Feeding Babies Fish May Reduce Risk of Eczema

A few days ago, I came across an article about a study conducted in Sweden which indicated that infants who eat fish before they are nine months old are less likely to suffer from eczema.  24% less--interesting!  Here is a link to the article on medpagetoday.com: Early Consumption of Fish May Prevent Eczema in Infants.

Vegan and Nut-Free Beauty Products

Have you already heard of Upurea ?  I hadn't until a month or so ago when I came across an interesting press release stating "Upurea...has created a new product advisory icon alerting shoppers who are allergic or sensitive to nuts."  Upurea uses symbols to provide consumers with a quick way to check on particular product features such as whether a product contains nuts, is vegan friendly, is in recycled packaging, or uses organic ingredients.  Based on The Low Down: Upurea.com and the other pages I peeked at, Upurea is growing fast.  In fact, brick and mortar stores are planned for North America and abroad.  It's yet another progressive company hailing from Canada. Perhaps some of our Canadian visitors here can tell us more about it!

The Rest of the Peanut-Free Candy Corn Story

Do you remember Paul Harvey? I remember hearing him on WBZ 1030 in Boston years ago. He would close by saying "...and now you know the rest of the story." Given the strong reactions to the candy corn posts, I thought it would be best to make the email messages from Blueberry Hill Foods , Peanut Free Planet , and me available online so that you will know the rest of the "peanut-free candy corn story". I finally figured out I could publish them using Google Docs. These are the links for all the emails. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think. Thanks!

08/27/08 and 09/25/08 FAB/BH Foods Messages

08/27/08 & 09/25/08 More FAB/BH Foods Messages

09/24/08 & 09/25/08 (1st mess) Peanut Free Planet/FAB

09/24/08 & 09/25/08 (2nd mess) Peanut Free Planet/FAB
09/25/08 FAB Response to PFP

09/27/08 Message from Heather from Peanut Free Planet

Additional, new information is provided in the post linked below from Heather of Peanut Free Planet on peanutallergy.com.
10/04/08 http://www.peanutallergy.com/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showthreaded&Number=258938

I had to come back and add one more thought after first publishing this particular post! I am somewhat saddened that the discussion on candy corn has developed the way it has here and in the emails. As consumers (and many of us parents) dealing with food allergies, we want and need to be as well-informed as possible. I wrote my original post in the hope that someone would be able to recommend candy corn made by a completely peanut free facility. Blueberry Hill--in my humble opinion--seems to be the most peanut allergy friendly candy corn currently available, and that's good to know. In addition, please note that I did not seek out Peanut Free Planet--they contacted me. In fact, I did not solicit comments from any retailers; I only sought product information from candy manufacturers.

Those of you who have emailed me and commented have made many valid points, many of which I agree with wholeheartedly. And I thank all of you for sharing your views! But I would like to make one potentially impolitic point. As imperfect as they may appear, Peanut Free Planet remains one of the few allergy friendly online stores in the U.S. I really do want food allergy friendly companies to flourish--I think we all do. Hopefully, this will be the last post on this subject and we can move onto new items! Anyone have a good pumpkin pie recipe?

If you are reading this post and wondering what all this candy corn talk is about, here are the two posts which will give you the background: The Candy Corn Mystery

and Isn't There Any Candy Corn Made in a Peanut-Free Facility?

A Post Worth Reading

I have a long list of blogs I visit every few days.  I enjoy reading what other people are talking about and I usually learn something during each visit.  "Word of mouth" on the internet is amazing, isn't it?  How I treasure freedom of speech!  Sometimes I hear about new products--like the cup-a-cake container--or food allergy friendly restaurants, challenges at school or work, and sometimes the blogs just make me think.  

One of my favorite blogs is "Every Day with Food Allergies ".  The writer, purplemommy, wrote a great post entitled Firsts that is a must read.  I wanted to write in a comment but it's hard to think of what to say because she said it all so well.  Please take a look for yourself!  All I can say is "wow".

Please take a moment to answer our polls on the left. Recent reaction in emails and comments to the posts about candy corn underscore that "peanut-free" means different things to different people.  We want to know what you think.  Thank you!

