of all sorts - food allergies included. Each store carries different items. They even have gluten-free bakery items in the stores.

In fact, check out their site http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/. Click on "special diets" under the "Whole Body" tab, then click on "Special Diets" on the left side of the page. There is information on their page regarding special dietary needs and helpful information for shopping on their store.

Temptation Soy Ice Cream

2008-04-22T16:34:00.003-05:00

I ran across this company just today and it looks fantastic. The only thing that makes me sad is that they are not in New Orleans or Louisiana for that matter!

They make soy ice cream that is free of dairy, egg, tree nuts and peanuts. Their products are also vegan and kosher.

They sell ice cream in a large vaiety of flavors, "treese" soy cheese, pumpkin pie with gluten free crust, and soft serve mixes.

Give these guys a shot! They have a very worthy cause here!

www.gotemptation.com

Bullying with Food Allergies

2008-04-21T16:00:00.003-05:00

I came across this very disturbing article. As if children and teens do not have a hard enough time making people aware of their allergies for survival, they are now having their food allergies used against them! Kids are actually using allergens to bully these children.

Check out this article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AllergiesNews/story?id=4659705&page=1

Online Coupons

2008-04-20T09:16:00.002-05:00

Please take advantage of our online coupons to the right of the page. There are more online coupons in the works to be added to our page.

Currently, we have online coupons for Liberty Bakery and Miss Roben's. Click on the link to the right of the page. Upon checkout, enter the coupon code to receive you discount :) It's that easy!

Tottoos

2008-04-20T09:15:00.002-05:00

I think this is a very interesting and innovative product! These are temporary tattoos that display a medical condition such as a food allergy! They last approximately 12 hours if applied properly. The company recommends uses such as: childcare facilities, traveling, or anything that requires being away from home or school. They can be used for adults and children.

12 custom medical tottoos sell for $14.95
24 custom medical tottoos sell for $28.95

http://www.tottoos.org/

Allergators

2008-04-20T09:13:00.002-05:00

This is a really cute site that sells a variety of food allergy safety / awareness products - shirts, wristbands, etc. The shirts are really cute!

10% of all profits from this site is donated to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network! Check them out and support food allergy awareness and research!

http://www.allergators.com/

Fantastic Allergy Free Pancakes

2008-04-20T08:42:00.004-05:00

These are the pancakes that I made this morning - I apologize for the non-decorative plate!

Our family uses Cherrybrook Kitchen mixes all the time in our house. We went on vacation last week and stopped at a Whole Foods in Birmingham, Alabama and found their

wheat free/gluten free pancake and waffle mix. We were really excited to find it because our Whole Foods does not carry it! All that we added was rice milk and canola oil. The pancakes came out fluffy and browned VERY well. The best part is - the pancakes were not gummy at all!

I encourage you to try this mix! It's great!

You can order their mixes online. Their site is http://www.cherrybrookkitchens.com/

Company Spotlight - Hershey's!

2008-03-09T09:58:00.004-05:00

With Easter quickly approaching, chocolate surrounds us! Easter can also be fear-provoking for parents and others with life-threatening food allergies. Easter tends to particularly like peanut butter, too.

Hershey's is allergy-conscious and a trustworthy source of allergen labeling. On their web site, they have a section that explains an 'adverse reaction'.

The following is their stand on handling allergens:

"How does The Hershey Company manage allergies?

The Hershey Company strives to provide its consumers with accurate, reliable ingredient statements upon which consumers can make their purchase decision. The Hershey Company has an Allergy Task Force that ensures that the ingredient statements are always accurate, and that any allergen statements placed on the label is understandable."

"Do your products share plants & equipment?

We take food allergies very seriously at Hershey and have strict procedures in place to prevent crossover of allergens into other products that do not contain the allergen. In instances where we have a concern about possible crossover by an allergen we take the added precaution of including an allergy information statement on the label."

http://www.hersheys.com/

Allergy Free Foods

2008-03-09T09:48:00.003-05:00

Allergy Free Foods is a great site that has many allergy free foods that include allergy free cheeses, gravies, cookies, bread, etc. The only downside is that I cannot find where they list ingedients. I am cautious of ordering and paying for shipping only to find out that it cannot be used. They do, however, have contact information for questions. Check them out!

http://www.allergyfreefoods.com/

We Have Our Winner!

2008-03-03T18:46:00.002-06:00

According to www.Random.org, our winner of "Great Foods Without Worry" is Melanie! Congratulations, Melanie! Your copy of this great book of recipes will be on its way soon!

