Label Reading

Shopping with food allergies can be a daunting task. Strict avoidance of your allergen(s) is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction. The best way in avoiding these allergens is by diligent label reading.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food manufacturers to list common food allergens in "simple terms" on labels taking some of the guesswork out of label reading. The top eight food allergens included in the labeling requirements set in place by FALCPA are: Eggs, Fish, Milk, Peanuts, Shellfish, Soy, Tree Nuts, and Wheat. These allergens must either be listed after the  ingredient that contains the allergen or as a blanket list following the ingredient list i.e. "contains".

Manufacturers are not required to include warnings about food allergens accidentally introduced during manufacturing or packaging though some companies voluntarily list these in an advisory such as "manufactured in a factory that also processes..." or "may contain".
Do not rely on these advisory labels as they are not mandatory.

•  It may be helpful to carry a list of alternative names for your allergen(s) in case the manufacturer overlooked the required use of "simple terms" in the list of ingredients.

•  Read the labels every time, even on products you purchase on a regular bases. It is possible that the ingredients have changed or the label has been updated. Also note that different sizes of the same product (ex. mini candy bars vs the regular or king sized) are often made with different ingredients and/or processed in different facilities.

• Never go by the front of the label. The FDA has few rules for terms like "gluten-free". Sometimes packages make claims as being free from allergens your allergic to but are manufactured on shared lines as allergens.

• Last but not least, when in doubt call the manufacturer.

Energy/Enhancement Drinks and Milk Allergies

Beware of energy and enhancement drinks that may contain whey protein such as the new Gatorade Recover 03 and some varieties of Crystal Light Enhanced. Read these labels carefully and be sure to check with manufacturers of these "sports" drinks about possibilities of cross-contamination. Just another thing to watch out for in the wonderful world of food allergies.

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
Beware: The Maraschino Cherry

Beware: The Maraschino Cherry

My tree-nut allergic son has had maraschino's on various occasions with no problems but after learning about the use of almond extract being used to recreate the almond flavor of the original maraschino cherry I decided to do a little research. 

What exactly is a Maraschino cherry? Cherries where once marinated in a liqueur called maraschino. This maraschino liqueur was made from the juice, pits (which imparted an almond-like taste) and leaves of the marasca cherry. Thus, the maraschino cherry was born. They originated as a delicacy in Europe hundreds of years ago and where later introduced to the United States sometime during the late 1800's where they were served in fine bars and restaurants. By the early 1900's, maraschinos were all the rage in the United States. Various recipes were used; some including almond extract to try and duplicate the flavor of the imports.

These days the maraschino consists of primarily sugar, syrups and red dye (yum). Not much of a delicacy. However It's best to ere on the side of caution and read these labels carefully especially should you come across a high-end or gourmet varieties. I did contact Kroger (the brand that happened to be in my fridge) and they reassured me that there was no use of any almond flavorings in their maraschino cherries.

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 

Grilling with Food Allergies

Summer is officially here which means the season for grilling is upon us. For most people this means good times outdoors enjoying the sunshine with family and friends and of course great food and BBQ. But for those of us living with food allergies a gathering of friends and family around the grill can lead to anxiety and fear brought on by hidden dangers associated with food allergies and barbecues.

Here are a few suggestions to make your next BBQ an allergy friendly event:

• Make sure your host and/or guests are aware of your allergens in order to help with menu planning.

• Arrive early and offer to help with the prep work. This will help to ensure that proper precautionary measures are taken.

• Ask to read all labels. Marinades and barbecue sauces often include unexpected common allergens such as nuts, corn, soy, wheat, eggs, sesame, and even dairy. 

• Always offer to bring your own allergy safe dish. This will not only guarantee you a safe food alternative but will also help to take some anxiety away from your host.

 Cross-contamination can cause a major concern when barbecuing especially when the grill in question is at a campsite or park.

• When possible use foil packs or a cast-iron skillet to create a barrier between the grill and your food when proper cleaning of the grill can not be guaranteed. Make sure to use a heavy-duty foil and/or multiple layers to keep the foil from tearing.

• Always cook the allergen-free food on the grill before any foods that include allergens.

• Bring additional sets of grilling tools, serving utensils, and serving bowls/platters. Remember that these are all potential vectors of cross-contamination as well.

Make sure to plan ahead and take extra caution and you too can enjoy your next BBQ. Have fun grilling!

