Food Allergies Limit Where And How Families Vacation

This is an interesting article that I am sure most of us are fimilar with. It is interesting to see the percentages below with regards to what precautions are taken as well as to see what geographical locations are avoided.

Families with food allergic individuals make significant lifestyle alterations when it comes to vacation planning, according to a study presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

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The Canadian Press: Mixed reaction from parents on peanut allergy advance; many remain dubious

I think that anyone who has peanut allergy, or has someone in the family with peanut allergy would jump on this study. In my own family I thought that YES, finally, a move forward, lets get on it! My wife, on the other hand wanted to know much more. Side effects, how many kids dropped out, reactions versus no reactions… All they tell you in the press releases is the good in these studies and not the bad.  For parents and individuals to feel comfortable the full scope of the study needs to be made available.

I’ll continue to try to locate the results but please exercise caution and ask many questions before jumping into this kind of study. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. The doctors and researchers are using very measured doses and processes to do this study. This could be dangerous if not fatal to attempt this on your own.

CONCORD, N.H. — One mom says she’d be first in line for a promising treatment that exposes children with peanut allergies to tiny amounts of peanut flour. Another remains fearful, with the painful image of her son’s face blown up beyond recognition still fresh in her mind.

While some parents of children with life-threatening peanut allergies see a glimmer of hope in a recent study suggesting a possible cure, others remain dubious that it will ever change their children’s lives.
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List of allergy-aware companies

The folks at http://www.avoidingmilkprotein.com  have a fantastic list of companies who are allergy aware.

http://www.avoidingmilkprotein.com/otherallergies.htm

I encourage everyone to have a look as these companies will ship to either Canada or the USA or both.  Have a look at the website as well as they don’t only deal with milk allergies, but with all others.  LOTS of great information.

Sample:

4everfree	Gluten, Dairy and Nut free baked goods New Zealand
Abby Fundraising	Always nut free fundraising cookie dough
Allerenergy bars	No Peanuts, Gluten ,Eggs and Milk, Dairy, Soy, Tree Nuts, Shellfish, and no Corn
Alpro Soya	Dairy Free alternatives to milk, yougurt and deserts (UK) dairy free gluten free mostly wheat free nut free enviroment
Amanda’s Own	Dairy-free, tree nut-free, peanut-free, egg-free and gluten free Candies and Chocolates
American Chocolate	Turn cholate in to art, print designs onto gourmet chocolates

Canberra Parents Lack Allergy Awareness: Study

Education is one of the most important points when it comes to any allergy. The facts below are startling and I am left wondering if these numbers are similar in other countries.

Nearly four per cent of ACT kindergarten children have a peanut allergy and while the regions schools are well prepared to cope with this, some parents are taking inappropriate action when dealing with their childs allergy, according to a new study.

The research was a co-operative study by the Academic Unit of General Practice and Community Health at The Australian National Universitys Medical School and ACT Health. It surveyed 3851 children in the region to discover the prevalence of peanut and nut allergies, what management systems were in place in schools and how parents viewed and reacted to their childs allergy.

 
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Health Day – Exposure to Peanuts May Build Tolerance to Allergy

More great news from the research front! This one includes a larger sample of people. An even larger study is hoped for soon.

Remember: “This is not something to be done at home”

By Kathleen Doheny

HealthDay Reporter

SUNDAY, March 15 (HealthDay News) — Exposing children with peanut allergies to a carefully administered daily oral dose of peanuts helped them build tolerance to the point where some of them appear to have lost their allergies, a new study found.

However, the researchers, from Duke University Medical Center and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, cautioned that the approach is still experimental and should not be tried by parents on their own.

“This is not something to be done at home,” said Dr. Wesley Burks, chief of the division of pediatric allergy and immunology at Duke and a co-author of the research. “It truly is an investigational study.”

But the children in the study did build long-term tolerance, with the researchers documenting key immunologic changes reflecting a lack of allergic response.

Burks and his colleagues were expected to present their findings Sunday at the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology meeting, in Washington, D.C.

