Dairy Free Chocolate Chips

Yikes! I just placed my regular order for Barry Callebaut Chocolate chips from the Allergy Grocer and I nearly fell out of my chair when she told me the price. "I have to warn you, the price has gone up...way up" the phone rep told me. I just paid $10.00 a pound (includes shipping) for chocolate chips! I'm going to have to ration out these chips, maybe 2-3 per cookie. Anyone have a more reasonable source for quality dairy-free chocolate chips?

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Advair and Milk Protein

A visit to the doctor this morning has given me a few more gray hairs. I took my son in for sore throat and a cough. The doctor prescribed the inhaler, Advair, a new medicine for us. After a demo, I watched my son inhale the medicine into his body. It wasn't until the drive home that I realized I hadn't asked to read the ingredients of the medication. There it is, right on the box, "contains lactose". I called the doctor's office and checked the Advair website. Sure enough, "Contains milk protein. Contraindicated for those with a milk allergy". Fortunately, my son is fine and the doctor now knows this medicine contains milk protein. I'm still feeling shaky, and very guilty, over this close call. Parents are the last line of defense for their children with food allergies. Another day, another lesson, another close call.

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Peanut Allergy back in the News

As peanut allergies continue to increase among children, another confusing study adds, well, more confusion. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology just published an article that suggests we should be giving our infants peanuts so they do not become peanut allergic. This follows studies that told us to wait until at least age 3 to introduce peanut products to children. Aaarrrggghhh! These studies with their conflicting results are causing me to break out in hives. I must be allergic! Those of us who deal with food allergy every day can only keep hoping that a cure is found. I know studies are necessary, but I'd rather wait to hear the results when they are more certain and helpful. If you care to see the particulars of this research, click here.

In the meantime, talk to your doctor and trust your gut when it comes to best caring for your child.

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Flu Shot Season

It's that time of year. The flu season looms ahead. The recommendation is a flu shot for anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu. However, the flu vaccine may contain egg protein so those with an egg allergy should see their allergist for skin testing to the vaccine. After testing, weighing the risks and benefits helps patients determine whether or not they should get the shot.

There are other vaccines that can cause problems for those with allergies. Check with your doctor/allergist before any vaccine if you have concerns about food allery interaction. The commonly known are:

Chicken Pox Vaccine- to be avoided by those with a severe allergy to gelatin or the antibiotic Neomycin.
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) to be avoided by those with a severe allergy to gelatin or the antibiotic Neomycin.
MMR was not given to those with egg allergy in the past as it is grown in the cells of chicken embryos. Talk to your doctor as that information has been changing.
Hepatitis B- a prior allergic reaction to this specific vaccine or a known allergy to bakers yeast (the ingredient used to make breads) should be discussed with your doctor.
Polio vaccine- anyone who has had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin, or polymyxin B should talk to their doctor before getting the polio vaccine.
Hepatitis A - talk to your doctor if your child has a hypersensitivity to alum, a metal used in many vaccines to ensure a better immune response, or to 2-phenoxyethanol, a preservative that protects the vaccine vial from contamination.

Bottom line: Vaccines contain many different ingredients. Treat them like you treat food. Find out what ingredients are in the vaccine and talk to your doctor.

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Sabrina's Story

Sabrina Shannon is a name you won't soon forget after hearing her story. Check out this link for a video made by Sabrina, then age 10.

Less than three years ago, as an eighth grader at Bishop Smith High School, Sabrina died due to complications of an allergic reaction. The reaction began in the school cafeteria after eating french fries- a food she had safely eaten in her cafeteria before. Check out this documentary of her story.

This one's a tear-jerker and will have all parents hugging their child a little tighter today.

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Halloween Fright

Only 11 days until Oct. 31. The ghouls and goblins will be knocking at the door, bags open wide for Halloween treats. Each year I question myself about what our family should hand out. Should I stick with non-food items or maybe only candy safe for my food allergic son? I worry about the candy bars and other treats he will get as he goes door to door but it doesn't seem fair to tell an 8 year old he can't go trick or treating. He knows he can't eat anything until it's been checked and he also knows that we'll need to take away nearly everything he brings home. We swap the treats for safe ones. My heart breaks a bit, but he knows nothing different and seems to be fine with our arrangement. If you know that a child with a food allergy will be trick or treating at your home, there are a few things you can do:

* Drop the treat directly in the bag rather than handing it to the child.

* Don't call attention to the child's food allergy.

* If you want to have a safe treat available, check with the parents in advance. Some of our neighbors put boxes of raisins, safe candies, bags of pretzels or safe cookies in my son's treat bag. Again, don't call attention to the difference, but know that it's much appreciated when there are safe treats to enjoy.

* Consider handing out pencils, stickers or other non-food items.

* Comment on costumes and less on "look how much candy you've got in your bag". Yes, Halloween is about, but it's also about dressing up and visiting with neighbors.

So pull out those witches hats, stretchy spider webs and jack-o-lanterns and enjoy all of the festivities of Halloween.

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Food allergy Alerts

I just retrieved a bunch of food allergy alerts from my e-mail in-box. This is when a food manufacturer voluntarily says "oops we messed up and put some ingredients in our product that isn't listed on the label". This is very scary info when you deal with life-threatening food allergies. Stay on top of these "oopses" by subscribing to:

http://www.foodallergy.org/alerts.html

You don't need to be a FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) member to sign up. Remember, always call the manufacturer of a product if you have any questions.

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