Try these food allergy friendly recipes: Crunchy Oat Cookies and other Worry Free Treats & Meatless March - Spaghettie Squash Recipes

You may also like: Label Reading & Food Allergens In Unexpected Places

Angel Food Ministries - Allergen Free Food Box

It is no secret that food allergies can be expensive. A recent article in the New York Times
explores the heavy financial burden parents face when a child is given a diagnosis of food allergies. How can we continue to meet our child's special diet needs in today's struggling economy? Luckily there are organizations out there willing to help.
I recently came across Angel Food Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing food relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. Families are given the opportunity to purchase a $30 box containing approximately $65 worth of food (enough to feed a family of four for a week).
Organizations like Angel Food Ministries have been popping up around the country in hopes of helping families effected by today's troubled economy. There are no qualifications, minimums, income restrictions, or applications. But what sets Angel Food Ministries apart from others is their choice in menu's. They now offer a 5lb allergen free food box for $23. The box consists of frozen foods free from peanuts, soy, milk, eggs, fish, crustacean, tree nuts, and gluten. You can view this month's menu here.
If you have purchased an allergen free food box from Angel Food Ministries I would love to hear your comments about the food and their services.This just might be the extra bit of help some of us need to get back on our feet.

Update:
I contacted Angel Food Ministries with questions regarding cross contamination and labeling and received a response within 24 hours. I have attached a copy of their response below:

Hello,

The allergen food is made in a dedicated facility.  There is no cross contamination.
 I am not sure if they come with a full ingredient label but the ingredients are :

Battered with-water, white rice, brown rice, modified tapioca, starch, flax seed,
sugar, salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, spice extractives and oleoresin paprika.

Breaded with white rice, brown rice, modified tapioca starch, flax seed, sugar,
dextrose, salt, spices, dehydrated garlic, spice extractives and oleoresin paprika.

Eliminating the following food allergies- gluten-free) wheat, oats, rye malt & barley)
Soy-free
Peanut-free
Tree nut-free (walnut, cashew, almond, etc..)
Egg-free
Milk-free (casein, etc..)

Thanks and hope this helps!

The upside of food allergies

There is so much negativity accompanied by food allergies. Not being able to enjoy great foods that most people take for granted is definitely top of that list. You tend to get invited to far fewer dinner parties and other social events that are surrounded by food. For children this means fewer birthday party invites. It seems to be to big of a hassle to work around another child's needs. For the parent of a food allergic child this means being "that mom". You know the overprotective and overbearing mother that none of the other parents want to deal with.
Well I have come to look at my sons food allergies as some what of a blessing. We often forget to take a step back and see just how lucky we are. We are to busy focusing on the problem at hand, creating awareness, educating, fundraising, and finding a cure. This is the life of a parent who has a child with food allergies. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate all the hard work and dedication that is put in to these efforts. After all I am "that mom".
When forced to take a different view of my families life with food allergies I have to say it has changed our eating habits for the better. I believe most food allergy families are living this way. By reading the labels of every product that comes through our home I am able to say I know everything my child is eating. I focus now on more nutritional meals. There is no fast and easy anymore. I enjoy having to take the time to prepare a meal that I know is healthy and safe for my children. I can also say that I am more informed and involved with my son's school then I ever would have been. A parent teacher relationship is key to keeping a food allergic child safe in school. A good relationship with all of those who may at some point care for your child is also key. I think my son's food allergies has brought us back to the way parenting should be. There of course will always be those who may prefer to refer to it as necrotic parenting but I suppose I've been called worse. : )
This said I would just like anyone who has a food allergic child or is living with food allergies themselves to take a step back from the craziness and find something wonderful that has come from your experience. I know its hard and scary at times but there really is an upside! Keep up the good work.

What about the almonds?

I have heard that WhiteWave Foods, the distributors of Silk Soy Milk, has been bought out by another company who is now processing Almond Milk in the same facility and on the same equipment as both Dairy and Soy Milk. My son is allergic to nuts and we frequently buy Silk Soy Milk so naturally I was concerned about cross contamination when I heard this. I emailed the company in order to confirm this information and obtain information regarding cross contamination issues. Here was their response:

Thank you for your recent e-mail to WhiteWave Foods. We appreciate your interest in our company.We understand your concern with regard to shared manufacturing equipment and appreciate the opportunity to share with you our commitment to producing safe food products.

While our Silk® products do not contain dairy, they are produced at a variety of facilities across the United States, some of which process both soy and dairy-based products. Each of these facilities has a well-defined allergen control program, which includes the procurement and storage of raw ingredients, rigorous testing for the presence of dairy allergens in our finished product, and isolated production runs.

In addition, these facilities follow Good Manufacturing Practices, which are the foundation of any food safety program and provide the guidelines for sanitary operations, including the sterilizing and cleaning of manufacturing equipment. We understand that many of our consumers use Silk® products because they are lactose intolerant, allergic to milk, or follow a diet free of dairy. For these reasons, we are committed to providing a product that is 100% dairy-free.

Food safety is our highest priority and as part of our commitment to quality, all employees involved in the manufacturing of Silk® have a comprehensive awareness of food allergen concerns.We hope this information is helpful.Sincerely,
Denise Franco
Consumer Response Representative

Ref: N1017937

That's all great and wonderful but what about the almonds? I will continue to try and contact someone who can answer my question.

For an update on this post read, "Finally some answers from Silk".