The Candy Corn Mystery

**Special note 09/28/08: I have not published the emails from Blueberry Hill or Peanut Free Planet here due to their number and length.  They are now available online; the links are in a newer post, The Rest of the Candy Corn Story. In my posts, I've summarized the information I received from the manufacturer (which also was supported by Peanut Free Planet, a retailer which sells the candy corn and was first mentioned in a comment to the first candy corn post).  In addition, I've made a few edits in the article below. **

The post below was orginally published on September 25, 2008

I received several helpful comments from readers in response to my recent post about the lack of peanut-free manufacturing facilities for candy corn in the U.S.  A special thank you goes out to Julie for going the extra mile and sharing what you learned.  (To read the original candy corn post and comments, click here.)  

Goelitz/Jelly Belly has information on their website that indicates their facilities are not peanut-free.  I contacted Zachary Confections and Brachs as well.  No one had a manufacturing facility free of peanuts. Blueberry Hill was unclear.  I had received an email from them indicating that their facility is not "peanut-free" but there is some separation of peanut-containing foods and non-peanut containing foods. Additional emails from Peanut Free Planet and Blueberry Hill state that that there are peanuts or peanut containing foods on the premises, albeit in separate and contained areas.  *NOTE: On 09/27/08, I added the words "and contained" and pluralized "area".  I also removed a statement with my opinion about whether or not the manufacturing facility is "peanut-free".  In addition I've changed the word "confirm" to "state".* 

Peanut Free Planet and Blueberry Hill, however, both emphasized the cross-contamination protocols in place which include a separate contained area of the building for peanut-containing products as well as testing of the area surrounding the "allergen room". The testing is done by a third party and Blueberry Hill's Quality Manager states that no traces of peanut have been found in any of those tests.  The other manufacturers did not address the issue of cross-contamination protocol.  Their responses simply were that peanuts are present.

Thank you to both Blueberry Hill and Peanut Free Planet for clarifying the candy corn mystery. Peanut Free Planet sent a very detailed email explaining what they knew of Blueberry Hill's manufacturing facility and also their own efforts to gather information about cross-contamination. This is helpful information for us to have in our shopping decisions for our allergic friends and family.  Many of us need and want to know if peanuts are used in a manufacturing facility and if so, what kind of cross-contamination protocol is in place.  Individual comfort levels with cross-contamination protocols can vary widely so I hope this additional information about the candy corn available this year will help in your Halloween shopping decisions.

If anyone else has additional information to add, please feel free to comment or send me an e-mail at jennifer@foodallergybuzz.com.

TV Appearance by Linda Coss, Food Allergy Mom and Author

Please check out the video of Linda Coss on her website, www.foodallergybooks.com.  In this brief video, Linda touches upon several major food allergy topics, including birthday parties, food allergy cooking and shopping, as well as her latest book. What a great advocate for food allergy awareness!

Massachusetts School Has Lunch Tables for Those Eating Peanuts and Nuts

Here's a switch.  Instead of having a cafeteria table for those with peanut and tree nut allergies, schools in Amesbury, Massachusetts have a policy whereby students consuming food containing nuts or peanuts must sit at a few designated tables.  The peanut and nut allergic students may sit anywhere else!  Here is Sabrina Cardin's article from the Newburyport Daily News Online: Amesbury schools take new strategy to combat allergies.

What do you think?

Isn't There Any Candy Corn Made in a Peanut-Free Facility?

**Special note 09/28/08: I have not published the emails from Blueberry Hill or Peanut Free Planet here due to their number and length.  They are available online now; the links are in a new post, The Rest of the Candy Corn Story**

Is there any candy corn made in a peanut-free, nut-free facility?   Internet searches turned up nothing helpful.  I actually telephoned the National Confectioners Association a few weeks ago with this very question.  Why? Trying to find a new halloween treat for my peanut allergic four-year old.   The National Confectioners Association told me they are not aware of any peanut-free, tree nut-free facilities making candy corn.  In fact, they informed me that much of the halloween candy sold in the U.S. is not even made in the U.S. anymore.  It is made in China and other distant locations, so there's no telling what the facilities are like.  They recommended I check with Gimbal's, a U.S.-based manufacturer best known for their jelly beans and fruit slices, which are free of the top 8 food allergens.  Unfortunately, Gimbal's does not manufacture candy corn.  

I remembered reading somewhere that Blueberry Hill Foods candy corn is made in a peanut-free facility, so I sent them an email in late August.  They responded on August 27 saying "Please know that we do use peanuts in our facility, however, they are contained in a separate area and the equipment used to make the candies is not shared."  What exactly is meant by separate area? Same room?  Same building?  I avoid scenarios such as that for other foods, so I've concluded that we'll skip candy corn again this year. Maybe Gimbal's or another peanut-free, nut-free candy manufacturer will begin candy corn production next year.  Until then, we'll stick with our nut-free chocolate made in the U.S.A. and supplement with Halloween stickers and other non-food items.

