A 12-year-old food allergic Pennsylvania girl is raising money for food allergies by selling singing e-mail grams. Emily Z. created www.ezgreetings.org, as a bat mitzvah project. Through the site, customers can order a $5 singing email gram for any occasion. When an order comes in, Emily records a singing gram and sends it to the designated recipient with a personal message from the customer.
"EZgreetings combines my love of singing and graphic arts into my project, and it supports a cause that matters tremendously to me, food allergy research," says Emily.
Her site, has raised over $1000.
You go, girl!
Why not give it a try? Just a note...the links didn't work in Firefox. Go to Internet Explorer to check it out. Also, it only works on PC's, not Macs.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Friday, 10 July 2009
Food Allergy Death: Camp Held Liable
It's such a sad story...A 13-year old Australian boy died from anaphylactic shock after eating a food pouch that contained peanuts.
The boy was a cadet on a 3-day training camp. His parents had informed the appropriate authorities about their son's peanut allergy. As a matter of fact, SEVEN of the cadets were known to have a peanut allergy. The medical information provided by the parents was not distributed to those who handed out food to the cadets.
So what can we learn from this experience?
Never worry that you are being too over-protective.
Make sure you've spoken to every adult who will have direct contact with your child.
Insist that your child wear a medical bracelet or other identifier at all times. Consider providing safe food and instructing your child to eat only provided food.
Ensure that epinephrine is easily available to your allergic child.
We must allow our children to experience normal life. Take proper precautions and always listen to your gut.
Here's the whole news article about this tragedy.
The boy was a cadet on a 3-day training camp. His parents had informed the appropriate authorities about their son's peanut allergy. As a matter of fact, SEVEN of the cadets were known to have a peanut allergy. The medical information provided by the parents was not distributed to those who handed out food to the cadets.
So what can we learn from this experience?
Never worry that you are being too over-protective.
Make sure you've spoken to every adult who will have direct contact with your child.
Insist that your child wear a medical bracelet or other identifier at all times. Consider providing safe food and instructing your child to eat only provided food.
Ensure that epinephrine is easily available to your allergic child.
We must allow our children to experience normal life. Take proper precautions and always listen to your gut.
Here's the whole news article about this tragedy.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
ZEER: The Easy Way to Find Better Food
Have you heard about ZEER? Created in early 2008 by Mike Putnam, ZEER is a continually updated food information resource for people who want to know ingredient and nutrition information in the foods they eat. Perfect for those who deal with food allergies and/or intolerances.
This week, ZEER launched ZEER Select, a gluten free database full of information for those who need to avoid gluten. The company plans to offer a similar experience for other food allergies and intolerances in the future. In the meantime, with over 30,000 food items (and 500 products added or updated every week) it's easy to search for a wide variety of foods.
I had the opportunity to get a sneak peek into ZEER Select, which is offered by subscription at $14.95 per month. Users can search foods by name, category or UPC code. Detailed ingredient and nutrition information as well as a "gluten safety status" is given for each product.
I think one of the best features is that the site is constantly updated and reviewed by a medical advisory board of doctors and nutritionists. No worries about outdated or incorrect information. Another great feature of ZEER Select is the ability to maintain a grocery list and then share the list with family and friends. ZEER also has an iPhone application giving users the ability to get detailed product information when it's most needed- at the grocery store.
There are many parts to ZEER that are free for anybody to use. Join one of the Communities such as food allergies, diet, lifestyle (organic, vegan, vegetarian), health (diabetes, cancer, etc.) and religious/cultural. Users can sign up with a community to learn more about foods and participate in a discussion board to ask questions or give information. You can also see food product reviews or post one of your own.
Take a tour and see what ZEER and ZEER Select can offer you.
Let me know what you think.
This week, ZEER launched ZEER Select, a gluten free database full of information for those who need to avoid gluten. The company plans to offer a similar experience for other food allergies and intolerances in the future. In the meantime, with over 30,000 food items (and 500 products added or updated every week) it's easy to search for a wide variety of foods.
I had the opportunity to get a sneak peek into ZEER Select, which is offered by subscription at $14.95 per month. Users can search foods by name, category or UPC code. Detailed ingredient and nutrition information as well as a "gluten safety status" is given for each product.
I think one of the best features is that the site is constantly updated and reviewed by a medical advisory board of doctors and nutritionists. No worries about outdated or incorrect information. Another great feature of ZEER Select is the ability to maintain a grocery list and then share the list with family and friends. ZEER also has an iPhone application giving users the ability to get detailed product information when it's most needed- at the grocery store.
There are many parts to ZEER that are free for anybody to use. Join one of the Communities such as food allergies, diet, lifestyle (organic, vegan, vegetarian), health (diabetes, cancer, etc.) and religious/cultural. Users can sign up with a community to learn more about foods and participate in a discussion board to ask questions or give information. You can also see food product reviews or post one of your own.
Take a tour and see what ZEER and ZEER Select can offer you.
Let me know what you think.
