Flying with Peanut and Other Food Allergies

Canada's two major airlines are making it safer for those with peanut and other food allergies to fly. WestJet plans to make an announcement requesting other passengers not to eat nut or peanut products when a customer with such allergies requests this. The airline also plans to add an adult and child strength epinephrine auto-injector to its on-board medical kits in early 2011.

Canada's largest airline, Air Canada, has now posted  its official food allergy policy online. Canada’s main airline is starting to provide for a small buffer zone with advance notice and a completed medical form.

Yeah! Now we're getting somewhere!

Calling all other airlines...it's time to step up to the plate. These are reasonable accommodations for passengers in need. It's time to do right and promote a safe on-board environment for people with food allergies.

Read more at Allergic Living magazine's site.

Food Allergy Guidelines: What do They Really Mean?

There has been much buzz over the past week about the recently released "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the U.S". I've been quietly digesting the information in an effort to form my own thoughts and opinions about it. I applaud the two year efforts of the 34 organizations, agencies, physicians and  others who were involved in creating these guidelines. We have had too many years of inconsistent diagnosis, unclear instructions and confusion about what a food allergy really is. I do believe that clear guidelines will allow for some consistency and better education about food allergies.

So, what have we got with these new guidelines?

1. We've got a lot of defined terms now. From food allergy to food intolerances to tolerance to oral allergy, we can all speak the same language by referencing the definitions included in this paper.
2. It seems that we mostly rely on self-reporting as a means to track the prevalence of food allergy. That can impact the statistics as people are generally unsure of what a food allergy is and what the symptoms of a reaction are.
3. It also appears that our current testing methods (blood and skin tests) are not very accurate and cause an over-diagnosis of food allergy. Oral challenges are our best means of diagnosis at the present time, but present the highest risk to patients. I would also argue based on our experience, that oral challenges become less helpful to a person who has anxiety about eating a food they're been told to avoid for many years. The challenge becomes very subjective when the person complains of vague symptoms, like "I think my tongue feels itchy" or "my throat feels funny".
4. While annual food allergy testing was the standard practice, there is no evidence to support this time interval. It is unclear what time interval should be recommended.
5. The guidelines suggest that doctors and professional organizations may be too conservative when it comes to their recommendations for egg allergic individuals to avoid certain vaccines such as influenza, rabies and yellow fever. Those allergic to egg may be able to tolerate these vaccines- according to some studies.
6. Maternal diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding should not be restricted. Introduction of solid foods to infants should also not be delayed.
7. Clear definitions for anaphylaxis are available in the guidelines with epinephrine listed as the first line of treatment, followed by evaluation in a hospital setting. Hospitals are advised to observe patients for 4-6 hours, longer if there are other complicating factors, even though we don't really have a feel for the true incidence of these bi-phasic or delayed reactions.

For those of us who have lived with food allergy for many years, I don't know that we have any more information now than we did before these guidelines came out. I've read and heard all of this before. That said, we needed to make sure all professionals and caregivers were on the same page, and I think these guidelines will accomplish that.

A patient friendly copy of the guidelines will be available in 2011, but in the meantime, if you want to slog through the lengthy document, I'll send you to the correct page in the December 2010 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Food Allergy Friendly Sales

Those of us who must buy special foods know how expensive that can be. Take advantage of holiday sales from these allergy friendly companies:

10% off all Miss Robens baking mixes, plus 10% off your total order at the Allergy Grocer. Just enter code "JOY2010" at checkout. They are my favorite source for Barry Calabaut chocolate chips and this offer makes it a great time to stock up!

My cookbook shelf contains all of Linda Coss's books. Yours can too with her offer of free shipping and additional savings for book sets now through Dec. 31. She'll even personally autograph your books- just ask in the "special instructions section during check-out. My copies are dog-eared with folds and creases showing years of use. From pancakes to spaghetti and meatball soup, you're sure to find recipes the whole family will love.

Peanutfree Planet is your source for allergy friendly Advent calendars, iced gingerbread men and other goodies for the season. They offer flat rate shipping  or free shipping for orders over $100.

For other seasonal sweets, Premium Chocolatiers is offering beautiful chocolate gifts for the holidays, but hurry as only orders placed by today, Dec. 13, are guaranteed in time for Christmas. Amanda's Own will ship their holiday treats until Dec. 16 and Divvies offers a variety of Chanukah and Christmas treats this season  too.

Happy shopping!