*UPDATE: I received an email from Peanut Free Planet on September 24, 2008 with additional information about Blueberry Hill candy corn and also more information from Blueberry Hill directly on September 25, 2008.  Read The Candy Corn Mystery to learn the details.

Don't Miss Your Chance - A & J Bakery Coupon

You may recall A & J Bakery featured in the "Buzz Around New England" a few months ago.  Amy and Joe Hitzemann opened their completely nut-free bakery in Cranston, RI, just over a year ago.  One of the things that makes A & J very special is their commitment to the safety of their allergic customers by making every possible effort to avoid cross-contamination. If you are not familiar with A & J, please visit their website at www.aandjbakery.net, and don't hesitate to phone or email them with any questions.  Amy and Joe are accessible and very dedicated.

They've sent along a coupon which is valid for in-person purchases as well as shipped purchases through the end of September 2008.  Please note it does not count toward the actual shipping charges.   I already know what I'm ordering this time..some of their excellent biscotti!

Back To School Sale 20% OFF Your Next Purchase at A&J Bakery 1458 Park Ave. Cranston, RI 02920 401-228-8696  Valid from 9/02/08 – 9/30/08 Valid for Only One Coupon Per Household

New Food Allergy Resource

Have you visited Zeer.com?  I've been stopping by Zeer every week for a few months now.  I think it has the potential to be a fantastic tool for food allergic individuals and their families.  First, Zeer has a massive database of almost every food you can find at the supermarket. You can read product reviews by other Zeer members or write a product review yourself.  And Zeer has communities for a number of food allergies and other special diets.  For example, if you or a loved one are allergic to dairy, you can join the dairy allergy community, read "infobits" specific to dairy allergy as well as any tips or hot discussion topics in Zeer's dairy allergy community.  Zeer has other cool features too--you can create a shopping list using the Zeer product database and reviews, print your list out, or even check your lists or product reviews from your cell phone.  

Zeer's a great website, but the food allergy communities need more members and reviews.  At the moment, a large number of the food allergy friendly products reviewed have been reviewed by me!  We need a little more variety, and that's where you come in--when more members of the food allergy community begin to use it, it'll be a fantastic way for us all to exchange and share food allergy friendly product information in a central location.  Check it out!

*Did you notice the new Zeer widget in the right sidebar?

Discussion on National School Lunch Program

Here is an interesting press release about Enjoy Life's participation in discussion on the National School Lunch Program.                                                                                            

Enjoy Life® Foods CEO Presents Comments to USDA on National School Lunch Program

Urges federally assisted meal program accommodate children with Celiac Disease, food allergies and other special dietary needs

CHICAGO, September 10, 2008 – At the invitation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Scott Mandell, CEO, President and Co-Founder of Enjoy Life Foods, the country’s leading manufacturer of allergy-friendly and gluten-free foods, provided comments on the National School Lunch Program saying that children with special dietary needs due to Celiac Disease, food allergies and other health concerns are not accommodated under the current program.

Today’s meeting, held by the Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA, was a Request for Public Comments for Use in Preparing for 2009 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs, which includes the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program; and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which support nutritious meals and snacks served to children in schools, child care institutions and afterschool care programs.

Speaking on behalf of the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) and Enjoy Life Foods, Mandell said, “On behalf of the children, their parents and caregivers that are currently excluded from receiving program benefits, I strongly urge the USDA to make the necessary changes to the National School Lunch Program to ensure that ALL eligible students can benefit from this important, federally assisted meal program.”

Mandell supported his comments by citing the growing number of children affected by Celiac Disease, food allergies, food intolerances and autism:

• Celiac Disease, is the world’s most common genetic auto-immune disease, and is estimated to affect at least 1% of the population[i]. At this time, the only known treatment for Celiac Disease is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet for life (gluten is the protein that is found in wheat, barely and rye). 
• Food allergies are estimated to affect 6 to 8% of children and 3 to 4% of adults[ii], and diagnoses are on the rise. For the over 12 million Americans with food allergies, symptoms can range from mild (such as gastrointestinal discomfort) to life threatening (due to anaphylactic shock).
• Another 30 million Americans have food intolerances[iii] that cause them to avoid certain foods.
• And finally, one in 150 children is affected by autism[iv] which can be effectively managed in some cases by following a diet free of gluten and casein (the protein found in dairy).

