Allergen's in My Apple Juice?!

We usually buy our apple juice fresh from a local Orchard at the Farmer's Market, but earlier this week I ran out. So, when I came across a cold pressed 100% (1 ingredient) Apple Juice at Fresh & Easy yesterday I decided to give it a try since the Farmer's Market isn't until Sunday.

I glanced at the label to make sure there was indeed only 1 ingredient and put the juice in my  basket. It never even crossed my mind to check for an advisory label on apple juice yet, lo and behold, there it was....



...."Made in a facility that also handles Milk, Tree Nuts, Soy."  Thankfully I just happened to notice the advisory label while opening the bottle.

I really should know better by now to not assume or trust that anything is safe. Check out this box of cornstarch. I even found potatoes before with an advisory label reading, "May Contain Tree Nuts". You can never be too careful!



Amazing Nut-Free Granola

I don't mean to brag or anything, but I'm going too; I make the best damn granola ever! It's true. My husband agrees it's the best granola he's ever had and to top it off, it's Nut-Free.

Now anyone with a peanut or tree nut allergy knows how difficult it is to find not only a safe granola, but a good granola. Well, look no further cause you just found it.

Amazing Nut-Free Granola

*You will need:

• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut
• 3/4 cups GERBS peanut/tree nut free Raw Sunflower Seed Kernels
• 3/4 cups GERBS peanut/tree nut free Raw Pumpkin Seed Kernels
• 1 cup craisons
• 1/2 cup dried apricots; chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

* If you are making nut-free, always read package ingredient list carefully and check for advisory labels.

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.

Mix oats, coconut, seeds, craisons, apricots, spices and flaxseed together in a large mixing bowl.

Heat butter and honey together over low heat in a small saucepan till butter is completely melted. Stir in vanilla.

Pour butter mixture over dry ingredients and stir until evenly coated.

Spread mixture evenly onto parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 1hr 15min.

Allow to cool completely. Granola will still be soft when you first remove it from the oven, but will become crisp as it cools.

Once cooled, break into desired size chunks and store in an air tight container for up to  two weeks.

Recipe adapted from 100 Days of Real Food

Trader Joe's - Another reason not to trust a label

This is so frustrating to me! I have been looking for raw pepitas that are safe for my sons tree nut allergy to use in granola with little success. It seems as if every seed is processed with peanuts and/or tree nuts, so I was really excited when I found some at Trader Joe's with no advisory label. However, just because there was no allergy warning, I was still a bit hesitant about giving them to my son. Many of you, including myself,  have experienced issues with Trader Joe's products and there poor allergy labeling. This is why I rarely shop at Trader Joe's for anything other then bread (believe it or not, they're one of the only places I can find safe 100% whole wheat bread).

Luckily, I decided to contact Trader Joe's corporate office for confirmation about the safety of their raw pepitas and sunflower seeds in regards to my sons tree nut allergy and here was their reply:

Hello Trista,

Thank you for contacting us, and we do truly appreciate your comments. In response, our Raw Pepitas are packaged/processed on equipment with tree nuts. Of course all of our suppliers do observe Good Manufacturing Practices, which would entail segregating any of these ingredients and cleaning between each production run. However, to ensure your son's complete health and safety, we would not recommend consumption of this product. However, you will be pleased to know that our Sunflower Seeds are not processed in a facility with tree nuts.

We also want to assure you that we are indeed deeply concerned with the complete health, well-being and safety of all of our customers and crewmembers alike. This is exactly why we do voluntarily disclose any of the top 8 known allergens and ingredients in our products on our labeling for our customer review where other suppliers may not. However, as sensitivities may also tend to vary greatly, consulting with your healthcare professional is also the best rule of thumb in this regard. We also invite you to review additional information regarding our Allergen Labeling Standards via our website here:
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/product-faq.asp (see Item No. 8)

We do hope this information helps, and we thank you for shopping with us at Trader Joe's.

Sincerely,

Hazel
Trader Joe's
Customer Relations
Ugh! Don't try and take credit for looking after the well-being of your customers, and especially don't praise yourself for voluntarily disclosing the top 8 allergens and ingredients on your products unless you plan on disclosing this information on all your products! Their logic unfortunately just doesn't make much sense to me. Just another reminder to never trust a label!

Sol Sunflower Beverage Review

I am so excited to share Sunrich Natural's NEW non-dairy beverage. SōL, a non-dairy, gluten free, soy free and tree nut free sunflower beverage, is a great alternative to milk. It is made from allergy-friendly sunflower seeds, an almighty super food full of antioxidants and phytochemicals that help neutralize cancer-causing free radicals and slow down signs of aging. Who knew?

Okay, so aside from the fact that SōL is loaded with Vitamin E, Phosphorus, Folic Acid, Calcium and Vitamin D, just to name a few, I'm particularly excited about the food allergy awareness the company has to offer.

