Food Allergy Bullying PSA from FARE: Please View and Share

Please view the below 90 second Public Service Announcement about food allergy bullying from FARE and share with as many people as you can. Thank you.

Food Allergy Awareness Week Twitter Party Update

Only 10 days left!

Join us for the 4th annual FAAW Twitter Party! This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with others in the online food allergy community LIVE at 7:00 PM Eastern, including representatives from FARE. Chat with food allergy friends, help promote food allergy awareness and maybe even win a food allergy prize from one of the party's sponsors.

In order to participate in the FAAW Twitter Party, you will need a Twitter account.

To be eligible for a prize, you must:

1. rsvp YES to this invitation

2. follow @FoodAllergyBuzz on Twitter

3. tell friends about the 2013 FAAW Twitter Party on Twitter and/or FB (send us the links for the Tweet and FB post!)

4. participate in the party using the #foodallergy hashtag!

Sponsors

Colette Martin, author of Learning to Bake Allergen-Free: A Crash Course for Busy Parents on Baking Without Wheat, Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Soy or Nuts

Enjoy Life Foods

FABlogCon

Legal Sea Foods
 

Onespot Allergy

Peanut Free Planet

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

Sarah Todd Origami Owl

Shirley Plant, author of Finally...Food I Can Eat

Sunwise Foods
 

Surf Sweets

Tasterie

Disclaimer

Please note: I accept no responsibility and disclaim any liability for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by anyone as a result of accepting a prize from the 2013 Food Allergy Awareness Week Twitter Party. Prizes are donated by the sponsors and will be sent directly by the sponsors to the prize winners. I have received no compensation in any way.

 

To RSVP to the party, please see the Food Allergy Awareness Week Twitter Party invitation.

 

Food Allergy STARS in Your Community

Please have a look at the following press release from the National Allergy & Anaphylaxis Council:

 

 

The National Allergy & Anaphylaxis Council (NAAC) Announces the NAAC Star Award

The NAAC Star Award Recognizes That Sometimes Simple Acts of Kindness Can Make a World of Difference.

 

Branford, CT, May 1, 2013 –The National Allergy & Anaphylaxis Council’s (NAAC), Star Award begins accepting nominations today.

 

Do you know a family member, friend, teacher, business, support group, or organization that has made a difference in the life of a person with food allergy & anaphylaxis? Nominate them for an NAAC Star Award!

 

The NAAC recognizes that acts of kindness, both big and small, can make a world of difference in the lives of those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis. We think these acts deserve recognition. This includes anything from reading a label, reminding someone to carry their epinephrine, or taking extra steps to include someone with food allergies and anaphylaxis. We would like to acknowledge these extraordinary people by giving them our NAAC Star Award.

 

“The NAAC feels it is important to acknowledge the actions of people that positively impact the daily lives of those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis. This award allows us to celebrate their efforts,” says NAAC Director, Gina Mennett Lee. 

 

Accepting Nominations: May 1, 2013 through May 30, 2013. Nominations can be made online through NAAC’s website (http://www.anaphylaxiscouncil.org/naac-star-award.html).

NAAC Star Award Recognition: Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Awareness Week through the end of May, 2013 (May 12-31). Recipients will be recognized through NAAC’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AnaphylaxisCouncil).

 

About the National Allergy & Anaphylaxis Council

We are a collective voice of leading advocates and professionals from across the nation. We raise awareness regarding food allergies and anaphylaxis and advocate for the fair treatment, inclusion, and safety of those diagnosed with this hidden disability.

Can Caregiver Mishandling of Food Allergies Equal Medical Neglect?

Did you know April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month? One form of abuse which is not as frequently discussed is medical neglect. In defining medical neglect, the American Human Association states the following (emphasis added by me):

 

"Medical neglect is the failure to provide appropriate health care for a child (although financially able to do so), thus placing the child at risk of being seriously disabled or disfigured or dying. According to NCANDS, in 2005, 2 percent of children (17,637 children) in the United States were victims of medical neglect (USDHHS, 2007). Concern is warranted not only when a parent refuses medical care for a child in an emergency or for an acute illness, but also when a parent ignores medical recommendations for a child with a treatable chronic disease or disability, resulting in frequent hospitalizations or significant deterioration."

 

I think life threatening food allergies qualify as a "chronic disease or disability". Now, I know I am stepping into a controversial area with the following questions, but I think this is a topic that warrants discussion. What about caregivers--parents, other relatives, teachers, whoever--who purposefully expose children to their known allergens?? To be clear, I'm not referring to parents who've enrolled their children in oral immunotherapy treatment. I'm talking about caregivers who have been informed that a child has a life threatening food allergy and knowingly expose the child to the allergen. Likewise, what about caregiver who repeatedly does not keep a child's prescribed epinephrine injectors on hand, despite the doctor's instructions?

 

What is your opinion? What about these sorts of mistreatment? Where is the line between "mistakes" and "carelessness" and "neglect" when it comes to managing a child's food allergies?