Carol McCarthy Shilson, Executive Director of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center and ACDA member, also provided comments on behalf of Stefano Guandalini, M.D., the Center’s founder and medical director.  “It is not right that children with Celiac Disease should be denied a safe meal or given food that is nutritionally inadequate. Surely we cannot expect our children to learn and thrive with such conditions. It is our duty to see that all children are provided with a nutritious and safe meal at school,” Guandalini commented

Shilson also presented results from a recent survey by the ACDA, which revealed that among 2,229 parents of children with Celiac Disease, only 111 were able to get a gluten-free lunch at school. The others had to pack a lunch or go without, according to the ACDA survey.

About ACDA

The American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) began to take shape in early 2003 when an ad hoc group of 15 leaders in the celiac community came together to help persuade Congress to require food labels to include information about allergens.  The group’s efforts were instrumental in the passage of landmark legislation, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act. The non-profit organization provides leadership on policy issues affecting the lives of individuals with celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder affecting children and adults.  The ACDA is recognized internationally for its role in advocating on behalf of all segments of the celiac community. 

About Enjoy Life Foods

Enjoy Life Natural Brands, LLC (d/b/a Enjoy Life Foods, LLC (ELF)) was founded in 2001 with the mission of making great-tasting allergy-friendly foods that most everyone can eat freely.  The company launched the Enjoy Life brand in 2002 with a broad product line that is free of the eight most common allergens and gluten-free. To meet the needs of a rapidly growing consumer base, in 2004 the company acquired Perky’s™, a line of gluten- and nut-free cereals. Today, ELF offers 29 differentEnjoy Life and Perky’s products that are sold in natural food and select grocery stores throughout the United States and Canada.  Visit www.enjoylifefoods.com and www.perkysnaturalfoods.com for store locations and more.  In September 2008, EnjoyLife Foods was named for the second consecutive year to Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing privately held businesses in the U.S.  For more information, visit www.enjoylifenb.com.

#    #    #

---

[i] Dr. Stefano Guandalini, University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center

[ii] FAAN

[iii] National Institutes of Health

[iv] Autism Society of America

Peanut/Nut Reduced Canadian Football Game

Below is a press release for a peanut and nut reduced zone at a football game in Toronto. Sounds fun!  Thanks to Debbie Bruce for this great info!

Toronto Argonauts Football Club announce 

 PeanutNut Reduced Zone at Rogers Centre.

Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Toronto Argonauts vs. Montreal Alouettes

Your Toronto Argonauts are very pleased to announce there will be a PeanutNut Reduced Zone available for families dealing with life threatening allergies for the October 18^th game against the Montreal Alouettes.

The Summit Suite will be cleaned in advance and devoted to the exclusive use of families who live with peanut/nut and other severe allergies.

Tickets for the Summit Suite, located near gate 13 (north west corner of Rogers Centre), are $45. per person (tax included). Children 2 years old and under are free.  Families will be allowed to bring some approved snacks into the suite.  You will be able to purchase beverage items.

Fans outside the restricted area will be able to buy peanuts as usual. 

The Summit Lounge is designated a peanut/nut reduced Zone for this date only.

The Toronto Argonauts are dedicated to making life more liveable for those with serious allergies. 

Come early for the Nisson Tailgate Party…

There may be special visitors to the suite…

Meet the players on the field, after the game…

We look forward to sharing the day with you…

For more information on the Toronto Argonauts, check out www.argonauts.ca

To order your tickets now, contact Debbie Bruce by email at: debbiebruce-argos@rogers.com

Is It Really Necessary to Get A Doctor's Note for Product Information?

I can't believe I had to get a note from my son's pediatrician in order to obtain more detailed information about the inactive ingredients in OFF Mosquito Repellant.  Does anyone else think that's a little silly?  I was almost embarrassed to ask the doctor for it.  We all had a good chuckle over it. When I researched barbecue sauce ingredients a few months ago, I remember one of the barbecue sauce manufacturers also would not provide detailed information without a doctor's note.  Proprietary information, they said.  I can understand that.  But then the suspicious cynic in me wonders if maybe there's something about the product they really don't want to broadcast so they make persistent consumers like me jump through hoops in order to get the "goods".  I wonder how many people actually bother to get the doctor's note.  What do you think about all this?