“The journal Pediatrics recently confirmed what many American parents and teachers have suspected – that food allergies are increasingly prevalent among children in this country,” said Tina Nelson, vice president of Sales & Marketing, Consumer Products, SunOpta Grains & Foods Group.  “With 8% of U.S. children suffering from food allergies, and 40% of those kids having a history of severe reactions, parents and schools are looking for a greater selection of foods and beverages that are free from allergens such as tree nuts, which can trigger fatal or near fatal reactions.  SoL™ is made with wholesome sunflower kernels.  It’s a delicious, allergy-friendly beverage that everyone – not just those who can’t drink dairy, almond, or coconut milk – can enjoy.” 

They seem very dedicated in helping those with food allergies find healthy dietary alternatives.

So as far as my review goes, I gotta be honest in that I am not a big fan of soy or almond milk. I love regular full on dairy milk and fortunately we have no dairy allergies or intolerance's that prevent us from drinking milk, so I don't have much to go on comparison wise. However, my husband does try to avoid regular milk and dairy as a personal dietary preference.

The problem is that too much soy is said to elevate estrogen levels which, lets face it, kinda puts up a red flag for any man, including my husband. Other then possibly interfering with a mans ego, a rise in estrogen is a risk factor for breast cancer as well. (Yes, men can get breast cancer too, in case you where wondering.)

Another side effect of too much soy is hypothyroidism. So basically, as much as my husband would like to stay away from dairy, he is left with limited options given the risk factors of too much soy and  my son tree nut allergy obviously eliminates almond milk. This is why I was so excited to find SōL sunflower beverage. The health benefits are obvious and after a taste test it was clear, this was the way to go.

SōL is very close to almond milk as far as consistency, according to my husband (I have never had almond milk). In fact he preferred the thickness of SōL over both soy and almond milk. We tried the original, which I thought was pretty sweet, but they also make a Vanilla and an unsweetened which I think would work best for cooking.

Recipes using SōL can be found at http://www.sunrich.com/health.html. I have been using the original in smoothies and it's great. I think I'm gonna try the vanilla next. With a little added sweetness, I think it would make a great replacement to those artificial coffee creamers.

SōL comes in shelf stable, 32oz containers and is sold at fine health food stores and natural food retailers nationwide or at Amazon.com. I found some over the weekend at our Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market. It retailers for $2.69. To learn more about SōL, visit www.sunrich.com.

Too Good to be True

Yep. Some things are just too good to be true. After A's last visit with his allergist I was absolutely sure he had outgrown his allergy to tree nuts. His skin test came up negative and all we needed to do was a simple oral challenge, that I was certain he would pass with ease, and that was it; we would finally be "normal".

Ha! That will teach me to get my hopes up! Apparently my motherly instinct was on vacation.

I am sad to say that A never even made it past his skin test. When we went in for the oral cashew challenge I was in it for the long hall; sure we would be there all day. I packed his video game, they had movies and LEGO'S ..... this was gonna be a cake walk.

Okay, so I would be lying if I said I wasn't the slightest bit nervous. Thank god! I have never had to use the epi-pen so the thought of this day possibly being that day, did send me into occasional moments of utter fear. However, my instincts (you know, the ones that forgot to tell me they would be on spring break!) wouldn't let those thoughts take over for long.

The nurse came in, scratched his arms and boom! Our visit was over as quickly as it started. The hives appeared almost immediately and my heart sunk. Seriously?! I was shocked, heartbroken, and angry all at once. It was not suppose to go like that. He was gonna start elementary school next year like all the other kids. He was gonna go to every birthday party, share snacks with his friends, go out for ice cream, and never have to say the words again, "does that have nuts in it?" Labels would be a thing of the past.

And here we are. Reality kicked me in the ass ..... Hard!

Tax Breaks for Restricted Diets?

We all know avoiding certain foods can be very expensive. Most allergen free brands tend to be specialty brands and can cost significantly more then big brand or store brand products. There can also be shipping fee's included for items that require online orders. Now, I had no idea, but apparently you can claim gluten free foods on your tax returns. Check out this post from Gluten Free Society, How To Get a Tax Break With Gluten Free Foods. This leaves me to wonder if this works for other allergy safe foods? This could be very helpful to a lot of families dealing with food allergies. It would be nice to catch a break somewhere. After all, allergen free foods are just a small portion of the high cost of food allergies. I would love to know if any of you have tried this before or have any further information on this.

Too much protein is known to cause some chronic health issues, but food allergies?

Its no secret that food allergies have been on the rise for the last decade, but still no one seems to really know why. There are some theories, which I have discussed in earlier posts, however, none have yet to be proven causes. In fact, most of these theories have been widely debated by both medical professionals, scientist and the general public.

So, for whatever reason, I was thinking about these suspected theories the other night and it dawned on me, over the last 10 years our diets have drastically changed. People have been increasingly jumping on the high protein, low carb diet bandwagon over this time period. Could this have anything to do with the increase in food allergies?

My husband has been one of the millions to take on this new way of eating. This includes the use of protein bars and shakes throughout the day to complement work outs. I have always been skeptical of these bars and shakes loaded with extra protein as I am a firm believer in diets high in fruits and vegetables to achieve over all health and weight management. This would mean no processed foods right? Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a commercial protein bar considered to be a highly refined, processed food?

