Papa Jack Popcorn is nut/peanut free!

My wife recently ate a whole large bag of PapaJack Sweet and Salty Popcorn and decided, with a prickly popcorn-filled tummy, to email the Ottawa-based company about their nut/peanut policies.

We were happy with their reply:

Hi B*,
I am happy to hear that you enjoyed our popcorn.
All of our PapaJack products are 100% peanut and nut free.
We do not allow any nut products into our facility, not even for the employees lunches.

Thanks,
C*

YAY!

EpiPen and EpiPen Jr Auto-Injector – Important Safety Information on Correct Usage – For the Public

It has been a while since I’ve updated this site.

Sorry!

This announcement is an important one for anyone that has an auto-injector.

There have been some cases of people not understanding quite how to remove the cap or handle the EPI-Pen properly resulting in accidents.

Subject: Important Safety Information on the Correct Use of EpiPen® and EpiPen® Jr Auto-Injector

Pfizer Canada Inc. (distributor of EpiPen for Dey Pharma, L.P.) in collaboration with Health Canada would like to remind patients of the correct method to remove the blue safety cap and of the importance of following the instructions for use of EpiPen (0.3 mg epinephrine auto-injector) and EpiPen Jr (0.15 mg epinephrine auto-injector).  It has recently come to our attention that removal of the blue safety cap the wrong way by pulling it sideways or bending and twisting it off may prevent the device from working properly and potentially result in failure to deliver the drug.

Read on for the full advisory.

Dean’s Sweets – A Review

We recently had the great pleasure of trying some hand-dipped truffles from Dean’s Sweets in Portland, Maine. Dean’s Sweets uses no nuts or nut products in their truffles, and several are also gluten-free. With intriguing flavours like Stout, Ginger, and Cayenne, we could hardly wait to get tasting.

One thing our tasting panel noticed right off the bat was the wonderful quality of the chocolate. It was a deliciously rich, dark chocolate. It wasn’t the slightest bit waxy and it delivered a warm, slightly sweet cocoa flavour. The second thing we noticed was the absolutely natural flavour of the fillings. And the flavour intensity of the fillings was in perfect balance with that of the chocolate.

We sampled eight flavours — Maple, Stout (which is also dairy-free and vegan), Ginger, Salt Caramel, Blueberry, Lemon-Apricot-Chevre, Coffee, and Cayenne. Top favourites of the tasting panel were the Salt Caramel, which would have quite a broad appeal (who doesn’t love sweet mixed with salty?), and Cayenne, which had a devilishly spicy punch. However, we enjoyed every one we tried.

There was one child on our five-person panel, whose clear favourite was the Maple variety. But, these sweets are really geared toward those who really appreciate fine foods and are perfectly suited for adults to indulge in. Intriguing and satisfying, these are truffles are to savour and discuss.

Dean’s Sweets is now also offering a collection of chocolate bars (un-tested )

Before and after the review. Phew!
   

Deans Sweets | Elegant Chocolate Truffles

I want to bring your attention to a chocolatier that is new to us, Dean’s Sweets hailing from Portland. While I have not had the pleasure to sample thier offerings (no shipping outside of the U.S.) I would love to hear some reviews if you have! tell us what you think in the comments.

Deans Sweets offers elegant, extraordinary, hand-dipped truffles created from the finest imported dark chocolate. Luscious flavors include brandy, rum Myers Dark, scotch single malt, orange, raspberry, coffee, peppermint, ginger, plain, and cayenne!. All with a rich dark chocolate coating. Please see the Orders page for a complete list of our many chocolate choices.

For the chocolate connoisseur, what makes these truffles so unusually fine are their uncommonly good ingredients – centers are made with a delectable 56% cocoa content excepting of course the white chocolate and the coating is a rich 70%.

Please make special note that we use no nuts or nut products when creating these truffles. Anyone with allergies to nuts of any sort can rest assured that there are no tree or ground nuts in products from Deans Sweets. Also of special note: Our chocolate stout truffles are dairy-free. Delectable and yummy, this also makes them vegan. Most of our truffles are also gluten-free. Email us if you have dietary needs or questions.

Truffles are available all year, though in the peak of the summer months, delivery times and costs may be affected by warm weather.

For special events and corporate gifts, delivery times will depend on the size of the order. Please email us with your wishes and we will work to meet your deadlines. Special orders are gladly accepted and every effort is made to supply you with your ideal flavor choices.

via Deans Sweets | Elegant Chocolate Truffles.

Food allergies: fact or fad? – Editorial – The Cape Breton Post

Food allergies: fact or fad?

As a father of a food-allergic child I know that this FACT is not a FAD.

This article has good insight and urges us all to think rationally when others around us are doubting our family’s health concerns.