"Health Canada Reminds Parents of School Lunch Allergen Safety"

I read on one of my favorite blogs--A propos des allergies alimentaires--about a press release from Health Canada with the above title.  The Canadian government is actually encouraging--not requiring!--parents of non-allergic children to pack food allergy friendly lunches.  What a great message! Can you imagine that happening in the U.S.? How I wish! Remember that Aerosmith song, "Dream On"? For my anglophone friends, here is the English language version: Health Canada Reminds Parents of School Lunch Allergen Safety.

Allergen Labeling Update: Whole Foods Responds

The other day, I published an Open Letter to Whole Foods after discovering contradictory allergen labels (again!) on cake slices sold at Whole Foods Market locations around Boston. Today, I heard back from the Coordinator for their bakery goods in Whole Foods' North Atlantic region stores.  

Apparently, the bakery which sells the cakes to Whole Foods changed its labels after I reported the contradictory labels in June 2008.  But a few of the old "nut free" labels were still being used in at least one of the Boston Whole Foods Markets locations, even after my calls, and involvement of the Massachusetts Food Protection Program. This time, it appears that higher level management has investigated the labeling problem, and all of the old labels have been "disposed of".  And all of the managers in the region have been informed about the bakery labeling issue, so we should not see a repeat of this problem!  

The Bakery Coordinator shared some additional information which you may find interesting.  When Whole Foods decided to carry the cakes in question, it was as a vegan product, not a "nut free" product. Whole Foods was actually unaware that the bakery is "nut free"; it is not considered "nut free" according to Whole Foods' standards.  The Coordinator said that Whole Foods has very strict requirements which must be met in order for a product to be labeled and sold as "nut-free" or "peanut-free".  In fact, there are only 2 nut-free products at Whole Foods: Sha Sha's Cookies and Divvies.  In order for a product to be labeled as "nut free" or "peanut free", the manufacturer must provide documentation that the product is certified "nut free" or "peanut free" all the way from the suppliers of ingredients to the finished product.  That sounds like a good policy to me!

I must admit I am not completely confident that this labeling problem has been solved for good because this is the second time I have gone through this exercise.  (Here's my post about the first go-round: Food Allergic Buyers Beware.)  It is comforting, however, that as soon as I contacted the Food Protection Program, they immediately set to work trying to get to the bottom of the problem. I don't think I could ask for more.   And I have hope that there's a little more awareness of labeling in the bakery.  It's another good reminder to check and re-check your labels. All of them.  Every time.   

If you encounter a concerning food labeling situation, please consider seeking assistance from some authority to urge a correction or modification.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has helpful information in a section of the FDA website titled  How to Report Problems on Products Regulated by FDA. Phone numbers are provided on the FDA website for FDA District Office Consumer Complaint Coordinators for nearly every state.  In addition, most states have enacted laws regarding food labeling as well. A good place to look for help at the state level might be the department of public health or attorney general's office.  Supermarkets and food manufacturers must be held accountable.  Food allergies can be life-threatening.  We cannot afford to overlook sloppiness on something as fundamental as a food label.

What IS in Coppertone and OFF?

If you've experienced or seen an allergic reaction to sunscreen or mosquito repellent, please write a comment so we can compare notes.  Tell us which foods you or your loved one is allergic to, which product caused the reaction, and what kind of reaction it was.

Yesterday, before preschool, I applied Coppertone to my 4 year old's face, arms and legs, and OFF Family Care with 7% DEET to his arms, legs, and neck and a little in the hair on the back of his head.  I had to touch his face near his mouth ever so gently, to wipe a spot clean, and he broke out in hives on his face.  I don't know whether it was the mosquito repellant or sunscreen that caused it.  But it makes me nervous.

I really don't like to put all of these chemicals on him. But, we do have a lot of woods where we live, and we've each already had a deer tick this summer. Thankfully, I spotted the ticks very within a matter of hours! We also have West Nile Virus and other mosquito borne diseases in our area as well.  My justification for using the chemical laden mosquito repellant and sunscreen is that he doesn't need any more medical conditions added to his plate.  Today, I will use the tube of California Baby instead.  I've been avoiding it since it is more difficult to apply, but I don't want to risk more hives.

