Monday, August 30, 2010

Is there a connection between Genetically Modified Food and Food Allergies?

What is genetically modified food? Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or organisms whose genetic materials have been altered using genetic engineering techniques in order to create a new set of genes. Typically, genetically modified foods are soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil which have been genetically modified by the insertion of a protein from a different organism to make them grow faster, bear more crop or create their own insecticide which otherwise would not occur naturally.

How does genetically modified food relate to food allergies? As many of you know by now, food allergies are an overreaction to a protein that the immune system reads as foreign and dangerous. With genetic engineering, the allergens form one food can be transferred to another through the transferring of proteins thus making an ordinarily safe food potentially lethal.

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't mandate pre-market safety tests nor are  human trials required before the approval of these genetically modified foods for human consumption. Yet in 1992 the FDA declared that geneticakky-modified (GM) foods were essentially equivalent to regular foods. Then why is it that countries such as Ireland, Egypt, Japan, and France have all either banned and/or enforced labeling laws on GM products due to scientific studies showing possible health risks associated with human consumption?

I also find it ironic that peanut allergies had begun to rise by 20% each year starting in 1997, just after genetically modified foods found their way onto U.S. supermarket shelves in 1994. Soy itself became one of the top eight U.S. allergens just about the time genetically modified soy was introduced to the United States around 1996. Soy allergies jumped 50% in the U.K. in 1998. This was also the same year genetically modified soy was introduced in the United Kingdom. Could this also explain the sudden increase in corn allergies as well? After all 86% of the corn grown in the U.S. alone is genetically modified.

The dangers of genetically modified food is just one of the many theories behind the cause of food allergies. The more we learn about theses possible causes the closer we may come to a cure and at least have the opportunity to make informed decisions in regards to the health and well being of not only our children but for ourselves as well.

A few recommended reads: "Seeds of Deception" by Jeffrey M. Smith and "The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick - And What We Can Do About It" by Robyn O'Brien

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Do You Know What's Causing Your Childs Food Allergies?

As a parent with a child who has a life-threatening food allergy I know how easy it is to get so caught up in a cure and searching for ways to prevent future reactions that we fail to look for the cause. After all the safety and well being of our children is our number one responsibility as parents, right? But it was recently brought to my attention that far to little is being done to determine why our children developed these food allergies to begin with.

Why cant anyone explain to me why my son is allergic to tree nuts? It has been debated by doctors for years now but no one can agree on a specific factor. Matter of fact most pediatricians and allergist will likely dismay your concerns if the topic of why your child has food allergies is brought up. Maybe not enough of us are asking the question? Well I am.

I want to know why, from 1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased nearly 18% among children? I want to know why, food allergies where unheard of when I was in elementary school? Today, I would be surprised to find someone who didn’t know a child who suffers from food allergies. Schools across the country are enforcing peanut bans. What? Peanut butter was a staple when I went to school.

Research reported in the April 1999 JACI (Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology) estimated that 1% of the population is allergic to peanuts or tree nuts. That's close to 3 million Americans! The prevalence of peanut allergies has doubled in the 5 years from 1997 to 2002 according to research reported in the December 2003 JACI. Why? Is it the peanut oil adjuvants in our vaccines? Are we "too clean"?

Studies have found a prevalence of milk allergy in children in the first year of life of around 2% to 5%. According to the Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America, it is one of the most common food allergens in children. Could it be the changes that have occurred in our milk supply? What about our food supply in general?

I have decided to explore the possibilities of Genetically Modified Food (GMOs), vaccines, the "Hygiene Hypothesis", and even how our own genetics may play a role in the sudden food allergy epidemic. There is so much information that is not being provided to us by our "health-care providers" (or government for that matter). As parents or even citizens, shouldn't we have a right to know? Even more important shouldn't we have a say in the matter?

I will post on each topic individually throughout the next couple weeks. I would love to hear your comments, concerns, and opinions. I also highly recommend reading the book "The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick - and What We Can Do About It" by Robyn O'Brien and "The History of the Peanut Allergy Epidemic" by Heather Fraser. Both are really great reads that just might change the way you look at both food allergies and your childs health altogether.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Joel Stein - Possible Food Allergy Advocate?