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a sucker for a good filet mignon, but were we even created, or should I say designed as not to open a whole different debate, to eat meat period? Look at our teeth for example. For the most part, our teeth consist of incisors and molars. Then there are our four blunt, unsharpened canine teeth. Not exactly ideal for tearing through meat like those of  a carnivore, which can be defined as a flesh eating mammal comprising the cats, dogs, bears, seals and weasels.  Now Obviously, meat is just one example of protein, hence my issue with the additional proteins found in supplement bars and shakes. Actually, all foods grown in nature contain protein. So where am I going with all this?

If our bodies aren't set out for eating meat, then how could they be contrived for all that additional protein consumption? I should just say that I understand protein is an essential part of our diet and our bodies do depend on small amounts of dietary protein in order to survive. However, could this excessive intake of proteins be changing the make up of our bodies and the way they process foods all together? After all, too much protein can not only cause our cell's to become toxic, but it may also disrupt the osmotic balance of cells. Too much protein can also lead to kidney problems, low calcium, cancer, gout and other chronic health issues. So why not food allergies?

I am by no means an expert, but rather throwing the idea out there. Feel free to comment below and share your opinions and knowledge. Like I said, I am all for a good steak dinner so by all means, prove me wrong!

Related posts:
Do You Know What's Causing Your Childs Food Allergies?
The link between Food Allergies and Migraines
Food Allergies: Health and Healing Book Review

How does your child's school handle classroom celebrations with food allergies?

I am so excited about the new birthday/food policy being created at my son's preschool this year! In years past they have allowed parents to bring in a nut-free treat to share with the class to celebrate their child's birthday. Last year they implemented a new policy allowing parents to only bring treats from a list of approved snacks handed out prior to each child's birthday, but of course as we food allergy parents know, there is always at least one parent who refuses to comply with these sorts of regulations. In addition to the occasional parent bringing in an unapproved snack for the classroom, there was also the issue of label reading. It is a nut-free school, but honestly, I don't expect parents without food allergic kids to fully understand and correctly read labels %100 of the time. On several occasions teachers where forced to send birthday treats back home due to allergens listed on the label that had been overlooked by parents, thus leaving the birthday boy or girl unable to share their treats with the class on what was meant to be their special day. As you can imagine, this didnt always go over very well.

This year they are currently in the process of finalizing a list of snacks that the kids will be able to prepare themselves for the class. The birthday boy or girl will choose a snack such as apple muffins or mac n' cheese from the list and then be given a seperate list of specific ingredients to bring for their cooking party. I think this is going to be so much fun! The child will have the opportunity to explain why they chose their special snack and lead the rest of the class, with their parent if they choose to particiapate, in cooking the dish. My kids love to cook with me! This is a great way to open discussions about our food and how it is prepared as well. Kids will feel special and empowered choosing and cooking their own special birthday treats. I love, love, LOVE this idea!

Other then birthdays there is a strict policy on no outside food being brought into the classrooms. Each parent donates $10 at the begaining of the school year to go towards snacks for other special occasions such as their Thanksgiving Feast and Jesus's Birthday Celebration. This way the staff can insure that only "safe" snacks for specific classroom allergies are brought in on these days.

How does your childs school handle outside food? Do they celebrate special occasions with food in the classroom? Share what works (or doesnt work so well) in your child's school in the comment section below.


Other related posts:

Finding an Allergy Aware school
Sarah Palin can have her cake and eat it too - Just don't do it around my kid!
The Cookie Monster - Sarah Palin Strikes Again

Update on A's allergy

As those of you who read my blog know, A's last visit to the allergist suggested that he had outgrown his tree nut allergy. As I explained in my previous post, his skin test showed no reaction to the nuts tested. However, before we start introducing him to nuts he will need to go back in and complete an oral challenge, which I still have not scheduled. Yes, I am procrastinating and coming up with excuses left and right. It has been a busy summer and to be honest, I am in no hurry.

Some of you may think I am insane. I may actually be insane, but the fact is, that as exciting as it all may sound to those who have longed for a similar visit to your child's allergist, it scares the heck out of me.

a) I don't want to put him through the oral challenge in fear of a reaction.

b) Call it selfish, but I am in no hurry to introduce nuts back into his diet. This may be an absurd analogy, but it's like having a convicted felon released from prison into your neighborhood after claims of rehabilitation. Would you feel safe? What if the allergy came back? What if I wasn't there when it did? We would have no epi-pen.

c) With school starting and now soccer, I would rather have teachers and parents start the year out on guard then with the assumption that its okay if little Timmy shares a piece of his cashew butter sandwich with A. I know, this is a really terrible excuse!

d) Finally, I've worked so hard at keeping him safe and involving other parents, teachers, family and so on, that I am afraid of the seriousness of food allergies that I drilled into everyone will now be disregarded. What if now, these individuals don't take the next child's food allergies as serious assuming that all kids outgrow them or that A's was never really an issue to begain with.

As crazy as I may be, I do know that it needs to be done. Once we get settled into the new school year and the caos of summer has passed, I will set up an appointment and prepare for our lives to once again be flipped upside down.