Check back often for another great giveaway!

Enter Our Contest!

2008-02-25T18:18:00.004-06:00

Food Allergy Aid is giving away a copy of "Great Foods Without Worry"! This is a fantastic collection of allergy-free recipes for both adults and children. The copy at my house is on its last leg!

To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post by midnight (CST) on Sunday, March 2nd. The winner will be chosen on Monday, March 3rd! Each comment will be assigned a number starting with 1. We'll plug the numbers into random.org to select a winner. Include your email address so we can let you know if you win. Or if you'd prefer to leave your pertinent info off the comment, just post a comment and simply send an e-mail to sherry.w.langston@foodallergyaid.com letting us know which comment was yours, so we can give you a heads-up if you win.

Good Luck!

We Want to Hear From You

2008-02-25T18:09:00.003-06:00

Food Allergy Aid would love to hear from you! Share your stories, pictures, recipes, products, etc. As you probably know, you can never have too much information on the subject of food allergies!! People learn through the experience of others.

Submissions may be sent to sherry.w.langston@foodallergyaid.com

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

2008-02-23T18:03:00.000-06:00

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has an internet site that provides a wealth of information on food and drug allergies. There is a lot of information in one spot! Some topics include:

Alternative Therapies
Drug Allergies
Food Additives
Health Insurance
Immunothrapy

Also on the site, there are also sections such as "Ask the Allergist", Educational Resources, Clinical Trials, etc. The recipes area in under construction but coming soon. Here, you can find a local chapter of the organization.

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=20

USDA Information on Food Allergies

2008-02-15T18:02:00.001-06:00

The United States Department of Agriculture has a section on Food Allergies. It includes information on food allergies, special diets, and allergy-free recipes.

http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=14&tax_level=2&tax_subject=232&topic_id=1206

Great Information!

2008-02-08T18:01:00.000-06:00

I came across this article on food allergies versus food intolerance. I get a lot of questions about the difference between these two concepts. They are very different and it is important to understand the difference and use the terms correctly. Some of the symptoms of an allergy overlap with those of an intolerance so distinguishing between the two may be diffcult. This is why consulting an allergist is so important!

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/foods-allergy-intolerance

Food Allergies Stir A Mother To Action

2008-02-02T18:00:00.000-06:00

I ran across this article regarding food allergies in children. Robyn O'Brien has done some really great things for food allergy awareness.

There is a link in the article to her web site which has her trademark green stop sign wth an exclamation point on the items sold the site.

I find this article very interesting because I have similar beliefs regarding my son. He does not consume wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, green peas, or oats. He has always been extremely healthy. He has NEVER had an ear infection in 4 1/2 years of life and has gotten a few minor colds here and there. I think he is partially so healthy due to his diet. He does eat sugar but, for the most part, he eats a lot of lean meats, fruits, and veggies. In addition, his "junk" food is not really unhealthy - it is made from rice flours, potato starch, tapioca starch, etc.

Anyway, check out the article. I thought it has a lot of good information to ponder!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/dining/09alle.html

The Game Plan

2008-01-23T18:01:00.000-06:00

My family and I watched "The Game Plan" tonight. It is a new Disney Movie that was just released on DVD. I had read on the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network that this movie was commended for accurate portrayals of food allergies. They were correct!

The movie deals with the father getting a swollen tongue after eating cinammon and the little girl having an anaphylactic reaction. It is a very real portrayal of a severe reaction. If you are watching with a child old enough to understand, you may want to have an explanation ready. It was a very emotional scene for me - much more so than a I expected. I guess it is difficult to see your biggest fear played out in front of you - your child having a severe life-threatening reaction. It is good, however, because the little girl is rushed to the ER, receives proper treatment, and recovers well.

Kudos to Disney!!

Hidden Sources of Fish and Shellfish

2008-01-13T18:00:00.000-06:00

If you or someone you know has a fish or shellfish allergy, managing it can be tricky! I have learned so much about food allergies in the last 4 1/2 years and, mainly, I have learned the importance of reading labels. This is key to staying safe if the company labels appropriately.

For example, let's look at an anchovy allergy. My family dines frequently at a fairly well-known bar-b-que restaurant. In their bar-b-que sauce - anchovies! Who would have thought!! We were also surprised the other night when my husband pulled out the croutons for his caesar salad and found that anchovies were an ingredient.

