Woo-Hoo: A $433,100 grant to Study Food Allergy Causes

I love this kind of news!

The University of Chicago and Northwestern University will share a grant of $433,100 to try to pinpoint the key immune factors that lead to food allergies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded this study through their Science to Achieve Results program (STAR).

Check out the article here and read the description and approach of the study here.

I'll keep an eye on this and report the results when they become available. I'm intrigued with the idea that researchers plan to assess whether pesticides produced in genetically engineered plants can trigger food allergies. There's got to be something causing this spike in food allergies. Could pesticides be the key?

Are You Walking for Food Allergy?

Check out FAAN's calendar and find the closest food allergy walk. Click on the link which will take you to the associated web page. Even if you can't walkwith a group, consider the virtual walk listed under Dec. 5, 2009. Tell grandparents, aunts, uncles, schools, sports teams, doctors affices about this easy way to help a great cause!

Bagel Day

We love to make bagels. This is what they look like after boiling them for 30 seconds and just before baking them for 20 minutes. The smell of hot bagels as they're pulled out of the oven...Yum!

This recipe is safe for those with allergies to dairy, egg (no need for the egg glaze the recipe calls for), peanut, tree nut and sesame seed. It does contain wheat.

We first saw the bagel recipe in Family Fun magazine. Give it a try this week-end!

Have You Taken The Food Allergy Survey?

If you're a FAAN member (and if not, why not?), be sure to take their survey. It's 56 questions long, but many of those are "yes" or "no" answers or responding to a question on a number scale. It appears that FAAN is gathering info about how their members use them as a resource, as well as what other ways members get food allergy information.

I hope to see the results at some point. I think that for many years, FAAN was the only game in town for food allergy information. Now there is a great deal of information on the web. FAAN remains one of my most trusted sources, though.

Great Site for Young People with Food Allergies

Studies have shown that young people with food allergies may take unnecessary risks so they aren't viewed as "different" by their peers. They just want to fit in. Perfectly understandable, but this is something that strikes terror in the heart of parents of food allergic kids everywhere.

That's why I love this new Canadain site: Why Risk It. Sponsored by Anaphylaxis Canada, the site allows teens and young adults to share their stories about life with food allergy. Covering everything from school to dating to dining out and more, people share their stories and learn from one another. It appears to be quite appropriate for younger kids as well.

Well done, Anaphylaxis Canada!

Asthma and Food Allergy Camps

Since 1988, the Consortium for Children's Asthma Camps has actively coordinated the activities of asthma camps across the US. Through these camps, children have a typical camp experience with the added benefits of quality medical care and asthma education as part of the camp routine.

What a wonderful opportunity for kids to be surrounded by other kids who deal with the same specific issues they face every day. How comforting for parents to send their child with asthma to a safe environment.

That got me thinking. Is there a similar opportunity for kids with food allergies?

I did find a "Family Session" available at the Center for Courageous Kids, in Kentucky. Specifically, they are offering a Family Fall Retreat week-end Sept. 11-13, 2009.

I'd love to see a consortium of camps nationwide for kids with food allergies. Imagine sending your child with food allergies to a camp where every child carried an Epi-pen and where there was food allergy education along with swimming and zip line activities.

Does anyone know of any such camps? Let me know!

Food Allergy Movie

Are there people in your life who just don't get food allergies?

Check out this 83 minute documentary all about food allergies. Produced, directed, and edited by Kevin J. Lindenmuth, "I'm Not Nuts: Living With Food Allergies", clarifies the misinformation people commonly have about food allergies. Interviews with medical professionals and families bring a realistic viewpoint to dealing with food that can be dangerous to those allergic to it.

It would make a perfect gift for grandparents, teachers, doctors, child care workers and others who need to hear about food allergy issues from someone other than you.