A dose of Benadryl cream on his face brought quick relief of the itching and the hives were gone within a couple hours.  This episode brings me back to an issue I periodically write and speak about--better labeling on non-food items.  I must confess the Coppertone bottle has good labeling.  It lists active and inactive ingredients.  I do not know if the ingredient list is complete, but I believe it is since they went through the effort to spell out both active and inactive ingredients.  The bottle of OFF lists DEET 7% and then "other ingredients" 93%. What's in that 93%?  On the back of the bottle in very tiny print, it says "Ethyl Alcohol, DEET, Aloe, Fragrance".  A brief internet search listed discussions of corn starch in some OFF products. First item on today's things-to-do list: to find out more about what those inactive ingredients--especially "fragrance--are.  

Subsidy for Canadian Food Allergy Friendly Manufacturer

Winners of the Meraby baking mixes and vanilla giveaway were notified this morning.  Thanks to everyone who participated--this particular giveaway was mighty popular!  Thanks also to Meraby for contributing these tasty prizes!  So nice to have some help making baking easier for peanut-free, tree nut-free, egg-free and dairy-free diets.

Over the weekend, I came across an interesting press release in McLean's blog. It's about a Canadian government subsidy for Bobobaby, a relatively new food manufacturer of healthful, food allergy friendly baby food, and also Bobokids. Does anyone know of any similar government programs in the U.S.?  That would be nice, actually, if it did not make taxes higher!

A Back-to-School Resource from Author Linda Coss

Author Linda Coss recently published an excellent and concise article entitled "Attack of the Peanut Butter Sandwiches" explaining "why it is often necessary for schools to enact a variety of measures to keep food-allergic children safe, why it is not as simple as teaching the food-allergic children to "be careful," and why the other parents should cooperate (the “what’s in it for me?” factor)".  The article is available on her website, and she's generously granted permission to parents of food allergic children and other interested parties to download, print and/or distribute her article to help school staff and other parents better understand the unique challenges that face peanut allergic children at school.  Thank you Linda, for another excellent resource!

Gak's Snacks/Homefree Treats Press Release

Here's the scoop on Gak's Snacks and Homefree Treats!

GAK’S SNACKS IS NOW HOMEFREE™

Allergy-friendly Cookie Company Announces New Name

WINDHAM, NH (September 3, 2008) – Gak’s Snacks, LLC, the Windham, New Hampshire-based maker of organic, ready-to-eat, whole grain cookies and coffee cakes free of common food allergens including peanuts, tree nuts, dairy and eggs, today announced it is changing its company name to HomeFree™, LLC.

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), more than 12 million Americans have food allergies, and 3 million of them are children.  HomeFree, the treats you can trust, were created for people with food allergies and for health conscious people looking for a more enjoyable, certified organic, wholesome snacking option.  HomeFree will continue to manufacture the same delicious products at its dedicated baking facility, where it conducts testing on ingredients and random product batches to ensure its ingredients, cookies and coffee cakes are free of common food allergens.

“As our distribution and sales continue to grow, we are changing the name of our company to create a brand that will better resonate with our core consumer,” said Jill Robbins, president of HomeFree.  “The word ‘home’ projects a safe product for individuals with food allergies and ‘free’ highlights that we are free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy, as well as trans fat and cholesterol.  And the expression ‘home free’ means you can relax because everything is taken care of.”

Jill Robbins, HomeFree founder and clinical psychologist, turned to baking when her son was diagnosed with food allergies almost ten years ago. The author of Allergen Free Baking: Baked Treats for All Occasions, Jill focused on creating a solution to the social aspect of food allergies, finding it heartbreaking to know that many children, and adults, cannot fully participate in school and social events when treats with potential allergens are served.

HomeFree products are:

§  Free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy

§  Certified whole grain – each cookie serving contains at least ½ serving of whole grains

§  Certified organic

§  Fine for most people allergic to wheat (not gluten-free; contain oats)

§  Fine for most people allergic to soy (most contain soy lecithin)

§  Baked and packaged in a dedicated bakery

§  Allergen tested

§  Without trans fat or cholesterol

§  Without corn sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, MSG, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

§  Certified vegan (oatmeal cookies, and coffee cakes)

§  Certified kosher pareve

HomeFree cookies carry a suggested price of $4.99 per box at retail locations or $5.49 per box (plus shipping and handling) through the company’s website, www.homefreetreats.com.  HomeFree cookies are available in a variety of flavors including chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip, and oatmeal (6.3 ounce boxes), as well as mini chocolate chip, mini chocolate chocolate chip and new mini oatmeal chocolate chip.  Individually wrapped cookies are $1.79 each or $16.90 for a case of 12. HomeFree Apple and Cranberry coffee cakes (net wt. 32 oz.) are available online for $27.95 and $28.95 plus a cooler, shipping and handling.