As for fish and shellfish, you need to be very careful! I have met several people that knew that they were allergic to fish but ordered crabmeat at a restaurant. They experienced an anaphylactic reaction but had no idea why. Well, artificial crabmeat is made with fish - it is generally not crab at all. In fact, pollock is used in making the artificial crabmeat - it simply has crab flavoring added.

Here are some facts:
- asian foods and sauces may contain shellfish
- you need to be aware that your food may be cooked in the same oil as shellfish/fish
- many pizza places have anchovies as a topping - they may make their way onto your pizza!

Click on this link with some helpful information on this topic:

http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/fish.html

Dining Out Dilemma

2007-12-28T17:59:00.000-06:00

Anyone who has food allergies probably has a hidden fear of dining out. It is an exhausting process at times but it does not have to be!

My husband and I take turns giving the waiter the "allergy talk" about me and my son. Many times we feel as though they do not understand, do not take it seriously, etc. It is so important for the wait staff and chef to understand exactly what your dietary needs are!

To help with this process, several companies sell food allergy cards that you can give to the waiter and chef so that they are aware of the allergies and it takes some stress of you!

Here are a few web sites that offer these cards:

http://www.achooallergy.com/foodallergycards.asp

https://www.foodallergy.org/shoppingcart/cgi-bin/msascartlist.dll/ProductInfo?productcd=TGUI

http://www.supermarketguru.com/page.cfm/7512

Epinephrine Auto-Injectors

2007-12-21T17:58:00.000-06:00

If you have food allergies, you may be familiar with carrying epinephrine. you may also be familiar with the fact that they do not have a long shelf-life. I have received them from the pharmacy with expiration dates within 6 months! A good idea is to look at the expiration date prior to leaving the pharmacy. It would not hurt to ask if you can have a pen that does not expire so soon. Refilling pens frequently gets pricey -- even with co-pays!

Another idea is to keep the expiration date written in a planner that is used frequently. Make a note to yourself to refill your auto-injector on the first of the month of the month of expiration. This way, you will safely receive your new auto-injector before the other expires! I do this for mine and my son's and it works well for us.

Below is a website for the manufacturers of epinephrine auto-injectors. On this site, you can sign up for reminders of expiration.

It is VERY important to make sure that epinephrine auto-injectors are NEVER expired. Remember - these are life-saving devices that you may rely on one day to save your own life!

www.epipen.com

Cocoa Allergy?

2007-12-18T17:58:00.000-06:00

I have heard many people say that they or someone that they know is allergic to chocolate. I often wonder if this is true when I hear it. First, I have to wonder what the reaction is to chocolate - does it make them hyper, does it cause them to "break out" in pimples? These are not allergic reactions by definition. Some people may have adverse (unpleasant) reactions to chocolate but not truly be allergic to it.

A cocoa allergy is rare although it is possible. The bigger question is - what is in the chocolate that you are eating? Many, many chocolate products have "may contain" statements that include milk, peanuts, eggs, etc. An allergic reaction is more common to one of these ingredients. Rarely are you eating straight cocoa.

There are many companies online that sell chocolate to people with special dietary needs - www.vermontnutfree.com and www.divvies.com are two of these companies. Both of these companies have products for children and adults.

Just an FYI - an allergy to cocoa is possible although rare - there are blood and skin tests for cocoa if you do think that you or someone else is allergic.

What is Atopic Dermatitis and What Does It Have To Do With Me?

2007-12-17T17:57:00.000-06:00

Have you been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis or eczema at some point in your life? I was diagnosed very early on in childhood. My mom told me that I used to have ezcema so bad that my skin would crack and bleed. She had to slather me in baby oil to the point that she thought I would slip out of her arms! My son had it horribly as an infant as well. "Atopic" means that it tends to runs in families. Dermatitis taken apart means derma ("skin") and itis ("inflammation"). That is exactly what these types of skin disorders are - skin inflammations. Atopic dermatitis is a form of eczema.

Ezcema in its many forms can cause areas of the skin to become red, weepy, crusty, and dry. In many cases, food allergies and skin conditions go hand in hand. In our case, we discovered our son's 8 food allergies simply becuase his eczema would not clear up not matter what we tried! Finally, when milk came out of his diet, his skin was beautiful! Now, it's not always as easy as that but it goes to show how food allergies can really affect the skin.

If you or someone you care for has a skin condition and you suspect a food allergy, see your primary care doctor or allergist. They may be able to help you find a cure for your skin!

