Food Allergen-Free Sunscreen and Mosquito-Repellent

As we approach summer, we begin to shift our focus to outdoor fun and vacations.  For those of us with food allergic family members and friends, gathering supplies for such outings may take a little more leg work.  It is important to take along plenty of your favorite allergen-free supplies, just in case it is not available at your destination.

With food allergies, the focus understandably tends to be on ingestion of the offending food.  Many food allergy sufferers, however, strive for complete avoidance altogether. It is so reassuring to be able to find a product whose label states it is free of particular food allergens.  It makes protecting ourselves and our loved ones markedly easier.  

There are a handful of sunscreens and mosquito-repellents that may be worth investigating.  In fact, I have only found one mosquito-repellent (listed below) that broadly advertises its lack of food allergen ingredients.    

• California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen.  It is sold by online retailers such as the Babycenter Store and also on the California Baby website.  According to California Baby, all California products are free of "nut oils", "gluten", "soy", "oats", "dairy", "sulfates", "DEA", "colors", "dyes", "synthetic fragrances" and more.  They also sell other nut-free, gluten-free, soy-free, oat-free, dairy-free sunscreens as well as other toiletries.
• California Baby Bug Repellent Spray.  Like the sunscreen, it is available from online retailers such as the Babycenter Store and  also can be purchased on the California Baby website. The Bug Repellent Spray is all natural and does not contain DEET. Like their sunscreen, it is nut-free, gluten-free, soy-free, oat-free, and dairy-free.  As always, consult their website or telephone for additional product information.
• Baby Blanket Sunblankie Towelettes.  These are sold online by Baby Blanket Suncare directly as well as the Babycenter Store and drugstore.com.  There is a note that "this product is peanut-free and gluten-free" in the product description on drugstore.com.
• Arbonne Baby Care Sunscreen SPF 30.  Arbonne's website states it is "formulated without nut oils".   Shea Butter oil is listed as an ingredient in the website's product description. To purchase, you must contact an Arbonne consultant.  See the Arbonne website for additional information.

Again, be sure to check your labels, make telephone calls or send emails to verify any product's safety for your particular allergies. If any of you have already tried these products or know of others, please share your knowledge and send in a comment!

The Buzz around New England

Have you made your summer vacation plans yet?  If you are planning to be in New England or are working on a New England weekend trip idea, consider this:

With the onset of spring and the beginning of the baseball season, the thoughts of many sports fans turn to spending an afternoon or evening at the ballpark. For those who are peanut allergic, attending a baseball game can be challenging, if not altogether impossible. Fortunately, some ballparks are reaching out and beginning to make special arrangements for their food allergic fans.  In the New England area, the Nashua Pride of Nashua, New Hampshire, is offering a special peanut-free seating section at Holman Stadium this season to accommodate peanut-allergic fans.  

I recently spoke with General Manager Chris Hall about the peanut-allergy friendly changes. He stated that the changes are the result of a request from a Hollis, NH family.  The designated peanut-free section, number 208, is located in the upper seating area on the third base side.  The section will be power-washed following each game and those holding tickets for Section 208 will be made aware that it is a designated peanut-free zone.  In addition, efforts are underway to make some allergen-free food available as well.  Preference for the peanut-free zone should be mentioned when purchasing tickets.  An article in the Nashua Telegraph provides more information.  

So, if your vacation plans include a visit to Lake Winnipesaukee, exploring Mount Washington and the White Mountains, or sightseeing in Boston an hour away, consider taking in a baseball game in Nashua.  Isn't it wonderful to have more options?

Nut-free Clothes Shopping?

Would my four-year-old recognize an unshelled peanut? Now, I must visit the supermarket with a mission beyond purchasing this week's groceries.  I must be sure to point out unshelled peanuts because we came upon some at a department store the other day.  I can't help but think that if I had not been there, my child might have bent down to examine the spilled trail mix more closely, not realizing that there was a peanut in that mix.

We were waiting in line when I noticed some spilled trail mix on the floor in front of the cashier's counter. There were some pieces of dried fruit, cashews, and a peanut. That deadly peanut.  For a moment, I almost forgot to breath.  I pointed it out to my peanut-allergic child and we stood a few feet away, waiting our turn. We made sure to keep our distance and then pointed it out to the cashier.  I had never really thought of peanut-free or nut-free clothes shopping.  I had been focusing more on avoiding peanuts as an ingredient.  I just don't know how my child would be affected by skin contact with a peanut, and I don't want to find out.  Yet another reminder that vigilance is absolutely essential.

Positive Restaurant Reviews for Food Allergy Sufferers

Planning a family trip led me to a search for recommendations of restaurants which are good at handling the special needs of food allergic customers. It appears there is not yet a network where people can share their positive restaurant experiences from the perspective of food allergy sufferers or caregivers. Would food allergy sufferers and parents of food allergic children share their positive restaurant experiences? I would like to begin by offering the first Food Allergy Buzz restaurant review here.

We enjoyed a lovely restaurant experience in June 2007 at McCormick & Schmick's in Philadelphia with our children.  The food was delicious and the service was excellent.  Upon our arrival, we informed the staff of one child's peanut allergy.  The chef came to our table as soon as we were settled in our seats to reassure us that he would personally make whatever we wanted our child to eat and ensure it was free of peanuts and cross-contamination. It was an enjoyable dinner for all of us.

Please share some positive restaurant reviews! Post your information in a comment on this blog. Be sure to provide the name of the restaurant, city and state where the restaurant is located, and a few sentences describing how the food allergy was accommodated and what made it a positive restaurant dining experience for you.  

Allergen Labeling for Non-Food Items

Do you really know what is in your favorite lotion or even your toothpaste?  A facial scrub may contain walnuts or shower gel might contain almond oil. Allergen labeling like that which is currently required for food items in the United States is not required for non-food items.  This means that we may be exposing our allergic family members to potentially harmful substances.  It is difficult to select products with much confidence in their allergen content or lack thereof.

Oftentimes, individuals with food allergies only experience an allergic reaction upon ingesting the allergen.  Reactions triggered by skin contact or inhalation may remain unknown until the situation arises.  Few people would want to risk a reaction by failing to avoid a known allergen.  Here are a few websites which provide lists of non-food items that may contain the top 8 allergens.  

www.kidshealth.org/

www.revolutionhealth.com/

Enjoying Allergen-Free Food

It is exciting to see that Cherrybrook Kitchen is unveiling new peanut-free, nut-free products. It seems every week, more allergen-free products are becoming available. Ian's has a number of red-banner products free of the 8 most common allergens.  Philly Swirl makes tasty frozen snacks which are nut-free and available at many supermarkets, and Allergy Grocer carries a wonderful wide selection of allergen-free foods.  If only there were completely nut-free--no risk of cross-contamination--ice cream at the supermarket! For now, however, the Cuisinart ice cream machine can keep a family very content, making ice cream easily and safely. A few ingredients in the machine for a half hour, and you've got a very happy child indeed!