HomeFree cookies, coffee cakes, allergen-free baking cookbook, and specialized allergen-tested baking ingredients are available for purchase through the company’s website. The cookies are available at more than 185 retail locations nationwide, as well as at a growing number of institutions such as schools, camps, and sporting venues. For more information, or to purchase HomeFree products, please visit www.homefreetreats.com.

About HomeFree

HomeFree, LLC, formerly Gak’s Snacks, LLC, is the maker of delicious, organic, ready-to-eat whole grain cookies and coffee cakes free of common food allergens including peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy.  HomeFree was founded by Jill Robbins, a clinical psychologist, self-taught baker, author of Allergen Free Baking: Baked Treats for All Occasions, and the mother of a child with food allergies.  HomeFree manufactures and packages its products in a dedicated facility. With the highest commitment to product integrity, HomeFree sources its ingredients with great care and conducts allergen testing on ingredients and random product batches.  HomeFree cookies, coffee cakes and specialized allergen-tested baking ingredients are available for purchase through the company’s website or at more than 185 retail locations.   HomeFree, which is headquartered in Windham, NH, donates a portion of its profits to organizations that provide food allergy research and education.  For more information, or to purchase HomeFree products, please visit www.homefreetreats.com.

Living with Food Allergies Blog Carnival

Welcome to the September 4, 2008 Living with Food Allergies Blog Carnival!  As usual, we've got a number of interesting posts on a variety of subjects.  Enjoy!

Birthday Festivities, Recipes, and Cookbooks

Libby shares an amazing Dinosaur Birthday Party on The Allergic Kid.

Alisa offers two mouth-watering recipes, Falling for Faux Parmesan and Homemade Dairy-Free Cheesy Straws and  Wheat-Free, Dairy-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies at Go Dairy Free.

You won't want to miss Christine's post, It's poison to me, on Corn Allergic: What I Reacted To Today. Christine exposes multiple and major errors and oversights in a new food allergy cookbook.  What were they thinking when they published that cookbook?!

Rachel presents Labor Day Weekend Labors and book book book book, a post about the cookbook she is writing and some recipes at A Gaggle of Girls.

Food Allergy Supplies and Tools

Nowheymama shares some handy supplies in School Essentials at No Whey, Mama.

Jennifer O. summarizes her research on options for epi-pen carriers in Comments From the Peanut Free Gallery: EpiPen Carriers posted at Comments From the Peanut Free Gallery.

From A Food Allergy Patient and A Caregiver

Alison shares Daughter #2 food allergy test results at Sure Foods Living - for celiac disease, gluten intolerance and food allergies.

Christine presents I (heart) my doctor posted at Corn Allergic: What I Reacted To Today.

Grocery Shopping with Food Allergies

In Navan Foods Opens New Online Allergy Free Food Shop at Go Dairy Free, Alisa  helps spread the word about the new Virginia Beach food allergy grocery store which is now online and offers shipping across the U.S.

Over at Food Allergy Buzz, Jennifer B writes about erroneous allergen labeling at Whole Foods Market in An Open Letter to Whole Foods Market, and also shares news of new products from Meraby's Allergy Family Foods in Baking for Food Allergies Made Easy & Freebies.

A review of Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies is offered by Jennifer B in Sweet Memories of Cookies at Food Allergy Buzz.

An Open Letter to Whole Foods Market

Dear Whole Foods Market,

In your stores around Boston and other towns in Massachusetts, you sell slices of cakes made by Cafe Indigo of New Hampshire. The cake is excellent, but there is a problem with the labeling. And when it comes to food allergies, it is not an insignificant problem.  For those with food allergies, an accurate label can mean the difference between life and death.  

The package for the cake slices bears two, conflicting labels. One label says "Made in a nut-free facility". The other label reads "This item is produced in a facility where various types of nuts, peanuts and/or tree nuts are used."  Apparently, the bakery where the cake is baked does not use tree nuts or peanuts. The cakes are delivered as sheet cakes to Whole Foods. Whole Foods slices the cake and repackages each slice individually for sale.  