Allergies: Disease in Disguise - Review

(click on image to purchase)

Allergies: Disease in Disguise How to heal your allergic condition permanently and naturally by Carolee Bateson-Koch is, what I thought to be, a fascinating book. This was a very informative and easy to read book that gives great insight into the cause, symptoms and possible cures for not only allergies, but some very common and unexplained chronic health problems including, headache, arthritis, anemia, asthma, colitis, acne, and diabetes to name a few. According to the author, the problem lies within the gastrointestinal tract. When I read that, I knew there had to be some truth to this book given that my son's allergist has also touched on the importance of repairing and maintaining the lining of "the gut" as he put it.

The author, Carolee Bateson-Koch DC ND has had 25 years experience in successfully treating allergic disease. In her book she provides a clear understanding for what allergy is and why it is becoming so common. It also provides insight  into the five key concepts about allergy and it's relation to environment, diet, digestion, body chemistry and even addiction. The steps for obtaining better overall health and well-being are simply laid out in seven steps. I highly recommend this book to anyone suffering from not only allergic symptoms, but any one with a desire to live a healthier life.

I have to admit that when I first received the book from Books Alive publishing for review, I was a little skeptical. After all the subtitle reads "How to heal your allergic condition permanently and naturally." Who wouldn't be skeptical? However, once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. It all seems to make perfect sense. Though, still not totally convinced I have to ask the question, could a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids and probiotics, as advised by my son's allergist, have lead to his possible outgrowing of his nut allergy or to the fact that my youngest son hasn't developed any allergies? I have to quote a sentence in the book  "We must always keep in mind that the greatest enemy of any science, or any discovery truth, is a closed mind"

*This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others.

Other related posts:

Food Allergies: Health and Healing Book Review

Food Allergies - Could this really be the end?

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

Allergy Safety Products by Onespot Allergy - Review

Food Allergies - Could this really be the end?

After recently switching my sons allergists, I had been putting off his annual testing, I know bad mom, but after a recent reaction to what we are now suspecting to be from either the new sunscreen we tried or the neighbors swimming pool he swam in on the 4th of July, I decided it was time to get him back into the allergist for his annual testing and I couldn't be happier!

I am thrilled to say that A's skin prick test produced no reaction to the tree nuts tested! Yes, I said NO REACTION! The test was done twice, once on each arm. This means we will be going back into the office to slowly introduce cashews and pistachios (his primary allergens) starting with a small amount placed on his cheek next to his mouth. If this produces no reaction we will continue by placing the nut oil on the inside of his bottom lip, then again if no reaction occurs he will be given a small amount to ingest until he shows that he his able to tolerate an entire tablespoon. I am so excited and very hopeful!

The best part was after we got in the car and I explained to A what just happened. He hadn't been paying much attention while in the office because his arms where extremely itchy. As it turns out he has developed an allergy to dust mites and cats. An extremely fair trade off if you ask me! So, after I told him that he may no longer be allergic to nuts the first thing he said was, "Yeah, that means on Halloween I get to eat all my candy!"

The strange thing is, this is the post I have been waiting and hoping for, yet somehow it has been the hardest for me to write. Though I am elated for A and our family, I cant help but feel a sense of guilt. Approximately 9% of kids will outgrow a tree nut allergy and A could be one of them, but why him? I just wish there was a larger percentage of families able to experience the relief we may be facing. Hearing his allergist say to me, "You can relax at bbq's and birthday parties now.....people will talk to you." was bittersweet. We have become so accustom to this way of life that it's a little overwhelming to take in. Its really hard to put into words the mix of emotions I'm experiencing right now. Really not how I had always pictured it.

Suppose I shouldn't get my hopes up just yet anyways, after all we still have not been given the official green light for nuts. Until then we will continue to read labels, take extra precautions while dining out or visiting friends and family. We will tote epi pens wherever we go and take along our own special treats to birthday parties as I try to adjust to the idea that A may soon be like all the "other kids".

A's mystery reaction - Now what?

The Tuesday following the 4th of July the kids were sitting on the couch watching cartoons after breakfast when A asked me why he had polka dots on his legs. I immediately panicked at the sight of several hives covering his thighs. After a dose of Benadryl I quickly re-read the label to the Cheerios he had eaten earlier. There was no sign of nuts on the Cheerios label and he had eaten them several times prior so I was fairly confident that this was not a reaction to food.

The "polka dots" as A calls them did not seem to bother him and he showed nor felt any other symptoms. At this point we just had to wait it out as I went over every possible cause for his reaction. My first thought went to the new fabric softener we had switched to. Duh! How did I not know to buy dye free, fragrance free softeners. I felt terrible! My first clue should have been the lack of ingredients on the label. You would think I'd know better. Lesson learned!

The hives remained unchanged for several hours and more Benadryl was given as I kept a close eye on A throughout the day and that night. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep. The following morning his hives had spread, now covering his entire legs, bottom, arms, arm pits, and behind his ears. The Doctor recommended a dose of steroids. This terrified me! I've heard the horror stories of steroids but the Dr reassured me that the low dose he was given wouldn't cause any side effects.

Poor little guy with his "polka dot" arms.