Vitamins

2007-12-10T17:57:00.000-06:00

If you or someone that you know or care for deals with food allergies, you probably struggle with balancing diets. I know that I do! It's tough when you have multiple food allergies and major food groups must be eliminated. That is why a daily multivitamin may help alleviate your worries about getting the needed daily vitamins and minerals.

Although vitamins are a good solution, there is still a concern regarding vitamins having allergens in the ingredients - just like any other food product. There are a few places that I have found that appeal to the individuals with special dietary needs. These special vitamins may be difficult to find in retail stores and you may have to order them online but they are decently economical.

Two companies that I have discovered are:

www.kirkmanlabs.com

www.pioneernutritional.com

What is a Coconut?

2007-12-02T17:56:00.000-06:00

Coconut is a highly nutritious food. It contains many valuable vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It also serves medicinal purposes such as:

- killing bacteria and viuses
- supports a healthy thyroid
- acts as an anti-inflammatory
- supports a healthy immune system

Many people believe that a coconut is a nut simply by its name. Its name may be misleading, though. A coconut is actually a seed. It is also commonly known as a drupe. According to www.dictionary.com, a drupe is defined as:

"any fruit, as a peach, cherry, plum, etc., consisting of an outer skin, a usually pulpy and succulent middle layer, and a hard and woody inner shell usually enclosing a single seed."

So there appears to be debate about how to define a coconut. Regardless, a coconut allergy is possible although relatively rare. Symptoms of a coconut allergy may range from oral itching to anaphylaxis (life-threatening reaction). There are blood and skin testing available to test for coconut allergy if you think that you or someone you know is allergic. Please consult your physician or allergist for this testing.

If you want more information on coconuts, please see the following internet site:

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

Fear Versus Awareness

2007-11-28T17:56:00.000-06:00

Food allergies can generate fear easily - especially if they are life-threatening. I have come to realize this in dealing with my son's teachers at his school. They are, rightly so, very fearful of him having a reaction. After dealing with food allergies for an extended period of time, a comfort level is reached and it becomes a part of everyday life. However, there are people who have had limited dealings with food allergies. For these people, the situation is stressful. This is where I feel the importance of awareness versus fear comes into play.

Everyone who deals with food allergies needs to be aware of what they are allergic to, avoid the food(s), and know the appropriate treatment for their situation if a reaction occurs. There needs to be emphasis on awareness, not on fear. In the majority of cases, a reaction can be controlled if it is recognized and treated.

Educate yourself and, for a child, educate all caregivers. Education is the best tool for creating awareness of food allergies. If people ask questions, give them information. This helps people become less afraid of the situation. For teachers, help them understand the comfort level that the child is used to so that they can allow the child to have this comfort level at school.

In hour house, we try very hard to make our son's food allergies a realty but not a source of fear for him. He knows that he has to be conscious of what he is eating but not be afraid of food. If a child sees a parent fearful of everything relating to food allergies, they may become fearful and stressed. Try to normalize he activities of daily life as much as possble for a child - it makes all the difference in the world!

Food Allergies And The Holidays

2007-11-19T17:55:00.000-06:00

The holidays can be a challenging time for those of us with food allergies. I know it is tough for us! Holiday parties frequently have plenty of prepared foods, home-baked goodies, candy, nuts, etc. The most important thing to remember is that if you are unsure of the ingredients, it is probably best that you do not consume it. Depending on food sensitivities and comfort level, asking the person who prepared the food about the ingredients may help you make the decision to eat it or not. It is also important to think further into the ingredients used in a dish. Frequently, chocolate as the "may contain peanuts or tree nuts" statement. If a prepared dish contains chocolate, this should be kept in mind. A good alternative to eating foods prepared by others is bringing "safe" foods.

An idea for a dessert is to use the mock graham cracker mix at www.missroben.com - this mix may be used to make a pie crust and it is delicious! You would never know that it is allergy-free! You can fill it with whatever you like! These are the ingredients:

unrefined cane sugar, brown rice flour, white rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, corn-free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, potato starch, sodium bicarbonate), cinnamon, guar gum, salt (contains yellow prussiate of soda (used as anti-caking agent).

There is another internet site, www.naturalfeast.com - this site sells pies that cater to special dietary needs - perfect for the holidays! For example, here are the ingredients for the chocolate mousse pie:

Filtered Water
Pure Organic Agave Nectar
Chocolate (unsweetened)
Rice Flour
Natural Cocoa
Tapioca Flour
Pure Apple/Pear Juice Concentrate
Apple Powder
High-Oleic Safflower Oil
Agar Powder
Sea Salt
Baking Soda

You can also order these pies at www.glutenfreemall.com

They Have What In That?!