What if, through human error, the cake becomes cross-contaminated when it is sliced and repackaged? What if a nut-allergic person only reads the one label stating "Made in a nut-free facility" and not the Whole Foods label which bears the warning "This item is produced in a facility where various types of nuts, peanuts and/or tree nuts are used"? What if said nut-allergic person purchases and eats that fluke cross-contaminated cake and has a reaction?  This is extremely dangerous for nut-allergic and peanut-allergic individuals.

In June, I placed a call to the Food Protection Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health followed by an email detailing this saga, complete with photos of the contradictory labels.  We thought the problem had been corrected.  But on Saturday, August 30, we found chocolate cake slices from the same bakery with 2 contradictory labels again.  I have contacted the Food Protection Program to alert them again today.  I am deeply disturbed that this problem has not been corrected.  I worry that this labeling problem may be present at every one of your locations where Cafe Indigo cake slices are sold.  

In the food allergy community, Whole Foods is known as a store which offers more options than the typical supermarket.  In my opinion, while Whole Foods may carry a greater variety of food allergy friendly products, it seems little care is taken when it comes to bakery items, potential for cross-contamination, and labeling.  And these are issues of critical importance in the safety and health of food allergic individuals.  I believe that food allergic individuals should not be misled to risk their health, well-being, even their lives, because of the evidently poor practices at Whole Foods.

Sincerely,
Jennifer B
Food Allergy Buzz

*The above letter is dated September 3, 2008.  I received a telephone call from the Bakery Coordinator of Whole Foods Market's North Atlantic Region on September 10, 2008, which provided explanation of what went wrong at Whole Foods and how the problem has been corrected.  For more details, please see my September 10 post, Allergen Labeling Update: Whole Foods Responds.

Baking for Food Allergies Made Easy & Freebies

We are very lucky to have some wonderful items from Meraby Allergy Family Foods to give away this month: 4 packages of muffin and pancake baking mix, 1 big bottle of Pure Mexican Vanilla Extract, and a bunch of magnets.  So, a big thank you goes out to Meraby's! To find out more about Meraby's and the giveaway, read on!

Meraby’s, of Madison, Alabama, produces baking mixes which are free of peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, and egg.  Founded by a family with a child suffering from multiple food allergies, they take product quality and safety very seriously.  Additional information about the manufacturing facility--which is free of peanuts and tree nuts--is provided in the Meraby Guarantee.  Their current product line includes a blueberry muffin and pancake mix and a cranberry orange muffin and pancake mix.  All you need to add is oil and water!  Or you can make quick breads by following the instructions in the package.  Simple, fast, and safe!  And tasty too--my family eats the muffins so quickly, they’re all gone within a few hours!

And we've received word of exciting news coming from Meraby's these days.  In October, they'll be unveiling a new line of products.  The new mixes will be wheat-free, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut-free and tree nut-free!  You'll really have your choice of products--muffin/pancake mixes, cake mixes, brownies, etc.  It's so great to have choices!  In the development of these new recipes, Meraby's placed particular emphasis on the texture of the finished baked products.  Texture sometimes can be a problem with gluten-free, wheat-free products, but you won't have to worry about with Meraby's mixes!  The new products include:

Pure Mexican Vanilla Extract - Gluten & Corn Free and made in a facility that does not produce nut extracts!  Made with Mexican vanilla beans, which are cited as the best in the world.  (Available Now!) 

Ultimate Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix – Real chocolate chips in the mix 

Decadent Double Layer Chocolate Cake – Makes two layers, as opposed to most competitors products that only make one layer. 

Wild Maine Blueberry Muffin & Pancake Mix – Canned wild Maine blueberries are included in the box. 

Double Layer Vanilla Cake Mix – Will make two layers of vanilla cake, but will also have recipes available that will allow the consumer to make lemon cake, banana bread, pumpkin bread, etc.

To purchase Meraby's products, please visit their website at www.meraby.com.  You can also reach Meraby's by telephone at 256.890.3450.

And to enter this month's giveaway, just send an email to jennifer@foodallergybuzz.com containing a brief explanation of how they came up with the company name, Meraby.  So take a moment and check out the Meraby website.  Entries must be submitted by midnight Eastern time, Friday, September 5. HINT: be sure to read the "About Us" page on Meraby's website.

Last Day for back2school Discount

If you're in the market for nut-free chocolate, don't forget to take advantage of the back2school 10% discount at Vermont Nut Free Chocolate!  The discount expires today, September 1.  We just ordered some chocolate drops for those "I need a piece of chocolate" moments and some chips to bake with as well.  Can't go wrong with chocolate in our house!