2010 Research Grants Awarded by FAAN

From the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network:

FAAN Awards 2010 Research Grants

Funded Studies Focus on Tree Nut Immunotherapy and the Economic Impact of Food Allergy

FAIRFAX, Va. (Feb. 25, 2010) – Two research studies with the potential for strong impact on the food allergy community have been awarded grants through the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network’s (FAAN) Research Grant Program.

This year’s grant winners are:

·         Stacie Jones, M.D., Arkansas Children’s Hospital

·         David Holdford, M.D., Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Jones and her team will receive funding to develop tree nut-specific immunotherapy for people who have multiple tree nut allergies. Considerable progress has been made using oral immunotherapy approaches for other food allergens, but this will be the first study to focus on the treatment of multiple tree nut allergies.

“The studies supported by FAAN, as typified by Dr. Jones’ study of tree nut allergy treatment, are critical as they provide the transition from basic research to the development of an  intervention for patients with food allergy,” said Dr. Andrew Saxon of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and the chairman of FAAN’s Research Advisory Board. “This brings us closer to having a treatment protocol that can be put into practice for individuals with food allergies.” 

Dr. Holdford will examine the economic impact of food allergy and anaphylaxis in the U.S. No published studies have explored the costs related to this medical condition that affects 12 million Americans. Holdford plans to analyze both the direct and indirect costs of food allergy – ranging from expenses related to ambulance runs to lost work productivity.

“We hope that a better understanding of the financial burdens associated with food allergy will lead to increased government funding of food allergy research,” said Maria Acebal, FAAN Vice President and General Counsel.

Both of the studies have the potential to provide needed evidence in areas that previously have not received much attention. Forty-one researchers applied to FAAN for funding this year.  FAAN’s competitive Research Grant Program is one of the organizations most popular initiatives. The program, which is 100 percent funded by members and other individual donors, has provided over $4.6 million for food allergy research over the past several years. 

For more information or to support FAAN’s research efforts, visit www.foodallergy.org.

Nut-Free...Sorta

You can find me most days on Twitter, @FoodAllergyBuzz. The other day, I spotted a tweet from Elizabeth Goldenberg, founder of Onespot Allergy (www.onespotallergy.com), about Peeled Snacks sold at Starbucks. We had a chat on Twitter about Peeled Snacks and Elizabeth emailed some additional information. Take a look at what Elizabeth had to say:

"This past weekend, I was at Starbucks and grabbed a bag of Lucy's Cookies and a bag of mango Peeled Snacks for my food allergic son.  I've had the cookies before and had read the bags over carefully and visited the company website, so I knew they were safe.  As a matter of habit since I was holding a new product, and despite my recollection that Starbucks said the Peeled Snacks are nut free, I checked the bag and saw that they are made in a facility that manufactures nut products.  In fact, the apple and cherry Peeled Snacks also had that warning.  I've attached a photo of the bag and a photo of the allergy warning.

I don't know if Starbucks provides allergen information in stores, so I had previously contacted Starbucks directly and was sent an e-mail with the allergy information  I received this response: "As Starbucks cannot explicitly make specific claims regarding allergies, according to the brand’s packaging (labels/claims) and ingredients, the following new packaged products are nut free" and all three flavors of Peeled Snacks were on that list.  At the bottom of the message was the caution to verify these claims with each brand individually. I did so with Lucy's Cookies, and had I done so with Peeled Snacks, I would have immediately seen the issue. Thankfully, when I bought the product for my nut allergic son, I checked the bag, saw the allergen warning, and no harm was done.  

I visited the Peeled Fruit website and found this page of frequently asked questions: FAQ: http://bit.ly/b04oQB .  Nuts are clearly in many products, and I wonder how they could have been included on a nut-free list.  I encourage all consumers to always check package labeling every time, and call facilities for additional information if in doubt."

