The Obama family choose a Portuguese Water Dog for a pet. The Mers' family has one for a very different reason.
Hats off to Sherry- one creative mom! She noticed dogs sniffing luggage at an airport customs counter. They were searching for fruits and vegetables being brought into the country illegally. Then, light bulb moment...why not use dogs as a service animal to sniff out allergens for severely allergic children like her daughter Riley?
It turns out that this idea has been floating around for several years. In 2005, a Jacksonville FL teen hoped her peanut sniffing dog would enable her attend school. The price tag is high- $12,000-$15,000 for a dog. Several communities have begun fund raising efforts to help severely allergic children in their town afford a dog.
For more information, check out Angel Service Dogs, a website created by the Mers.
Learn more about these peanut dogs from the trainers at
Peanut Detector Dogs.
What a great idea!
As always, turn to the Food Allergy Assistant for food allergy news.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Monday Review- Allergy Alert Clothing
This week's Monday Review is brought to you by Alert Clothing Company. Summer camps and changes in caregiver schedules are right around the corner. Protect young children with Alert Clothing. Company founder, Rebecca Nelson, has three children- two with severe food allergies. In an effort to keep her children safe, Rebbecca designed several colorful t-shirts for her kids to wear to preschool. The shirts were a big hit and in 2005, Rebecca launched the Alert Clothing Company so that food allergic children everywhere can be identified and protected.
What do I love about Rebecca's designs? The sweatshirts, t-shirts and tote bags are bold, colorful and kid-friendly. They grab an adult's attention right away and send a simple message. I also like that the Alert Clothing logo is printed on the back of the shirt. Young kids don't typically sit still, so with a reminder on front and back, it's sure to be seen.
Show your child the designs. Let them pick out a few to wear when they're at daycare, preschool, camp or other places away from home. As Rebecca Nelson says, "A parent cannot be present constantly, and a two, three or four year old cannot be held responsible for advocating for themselves."
Grandparents, buy some for your grandchildren with food allergies. Allergy Alert Clothing is another tool in the food allergy arsenal.
Check out Alert Clothing Company. They even offer a fundraising program for preschools . Contact Rebecca by e-mail for more information.
As always, visit the Food Allergy Assistant for more information about everything related to food allergies.
Friday, 24 April 2009
Friday Feature: Raising Food Allergic Kids.org
This Friday Feature showcases Lissa, the founder of Raising Food Allergic Kids, a website packed with information to help raise your food allergic child. As you'll see in our interview below, Lissa's site is a must-read if you're planning a Disney World trip.
What is your food allergy background?
My daughter, Caroline, had her first reaction shortly after she turned one. It was her second exposure to egg. I had no idea that it’s very common for a sensitivity to manifest not in a first exposure, but in the second. I was taken completely by surprise. When I plopped a hard boiled egg on her high chair tray about a week after her first scrambled egg, I thought nothing of it. Within five minutes even the whites of her eyes were red and we were on our way to the doctor in a panic.
In the year since this first exposure she's have had multiple blood tests, skin tests and oral challenges. We've also learned that Caroline has severe asthma. I now know that asthma and allergies are often connected.
What are you passionate about in the food allergy field?
To be honest, I am passionate most about finding workable solutions for our everyday life. I really don’t care about the ongoing fight that seems to be happening in our world over what causes allergies and what has caused the rise in incidence. Finding that out won’t change the fact that we are living with it.
I want Caroline to have a normal, happy and safe childhood. So, I am passionate about finding ways to make that our reality. It often means that I do a lot of extra work behind the scenes, but it’s worth it to me so that she can experience life the way it’s meant to be experienced.
I'm also passionate about sharing with other parents. With diagnoses coming earlier in our children’s lives, it is overwhelming to think of raising your child in a world that seems suddenly scarier than it used to be. I’m all about trying to break our kids out of the protective bubbles that we instinctively want to put them in when we first hear that diagnosis.
What else are you working on in the food allergy area?
It’s a strange melding of my two major interests: food allergies and Disney World. Yes, I know that’s random, but I grew up in Florida and Disney is a huge part of my life. I am inspired by the way the Disney cast members accommodate guests with food allergies (and many other special needs, too).
It’s my hope to be able to bring their model to other vacation destinations and kid-centered activities like summer camps. We leave on our next trip in just a couple of weeks and I’ve reached out to Sea World Orlando and Universal Studios Orlando to see what kinds of accommodations they make and to start a dialogue about ways to open up their experiences to more kids with these potentially life threatening limitations.
