New Device to Help Those with Food Allergy Eat Safely

New Smartphone Device

The iTube may turn any smart phone into a testing lab for food allergens. Professor Aydogan Ozcan, recently named "one of the world's most brilliant innovators" by Popular Science, is working on a small device that can identify allergens in food products. The smartphone attachment weighs just two ounces and uses the phone's built-in camera to turn images into measurements to show how much of an allergen (such as egg, peanut, etc.) is in the food product.

Now, this isn't quite as simple as taking a picture of a cookie. It involves grinding up the food and mixing in some water and some reactive agents in a test tube...and then taking the picture. The process takes about 20 minutes. The product was recently introduced in the journal, Lab on a Chip and NY Daily News offers a picture and article. 

I love the potential this has both at home and while eating out. Twenty minutes is not so long if you're placing a restaurant order. Instead of playing with sugar packets, food allergy families can pull out the test tubes and check menu items for safety. Hmmmm...I think there's a potential for a new game here...

It's not on the market yet, but is this something you would buy?

Small Intestine May Play Large Role in Food Allergy

In March, I talked about research related to dendritic cells and food allergies in a post called, "New Discovery May Help Food Allergic".  Last week, Massachusetts General released a new study focused on dendritic cells in the intestinal lining. They discovered that these cells collect antigens from both intestinal contents and the blood stream, leading to the generation of T cells that suppress inflammation. Researchers believe that the suppression of inflammation could bring about the inappropriate immune response characteristic of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and food allergies. Controlling T cell activation in the intestine may play a role in understanding food allergies.

Take a look at the complete press release, Intestinal immune cells play an unexpected role in immune surveillance of the bloodstream, for more detailed information. This study was supported by several National Institutes of Health grants.

Food Allergy Friendly Holiday Cookies

Christmas Cookies

It's that time of year. I've pulled out my allergy friendly go-to holiday cookie recipe cards and I'm heading into the kitchen. I've borrowed recipes from others or adapted old favorites to meet our needs of milk, egg and nut-free. Many of these work well with your favorite gluten-free flour too. No one will ever suspect that these cookies are missing anything. They are all so delicious!

• When a chocolate cookie recipe comes from the Hershey Kitchens, I figure you can't go wrong. This recipe for Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies is easy to adapt. I use dairy-free margarine and I substitute the 2 eggs with a mixture of 3 Tablespoons water, 3 Tablespoons canola oil and 2 teaspoons of baking powder. I use dairy-free chips and eliminate the nuts. Simply divine!
• Food Allergy Mama's Chocolate Crinkles are already dairy, egg, nut free and yummy.
• This classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe by Sunmaid is another staple on my cookie tray. Again, I use a dairy-free margarine and substitute the one egg with a mixture of 1 1/2 Tablespoons water+ 1 1/2 Tablespoons canola oil and 1 teaspoon baking powder.
• Snickerdoodles always remind me of Christmas. Ummmm...that smell of cinnamon sugar baking...Sue W.'s recipe is also easily changed by using dairy-free margarine and substituting the 2 eggs with a mixture of 3 Tablespoons water, 3 Tablespoons canola oil and 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
• One of our new favorites is the 2010 FAANtastic Divvies Cookie Contest Winner. Libby, the creator of Double Chocolate Brownie Bites has also provided a gluten-free version of her recipe.

Happy baking...and eating! What cookies will you bake this season?

Could Tap Water Bring on Food Allergies?

What's in Your Tap Water?

Does the recent ACAAI study linking pesticides and food allergy have you eyeing up your glass of water a bit differently?

I'm still digesting this week's news about a link between a chemical that is used in pesticides and in the chlorination of tap water to an increase in food allergies.

The whole hygiene theory hasn't been sitting well with me (no, we're not overly clean. There is plenty of dust in my house, thank you.), and the idea that environmental changes have lead to the explosion in the food allergy rate does make some sense.

This particular study involved over 2100 people and measured their urine levels of dichlorophenols.  The results showed that people with higher levels of dichlorophenols were more likely to have food allergies.  Dichlorophenols, in case you were not aware (yeah, I never heard of them either) are chemicals found in pesticides used in farming and chemicals used to chlorinate water.

"Our research shows that high levels of dichlorophenol-containing pesticides can possibly weaken food tolerance in some people, causing food allergy," said lead study author Elina Jerschow, MD, in a release from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. She further noted that previous studies have shown that food allergies and environmental pollution are increasing in the United States and this research may show a link between the two.

Researchers are quick to point out that further study is needed in this area and that pesticides or tap water do not necessarily cause food allergies.

Another piece of the food allergy puzzle perhaps...