It's important to share this sort of conflicting information. Starbucks lists Peeled Snacks as nut-free, yet the Peeled Snacks package itself states "Made in a facility that manufactures nut products". For those unable to safely eat foods containing traces of nuts, ingesting a snack listed as nut-free but which may possibly contain traces of nuts could cause a fatal allergic reaction. If you blog about food allergies or  otherwise can help us spread the word, please share this information about Starbucks' list of allergy-friendly menu items and the conflicting information on the Peeled Snacks package.

Kudos to the Peeled Snacks people for providing additional helpful allergen information on their packages, helping food allergic individuals make safe food choices. To the folks at Starbucks: thank you for trying to accommodate those with celiac disease and food allergies but please reconsider the use of the term "nut-free" on your allergy friendly menus--it means different things to different people and inaccurate or misleading wording on a menu can mean the difference between life and death for a food allergic individual.

Thank you to Elizabeth for noticing this and sharing it with us. Elizabeth Goldenberg is the owner of Onespot Allergy, a superb online store for allergy safety products and kits. You may find Onespot Allergy at www.onespotallergy.com , on Twitter, @Onespot_Allergy and also on Facebook.

Food Allergies on The Martha Stewart Show Thanks to Cybele Pascal

Thanks to food allergy cookbook author, Cybele Pascal, food allergies will again be the topic on Martha Stewart's show on March 1. Go Cybele! She is the author of the well-regarded The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook. Here's a clip of Cybele on Martha Stewart in 2006:

 

On March 1, 2010,  Cybele will visit Martha again to share her latest book, The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook.  Food Allergy Buzz was fortunate to receive a copy of this wonderful baking cookbook, it's really a bible for allergen-free bakers. In fact, I think it is another resource I would've liked to have seen on our first allergist's list of resources when we first got my son's diagnosis. 

You can find Cybele's cookbooks at most bookstores and online as well. Please also visit her website, www.cybelepascal.com or say hello to her (@CybelePascal) on Twitter. Don't forget to tune in on March 1! (I've already got the DVR programmed.)

More Tasty Treats from A & J Bakery

We received the following information from our friends over at A & J Bakery (Toll Free: 866-426-9075). They offer nut-free, peanut-free bakery items as well as egg-free, dairy-free and gluten-free--ask when you call. So many good things eat! We recently enjoyed their blueberry coffee cake and I love the white chocolate raspberry biscotti. 

Did you catch a peek at the above photo? It's the amazing selection of delicious allergy friendly biscotti available at A & J. If you haven't tried their biscotti, you should! Order some with some of these new yummy treats.

"NEW Nut Free Products
Green Shamrock Short bread Cookies
Caramel Cheesecake
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

NEW Nut & Gluten Free Products
Carrott Cake with real cream cheese icing
Ricotta Biscuits
Apple Pie Squares
5x7 Coffee Cake Pans available in 3 flavors (Fresh cut apple, fresh blueberry and cinnamon)
2 lb All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour

On the 17th of March there is that Irish holiday of, St.Patrick's Day that is approaching very fast. We have a variety of treats for this wonderful day. A message cookie with Shamrock's and a pot of gold on it, St'Patrick's Day cookie kit (the kids will be able to decorate their own cookies),chocolate lolli-pops in assorted patterns, luck of the Irish green cupcakes, and much, much more.

Don't forget on the 19th of March for the Italians in the room St. Joseph's Day! A&J Bakery is proud to be serving our finest Nut Free Zeppole for another year. This treat is filled with Rum flavored pastry cream and topped with a cherry and confectionary sugar.

Place your orders now before the time runs out. We are running a special on Zeppole's Buy 6 get One Free on St. Joseph's Day only."

Seeking Massachusetts Food Allergy Folks

A few of us here in Massachusetts are interested to putting our voices together to make ourselves heard a bit more on food allergy issues, such as increased funding for food allergy research. We'd love to have your help!  If you reside in Massachusetts and are interested in food allergy advocacy, please send me an email at jenniferATfoodallergybuzz. Thanks!