Food Allergy Assistant: I love this idea. Whenever we travel to Disney World, I think, "Why can't everyone, everywhere, be this accommodating?"
What are your favorite food allergy friendly food staples?
Our egg-free banana pancakes are an absolute favorite in our house – recipe is on our site and Caroline can eat them three meals a day if we let her. We are very lucky to not have wheat allergies as I think that has to be one of the most limiting of the major 8, so Annie’s Bunnies crackers are also a great snack on the go for us. I like them better than the goldfish crackers since they don’t have any additives. Van’s Waffles saved our lives when she was first diagnosed, and remain a staple in our freezer.
What did you do before life with food allergies?
I worked for five years for the United States Chamber of Commerce, the number one lobbying organization in the country. That experience is proving to be very helpful now that I’m following the legislation pertaining to food labeling and protections for our kids.
What are some of your other interests/hobbies?
As mentioned, I love Disney and everything related to it. I help lots of people plan trips to Disney World- with or without food allergies. I love to cook, bargain hunt and can play a mean game of Ring Around the Rosie with Caroline.
Thank you, Lissa, for creating your website to help parents who feel overwhelmed with a food allergy diagnosis. I plan to try out your egg-free French toast recipe as my son has never had French toast!
Check out Lissa's site at www.rfak.org.
What is your food allergy background?
My daughter, Caroline, had her first reaction shortly after she turned one. It was her second exposure to egg. I had no idea that it’s very common for a sensitivity to manifest not in a first exposure, but in the second. I was taken completely by surprise. When I plopped a hard boiled egg on her high chair tray about a week after her first scrambled egg, I thought nothing of it. Within five minutes even the whites of her eyes were red and we were on our way to the doctor in a panic.
In the year since this first exposure she's have had multiple blood tests, skin tests and oral challenges. We've also learned that Caroline has severe asthma. I now know that asthma and allergies are often connected.
What are you passionate about in the food allergy field?
To be honest, I am passionate most about finding workable solutions for our everyday life. I really don’t care about the ongoing fight that seems to be happening in our world over what causes allergies and what has caused the rise in incidence. Finding that out won’t change the fact that we are living with it.
I want Caroline to have a normal, happy and safe childhood. So, I am passionate about finding ways to make that our reality. It often means that I do a lot of extra work behind the scenes, but it’s worth it to me so that she can experience life the way it’s meant to be experienced.
I'm also passionate about sharing with other parents. With diagnoses coming earlier in our children’s lives, it is overwhelming to think of raising your child in a world that seems suddenly scarier than it used to be. I’m all about trying to break our kids out of the protective bubbles that we instinctively want to put them in when we first hear that diagnosis.
What else are you working on in the food allergy area?
It’s a strange melding of my two major interests: food allergies and Disney World. Yes, I know that’s random, but I grew up in Florida and Disney is a huge part of my life. I am inspired by the way the Disney cast members accommodate guests with food allergies (and many other special needs, too).
It’s my hope to be able to bring their model to other vacation destinations and kid-centered activities like summer camps. We leave on our next trip in just a couple of weeks and I’ve reached out to Sea World Orlando and Universal Studios Orlando to see what kinds of accommodations they make and to start a dialogue about ways to open up their experiences to more kids with these potentially life threatening limitations.
Food Allergy Assistant: I love this idea. Whenever we travel to Disney World, I think, "Why can't everyone, everywhere, be this accommodating?"
What are your favorite food allergy friendly food staples?
Our egg-free banana pancakes are an absolute favorite in our house – recipe is on our site and Caroline can eat them three meals a day if we let her. We are very lucky to not have wheat allergies as I think that has to be one of the most limiting of the major 8, so Annie’s Bunnies crackers are also a great snack on the go for us. I like them better than the goldfish crackers since they don’t have any additives. Van’s Waffles saved our lives when she was first diagnosed, and remain a staple in our freezer.
What did you do before life with food allergies?
I worked for five years for the United States Chamber of Commerce, the number one lobbying organization in the country. That experience is proving to be very helpful now that I’m following the legislation pertaining to food labeling and protections for our kids.
What are some of your other interests/hobbies?
As mentioned, I love Disney and everything related to it. I help lots of people plan trips to Disney World- with or without food allergies. I love to cook, bargain hunt and can play a mean game of Ring Around the Rosie with Caroline.
Thank you, Lissa, for creating your website to help parents who feel overwhelmed with a food allergy diagnosis. I plan to try out your egg-free French toast recipe as my son has never had French toast!