By the second day of using the steroids the hives where nearly all gone and A was finally comfortable. He was scheduled to see his allergist the following week. I hate not knowing what the cause of his reaction was. He had since worn a pair of shorts that I had somehow missed when re-washing his clothes in an attempt to rid them of the fabric softener. No reaction occurred. So we are now thinking the neighbors swimming pool that he had been in over the weekend may have caused the reaction.
The allergist agreed that the swimming pool could very well have caused the reaction. Unfortunately their is no accurate test other then to have him go into the pool again. The allergist also suggested testing the sunscreen he had used over the weekend on his arm. After having a reaction to Banana Boat sunscreen earlier this summer we had successfully switched to Blue Lizzard sunscreen as suggested by his allergist. Unfortunately Blue Lizzard can be difficult to find, so stock up when you do find it or order on-line. Another lesson learned!

Over the weekend I used a bottle of Aveeno sunscreen I had on hand. Though A showed no sign of an immediate reaction the allergist explained that chemical reactions can take several days to appear. So, do I risk another reaction and test the sunscreen on his arm as suggested by the allergist or not? I am fearfull of letting him swim again as well, but that can be a tough one to avoid. Ugh! What to do, what to do?

Related posts:
Whats in your sunscreen?
New Rules for Sunscreen Protection

True Life - Did it live up to the hype?

After watching 'True Life: I'm Allergic to Everything' last night on MTV, I was a little disappointed. Having watched 'True Life' before I'm not sure why, but I was expecting something different. I understand that they are looking for extreme situations, I was just hoping last nights episode would be a little more focused on the majority of those with food allergy. While trying to watch as an outsider not effected by food allergy, I was worried that it may have came across as exaggerated and unrealistic. My fear was that the show would portray those of us dealing with food allergies to be, for lack of a better word, "crazy". Not to say that I didn't feel for and understand what the teens on last nights episode where going through, it just may have been difficult to grasp for those who are not forced to live like we do and or lack any food allergy awareness and education. 

I would have liked to have seen some focus on what it is like to have to constantly read labels for everything you touch let alone put into your mouth. Maybe shed some light on the problems that exist with food labels such as the various names for one specific allergen or the lack of advisory labels that lead us to have to worry about cross contamination.

Speaking of cross contamination, how about the poor communication between the girl, Raelyn and her waitress while dining out? They made that look easy. Although it did show her having a reaction, it was hard to blame any of that on the miscommunication with the wait staff since she was suffering from idiopathic anaphylaxis. I do see where they may have been trying to get the message across about the difficulty and danger of eating out. However this message was failed in my opinion. Again, I was trying to watch as someone unaffected by food allergy.

I know a lot of you who watched voiced concern for Raelyn and her families poor  management of her food allergies. I was shocked to hear that she is on FAAN's teen council. I think the thing that sent me over the edge with her was after she realized she shouldn't have eaten the chinese food (that I thought her doctor made pretty clear was not a good idea earlier that day) her dad continued to praise her poor decision by telling her, "Yes you should [have eaten the chinese food] I think its so brave." What the hell?

Not to just pick on Raelyn or to say that we don't all make mistakes. After all there was Zeke's food challenge with the tuna that I disagreed with being done in the evening. Luckily he was still awake when his body ultimately reacted and it was treated. Was it treated correctly? I don't know. I think I would have used the epi after he started having stomach pain along with his rash or hives.

I did like that the show, though briefly, highlighted the situation between Zeke and one of his peers on the hockey rink picking fun at him for his food allergies. This is just another common and serious issue with food allergies that I was hoping to see a little more of, especially being that it is MTV and there is such a large young, or teen, audience.

In all, I do applaud their efforts in creating an awareness for food allergy and showing the dangers. I just think I was expecting something different and held my expectations of the show too high. What did you think? I'd love to hear your opinions on the show, though I fear some of my wording may have just set myself up for some lashings from some of you. Haha! Let me have it.

If you have not yet seen 'True Life: I'm Allergic to Everything' you can watch it this Saturday at 3:30pm on MTV or watch the entire episode here at mtv.com.

Food Allergies: Health and Healing Book Review

click on image to purchase

Food Allergies: Health and Healing 

By: Jo Stepaniak, MSEd
Vesanto Melina, MS, RD
Dina Aronson, MS, RD
Reviewed by Frank and Mary Hoffman

Review: I just finished reading Food Allergies: Health and Healing, a Natural Health Guide sent to me from Books Alive publishing for review. I found the book very informative and practical for those new to food allergies. With only 64 pages it is a quick afternoon or evening read covering the basics of food allergies including symptoms, causes, and diagnosing. I did find that the use of the terms "food allergy", "food intolerance" and "food sensitivity" used throughout the book to be a bit confusing for those new to food allergies although these terms where defined in the beginning of the book.

There is a section in the book that discusses a Do-It-Yourself Elimination Diet and Food Challenge that I felt to be misleading in that this self diagnosing approach should only be done if food intolerance is suspected or you are under strict orders from your physician. The severity of food allergy was, in my opinion, slightly downplayed.

I did like that the guide touched on the risk of cross-contamination and misleading labels. Dairy, egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, corn and wheat allergies where highlighted, while fish and shellfish, seeds, latex and other food culprits where briefly discussed.