Food Allergy Parents Create New Awareness Wristband: Food Allergy-Band

A small group of parents from Tennessee have developed the Food Allergy-Band, a new wristband to help make others aware of a child's food allergy. The Food Allergy-Band is available for "food", "nut", and "dairy". Recently featured in the Tennessean, the Food Allergy-Band is available in some stores and online at www.assureproducts.com. Next time you are in the market for a new allergy wristband, be sure to consider the Food Allergy-Band--they are only $9.99, hand-washable, one-size-fits-all and latex free.

Food Allergy Buzz received no compensation for this plug, just the satisfaction of helping promote a food allergy related business owned by food allergy families.

Timberwolves Basketball Food-Free Suite February 19 2010

Ever notice how much activity there is in the Minnesota food allergy community? They have a lot going on there--what a great example for the rest of us! This Friday, February 19, the Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of MN have arranged for a Food-Free Luxury Suite at a Timberwolves basketball game. Tickets are only $30 (regularly $110) with visits from Timberwolves mascot Crunch Timberwolves Dance Team!

One suite has sold out but they're holding another for more fans. Wow!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19th at 7 pm
against the Chicago Bulls
Target Center, Minneapolis

For more info and tickets contact: Tyler Negrini at (612) 673-1247

Thank you to the fantastic people at the Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of MN for this information and for the great work you do in Minnesota and beyond!

Why is Your Bag So Heavy?

Any time anyone else picks up my shoulder bag/pocketbook, they inevitably ask why my bag is so heavy. I try to regularly clean out its contents to eliminate any extra weight. One item I cannot eliminate is my allergy medicine bag.  It contains two epipens, 2 different corticosteroids for my son's eczema, 2 prefilled Benadryl spoons and a tube of hydrocortisone. The asthma inhaler doesn't fit and to be honest, I don't carry it around daily since my son has mild viral-induced asthma (during colds and viruses) and I understand the epipen will do the same job should an unexpected episode occur. (God forbid.) 

I decided to weigh my allergy medicine bag--it weighs 11.5 ounces, about three-quarters of a pound! How much does your filled allergy medicine bag weigh?

New Food Allergy Regulations Proposed in Massachusetts

We got a lot going on here in Massachusetts. New today, a headline on www.wbur.org states: State proposes new food allergy rules for restaurants. This would mean more training of restaurant employees on food allergies and celiac disease. Let's keep going!

That reminds me, I'm joining up with some of these fantastic, seasoned Massachusetts food allergy advocates on other food allergy issues here in the Commonwealth and we need more voices! If you are interested in making your voice heard or helping out, please email me at jenniferATfoodallergybuzz.com and we'll let you know the details.

Food Allergy Advocacy in Massachusetts

Who would ever think you could dedicate a blog just to food allergies and actually have enough material to write almost every day? Food Allergy Buzz has been around for about two years and there are over 500 posts. There is still so much to share and learn and do together to make life with food allergies better.

Massachusetts has received some attention because of our guidelines for food allergy management in school and the new restaurant food allergy law. In addition, a new law was passed requiring new bus drivers to receive epi-pen training. These are good things to be sure, and came only after mammoth efforts by many people, but there is plenty of room for improvement still. One thing that hits close to home is the management of food allergies in school. The food allergy management guidelines are not mandatory, they are voluntary. Every school handles food allergies differently and not surprising, it is difficult to persuade schools to change and follow guidelines which are not mandatory. It's a huge problem--classroom celebrations involve food and food often is included as part of the curriculum--and clearly would take a well-organized effort to solve.

Meanwhile, scientists and doctors are hard at work on a number of different treatments for food allergies which hopefully will someday make these concerns a distant memory. We need more funding and focus on this research to reach that day sooner. Wouldn't it be great not to have to worry about a fatal reaction from eating a particular food? I love reading the blogs about children participating in clinical trials and imagining my son being able to safely ingest his nemesis, peanuts. Have you read Ask Me about My Peanut Allergy or Peanut Allergy Free...Here We Come? How about Children's Hospital Boston's milk allergy desensitization treatment? It's the stuff of my dreams. 