Check out Lissa's site at www.rfak.org.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Food Allergy Thrive Expo
Chicago hosted the Thrive Allergy & Gluten-Free Expo on Saturday and Sunday (April 18 and 19). More than 3,000 tickets were sold. Check out this Chicago Tribune article listing many of the vendors
Did you attend, or hear any news about it? I thought this would be big news among bloggers and I haven't seen much. Am I missing something?
Did you attend, or hear any news about it? I thought this would be big news among bloggers and I haven't seen much. Am I missing something?
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Monday Review- Grill Charms
This Monday Review is brought to you by Grill Charms- think wine charm for your grilled meats.
Founder and mom, Leslie Haywood, had an "A-ha moment" when her husband mistakenly gave her the extra-hot Jamaican grilled chicken, instead of the mild chicken she requested. Leslie created Grill Charms to help barbecuers everywhere identify different preferences and dietary needs.
Back in February, Leslie sent me a Grill Charm from her Pink Collection (these charms benefit breast cancer research- love that!). Finally a balmy week-end arrived and we pulled out the grill. I must admit to feeling skeptical at first that these little charms would stay in ground beef. They did. Even through my clumsy burger flipping. It worked great for my grilled chicken the next night too. It was very easy to identify the meat with the charm.
So, how does this relate to food allergies? Of course, depending upon the specific allergy, special precautions must be made when barbecuing. Marinades may contain unsafe ingredients for a person with food allergies. Certain seasonings may be unsafe and foods may look the same on the grill. By inserting a Grill Charm, mix-ups are avoided.
A few tips when grilling where food allergies are a concern:
Consider several layers of foil between the food and the grate. This prevents contamination from the grilling surface.
Use separate grilling tools to avoid cross-contamination.
Do not mix up the meats. A tool such as Grill Charms will help keep meats differentiated.
Check out Grill Charms' website. They offer several collections for steak doneness, seasoning types, Charmed Life (may be great for food allergies) and the Pink Collection (10% of the proceeds from sales goes to breast cancer research). Individual charms can be ordered with free shipping.
Leslie is offering $5.00 off your order for Food Allergy Assistant readers. Type "grilling" as the coupon code when you place your order.
Great gift for Father's Day!
As always, visit the Food Allergy Assistant for more help dealing with food allergies.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Food Allergy Guidelines for PA schools
This article is of particular interest to me.
I spent many hours working with our school district so my child could be safe at school. As I've said before, he's carried an Epi-Pen around his waist since his first day of kindergarten. If the school had denied us this right, it would have been a deal breaker resulting in a search for alternative educational opportunities. Every child and every situation is different, but schools and parents need to have some basic understandings and rights when it comes to food allergies.
I fully support State Rep. Tom Murt in his efforts to require Pennsylvania to develop food allergy guidelines for schools. I'm going to write to him right now and see how I can help.
How is your school handling food allergies?
I spent many hours working with our school district so my child could be safe at school. As I've said before, he's carried an Epi-Pen around his waist since his first day of kindergarten. If the school had denied us this right, it would have been a deal breaker resulting in a search for alternative educational opportunities. Every child and every situation is different, but schools and parents need to have some basic understandings and rights when it comes to food allergies.
I fully support State Rep. Tom Murt in his efforts to require Pennsylvania to develop food allergy guidelines for schools. I'm going to write to him right now and see how I can help.
How is your school handling food allergies?
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Food Allergies? Discounts and Coupons
Uno's Chicago Grill now offers a gluten-free pizza. Here's a coupon. Check out their entire gluten-free menu.
Softress Body Oils perfect for those with food allergies, sensitive skin, eczema. 15% discount with code: "FOODALY". Good until Dec. 31, 2009.
Olinda Ridge Oils- if you sign up to receive their newsletter, you'll get a 15% discount on your order.
Go Picnic Snackboxes- 25% discount for your first order. Just use coupon code "GPTHANKS"
Ener G's poundcake, free of gluten, wheat, casein, dairy, yeast, soy, and nuts, is 15% off.
Do you know you can order Ener G and other food allergy safe foods through Amazon.com? Free shipping with your $25 order- not to hard to spend $25!
Any other coupons or discounts we should know about? Let me know.
What are you waiting for...get shopping!!!
Softress Body Oils perfect for those with food allergies, sensitive skin, eczema. 15% discount with code: "FOODALY". Good until Dec. 31, 2009.
Olinda Ridge Oils- if you sign up to receive their newsletter, you'll get a 15% discount on your order.
Go Picnic Snackboxes- 25% discount for your first order. Just use coupon code "GPTHANKS"
Ener G's poundcake, free of gluten, wheat, casein, dairy, yeast, soy, and nuts, is 15% off.