Food Allergies: Health and Healing also provides a sampling of food allergy safe recipes based on a plant-centered diet. I found that the Berry Delicious "Ice Cream", Choco-Currant Cranberry Squares, and the Black Bean Tostadas, which are more of a black bean taco, to be about the only kid friendly recipes out of the eight included in the book.

Overall I would recommend the Food Allergies: Health and Healing natural health guide to anyone who may be new to food allergies and looking for a quick overview until other in depth material and education can be provided. Given the length, only 64 pages, this would make a great read for relatives or friends who may not be directly affected by food allergies but require the education. It will provide the basic understanding of the difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy, the range of symptoms associated with food allergy and how to recognize them as well as some hidden sources of food allergens and how to avoid them while preparing food, traveling, and eating out. 

*This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others.

Other related posts:

Allergy Safety Products by Onespot Allergy - Review 

Shabtai Gourmet Gluten Free Review

The link between Food Allergies and Migraines

A family history of asthma, eczema, hives, hay fever, or any type allergy are said to possibly increase ones risk of developing a food allergy. So, while discussing our family history at a recent consultation with my sons new allergist, I was asked if any of us suffered from migraines. I found the question rather odd since it wasn't clear to me at the time how my migraines could be related to my sons food allergy.

Turns out, some scientists attribute the cause of migraines to food allergy leaving many experts to believe that foods can worsen migraines through an allergic process involving the immune system. Thus causing complexes in the blood in which food proteins clump together with antibodies directed against these proteins. Unfortunately, this type of allergic reaction cannot be detected by conventional allergy testing. However, if you choose, IgG food allergy testing can be done to determine possible "trigger foods"

Studies have reported a possible association between migraine and various allergic disorders. It was observed that parents with migraines had a greater chance of having children with asthma and allergies. All of this leads to the importance of the question, "Does anyone in your family suffer from migraines?"

Parental history of migraine and bronchial asthma in children F. Gürkan*, A. Ece*, K. Haspolat** and B. Dikici***

Having suffered from migraine headaches myself, this all resulted in a brief period of mommy guilt, as if I gave my son his allergy. Of course, I know better and I hope that this doesn't place any guilt upon any of you who also suffer from migraines and have a child with asthma and/or allergies. There are many different possible causes, other then our own family history, that play a role in the development of food allergies. See also: Is there a connection between Genetically Modified Food and Food Allergies?, Are We Really Too Clean?, and Is there a connection between Vaccines and Food Allergies?

Miracle-gro potting soil contains peanuts, tree nuts & coconut.

Spring and gardening seem to go hand in hand, but if you or your child has a peanut or tree nut allergy be sure to take extra caution when choosing your potting soil. There was a post on the Spokane Food Allergy Support Network (SpokaneFASN) Facebook page recently by Kimberly S. who wrote, "VERY IMPORTATNT!! PLEASE READ - Miracle-gro potting soil contains peanuts, tree nuts & coconut. The packages are NOT labeled. I spent 45 minutes on the phone today w/ a customer service rep. to confirm, please pass this along." This is yet another great example of why it is so important to call the manufacturer when using a new product or trying a new food regardless of what the label says!

Kimberly continued her post stating, "I went to Home Depot today & checked out ALL the pkgs & found NOT 1 single one to have any allergy warning or any nut product listed on the pkgs. I called the 800 # while I was there so I could read any pkg info if needed. The rep said all the soils that contain a moisture control have peanuts & tree nuts in them. I was interested in the seed starting soil & questioned him on this. He said he could not find any PN/TN in that particular soil BUT it is made & packaged in the same facility & he could not get any answers if the 2 different types of soils were processed in different areas of the facility and/or if they share the same equipment. He did also state that nothing was sterilized or cleaned after each batch was packaged. Therefore - any package can have the cross contamination or possible containment of peanuts, tree nuts & coconuts." Visit the SpokaneFASN Facebook page to see Kimberly's post.

Also wanting to get something in writing from Scotts Miracle Gro, I sent them an email confirming the presence of peanuts/tree nuts in their potting soil and the absence of the allergens listed on their packaging. This was their response:

Thank you for your interest in Scotts and for the opportunity to help you with your lawn and garden endeavors.

I am sorry that you found the Miracle-Gro Potting Mix label misleading. Miracle-Gro makes every effort to provide clear and accurate information on every product label. I will forward this information to our Marketing Department so that they can review the label.

The Potting Mix is formulated regionally using various materials that may include peanut or tree nut by-products.

Some of the compost can contain animal manures (all are bovine). Organic Choice Potting Mix uses the poultry litter as a fertilizer. Below are the ingredients in our potting mixes:

Organic Choice Potting Mix: * 50-55% Composted bark * Sphagnum Peat Moss * Pasteurized Poultry Litter (Organic certified source) * Organic Wetting agent (helps soil absorb water) - OMRI Certified Yucca Plant Extract.

POTTING SOIL: **Peat moss (the major component that is harvested from natural peat bogs) **compost (the compost may contain animal manures, composted leaves, grass clippings, and/or composted bark). **perlite (white volcanic rocks used for drainage and soil texture) **Some contain 'Osmocote' fertilizer that looks like small clear fluid-filled balls.