 

Silk Fruit & Protein: Dairy-free, Gluten-free Breakfast Juice Blend

Breakfast is a tricky meal for us. The kids don't have much of an appetite at that hour and they're barely awake. I’m always looking for something fast, tasty and satisfying for them to have before they leave for school. It's increasingly challenging since AM is not exactly the optimal time of day for pre-teens or teens. Anyone with tweens and/or teens knows just getting them dressed and out the door can be a feat! I was recently contacted about a product which may be a good part of breakfast before school--Silk Fruit & Protein, a creamy, fruity, smoothie-like soy juice blend. I’m thinking a glass of Silk Fruit & Protein with a muffin—they’ll eat anything breakfast pastry-like--to eat on the run is a pretty good option. It’s fairly healthful start and should keep them going till lunch. Silk Fruit & Protein is free of dairy, lactose, gluten, casein, eggs and MSG. It’s also Kosher OU-D and vegan. In addition, it is made from non-GMO soybeans. (Yes!) I’m happy to share information on this gluten-free, dairy-free food find with you as part of a paid Socialmoms and Silk blogging program.

Silk Fruit & Protein was introduced about a year ago and comes in 3 fruity flavors: Strawberry Banana, Mango Peach and Mixed Berry. My kids are berry kids and from what I gather, the Mixed Berry flavor is the most popular though I do like Mango. Silk Fruit & Protein offers an appealing and healthy alternative to juice at breakfast and offers more protein than most juices--5 grams. It also contains Calcium, Vitamin C and Vitamin D and is now available in half gallon cartons.
 

I encourage you to view the allergies and dietary restrictions section on Silk’s FAQs page. They provide thorough allergen information, which I consider the mark of a food allergy friendly company. With regards to the products being free of gluten and dairy, Silk’s website states that they have testing at their production facilities to detect the presence of “dairy or dairy components” as well as “gluten or gluten components”.

Silk uses almonds in Silk Pure Almond. Coconut is not a tree nut, but is included in the FDA’s definition of tree nuts, and is used in Silk’s Pure Coconut. The Silk FAQ regarding nut allergies states “…many of our products are produced on shared equipment. Because consumer safety is our highest priority, we have testing protocols in place to help ensure that ingredient commingling does not occur, but anyone with severe allergies should always consult a doctor before introducing a new food.” There is no mention of peanut as an ingredient or possible cross-contaminant.

Another thing I like about Silk is their “Love It” Guarantee. According to the website, if you aren’t satisfied with their product they will send you a coupon for a replacement product or a refund. I cannot think of another food that offers a similar guarantee. That’s pretty impressive!

To find out where you can purchase Silk Fruit & Protein, please visit the Silk store locator.  You can find it near other Silk products and other soy and almond milk products at the supermarket.  Here is a coupon to get $1 off and try a new breakfast option.

 

 

 

*This post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Silk blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

 

Documentary Review: Genetic Roulette

Thanks to +Leah Segedie (known as @bookieboo on Twitter), I recently had the opportunity to watch Jeffrey Smith's Genetic Roulette, a superb documentary about GMOs (genetically modified organisms). It was, to put it mildly, eye opening.

 

I knew that organic fruit and veggies don't contain harmful pesticides, which is a good thing. I didn't really have much of an awareness of the side effects of GMOs on our food, on livestock, on lab animals, and on us! I didn't really know that increases in different chronic illnesses in society coincide time-wise with use of GMOs. I didn't know that there was so much proof--in numerous studies and farmers' and veterinarians' observations on farms--that GMOs apparently affect reproduction, fertility, the digestive system, the immune system, etc. in animals. I wasn't aware that the effects of GMOs were so apparent in animals, that switching to and from GMO feed resulted in quick, very visible, unmistakable changes in the animals' health. I also did not realize--though I am not surprised--that many biotechnology executives now are U.S. government officials in fairly high, powerful positions. It really made me think.

 

Genetic Roulette is a powerful and informative film that explains GMOs and their effects very simply and clearly. There are many reputable experts included and many studies cited. It's full of facts and evidence. As a mother of 2 growing boys--one of whom has life threatening food allergies, asthma and eczema--I am always very conscious of what we are eating, but now, I want to learn even more about my food. I want to arm myself with more information about what I am putting in my grocery cart and on my children's dinner plates, and hopefully, prevent any further harm from our food. I highly recommend watching this incredibly compelling documentary.

 

Additional reading on GMOs

There is quite a lot of information written on this subject. Just do a Google search for GMOs and select only the News. You will see there is a new article on GMOs every couple days. Here are a few links you may find interesting:

 

GMO's: A Breakthrough or Breakdown in U.S. Agriculture?

How the Monsanto Protection Act Snuck into Law

Farmers vs Monsanto

 

Note: I did not receive any compensation for this review other than an opportunity to watch the documentary at no cost.

Food Allergy Awareness Week Twitter Party 2013

Save the date!

Plans are underway for the 2013 Food Allergy Awareness Week Twitter Party. The party is scheduled for Thursday, May 16 at 7 pm Eastern time. We're looking forward to it! The goal is to promote food allergy awareness and try to get the #foodallergy hashtag to trend during the party, so the more the merrier! Tell your family and your friends to tweet along with us that evening.

We're looking for food allergy friendly businesses with food allergy friendly products to participate as sponsors for the event and contribute a food allergy friendly product for a prize to be distributed to randomly selected participants. Please email me, jenniferATfoodallergybuzzDOTcom for the details on being a sponsor.