We have lots of work to do as food allergy advocates! If you live in Massachusetts and are interested in becoming more involved in food allergy advocacy here in the Commonwealth and perhaps connecting with our local elected officials, please send an email to jenniferATfoodallergybuzz.com. (you have to substitute @ where I have "AT" in the address!) I will write back to you with more information--a few of us are working together on some advocacy projects here. Hope to hear from you!

Valentine's Ideas from Food Allergy Buzz Friends & Sponsors

Still stumped for a Valentine's Treat for your food allergic loved one? If you order today, you may be able to purchase one or more of the following goodies from some Food Allergy Buzz friends in time for Valentine's.

Allergy Apparel offers unique t-shirt and hoodie designs for allergic kids. In fact, new designs will be unveiled very soon. They also offer Epi-belts, medical jewelry and books. Plenty of non-candy gifts to choose from!

Allergy Grocer offers so many delicious allergy friendly choices. I think there truly is something there for everyone! Take a look at the treats below!

Valentine Make Your Own Candy & Cookie Gift Kit
Give as a gift or make it yourself and give chocolate lollipops and cookies for Valentine’s Day! This sounds like so much fun.

White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Heart Shaped Lollipops Kit for Valentine’s Day.

Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate wafers for making your own candy designs.

Chocolate sunbutter cups (YUM! We tried these and they are incredibly tasty! See my earlier post)

From A & J Bakery :

Heart felt cookie kit ( 8 cookies nut,egg,dairy free) that come with sprinkles and frosting  $12.00  ships nationwide

Carmel covered apples ( egg,nut, gluten free). We tried one--they're FANTASTIC! (see photo below) Honestly? Best candy apple I've ever had. Ships nationwide $9.95

White choc raspberry cheesecake ( nut free ) ships nationwide

Coffee cake ( New Item) apple, and or blueberry Nut and Gluten free. (We got to try a blueberry one. It was delicious! The boys and I especially loved the crunchy streusel cinnamony part inside.)

A & J's own chocolate lollipops all are nut and gluten free as well.

Dean's Sweets
A nut-free, peanut-free treasure for chocolate lovers, Dean's Sweets offers amazing chocolate truffles, perfect for Valentine's Day. The chocolate stout truffles do not contain dairy and many of the truffles do not contain gluten. We tried a variety of their truffles and they were phenomenal! I can't say enough about them. If you or your nut allergic loved one enjoys chocolates and chocolate truffles, these are worth every penny and then some! Stay tuned for more on Dean's soon!

Be My Valentine but Hold the Candy

I'm still here. Just have a backlog of Food Allergy Buzz stuff to catch up and I'm not sure when I will be caught up! I have a few Valentine's goodies to share with you, hopefully later today.

In the meantime, I thought I would share another little food allergy kid challenge which I know so many of you have already been through--the Valentine's Card exchange at school. I almost forgot that some Valentines come with candy. My 6 year old son reacts to skin contact minute traces. This was confirmed during trick-or-treating at Halloween.

I am trying to decide the best approach:

a) Tell him not to touch any of the Valentines in his "Valentine Mailbox" until he gets home from Kindergarten and ask the teacher to help ensure this. (He is a superb listener and I'm leaning toward this option).

b) Ask the teacher to let me come during the Valentine's festivities so I can "assist" while making sure he does not touch the Valentines. (I'm not crazy over this noticeable special treatment. )

c) Ask the teacher to ask parents not to send in candy. (I am not in favor of imposing on others because of our situation.)

What do you think?

Visit Peanut Allergy Kid for Today's Living with Food Allergies Blog Carnival

Today's edition of the Living with Food Allergies Blog Carnival will be hosted by the Peanut Allergy Kid blog (penned by Robyn Adams).