Do you know you can order Ener G and other food allergy safe foods through Amazon.com? Free shipping with your $25 order- not to hard to spend $25!
Any other coupons or discounts we should know about? Let me know.
What are you waiting for...get shopping!!!
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Monday Review- Stuck on You
This Monday Review is brought to you by "Stuck on You", a company specializing in labels and organizational tools to help parents and teachers keep children healthier and more organized. Couldn't we all use a little more organization?
They now offer a special line of allergy-free labels to help create zones to prevent inadvertent exposure to substances that can be dangerous to children with allergies. Stuck on You offers customized labels and wristbands for any allergy. The brightly colored vinyl labels, stickers, and wristbands are waterproof, as well as microwave and dishwasher safe.
I love these labels. Our first, and fortunately, only (knocking on wood right now), ambulance ride due to an allergic reaction occurred when we were traveling and my food allergic son ate a muffin from the wrong bag. This was the early days of our food allergy journey. I learned a painful lesson that day. My son's life was in danger if I couldn't make sure things were well organized. Stuck on You has created a product to help do just that.
Use these stickers on everything you send to daycare, camp and school. They're a great help at home or at grandma's house or when traveling. Plus, you can customize them and they're so darn cute!
Check out the Allergy Pack. Click on "Stuck on You Value Pack", then "Stuck on You Allergy Pack".
Stuck on You offers other products. Go to their website and click on your home country.
Labeling helps your child and the adults around your child quickly identify what belongs to them. It's another way to keep kids with food allergies safe.
Friday, 10 April 2009
Friday Feature: Linda Coss
This Friday Feature showcases Linda Coss. I am not exaggerating when I say that Linda's food allergy books were a lifesaver for us when our son was first diagnosed with multiple food allergies. Her recipe books taught me how to make safe foods our whole family could enjoy. Linda's "Practical Tips" book guided us through many situations related to school, travel and holidays.
Learn more about Linda through our recent interview:
How did you first become involved in food allergies?
Eighteen years ago I shared a bowl of ice cream that changed my life. I dipped a taster spoon into the melted bit at the bottom of the bowl and let my 8 month old son lick it off. Then I went home and put him down for a nap.
A little while later, that “mother’s intuition” voice told me to go check on him. He was beet red from head to toe. I picked him up and he started projectile vomiting. It was like a devil baby in a horror movie the way this stuff was shooting across the room! His ear began to swell and so began my life in the food allergy lane.
When I first started on this path, life-threatening food allergies were practically unheard of. Almost no resources were available, the internet didn’t exist (or if it did no one in the general public had heard of it), food manufacturers weren’t required to include ingredient panels on their packaging, and the Americans with Disabilities Act was so new that it was not yet widely enforced.
I am very happy that so many people have been successful in their efforts to change this, and make things easier for those who have to cope with this very challenging condition.
Over the years I’ve started a local food allergy support group (which I ran for 13 years), written and self-published three food allergy books (“How To Manage Your Child’s Life-Threatening Food Allergies: Practical Tips For Everyday Life,” “What’s to Eat? The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook,” and “What Else is to Eat? The Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook”), and – most recently sent my food-allergic son off to college.
What are you passionate about in the food allergy field?
I am passionate about making it easier for others to manage their child’s life-threatening food allergies. Through my books, it is my goal to help others parents create a safe and enjoyable life for their food-allergic children, and to make safe/easy/delicious food that the entire family can enjoy.
People often write to me with questions, and then are shocked when I write back – usually the same day. When I say in my books that “I’m here for you,” I really mean it. I am passionate about helping people.
What else are you working on in the food allergy area?
Last week-end I gave the keynote address at the AFAA’s 6th Annual Food Allergy Conference and Expo. I would love to have more speaking opportunities such as this. Unfortunately, few event organizers have the budget to fly me out from Southern California!
What are your favorite food allergy friendly foods/products?
There are a number of food allergy friendly treats that I think are terrific but rarely purchase because of the high cost of shipping to California (such as Vermont Nut-Free Chocolates, Divvies’ cookies, and Home Free’s coffee cakes). I also think Cherrybrook Kitchen’s new ready-made cookies are truly delicious.
Of course, my favorite food allergy friendly products are my books! Even now that Jason has moved off to college and I theoretically can cook anything I want, I still find that I cook most of my meals using the recipes in my cookbooks.
“What else do you do for a living besides write and publish food allergy books?”
In addition to running my book publishing business, I am also a freelance marketing writer. I help businesses reach their goals by writing targeted and effective websites, brochures, letters, newsletters, articles, and other written materials for them. You can learn more about this at Plumtree Marketing.