Monday, 6 July 2009
Update Food Allergy Bill
Below is a note I received about Pennsylvania's efforts to make schools safer for food allergic children. Thank you to all of you who wrote letters on behalf of this bill. I hope it continues forward through the PA House Appropriations committee and becomes law providing a model for other states and countries. We need to make schools everywhere safe for all children!
Please forward to your membership and friends who assisted with our efforts on HB 1148.
The bill was unanimously passed by the Education Committee.
Thank you one and all for your support of HB 1148!!
The bill will now move to the PA House Appropriations Committee. As the legislature is now engaged in producing a budget, we will wait for the budget to be passed before we begin our communications with the Appropriations Committee members.
I will communicate with you soon about our next steps to obtain support
Happy Fourth of July!
Bill Dixon
Legislative Aide
PA State Representative Thomas Murt's District Office
(215)674-3755
Please forward to your membership and friends who assisted with our efforts on HB 1148.
The bill was unanimously passed by the Education Committee.
Thank you one and all for your support of HB 1148!!
The bill will now move to the PA House Appropriations Committee. As the legislature is now engaged in producing a budget, we will wait for the budget to be passed before we begin our communications with the Appropriations Committee members.
I will communicate with you soon about our next steps to obtain support
Happy Fourth of July!
Bill Dixon
Legislative Aide
PA State Representative Thomas Murt's District Office
(215)674-3755
Friday, 3 July 2009
Swine Flu Vaccine Safe for Those with With Egg Allergy?
The swine flu vaccine has been on my mind.
A post I read originally on Life With Food Allergies Blog has given me hope. Reportedly, drug company Novartis, has created a swine flu vaccine that will be safe for those with egg allergy.
I stil have a bunch of questions, though. It seems that other companies will be manufacturing swine flu vaccine that wouldn't be safe for those with egg allergy. How will distribution be handled? People who can't have the egg-based vaccine should certainly be the top priority for the new vaccine. Also, will the FDA cause this vaccine to hang up in the US? If it is available in Europe, can we go there to get the vaccine for our egg allergic family members?
It seems there are no clear cut answers to these questions yet.
Does anyone else know anything about this?
Check out the article here.
A post I read originally on Life With Food Allergies Blog has given me hope. Reportedly, drug company Novartis, has created a swine flu vaccine that will be safe for those with egg allergy.
I stil have a bunch of questions, though. It seems that other companies will be manufacturing swine flu vaccine that wouldn't be safe for those with egg allergy. How will distribution be handled? People who can't have the egg-based vaccine should certainly be the top priority for the new vaccine. Also, will the FDA cause this vaccine to hang up in the US? If it is available in Europe, can we go there to get the vaccine for our egg allergic family members?
It seems there are no clear cut answers to these questions yet.
Does anyone else know anything about this?
Check out the article here.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Food Allergy TV Show
A TV Show called "You Won't Even Miss It" is cooking up some great recipes for those with food allergies.
You can check out their episodes online by clicking the link above and then clicking on "TV Show". Learn how to make allergy friendly dishes such as Mango Creamsicle Smoothies and Asian Chicken Salad.
My mouth is watering...
What do you think?
You can check out their episodes online by clicking the link above and then clicking on "TV Show". Learn how to make allergy friendly dishes such as Mango Creamsicle Smoothies and Asian Chicken Salad.
My mouth is watering...
What do you think?
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Help is Needed Again for Food Allergy Bill in PA
I wrote about house Bill 1148 last Monday. The bill was sent to PA Education Committee members Weds. June 24. It was tabled. Here's the latest information from Rep. Murt's office about the future of this important bill:
The PA House Education Committee met on 6/24/09 and discussed HB 1148 - Food Allergy Guidelines. This bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Education to research and publish guidelines for the successful management of food allergies in our schools. The committee raised questions regarding how the legislation would impact existing laws and no bill vote was taken. Since last Wednesday, the legislation was re-written. We choose to clarify the impact on exiting school code by clearly illustrating the changes to the existing code. Changes to the Local Wellness Policy clause 1422.1 allowed us to identify Food Allergy Management as being as important as child health, nutrition, and physical education. Adding an additional dictate to Section 1422.3 allow us to outline the need for Food Allergy Guidelines and what they must accomplish.
The next meeting of the PA Education Committee where they will vote on HB 1148 is now this Wednesday, 7/01/09. Please forward this message to your membership and friends asking them to re-edit it to their liking and forward it to the following list of Education Committee members.
JRoebuck@pahouse.net, ksmith@pahouse.net, LCurry@pahouse.net, JYudicha@pahouse.net, bsmith@pahouse.net, mcarroll@pahouse.net, sconklin@pahouse.net, RGrucela@pahouse.net, pharkins@pahouse.net, mlongietti@pahouse.net, MOBrien@pahouse.net, JPallone@pahouse.net, cwagner@pahouse.net, JWheatle@pahouse.net, RYoungbl@pahouse.net, Pclymer@pahousegop.com, mfleck@pahousegop.com, Dmetcalf@pahousegop.com, dmilne@pahousegop.com, Boneill@pahousegop.com, Tquigley@pahousegop.com, Klrapp@pahousegop.com, MReese@pahousegop.com, trock@pahousegop.com, WTallman@pahousegop.com
Thank you again for your continued support.