Robyn's got a great blog! Her blog is on my short list of peanut/nut allergy blogs to visit when a newly diagnosed peanut and/or nut allergic family asks where can they find more information about life with peanut allergies or nut allergies. She writes about problems and challenges faced not just by peanut allergic kids but by all food allergic kids, and she has such great perspective on things. I've discovered I like to write to her every once in a while to pick her brain or get her 2 cents on an allergy related issue.

A big thanks to Robyn for hosting this edition, especially when you have your hands full with sick children (not just a cold, but pneumonia) and a new asthma diagnosis. You're in our thoughts!

The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook

When I first learned of my son's peanut allergy, the first thing I did was go to the library and take out Cybele Pascal's The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook. I had visions of peanut traces being everywhere and was worried about most foods--other than fruits and vegetables--sold at the supermarket. I renewed the book several times and afterward I felt much more confident about cooking for his peanut allergy--I'd just make most food from scratch. No more processed food for us.

Now, Cybele has a lovely new book, entitled The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook. Baked goods are among the more risky types of food to buy for those living with food allergies. There are so many chances for cross-contamination--eggs, milk, wheat, nuts are present in most bakeries. While there are wonderful food allergy friendly bakeries springing up around the country, they're often not as convenient to get to as the local supermarket. So, life with food allergies encourages many of us to learn to bake, and bake in creative new ways. 

I haven't even had an opportunity to try the recipes yet but I can't wait. First, the photos in the book are gorgeous! They make you want to reach into the book and take a bite. Then, I notice that all of the recipes are broken into easy to follow steps. I like this aspect. Most recipes only have 7 or 8 steps--I can do that!  It makes baking seem much less daunting. In the past, I've looked at some baking recipes and upon seeing a recipe that's too involved, have opted for something simpler or decided to just skip it all together. That will not happen with this cookbook. Another handy feature is the chapter entitled "Stocking Your Allergen-Free Pantry". This is a fantastic chapter, especially for those new to life with food allergies. All of the hard work and research has already been done for you! The range of recipes is great as well. I think this one book will take care of all allergen-free baking needs for the average person--you won't need another baking book. It's well-written, actually fun to read, mouthwatering, and easy to follow. Check it out!

A great allergy friendly Valentine's Day present this year would be a recipe from The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook. I'm a cookie gal, so I'm thinking the Linzer Hearts on pages 73-74 would be a perfect place to begin!

Food Allergy Friendly Chocolates from Allergy Grocer

Did you know Allergy Grocer makes food allergy friendly chocolates? I did not know that! Over the weekend, we had a chance to sample their mini milk chocolate candy cups. The filling? Sunflower butter. They were fantastic! Next time you place your Allergy Grocer order, consider ordering a box. 

By the way, for those of you who are peanut avoiding purists for your allergic family member, this is a great way to get your Reese's PB cup fix. I haven't had a Reese's PB cup in years and I'm okay with that, but I did feel a naughty sort of pleasure in eating a really scrumptious fake one!

Food Allergy Advocacy Thru The Food Allergy Initiative

You may recall that the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) merged with The Food Allergy Project last year. It was big news in the world of food allergy organizations. Their merger "created the largest private source of funding for food allergy research in the United States." (quote from FAI website) You can read about FAI's efforts on their web site, www.faiusa.org. Their primary focus is funding research to fund a cure for food allergies and they work to achieve this gol through a variety of different activities.

You can aid the Food Allergy Initiative and your food allergic family and friends by adding your voice. Here is a sign-up form to receive news and information from FAI, and there's a box to check off if you are interested in participating in FAI's advocacy efforts. There is also a page where you can send a letter to your senators and congressmen to request more federal funding for food allergy research.

If you haven't visited FAI's website before, please take a moment today to read about their wonderful work and how it benefits the food allergy community. Two particularly noteworthy pages are the page about their public policy achievements and also another summarizing FAI's sponsored research grants.