What are some of your other interests/hobbies?
Well, I really do enjoy cooking, and after all those years of creating recipes it seems strange not to be doing so any more! I also enjoy gardening, walking (my morning walk is often a highlight of my day), entertaining, reading, and going to lots of different types of live entertainment (concerts, theatre, lectures, comedy shows, etc.).
Note from the Food Allergy Assistant: Some of our family favorites are recipes from your books (Spaghetti and Meatball soup, Cinnamon Roll Biscuits, and Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow Topping- to name a few!), so we hope you keep creating great recipes and sharing them with us!
Linda's books are available at FoodAllergyBooks.com. She says, "I’m always happy to personally autograph books, or include a gift enclosure card in the package. Just write in your special request in the “special instructions” section of the order form".
Also, Linda now posts near-daily food allergy management tips on Twitter and she's got a Food Allergy Books fan page on Facebook.
Thanks Linda for all you do to help make coping with food allergies easier.
Learn more about Linda through our recent interview:
How did you first become involved in food allergies?
Eighteen years ago I shared a bowl of ice cream that changed my life. I dipped a taster spoon into the melted bit at the bottom of the bowl and let my 8 month old son lick it off. Then I went home and put him down for a nap.
A little while later, that “mother’s intuition” voice told me to go check on him. He was beet red from head to toe. I picked him up and he started projectile vomiting. It was like a devil baby in a horror movie the way this stuff was shooting across the room! His ear began to swell and so began my life in the food allergy lane.
When I first started on this path, life-threatening food allergies were practically unheard of. Almost no resources were available, the internet didn’t exist (or if it did no one in the general public had heard of it), food manufacturers weren’t required to include ingredient panels on their packaging, and the Americans with Disabilities Act was so new that it was not yet widely enforced.
I am very happy that so many people have been successful in their efforts to change this, and make things easier for those who have to cope with this very challenging condition.
Over the years I’ve started a local food allergy support group (which I ran for 13 years), written and self-published three food allergy books (“How To Manage Your Child’s Life-Threatening Food Allergies: Practical Tips For Everyday Life,” “What’s to Eat? The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook,” and “What Else is to Eat? The Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook”), and – most recently sent my food-allergic son off to college.
What are you passionate about in the food allergy field?
I am passionate about making it easier for others to manage their child’s life-threatening food allergies. Through my books, it is my goal to help others parents create a safe and enjoyable life for their food-allergic children, and to make safe/easy/delicious food that the entire family can enjoy.
People often write to me with questions, and then are shocked when I write back – usually the same day. When I say in my books that “I’m here for you,” I really mean it. I am passionate about helping people.
What else are you working on in the food allergy area?
Last week-end I gave the keynote address at the AFAA’s 6th Annual Food Allergy Conference and Expo. I would love to have more speaking opportunities such as this. Unfortunately, few event organizers have the budget to fly me out from Southern California!
What are your favorite food allergy friendly foods/products?
There are a number of food allergy friendly treats that I think are terrific but rarely purchase because of the high cost of shipping to California (such as Vermont Nut-Free Chocolates, Divvies’ cookies, and Home Free’s coffee cakes). I also think Cherrybrook Kitchen’s new ready-made cookies are truly delicious.
Of course, my favorite food allergy friendly products are my books! Even now that Jason has moved off to college and I theoretically can cook anything I want, I still find that I cook most of my meals using the recipes in my cookbooks.
“What else do you do for a living besides write and publish food allergy books?”
In addition to running my book publishing business, I am also a freelance marketing writer. I help businesses reach their goals by writing targeted and effective websites, brochures, letters, newsletters, articles, and other written materials for them. You can learn more about this at Plumtree Marketing.
What are some of your other interests/hobbies?
Well, I really do enjoy cooking, and after all those years of creating recipes it seems strange not to be doing so any more! I also enjoy gardening, walking (my morning walk is often a highlight of my day), entertaining, reading, and going to lots of different types of live entertainment (concerts, theatre, lectures, comedy shows, etc.).
Note from the Food Allergy Assistant: Some of our family favorites are recipes from your books (Spaghetti and Meatball soup, Cinnamon Roll Biscuits, and Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow Topping- to name a few!), so we hope you keep creating great recipes and sharing them with us!
Linda's books are available at FoodAllergyBooks.com. She says, "I’m always happy to personally autograph books, or include a gift enclosure card in the package. Just write in your special request in the “special instructions” section of the order form".