2007-11-14T17:54:00.000-06:00

I am never surprised to find allergens in products that I would never expect them to be in. I used to buy a popular brand of sugar cookie until I discovered that the sugar cookies contained peanut flour! Who would have thought! I also found italian tomato paste that contains sesame. With this in mind, I check all tomato sauces. It is important to remember that one should never assume that an ingredient is not in a food item - you just never know. I always ask to see packages, ingredient lists, etc. for myself and my son. I do not want to risk our health over being shy about asking about ingredients. In restaurants, always ask to speak to the manager if possible - the waiter will usually get the manager anyway and it saves you from giving your "allergy talk" twice.

There are also many hidden allergens in make-up, shampoos, medicine, and many other products. There may be peanut oil in make-up, wheat in shampoo, or soy ingredients in medicines. Ensure that you are aware of all of the "other" names for allergens so that you will recognize them in products. Pharmacies will usually be able to tell you what ingredients are in medicines - just ask. I have done this successfully before.

Another piece of information that is important to remember is that "hypoallergenic" is not always safe! Many cosmetic companies advertise as being hypoallergenic. The FDA warns that there is no true definition for hypoallergenic - this way, companies can use the term however it applies to them.

Check websites and call companies. I can promise that you are not the first person to call about allergies. It takes extra time and effort but it will put your mind at ease and you will quickly learn which companies you can trust.

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network sells a catalog of common companies and their contact information.

Legumes

2007-11-05T17:54:00.000-06:00

Are you allergic to peanuts? If you are, do you also react to soy or green peas? There is a reason for this - all of these foods are legumes. Peanuts are not actually nuts - they fall into the legume category. With this in mind, it is not unusual for people to be allergic to a mixture of legumes. This is not always the case, though. Many who are allergic to one legume, such as soy, may be able to tolerate other ones such as peanuts or green peas.

Legumes include kidney beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans (chickpea), green peas, string beans, lentils and lima bean. This is not a complete list but this gives an idea of possible foods that need to be avoided if legumes are a part of your allergy.

"May Contain" Statements

2007-10-31T17:53:00.000-05:00

Do you consume products that have "May Contain" statements? Do you allow your child to consume these products? There may be a bigger risk than you think when it comes to "may contain" declarations.

In my house, we do not trust these products. We do not even allow the "manufactured on the same equipment that processes _____". I feel that these products are not worth risking my or my son's health over!

I have recently read articles regarding "may contains" which support the fact that many of these products do contain a certain percentage of the allergen. These statements should be taken seriously. Obviously, it is an individual decision if these products will be consumed but they should at least be considered in the decision-making process. Remember, it only takes a minimal amount of some allergens to cause a significant reaction.

If you have any input on this subject, please post in the forum area. I would love to hear your stories and advice for others!

How Did You Find Out??

2007-10-21T17:53:00.000-05:00

Whenever I talk with someone about my son's food allergies, the question inevitably makes it into the conversation...."How did you find out that he was allergic to all those foods?"

In our case, our son had terrible ezcema as a young infant. He had red, scaly patches all over his body - including his face and scalp. In fact, his scalp was one of his two worst areas. His head was so crusted that if he scratched his head (which he did often), his hair would look wet from the oozing. He also had a spot on his hand that we swore would be scarred forever! He scratched this part of his hand on ANYTHING he could get to! It would ooze and bleed several times per day.

We tried everything under the sun to get rid of the ezcema but nothing seemed to work. We were bathing him in cetaphil, using atarax nightly, doing probiotics in his food, and using prescription creams. Finally, when all else failed (and mommy was in tears!), the allergist decided to test him for the top 8 allergens at 7 months of age and, at that point, he was positive to wheat, milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, corn, oats and green peas.

We changed him to Nutramigen from a milk-based formula at that point and started an elimination diet of all of his allergens. His skin was better in a matter of days! He also had very good results with Protopic, which is a non-steroidal ointment. However, three years down the line, he developed a rash and hives in the area where it was applied so we do not use it anymore.

The best solution that I got from anyone was from my father - an italian! He kept telling me to rub olive oil on him. I refused as this just seemed useless and messy. Well, when I was at the point of tears, I tried it - it worked like a charm! The best thing about it is that olive oil is great for skin and it's such a pure solution!