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Sheffield, UK girl (8) takes part in peanut-flour trials

I love hearing about these studies. It just opens up so many possabilities for people to not have to worry.

Hopes of a normal life for nut allergy victim Charlotte

Published Date: 13 March 2009

A Sheffield girl is taking part in a groundbreaking medical trial that could cure her of a nut allergy that currently threatens her life.

Charlotte Kirkland, aged eight, is so allergic to peanuts and other nuts that she has to carry medication in case she falls ill. She can’t have ice-cream, sweets or cakes unless her parents, Wendy and David from Stocksbridge, have carefully checked all the ingredients on the packet and are confident they contain no traces of nuts or nut oils.

Now it hoped that she may eventually be able to lead a normal life as a result of trials at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where doctors are using a new technique to built up children’s tolerance. By the end of the programme they should be able to eat the equivalent of five peanuts a day safely.
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ALLERGY ALERT – Undeclared peanuts in JAPANESE STYLE SESAME MOCHI

OTTAWA, March 4, 2009 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to peanut proteins not to consume the Japanese Style Sesame Mochi described below. The affected product contains peanuts which are not declared on the label.

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Herbal Remedy Could Halt Peanut Allergy – US News and World Report

It’s interesting that a Chinese Herbal Remedy may hold a key to stopping peanut allergies!

Herbal Remedy Could Halt Peanut Allergy

Tests in mice were successful, and human trials are under way

Posted February 13, 2009

By Steven Reinberg

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Feb. 13 (HealthDay News) — A new herbal formula based in ancient Chinese medicine may be able to control allergic reactions to peanuts and other foods, researchers from New York City’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine report.

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Chef Ming Tsai’s Groundbreaking Food Allergy Law Passes in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Chef Ming Tsai helps to pass new regulations to assist restaurant goers with food allergies.

This is a fantastic push to assist people looking for places to eat that are allergy aware.
Some points are that the restaurants are required to post guidelines on preparation of food for visitors with food allergies. As well as informing the visitors to inform the waiting staff that there is someone in the party with food allergies. Educating the staff about food allergies via video is also a new requirement.

There can never bee too much information about this and as we move towards making the public aware that food allergies are more than a “fad” and that there are peoples safety at risk this will help to ensure our families are better taken care of.

Peanut allergy research: from plant to pill

As reported on CBC.ca,

Peanut allergy research: from plant to pill

Researchers are working on several fronts to prevent peanut allergies and limit the potentially deadly reactions they can cause.

Read the full article here.

A Nut Free Hallowe’en

With Halloween quickly approaching, here are a few tips to help protect your child (or yourself!) and still allow them to have a fun evening:

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Orlando schools take peanuts from menu

Contrary to Nova Scotia, Orlando is goign the other way. Yay Orlando!

According to the Orlando Sentinel,
“Aside from apple pie, no food is more American than the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.

But schools across Florida are taking it off lunchroom menus and, in some cases, banning peanuts altogether to try to protect a growing number of children with peanut allergies. “

Read full article here.

Nova Scotia revamps food allergy rules for schools

As reported by CBC news

“An allergy specialist in Nova Scotia is working on a plan that could see a banned substance back in schools — peanut butter.” …

Read the full article here

Swedish restaurants soon ‘allergy free’

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hX-Zg7SBjPMuGW1jwzsGYuEDl0sw

AFP.Google.com reports in Sweden that a certificate program is soon to be underway to award restaurants whose staff undergo a training program to allow them to advise patrons of allergens in the dishes they are offering.
This is the first initiative of its kind anywhere in Europe.
This partly came about after Mats Hulth, the head of the Swedish Hotel and Restaurant Association, had a severe food related allergic reaction, and he was approached by Sweden’s Asthma and Allergy Association to help with the program.

Article link

Danissimo Yogurt by Danone may contain nuts and peanuts

Be aware that the outside packaging of the individual servings of Danissimo creamy yogurts produced by Danone does not mention in the ingredients that it may contain nuts and peanuts but the tubs have the warning in red type. This is not obvious when you are buying the product but is semi-obvious when you look at the tub.