Also, Linda now posts near-daily food allergy management tips on Twitter and she's got a Food Allergy Books fan page on Facebook.
Thanks Linda for all you do to help make coping with food allergies easier.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Food Challenges
Did you get to see Nightline last week when they featured food allergies and food challenges?
It's a heart-wrenching story about a 5-year-old who has been fed through a feeding tube for the past 2 years since he seemed to be allergic to everything. The piece implies that food challenges offer a new way to control food allergies, which is a mis-leading portrayl. Hopefully people will read the article and watch the video to understand what a food challenge is, and what it isn't.
We're visiting the allergiest Friday for an egg challenge. We haven't done a food challenge in over 5 years. There are many emotions associated with a food challenge-excitement in possibly being able to introduce a new food, fear that something will go wrong, anxiety about the process...
I'm making scrambled eggs and french toast to take to the office. My son has really been looking forward to eating french toast and I've been stumped over how to make it egg-free. Anyway, on Friday, he'll at least get one tiny bite of it. My hope is that he'll be able to eat the whole thing and then come home for a towering plate of golden, crisply-fried, cinnamon-sugar french toast.
Whoops! I just drooled on my keyboard.
It's a heart-wrenching story about a 5-year-old who has been fed through a feeding tube for the past 2 years since he seemed to be allergic to everything. The piece implies that food challenges offer a new way to control food allergies, which is a mis-leading portrayl. Hopefully people will read the article and watch the video to understand what a food challenge is, and what it isn't.
We're visiting the allergiest Friday for an egg challenge. We haven't done a food challenge in over 5 years. There are many emotions associated with a food challenge-excitement in possibly being able to introduce a new food, fear that something will go wrong, anxiety about the process...
I'm making scrambled eggs and french toast to take to the office. My son has really been looking forward to eating french toast and I've been stumped over how to make it egg-free. Anyway, on Friday, he'll at least get one tiny bite of it. My hope is that he'll be able to eat the whole thing and then come home for a towering plate of golden, crisply-fried, cinnamon-sugar french toast.
Whoops! I just drooled on my keyboard.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Monday Review: Softress
This Monday Review is brought to you by Softress body oils.
Nina Birnbaum was dissatisfied with the options available to treat her daughter's eczema. She developed a body oil made from whole, food-grade oils and a blend of antioxidant vitamin C and natural vitamin E. Her company, Softress, Inc., now manufactures a full line of vegan-certified, fragrance-free, preservative-free moisturizing oils for dry, sensitive skin.
I applaud Nina's efforts to create a safe alternative to treat her daughter's eczema. Over the years, doctors prescribed many steroid creams to treat my son's eczema. We used them as directed and he now has white patches on parts of his skin. The allergist said, "Oh that's just permanent loss of pigment due to the steroid creams." Huh??? We weren't told this in advance? Question every cream, oil, lotion you are given to treat your child's eczema. Find the safest product that works.
The Softress line includes:
E-Blend- for care of eczema and extremely dry skin
Deep Moisture- for sensitive skin and dry hair care
Love Your Hair- a natural conditioner/detangler for dry, damaged hair and curly hair
SoftBaby- for soothing baby dry skin and infant eczema
SoftHands- which contains macadamia oil. It is made/bottled separately from the other products.
All products (with the exception of SoftHands) are free of the top eight allergens, including nut oils.
Disclaimer from owner, Nina Birnbaum:
Some people's nut allergies cross-react with sunflower oil, and a latex allergy may cross-react with avocado oil. People with those allergies should patch-test before use. I do offer a full refund to people who find the products don't work for them.
I had the opportunity to sample the Deep Moisture product throughout this winter. When I purchase a moisturizer, I look for one that is fragrance-free and doesn't contain the almond oils, milk proteins and other common allergens found in many products. I also need something that works well.
I find, as perhaps many mothers of food allergic kids find, that I wash my hands- a lot. I worry about cross-contamination in my kitchen. Due to so much hand washing, the skin on my hands is often dry and cracked. Oils seem to work best, but finding one without nut oils has been difficult. The other problem with oils is how it leaves my hands slick and, well, oily. Not helpful for a multi-tasking mother.
Deep Moisture to the rescue. This product literally melts into your skin leaving no residue. I put a squirt or two of the oil on my freshly washed hands, rub them together and I'm off. My hands feel, and look, soft and smooth.
Some of Nina's customers report that her products, when applied to freshly shaven legs, inhibits hair growth, allowing more time between shaving. I love a time-saving product!
Softress products are available on their website at Softress, Inc.'s website
Enter code "FOODALY" for a 15% discount, good until Dec 31st 2009.