Many people, after hearing that, fear that their child will have numerous food allergies because their child has ezcema. This may not be the case. However, children with atopic skin disorders (ezcema) do have a higher tendency to develop allergies and asthma. Food allergies can possibly manifest as skin conditions. I, as a child, had severe ezcema as well and I have food allergies and mild asthma. Allergies can be genetic! So, if a child or an adult has problems with ezcema or other skin conditions, an allergy visit may not be a bad idea! A skin condition does not necessarily mean that a person has allergies but it is worth checking into if it is bothersome or you're just curious!

Milk Protein Allergy Versus Lactose Intolerance

2007-10-07T17:52:00.000-05:00

I hear from a lot of people that they have a child or know someone who is allergic to milk because they are "lactose intolerant". Just like the previous post on Celiac/wheat allergy, here, again, there is a big difference. It is understandable how someone would view lactose intolerance as an allergy. It should not, however, be referred to as a true allergy.

The difference is similar to celiac disease versus a true wheat allergy. A person who is lactose intolerant cannot properly digest a sugar that is found in milk. The problem with the digestion takes place, again, in the digestive tract - the intestines. A person who is lactose intolerant and ingests milk may experience symptoms such as diarrhea, gas, and/or bloating.

A true milk protein allergy is an IgE-mediated reaction (immune system reaction) where the body may release histamine. The histamine is responsible for producing symtoms including itching, wheezing, swelling, difficulty breathing, etc. Some people may even experience anaphylaxis after ingesting milk and may have to carry an epinephrine auto-injector.

An allergist can test for milk protein allergy either through blood or skin testing. See an allergist or other physician if you or someone you know thinks they are allergic to milk.

Milk protein allergy tends to be more common in childhood. If you think your child needs to see an allergist, try to find a pediatric allergist in your area. Pediatricians may also order blood work for allergies if they choose to do so. Despite what some people have been told and may tell you, children can be tested for allergies as babies/young children. I have skin tested a 3 month old!! Now, keep in mind, each person is different and the physician will have to decide what type of testing, if any, is best!

What is Gluten?

2007-10-05T17:51:00.000-05:00

I get asked a lot about gluten and what exactly it is! Many people also ask about the difference between Celiac Disease and wheat allergy.

Gluten is two proteins that make up wheat (a grain). Proteins in wheat is what causes allergies or intolerances to the grain. Not all grains contain gluten, though. For example, corn, buckwheat, and rice do not contain gluten.

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune condition (the body "attacks itself"). People who suffer with this disease cannot tolerate/digest gluten. If gluten is consumed, it can cause the intestines to become damaged. Once this damage occurs, the body may become unable to properly asborb essential vitamins and minerals that are necessary for life. Some of the symptoms of celiac disease include weight loss, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and poor nutrition.

To find more information on Celiac Disease, please see the links below:

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/

http://www.celiac.org/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/celiacdisease.html

A true wheat allergy is when the body experiences an allergic reaction to wheat protein. The body releases histamine which causes symptoms such as itching, wheezing, swelling of the mouth or throat, hives, a drop in blood pressure, and even death. The reactions can be mild, moderate, or severe. Severe, life-threatening reactions are known as anaphylaxis.

Food Allergies

2007-10-03T17:50:00.001-05:00

I should introduce myself. My name is Sherry Langston. I am a registered nurse with a bachelor's degree and have been dealing with food allergies for practically my whole life. You see, I am allergic to peanuts and sesame seeds. Most people might think that two food allergies is not a big deal. They could not be more wrong. Food allergies are tough and, to many, it is a scary experience - especially if you are a parent of a food allergic child.

My son is 4 years old and has 7 food allergies - wheat, milk, eggs, soy, peauts, oats, and green peas. The experience of raising him is what has changed my life and my perception of food allergies. He is who has made me passionate about helping others deal with this lifestyle.

Most people want to immediately feel sorry for our son because he cannot eat what others eat - we are quick to stop them and explain that this is not something that you need to feel bad about for him!! The mantra that my husband and I use to deal with this is "there are worse things than food allergies". Now, we understand that allergies are serious but we choose to view this as something positive rather than negative. With careful consideration of food choices and the proper resources, food allergies are completely manageable! It is not necessary for anyone to feel "different" or left out because of food allergies. There are TOO MANY resources out there to help make lives easier. I hope that you find this site helpful. Please e-mail me with any questions or comments - personal or about the site. I would love to hear from you!

The E-book will be available soon! This book contains a lot of helpful tips and many resources! Check back for when it will be available!