Bill Dixon
Legislative Aide
PA State Representative Thomas Murt's District Office
(215)674-3755
****************************************************************************
I have the document that will be presented to the committee. If you're interested in reading it, e-mail me and I'll send it to you.
*****************************************************************************
Help is needed- even if you don't live in PA. Please consider copying and pasting the e-mail addresses and letter into an e-mail and send it to our PA Reps. There is power in numbers and if all of us band together, no matter where we live, we can make all of our schools safer for those with food allergies.
Here's the letter I re-sent:
Dear Representative,
House Bill 1148 is a public health necessity. We have young students hiding their life-saving medications in backpacks because some schools require medications to be kept locked in the nurse's office. We have students exposed to potentially dangerous allergens because schools are reluctant to engage in dialogue with parents about food allergies. School buses and after-school activities are, at minimum challenging and sometimes not possible, for children with food allergies.
The incidence of food allergies has been growing exponentially in recent years and about seven percent of the student population is affected by food allergies. At present, many schools are managing these students on a case by case basis, and the results are mixed. As a result, families are forced to seek private or home schooling for their food allergic children to keep them safe.
Accommodations for food allergic students can be made easily and effectively in the classrooms and school communities. By law, all children are guaranteed an appropriate and free public education, and students with food allergies are legally entitled to appropriate protections. We just want to have the opportunity to talk with our schools about what is best for all children.
I am asking you to vote yes to HB 1148 on July 1, 2009.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS HERE
The PA House Education Committee met on 6/24/09 and discussed HB 1148 - Food Allergy Guidelines. This bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Education to research and publish guidelines for the successful management of food allergies in our schools. The committee raised questions regarding how the legislation would impact existing laws and no bill vote was taken. Since last Wednesday, the legislation was re-written. We choose to clarify the impact on exiting school code by clearly illustrating the changes to the existing code. Changes to the Local Wellness Policy clause 1422.1 allowed us to identify Food Allergy Management as being as important as child health, nutrition, and physical education. Adding an additional dictate to Section 1422.3 allow us to outline the need for Food Allergy Guidelines and what they must accomplish.
The next meeting of the PA Education Committee where they will vote on HB 1148 is now this Wednesday, 7/01/09. Please forward this message to your membership and friends asking them to re-edit it to their liking and forward it to the following list of Education Committee members.
JRoebuck@pahouse.net, ksmith@pahouse.net, LCurry@pahouse.net, JYudicha@pahouse.net, bsmith@pahouse.net, mcarroll@pahouse.net, sconklin@pahouse.net, RGrucela@pahouse.net, pharkins@pahouse.net, mlongietti@pahouse.net, MOBrien@pahouse.net, JPallone@pahouse.net, cwagner@pahouse.net, JWheatle@pahouse.net, RYoungbl@pahouse.net, Pclymer@pahousegop.com, mfleck@pahousegop.com, Dmetcalf@pahousegop.com, dmilne@pahousegop.com, Boneill@pahousegop.com, Tquigley@pahousegop.com, Klrapp@pahousegop.com, MReese@pahousegop.com, trock@pahousegop.com, WTallman@pahousegop.com
Thank you again for your continued support.
Bill Dixon
Legislative Aide
PA State Representative Thomas Murt's District Office
(215)674-3755
****************************************************************************
I have the document that will be presented to the committee. If you're interested in reading it, e-mail me and I'll send it to you.
*****************************************************************************
Help is needed- even if you don't live in PA. Please consider copying and pasting the e-mail addresses and letter into an e-mail and send it to our PA Reps. There is power in numbers and if all of us band together, no matter where we live, we can make all of our schools safer for those with food allergies.
Here's the letter I re-sent:
Dear Representative,
House Bill 1148 is a public health necessity. We have young students hiding their life-saving medications in backpacks because some schools require medications to be kept locked in the nurse's office. We have students exposed to potentially dangerous allergens because schools are reluctant to engage in dialogue with parents about food allergies. School buses and after-school activities are, at minimum challenging and sometimes not possible, for children with food allergies.
The incidence of food allergies has been growing exponentially in recent years and about seven percent of the student population is affected by food allergies. At present, many schools are managing these students on a case by case basis, and the results are mixed. As a result, families are forced to seek private or home schooling for their food allergic children to keep them safe.
Accommodations for food allergic students can be made easily and effectively in the classrooms and school communities. By law, all children are guaranteed an appropriate and free public education, and students with food allergies are legally entitled to appropriate protections. We just want to have the opportunity to talk with our schools about what is best for all children.
I am asking you to vote yes to HB 1148 on July 1, 2009.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS HERE
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