Food Allergy Friendly Christmas Gifts

Do you have a young person with food allergies on your shopping list this season? Consider some of these unique gifts:

Food Allergies Rock!, by Kyle Dine. This fun musical CD is sure to have everyone in stitches! Take a listen. Don't forget about Kyle's first CD, You Must Be Nuts!. Who can keep a straight face with songs like "Tingle on my Tongue" and "Gluten Free Blues"?

Great books about food allergy for the younger set include:

The Bugabees: Friends With Food Allergies
Allie the Allergic Elephant: A Children's Story of Peanut Allergies
Cody the Allergic Cow: A Children's Story of Milk Allergies
"Abby the Alley Cat - Staying Safe from Dairy"
Chad the Allergic Chipmunk: A Children's Story of Nut Allergies
The Itchy Kids Club: Silly Poems for Itchy Kids
Starting School with a Food Allergy: Tips for a Peanut Allergic Kid
The Peanut Pickle: A Story About Peanut Allergy
The Peanut-Free Café
Taking Food Allergies to School...Coloring Book (Special Kids in School)

Did I miss any of your favorites? Please share!

***************
Don't forget to support FAAN’s bid to win grants from the Pepsi Refresh Project for Fund a Cure for Life-Threatening Food Allergies.
There are three ways to vote through Dec. 31:

1. Vote on the Pepsi Refresh Website:
2. Text 104004 to Pepsi (73774)
3. Vote on Facebook with the Pepsi Refresh app

Teenagers and Food Allergies- A Troubling Time

A recent survey of food allergic teens shows some surprising results. Of those surveyed, very few were troubled by having to carry epinephrine or by having to wear medical jewelry. What troubled adolescents with food allergy the most were:

• being a burden to others who may need to accommodate their allergy.
• feeling left out in social situations where eating is involved.
• not feeling supported by their schools in terms of the school educating others about food allergy.
• stress involved in eating in restaurants and while traveling.

Teens with food allergy are a target group of particular concern because they have a higher risk of death associated with anaphylaxis. This study sheds light on the specific concerns within this age group so that education and counseling can help teens deal with their food allergy concerns.

What can we do to help improve the quality of life for food allergic teens?

• Help our food allergic children, pre-teens and teenagers find the words to explain their allergy confidently and matter-of-factly to others.
• Provide our kids and teens with tools to use during social situations where food is served. This may mean providing safe food for all or suggesting your teen eat before the event and bring a snack to eat later.
• Continue educating and advocating at all school levels- including high school. Make sure school officials understand food allergy. Ensure your school has a food allergy management plan. Encourage discussion of food allergy in health and other relevant classes so students learn of the symptoms and dangers.
• Push for legislation within the restaurant industry to require proper accommodations for those with food allergy.
• Encourage your teen to seek counseling if needed and to be involved with others who deal with food allergy. FAAN Teen is a great resource where teens share their experiences and tips.
• Share books such as Allergy Information for Teens: (Teen Health Series) and Fatal foods:find out how one teen copes with her allergy to peanuts.: An article from: Scholastic Choices

Teens are stressed about their food allergies. We can all help decrease this stress and provide a safer environment for this group.

*******************
Don't forget to support FAAN’s bid to win grants from the Pepsi Refresh Project for Fund a Cure for Life-Threatening Food Allergies.
There are three ways to vote through Dec. 31:
1. Vote on the Pepsi Refresh Website:
2. Text 104004 to Pepsi (73774)
3. Vote on Facebook with the Pepsi Refresh app

Food Allergy Alert- Recall of Allergy Medications

This is getting tiresome and time consuming, but there has been another recall of medications that may affect the allergy community. All Benadryl Fastmelt products, as well as Jr. Motrin, have been recalled by McNeil Consumer Healthcare.

Go check your medicine cabinet and then check here for details of the recall.



For a food allergy reaction, the Fastmelt tablets are not ideal. The liquid form of Benadryl is recommended. Consider the Benadryl pre-filled spoons- we keep one of these in the Epi-Pen waistpouch- for quick and easy use.

*****************************
Don't forget to support FAAN’s bid to win grants from the Pepsi Refresh Project for Fund a Cure for Life-Threatening Food Allergies.
There are three ways to vote through Dec. 31:

1. Vote on the Pepsi Refresh Website:
2. Text 104004 to Pepsi (73774)
3. Vote on Facebook with the Pepsi Refresh app

Register for Food Allergy Teleseminar This Wednesday

Gina Clowes, of Allergy Moms, is offering a free workshop via telephone to discuss the holidays and food allergy issues. The workshop is being held today, Wednesday, Dec. 1 from 2-3 pm EST (11 am Pacific). Gina encourages everyone to register, even if you can't participate in the call as all registrants will receive a link for a recording of the call.

Register here!