A new British study on nut-allergy sufferers found that “parents are routinely made to feel by friends and even family that their child’s nut allergy is a ‘frivolous and self indulgent fad invented and maintained by attention-seeking people.’”

via Food allergies: fact or fad? – Editorial – The Cape Breton Post.

SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter Receives National Taste Test Award at IFT ’11 | Cision Wire

Another shout out to another of our favorite products!
SUNBUTTER, we love you! Congrats!

SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter Receives National Taste Test Award at IFT ’11

Offers Innovative and Flavorful Ingredient Option for Peanut-Free Products

Fargo, ND (August, 2011) – SunButter® received third place in Mintel’s IFT 2011 taste test under the flavor and ingredient predictions for 2011 category. Mintel announced the winners of their IFT 2011 taste test, naming SunButter sunflower seed spread an example of the seed ingredient trend.

via SunButter® Sunflower Seed Butter Receives National Taste Test Award at IFT ’11 | Cision Wire.

Enjoy Life Shows Support For Food Allergy Community | Press Releases @ Your-Story.org

A big shout out to Enjoy Life!

Our family has enjoyed a few of their products and appreciate the work they do to provide tasty allergic aware foods (can a food be aware?).

Enjoy Life Shows Support For Food Allergy Community By Becoming Gold Level Sponsor Of The Kids With Food Allergies FoundationAugust 11, 2011 | Author: EnjoyLifeFoods | Posted in Food & Drink0inShareAugust 10, 2011 Chicago – Enjoy Life Foods, the leading allergen-friendly brand in the Supermarket and Natural Foods stores, has broadened its partnership with the Kids With Food Allergies Foundation, a leading resource site and organization for families who struggle with the everyday challenges of food allergies. By elevating itself to a Gold Level Sponsor, Enjoy Life will support a variety of KFA’s initiatives, as well as provide an opportunity for new KFA members to receive valuable coupons for Enjoy Life’s products, all of which are free of the 8 common allergens.

via Enjoy Life Shows Support For Food Allergy Community By Becoming Gold Level Sponsor Of The Kids With Food Allergies Foundation | Press Releases @ Your-Story.org.

CTV British Columbia – Misreading nut labels a potentially deadly mistake – CTV News

Even companies with the right intentions are taking the crossed-out peanut to mean they can include nuts in thier ingredients.

Be vigilant when reading labels!

A registered nurse is sounding the nut allergy alarm over potentially confusing allergy labels on packaged foods.

While the red circle with a line through it is an internationally recognized symbol for ‘no,’ the symbol with a line through a peanut doesn’t necessarily mean no nuts.

Rob Cimaglia, who has a severe allergy to tree nuts, was shocked to discover that a package of granola bars he purchased at IGA had the no-nut symbol on the front, but contained almonds in the ingredient list

 

Read on at CTV British Columbia – Misreading nut labels a potentially deadly mistake – CTV News.

PEANUT ALLERGY ALERT

PEANUT ALLERGY ALERT
May 2, 2011

Organic Food Bar, Inc. is expanding its previous recall of “Chocolatey Chocolate Chip RAW Organic Food Bars due to undeclared peanut to include additional organic food bars in the following varieties:

• Cinnamon Raisin, Lot # 3070910, Expiration Date 09-Jul-11; Lot # 3072110, Expiration Date 21-Jul-11, Lot # 3083110, Expiration Date 31-Aug-11; Lot # 2092710, Expiration Date 27-Sep-11; Lot # 3100410, Expiration Date 04-Oct-11; UPC # 8 73521000114
• Chocolate Coconut, Lot # 6071210, Expiration Date 12-Jul-11; Lot #6072810, Expiration Date 28-Jul-11; Lot # 4081710, Expiration Date 17-Aug-11; Lot # 3082710, Expiration Date 27-Aug-11; Lot # 5102010, Expiration Date 20-Oct-11; UPC # 8 7352100031 2
• Oooatmeal Apple Pie, Lot #2071610, Expiration Date 16-Jul-11; Lot # 2071610, Expiration Date 16-Jul-11; Lot # 1083010, Expiration Date 30-Aug-11; Lot # 3090710, Expiration Date 07-Sep-11; UPC # 8 73521 001111.
• Chocolatey Chocolate Chip; Lot # 2062810, Expiration Date 28-Jun-11; Lot # 4062810, Expiration Date 28-Jun-11; Lot # 3071210, Expiration Date 12-Jul-11; Lot # 2072810, Expiration Date 28-Jul-11; Lot # 2081610, Expiration Date 16-Aug-11; Lot # 4092810, Expiration Date 28-Sep-11; Lot # 2102010, Expiration Date 20-Oct-11; UPC # 8 7352100021 3.
• Fiber Chocolate Delite, Lot # 6062810; Expiration Date 28-Jun-11; Lot # 7072110, Expiration Date 21-Jul-11; Lot # 1082710, Expiration Date 27-Aug-11; UPC # 8 73521000411.
• Keerunch Crunchy Chocolate Chip, Lot # 3070710, Expiration Date 07-Jul-11; Lot # 2101410, Expiration Date 14-Oct-11; UPC # 8 73521 00121 0.
• Oohmega Cherry Pie, Lot # 3072910, Expiration Date 29-Jul-11, UPC # 8 73521 00101 2.