For some great information about eczema, check out Nina Birnbaum's personal story.
See the Food Allergy Assistant's site for more information about food allergies.
Friday, 3 April 2009
Friday Feature: FoodEssentials
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Anton Xavier of FoodEssentials. Anton and his family are the creators of the FoodEssentails website, an online searchable database of actual food labels. Users type in a food category and "what you care about" to get a list of foods with nutrition, allergen and additive information.
For example, after the trouble with Sara Lee breads now containing dairy, I went to FoodEssentials and typed in "bread, dairy". A list of breads with information about whether or not they contained dairy, appeared on my monitor. Pretty cool, huh?
Check out this Q&A with Anton, and then try out their site:
Where did you get your interest in food and what people eat?
Several years ago, our father was attempting to implement a change in his diet and found it incredibly difficult to compare food labels in his local supermarket. The family became interested in this and started speaking to others.
Since then we’ve worked with a vast number of consumer advocacy groups, health professionals, government organizations, retailers and manufacturers in both Australia and the U.S and have gained an expert knowledge of the issues surrounding food labeling.
What is the FoodEssentials website and how can people best use it?
FoodEssentials is an online searchable database of actual food labels that can be used to compare foods for their allergen, additive, ingredient or nutrient properties. It's designed to help people easily find foods that best suit their specific dietary needs.
What is the goal of the site?
Our mission is to change the way the world chooses its food. We want to have a positive influence on the dietary habits of families and individuals by providing them with easy access to comparative information.
In addition, we hope that FoodEssentials can be a positive force in the evolution of food labeling by encouraging more responsible labeling by manufacturers.
How can food allergic consumers make the best use of FoodEssentials.com?
FoodEssentials provides food allergic consumers with a resource to quickly read and compare food labels.
We determine the allergen properties of a product by looking at each individual ingredient. We do not rely only on manufacturer claims. Questionable ingredients like "flavors" and "spices" are included in our "may contain" statements.
It will be possible in the near future to compare for any ingredient/allergen that you want.
What are your backgrounds?
My father and my youngest brother, Eddie and Dagan Xavier began working on the project first. Dagan had studied human movements and nutrition and had a good base knowledge.
We soon identified the importance of involving the expert knowledge of dietitians and consumer advocacy groups.
After the collection of data, Dagan administered the development of our ingredient database and over the last 3 years has developed an expert knowledge in this fairly specialized area. To this day every decision on an ingredient property is resourced by three credible resources.
I come from a marketing and management background and moved from Hong Kong to Australia to join the team early on. At around the same time we identified the US as being the most obvious place to launch the technology and began to assemble our team of professionals headed by Dheeraj Patri, based in Chicago.
What do you like to eat?
"I use FoodEssentials to educate myself about the ingredients in products that I regularly eat such as cereals, breads, snacks, soups & drinks. I have reduced the amount of preservatives and colors in my diet, cut sugar in my drinks, and I love my high-fiber oatmeal breakfasts to kick start my day.
I also love Asian food, particularly Cantonese, and anything that mum or Dagan cook.
Anton notes, "we hope that the food allergic community will actively engage in the process by providing us with feedback and suggestions of how they would like the tool to evolve. We are open for business and suggestions are not only welcome, but encouraged. Let us know what you think."
Thank you, Anton for you and your family's dedication to food labeling and food knowledge.
Check out FoodEssentials. Also, check out their blog filled with useful and useless (their words, not mine) trivia facts. It's some fun stuff!
As always, you can look to the Food Allergy Assistant for more information.
For example, after the trouble with Sara Lee breads now containing dairy, I went to FoodEssentials and typed in "bread, dairy". A list of breads with information about whether or not they contained dairy, appeared on my monitor. Pretty cool, huh?
Check out this Q&A with Anton, and then try out their site:
Where did you get your interest in food and what people eat?
Several years ago, our father was attempting to implement a change in his diet and found it incredibly difficult to compare food labels in his local supermarket. The family became interested in this and started speaking to others.
Since then we’ve worked with a vast number of consumer advocacy groups, health professionals, government organizations, retailers and manufacturers in both Australia and the U.S and have gained an expert knowledge of the issues surrounding food labeling.
What is the FoodEssentials website and how can people best use it?
FoodEssentials is an online searchable database of actual food labels that can be used to compare foods for their allergen, additive, ingredient or nutrient properties. It's designed to help people easily find foods that best suit their specific dietary needs.
What is the goal of the site?
Our mission is to change the way the world chooses its food. We want to have a positive influence on the dietary habits of families and individuals by providing them with easy access to comparative information.