Joel Stein has probably become a household name by now for those in the food allergy community. If you haven't yet heard of him, Joel Stein is the man responsible for the article entitled "Nut allergies - a Yuppie invention". The article was published in a January 2009 addition of the "Los Angeles Times" creating a lot of negative buzz in the food allergy community.

In the article Stein accused parents of creating their child's peanut allergies as a way of getting attention or as he puts it, "Your kid has a parent who needs to feel special." You can see why the article didn't go over very well with parents of peanut allergic kids. In fact it didn't sit right with anyone living with food allergies period.

It is clear that the lack of research and knowledge on the subject of food allergies played a key role in Stein's opinions that, "it is strange how peanut allergies are only an issue in rich, lefty communities." However, Dr. Robert A. Wood author of "Food Allergies for Dummies" writes that "some of the highest rates of asthma and allergies are in the inner city...". This
suggesting that food allergies are increasing across the country, across social classes, and across all racial divides.

Obviously also unaware of the fact that even the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) doesn't track the number of deaths caused by food allergies. Stein went on to claim, "Since food allergies kill about as many people as lightning strikes each year" we probably don't need  to put "may contain" warning labels on products. He also deemed it unnecessary to ban peanuts from schools.

Here is the twist. Joel Stein recently wrote an article for "TIME Magazine" appropriately entitled, "A Nut Allergy Skeptic Learns the Hard Way". It is in this article that Stein announces that his 1 year old son had been diagnosed with a nut allergy.

Upon reading this new article I have to admit I did have a brief moment of joy as I thought to myself, "karma is a bitch." This feeling was short lived though as I then thought of his son and how he, as well as every other child with food allergies, didn't ask for this. I then started to view Joel Stein as one of us. He is now the father of a child with a life-threatening food allergy. Does he know yet what he has stepped into? Probably not.

It will take some time before Stein and his wife really realize the challenges of having a food allergic child. Stein writes, "We're not banning nuts from our house, and we aren't going to send Laszlo to a nut-free school." Only time will tell.

My hope is that Stein will now use his platform as a way to educate others and create awareness about food allergies. He has the opportunity to become a powerful advocate for our children. Having publicly been on the opposing side of this new epidemic I beleive Stein has the ability of getting the message through to people we as a community otherwise would not be capable of reaching.
That said, I wish the Stein family the best of luck!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Finding an Allergy Aware school

Sending a child to school for the first time can be exciting but for those with children who have food allergies this can be very scary. It is important to find a school that is capable of meeting your child's needs.

I have compiled a list of possible questions to ask when searching for an allergy aware school. Be aware of the manner in which your questions are answered. Try and find a school based on how comfortable you feel regarding, not only their knowledge of food allergies, but also their willingness to communicate and adapt to your child's needs.

  • If your child will be eating lunch at school ask for a copy of the lunch menu. Even if your child brings their own lunch it is important to be aware of what others around him will be eating.
  • Ask about peanut/allergen free lunch tables. If these are an option you may want to ask if they have a lunch buddy system to ensure your child isn't left alone at the table feeling isolated from their classmates.
  • How are classroom celebrations and other classroom activities such as field trips conducted? Do children bring in food from home? Is an ingredient list/label required for foods brought into the classroom? Will you be able to attend classroom celebrations and/or chaperon field trips?
  • Who is trained to use the epi-pen? It should be more then just the school nurse. The nurse isn't always on site or may be unavailable.
  • You will also want to know where the epi-pens and other medicines are stored and who has access to them. If they are kept in a locked room, cabinet or drawer, who has the key? What if that person is gone for the day or unavailable?
  • What is the plan for accessing medications during a disaster or school lock-down? Is this practiced as part of their emergency drills? Also be aware of the ingredients in your child's earthquake/emergency food supply kit if applicable.
  • If your child will be riding the bus, is there a no food rule for the bus? Is the bus driver trained in recognizing an allergic reaction and in using the epi-pen?
For additional information view: School Guidelines For Managing Students With Food Allergies.

Another helpfull resource is the book "How to Manage Your Child's Life-Threatening Food Allergies" by Linda Coss. There is an entire chapter on Preschool as well as a chapter on School and Day Care.

If you know of a school that is doing an outstanding job in the way they handle food allergies let me know! Provide the name and location of the school along with a brief summary of why you think they should make our list of Peanut/Tree-nut free and Allergy friendly schools.