Food Allergy Research and Resource Program

...or otherwise known as FAARP...has been around since 1995. Based out of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, FAARP has two missions:

To develop and provide the food industry with credible information, expert opinions, tools, and services relating to allergenic foods.

To develop and provide the agricultural biotechnology industry with credible information, expert opinions, tools, and services relating to novel foods and food ingredients including genetically modified products.

FAARP collaborates with others to share their experience and knowledge to improve the safety of food products for consumers with food allergies and sensitivities.

They also have a website full of great info ranging from general food allergy info to training programs for food manufacturing companies.

Check out FAARP

I love knowing that FAARP was created to ensure safety when it comes to allergenic food. They've got our back in a quiet unassuming way.

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Food and Food Allergy Resources

One thing food allergies has brought to my life is a greater awareness of food in general. I'm constantly asking "What's in it?", "How's it made?", "Where was it manufactured?". Fortunately, the Internet has made answering these questions much easier. I tracked down some fascinating sites for anyone who eats food:

The International Food Information Council has a great section devoted to food allergies. Bounce around the site, though, for other areas of interest such as food safety and nutrition. They offer a free online newsletter.

I recently posted a list of Food Allergy resources at Suite 101. You can find support, books and other resources. Let me know if I missed any you love.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a wealth of info including a database of over 13,000 foods and their nutritional information. This is especially helpful when looking for substitutes if cutting out major food groups due to food allergy. Also check this site for laws and regulations related to food.

Food Safety.gov is another super source for tips to keep food safe and prevent illness. You can subscribe to alerts and get e-mail notification when the government makes a food advisory. Just last Friday, an alert came out warning about high levels of lead in certain dried fruits. Who knew?

Find the sites that are helpful to you and visit them regularly, or better yet- sign up for their automatic updates. We all need to eat and we all need timely information to eat safely.

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Food Safety News

Phyllis Entis, a food safety microbiologist and author of "Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives" and "Food Microbiology - The Laboratory", maintains a very informative blog about food safety. She wrote a thorough discussion about the TollHouse Cookie dough re-call and provides a food recall round-up each week.

Her blog isn't necessarily directed toward food allergies, but it is helpful for anyone who eats food.

Take a look.

Also, check out her discussion about the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. There's even a link if you want to read all 116 pages of the act.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a world where all foods must be labelled with their country of origin and where food manufacturers can't refuse the FDA's request to recall foods. Oh yeah, and how about out-of compliance facilities having to pay for their own recalls and re-inspections rather than the FDA (meaning the government...translation, your money and mine through taxes)?

That's in there too.

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