MOISTURE CONTROL POTTING SOIL: **Peat moss (the major component that is harvested from natural peat bogs) **compost (the compost may contain animal manures, composted leaves, grass clippings, and/or composted bark). **perlite (white volcanic rocks used for drainage and soil texture) ***composted hulls of coconuts to help absorbed more water than regular potting soil. This is the Aqua Coir (pronounced "core") component of the soil. ** 'Osmocote' fertilizer that look like small clear fluid-filled balls.

TOPSOIL & GARDEN SOIL **contain actual soil from the earth as well as compost. Some of our topsoil, lawn soils, and gardening soils contain Osmocote fertilizer.Thank you for your interest in Miracle-Gro. Ms. Ramirez, have you tried the new Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed? It's an all new garden feeder that uses easy to attach liquid Miracle-Gro plant food bottles. LiquaFeed makes feeding your garden as easy as watering. No measuring, mixing, or guessing. To learn more about new Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed visit http://liquafeed.com/.

Additionally, to learn more about how to have a beautiful lawn, or spectacular garden, go to http://scotts.com and be sure to sign up for our free email reminder services.

Again, thank you for your interest in Scotts. Please feel free to contact our company anytime we may be of assistance.

Karen Rausch
Consumer Response Representative
The Scotts Company and Subsidiaries
14111 Scottslawn Road
Marysville, OH 43041
800-645-8166

Ref # 9355663 

Not exactly what I was looking for, but at least it was acknowledged that their is a possibility of peanuts and/or tree nuts in their product. I was however pleased to hear that this would be forwarded as a concern to their Marketing Department for review and am hopeful that they will see the importance and need for the proper labeling of these allergens on their packaging. 

Other related posts:  
Finally some answers from Silk
Food Allergens In Unexpected Places
Could your Duraflame be more then just a fire hazard?
Reminder in the midst of the Hostess recall
Energy/Enhancement Drinks and Milk Allergies 
Beware: The Maraschino Cherry

For more information on how to read labels with food allergies read Label Reading

J-E-L-L-Oh No!

It seems as if our non allergic (as far as we know) son has been giving us more scares then our son with the nut allergy. At our friends house last night I noticed he had been scratching his face. Then my husband pointed out soon after that it was turning red. After looking closer it seemed as if the area around his eyes and mouth where slightly swollen. This is when I started to worry.

First thought was, and still is, the cat. It has been several months since my son has been in the same house as a cat. Though he had never shown any signs of a reaction to the cat I am wondering if it had anything to do with the size of the house and the fact that it was primarily an outdoor cat. The cat last night was an indoor cat and it was in a smaller, more confined area. Obviously cat allergies are new to me and it looks like this may be my new area of research for the week. Yeah!

There is also the Jello. The only new food he ate was the classic mix of Jello, marshmallows and fruit nastiness. My apologies to those of you who have religiously passed this recipe down from generation to generation, but I personally find it repulsive. Anyways, the kids love it! And thus our food challenge begins starting with a phone call to Kraft who's information online has been anything but helpful.

I'm curious to know if anyone else has had allergy issues with Jello or fruit cocktail (the other possible suspect in the concoction). Any comments on cat allergy information would be great also!

UPDATE:

I took my son in to see the allergist where they proceeded to test him for a boat load of allergies including foods, environmental and animals. The good news was that he tested negative to all of them including the cat. The bad news is that I didn't get an explanation for his rash other then a suspected sensitivity to sodium lauryl sulfate which is found in most soaps and sunscreens including the one my son was lathered in earlier that day. We have yet to try Jello again, but I do intend on it since he was not tested for gelatin.

In case anyone was curious I did get the ingredients for Jell-O Gelatin Dessert Black Cherry 3oz Box: Sugar, Gelatin, Adipic Acid (For Tartness), Contains Less Than 2% Of Artificial Flavor, Disodium Phosphate And Sodium Citrate (Control Acidity), Fumaric Acid (For Tartness), Red 40, Blue 1.

The cost of EpiPens

Having a few expired EpiPens laying around can be a great accomplishment if you have food allergies. You've made it another year without a major reaction! Sadly for a lot of families, an expired EpiPen can also be a huge financial burden, especially if your without medical insurance, an unfortunate reality for many these days.

 Studies have found that though there may be some loss of potency, an expired EpiPen can still be used to treat anaphylaxis if it is the only medicine you have. So, if you are unable to refill your prescription don't be so quick to dispose of your expired EpiPens. The product will still start to deteriorate at or around the expiration date therefore I personally would not recommend using an EpiPen that has been expired for more then 90 days unless it was the only one I had in an emergency. Keep in mind that proper storage can also help extend its shelf life. Avoid exposing your EpiPen to extreme heat or cold. Never keep an EpiPen in the glove compartment of your vehicle.

It is recommended that a 2-pack of EpiPens be kept at home, school (usually required), work, etc. and carried with you at all times. Unfortunately, this can be very expensive. Because of the high cost, many people separate their EpiPens leaving only one at home and carrying the other one on them. If you are one those people, I highly suggest that you at least pair your current EpiPens with an expired one in case a second dose is needed.