In addition, we hope that FoodEssentials can be a positive force in the evolution of food labeling by encouraging more responsible labeling by manufacturers.
How can food allergic consumers make the best use of FoodEssentials.com?
FoodEssentials provides food allergic consumers with a resource to quickly read and compare food labels.
We determine the allergen properties of a product by looking at each individual ingredient. We do not rely only on manufacturer claims. Questionable ingredients like "flavors" and "spices" are included in our "may contain" statements.
It will be possible in the near future to compare for any ingredient/allergen that you want.
What are your backgrounds?
My father and my youngest brother, Eddie and Dagan Xavier began working on the project first. Dagan had studied human movements and nutrition and had a good base knowledge.
We soon identified the importance of involving the expert knowledge of dietitians and consumer advocacy groups.
After the collection of data, Dagan administered the development of our ingredient database and over the last 3 years has developed an expert knowledge in this fairly specialized area. To this day every decision on an ingredient property is resourced by three credible resources.
I come from a marketing and management background and moved from Hong Kong to Australia to join the team early on. At around the same time we identified the US as being the most obvious place to launch the technology and began to assemble our team of professionals headed by Dheeraj Patri, based in Chicago.
What do you like to eat?
"I use FoodEssentials to educate myself about the ingredients in products that I regularly eat such as cereals, breads, snacks, soups & drinks. I have reduced the amount of preservatives and colors in my diet, cut sugar in my drinks, and I love my high-fiber oatmeal breakfasts to kick start my day.
I also love Asian food, particularly Cantonese, and anything that mum or Dagan cook.
Anton notes, "we hope that the food allergic community will actively engage in the process by providing us with feedback and suggestions of how they would like the tool to evolve. We are open for business and suggestions are not only welcome, but encouraged. Let us know what you think."
Thank you, Anton for you and your family's dedication to food labeling and food knowledge.
Check out FoodEssentials. Also, check out their blog filled with useful and useless (their words, not mine) trivia facts. It's some fun stuff!
As always, you can look to the Food Allergy Assistant for more information.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2009
Do you know about the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2009? I wrote about it over at Suite 101, so read that article if you want specific info about what it is.
I've written to PA Senators Casey and Specter to request their support of the bill. Feel free to copy all, or part, of my letter to send to your state senators. Check here if you're not sure who your senators are. Pass this letter along to anyone who may be willing to write a letter too.
******************************************************
Dear Senator Specter,
I am writing to request your support of S456: Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2009, introduced on February 23, 2009 by Senator Dodd to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
As the parent of a child with food allergies, I know first-hand the problems created when schools do not have established plans to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis. Young students have life-saving medication hidden in backpacks. Teachers feel anxious because they don't have the proper knowledge to handle an allergic reaction. Children feel left out because they can't participate in certain activities because plans were not made in advance.
I have advocated for my son often within our district. They have been very willing to work with us, but I know this is not the case in neighboring schools. This act would open the dialogue, and some funding, to get everyone on a level playing field.
I am also requesting an increase in federal funding for food allergy research. As recommended by the researchers who gathered at Children’s Memorial, an increase from the current amount of about $13M to $50M per year may get us better treatment and finally a cure. Recent research in food allergy is so promising and the researchers need more support.
Please support this act and increased funding for my third grader and the other three million school-aged food allergic children in the U.S. They need us.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
I've written to PA Senators Casey and Specter to request their support of the bill. Feel free to copy all, or part, of my letter to send to your state senators. Check here if you're not sure who your senators are. Pass this letter along to anyone who may be willing to write a letter too.
******************************************************
Dear Senator Specter,
I am writing to request your support of S456: Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2009, introduced on February 23, 2009 by Senator Dodd to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
As the parent of a child with food allergies, I know first-hand the problems created when schools do not have established plans to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis. Young students have life-saving medication hidden in backpacks. Teachers feel anxious because they don't have the proper knowledge to handle an allergic reaction. Children feel left out because they can't participate in certain activities because plans were not made in advance.
I have advocated for my son often within our district. They have been very willing to work with us, but I know this is not the case in neighboring schools. This act would open the dialogue, and some funding, to get everyone on a level playing field.
I am also requesting an increase in federal funding for food allergy research. As recommended by the researchers who gathered at Children’s Memorial, an increase from the current amount of about $13M to $50M per year may get us better treatment and finally a cure. Recent research in food allergy is so promising and the researchers need more support.
Please support this act and increased funding for my third grader and the other three million school-aged food allergic children in the U.S. They need us.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)