The product was distributed in 12-pack cartons through retail stores, mail order, and direct delivery in the U.S.

Consumers may return the recalled products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (800) 246-4685, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST.

Sunbutter Now a Daily Staple

We have been buying Sunbutter regularly because both my husband and I love to eat it; and a few months ago, my son asked to try it again. He said that he loves it, and he really meant it this time.

Every day, he wants a Sunbutter and jam sandwich. He also often asks for a snack of Sunbutter on crackers or cookies.

A five-pound tub of it is starting to look like a good idea.

bubblechild | Nut, dairy, and gluten-free PESTO

Erica at Bubble Child Blog has a great recipe for Nut, dairy and gluten-free pesto. She also has a great site that is a lot of fun to read. Her personal touch to her posts sets it apart and adds a new dimension to the news and recipes (and there are lots) she tells us about.

Presto! Nut, dairy, and gluten-free PESTO.It’s no wonder Italians are so happy– basil is apparently a natural serotonin booster.  You know what?  The way I feel right now eating this nut, dairy, and gluten-free pesto pasta, I sure believe it!For anyone who doesn’t suffer from a deadly nut allergy like me and other nut bubble children, they probably did not know that pretty much all pesto is made with nuts, be it pine nuts most common or walnuts a little bit more gourmet.

via bubblechild | Banishing the Bane of the Food Allergy.

Avoiding Milk Blog: Jude the Dude, Book Giveaway

Check out the contest at http://avoidingmilkprotein.blogspot.com/2011/03/jude-dude-book-giveaway.html

Jude the Dude, Book GiveawayEvery Peanut Allergy Kid needs a hero – someone to look up to, emulate, and teach them daily tricks to live safely. Jude the Dude: The Peanut Allergy Kid is a new book character created by Bridget Batson to fill that need. After creating the popular animation on peanut allergies, Bridget has turned her beloved peanut allergy story into a book to read to your child nightly. Now, she is giving away a copy of her first book in the series to one lucky reader autographed by both her and “Jude the Dude”. To enter, tell us something special about your allergic child in the comments section. One reader will be chosen at random and the contest is open to both the United States and Canadian residences. Contest closes April 11,2011

via Avoiding Milk Blog: Jude the Dude, Book Giveaway.

Chicago Wolves Peanut Free Day!

It’s great to see events like this. Thanks, Chicago Wolves!!!

The Chicago Wolves will host “Peanut-Free Day” when the team takes on the Rockford IceHogs at the Allstate Arena on Sun., March 27, at 3 p.m.  The entire Allstate Arena will be free of peanut products in order to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for fans with peanut allergies.  In addition, $4 from each ticket purchased through the Wolves community relations department will be donated to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.
For more information, or to purchase tickets from the Wolves, contact
Anthony Krzyzak at 847-832-1995, or akrzyzak@chicagowolves.com.

Here is a link to the event pdf:

http://chicagowolves.com/images/pdfs/1011_MOG-FAAN.pdf

Kyle Dine CD Winners Picked!

CONGRATULATIONS

Thanks to everyone who commented and sorry if you didn’t get a change to participate. Hopefully we’ll see more contests in the future.

Congratulations to Janeen from Ohio and Carol from Florida for winning the CD’s!

I’ll have them posted soon!

CBC News – Stricter food label rules target allergens

HUGE Win for the Canadian Food Allergic Population

Food manufacturers have 18 months to adhere to tighter rules dealing with the labelling of food allergens, Health Canada announced Monday.

The amended rules would target food allergens, gluten sources and sulphites, which will have to be explicitly identified on packaging.Manufacturers will be required to list what type of allergens, gluten sources or sulphites are present in a product or in any of the ingredients used to make that product.

For example, a food product that lists “spice” or “seasoning” as an ingredient would have to specify whether the ingredient contains allergenic substances.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Monday the new labelling requirements do not include beer and wine, which are being dealt with separately, because the government needed to move on food now.

The revised rules were first introduced in 2008 by then-health minister Tony Clement.

Most of the new regulations were published officially Monday in the Canada Gazette, the government publication that lists all laws and Orders-in-Council.

Read the full article via CBC News – Politics – Stricter food label rules target allergens.