Do, however, continue to promptly refill all your prescriptions as soon as possible. For expired Epi-Pens that are no longer needed, use them to practice on an orange or a grapefruit, let a teacher or family member use them for practice, or donate them to a local support group to practice with. See Epi's and Oranges for more on how to practice using your old EpiPens.

It can also be helpful to refill prescriptions at 3-6 month intervals throughout the year rather then all at once depending on your insurance. With the rotation of these expired EpiPens, I like to keep a few expired (up to 3 months) at places my son frequents, such as grandmas, aunts and uncles, and friends homes. This way we always have a backup should we unexpectedly misplace, or forget our set of EpiPens. Do Not Rely On These! It is vital to always carry a set of EpiPens with you at all times though it is better to be safe then sorry and an expired EpiPen is better then no EpiPen.

Prescription Assistance

• Need My Meds: State-Sponsored Programs 

• Dey Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program (manufacturer of EpiPen)
   
• Shionogi Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance Program (manufacturer of TwinJect)
  
  

Crunchy Oat Cookies and other Worry Free Treats

Worry Free Treats is a recipe book, written by Vera Zakher, that contains more than 60 egg-free, milk-free, nut-free and peanut-free sweet treats. Vera has been a tremendous help to my family and I as we've taken on the challenge of going meat free this month. Her book, Worry Free Treats, in which all recipes are prepared from vegetable based products, is also vegetarian friendly. Vera has aloud me to share with you her Crunchy Oat Cookies recipe. If you enjoy a crunchy cookie these are very good and extremely easy to make. My kids and I made them a few days ago and I have to admit, they where gone by the next afternoon.

CRUNCHY OAT COOKIES (24 Cookies)

Crunchy Oat Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 3 tbsp. soy beverage mixed with 1 tsp. vinegar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup rolled oats

PREPARATION
• Preheat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C) or to 325 °F (160 °C) for a convection oven.
• Mix the ingredients in the order of the recipe until smooth.
• Take 1 spoonful of the dough in your hand and flatten into a cookie shape.
• Bake for 11 to 13 minutes. The baking time is the same for a convection oven.
• Transfer to a plate to cool

Vera's Delicious Brownies

Visit Vera's website www.worryfreetreats.com for more allergy and vegetarian friendly recipes such as Vera's Delicious Brownies.

Worry Free Treats is also available on Amazon.com

Update on Florida School and Peanut Allergy Regulations

Despite the protests and what I, and many, have considered to be harassment and bullying of a peanut-allergic first grader by her classmates parents, a Florida school is standing behind their peanut allergy regulations. These regulations set in place to protect the peanut allergic girl require students at Edgewater Elementary to wash their hands and take a drink of water before entering the classroom and after lunch because of the severity of the girls allergy. The school has also banned all peanut products, eliminated snacks and outside food from being brought into the classroom, and makes an effort to wipe down desks with Clorox wipes periodically throughout the day. Unfortunately some of these regulations have been misconstrued by both the media and other parents at the school.

The following is the list of accommodations set in place by the school that the Bailey's are aware of. These where given to me by Tracey Bailey, the girls mother, via Food Allergy Families Facebook page.
1. No nut products in classroom
2. Kids wash their hands and wipe face off with water or take a drink from water fountain but not rinse mouth out or wipe with Clorox wipe. In the morning & after lunch
3. our child does not eat in the cafeteria.
4. She carries an epi pen on her at all times
5. She is granted access to the clinic whenever she is in need of medical assistance.
6. She is not allowed in cafeteria without one of her parents present.
7. No faculty will give her food without prior permission from parents.
8. Her classroom is nut free

According to Tracey, "This is it! So EVERYTHING else is either a lie or we did not know it was happening!"

I have to say I was very shocked and confused by allergist Dr. Scott Sicherer's comments in yesterdays article by Fox News saying, “There are many guidelines on how to manage food allergies in schools… things like no food sharing. There are plenty of relatively simple things the school could put in place that aren’t burdensome.” What? Does this mean he does not agree with the regulations in place? The smell of peanuts alone can trigger a deadly reaction for this girl. I have to disagree that something as simple as no food sharing would be enough to keep her safe.

The fact that these parents are taking an issue with the loss of education their kids are receiving from this makes me laugh. It has been stated that 30 minutes of classtime is wasted in hand washing and a sip of water. I find it hard to believe that these 30 minutes are going to take away any sort of academic achievement from these children. Come on people, its not Harvard Law School, its the FIRST GRADE! Is this girls life not worth a mere 30 minutes of their time? Judging by their parents, I would be willing to bet that some of these kids could use this experience as a lesson in humanity by teaching them that they are not the center of the universe but rather a part of it.

I applaud the school in their decision to continue their efforts in keeping the peanut-allergic girl safe stating that, “It may seem like an inconvenience but this student registered her disability at the beginning of the school year and we have to do these things to give her a safe learning environment.”

Read also, "Finding an Allergy Aware school" and "10 School Safety Tips for Children With Food Allergies: Insight From Food Allergy Parents, Experts & Advocates"