0 FDA Consumer Update: Dark Chocolate May Not Be Milk Free

From the FDA Consumer Updates site, a warning about dark chocolate; essentially that it may still contain traces of milk.

“If you or someone in your household is allergic to milk, take heed: a recent study by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested 100 dark chocolate products and found that many contained milk. More importantly, you can’t always tell that’s the case simply by reading the food label….Consumers who are allergic to milk should be aware that a high proportion of tested dark chocolates contained milk.”

The only thing missing from this  FDA Consumer Updates site article that would be the most useful to the milk allergic community is what brands were tested and found to have traces of milk when they made claims of milk-free, vegan and/or allergen-free.

Stay safe everyone!

Detail: FDA Consumer Update: Dark Chocolate May Not Be Milk Free

0 ACAAI, Children with Asthma & Enterovirus 68

The below is an alert from American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Read more in The Washington Post and in The New York Times.

ACAAI Expert Alert:

What parents of kids with asthma need to know about enterovirus 68
Parents of children who suffer from asthma and allergies have every reason to be concerned about enterovirus 68, the virus that has hospitalized hundreds of kids across the county. Although symptoms start out like a common cold, they can move to severe respiratory symptoms such as wheezing and difficulty breathing. Since kids who suffer from asthma are already vulnerable to respiratory symptoms, parents need to be especially vigilant.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) advises parents of children with asthma or allergies to keep a close eye on their child’s symptoms.

“If your child seems to be struggling to breathe and their normal asthma medications aren’t working, get him or her to the emergency department as quickly as possible,” says allergist Bradley Chipps, MD, spokesperson for ACAAI. “The most important thing is for every child with asthma to have a personalized asthma action plan, created with his or her allergist. An asthma plan helps quickly identify when a child is suffering more than usual and needs immediate, emergency attention.”

Tips from ACAAI on managing asthma in children include:
• Teach your child age-appropriate self-care.
• Be sure you and your child are using the asthma medications exactly the way the allergist prescribed and are using the inhaler properly.
• If the allergist has suggested using a peak flow meter and diary to assess your child’s level of asthma, be sure they are being used properly.
• Make sure your child is following his or her asthma action plan. Most plans are created using a stoplight system – green means your medications are working and your asthma is under control. Yellow means you’re experiencing symptoms and need to follow the steps outlined, including the use of your quick-relief medicine to keep your asthma from getting worse. If you are in the red zone, you are experiencing severe asthma symptoms or an asthma flare-up and need to get immediate medical attention.

Adults are also at risk however, according to Dr Chipps, “…children under 6 tend to have more significant exacerbations.”

Detail: ACAAI, Children with Asthma & Enterovirus 68

0 Food Allergy Counseling: Sunbutter Manufacturer's Coupon

I was contact by SunButter, makers of sunflower seed butter to offer you all a $1 off manufacturer’s coupon. (See above and download). 

From SunButter's press release: “SunButter is both peanut and tree nut free and is used in many schools across America as a delicious and safe alternative to peanut butter.”

I have met the SunButter founders many times and love their allergen policies and protocols – did you know tree nuts and peanuts cannot grow in North Dakota where SunButter is produced? Additionally, SunButter has strict allergen protocols from the manufacturing processes all the way to their truckers (no PB sandwiches allowed in the truck cab!) 

Here is more information about SunButter. Here's their allergen information. And here's how to contact SunButter to ask your personal questions about your food allergy or food restriction needs.

Thanks SunButter!

Detail: Food Allergy Counseling: Sunbutter Manufacturer's Coupon

0 Food Allergy Counseling: Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™, Camp Checklist: Mylan

Summer camp is around the corner. Have you had The Food Allergy Talk with the camp and your child about managing food allergy risk while having a great time?  Here's some assistance in the form of a helpful graphic from Mylan Specialty L.P., marketers of EpiPen:

"Check out the below Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™ camp checklist to ensure all camp staff and campers are aware and prepared for anaphylaxis. The camp packing list should include your action plan, which includes avoiding your known allergens and having access to two epinephrine auto-injectors should anaphylaxis occur."

Have more questions about managing food allergy risk? Check out Anaphylaxis101.com for lots of free downloadable information and talk to your board certified medical provider about your child’s food allergy risks, needs and anaphylaxis action plan.

Detail: Food Allergy Counseling: Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™, Camp Checklist: Mylan

0 Food Allergy Counseling: CDC and Voluntary Food Allergy Guidelines for Schools

A press release from FARE:

On October 30, 2013, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) published “Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools and Early Care and Education Programs” - the first national comprehensive guidelines for school food allergy management…The guidelines were created as the result of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Management Act (included under the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act), which was championed by FARE and signed into law on Jan. 4, 2011. The law required the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and make available to schools a voluntary policy to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools. FARE, the National Association of School Nurses and other groups collaborated with the CDC on the development of these guidelines. 

Information via Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): 

The Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies provide practical information and planning steps for parents, district administrators, school administrators and staff, and ECE program administrators and staff to develop or strengthen plans for food allergy management and prevention. The Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies include recommendations for each of the five priority areas that should be addressed in each school’s or ECE program’s Food Allergy Management Prevention Plan:

• Ensure the daily management of food allergies in individual children.
• Prepare for food allergy emergencies.
• Provide professional development on food allergies for staff members.
• Educate children and family members about food allergies.
• Create and maintain a healthy and safe educational environment.

The Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies online here.


Via FARE how you can get more involved to spread the word to your school:

Know the Facts: More than 15 percent of children with food allergies have had a reaction at school, and approximately 25 percent of epinephrine administrations in the school setting involved an individual whose allergy was previously undiagnosed.

Contact Your District and School Leaders: Reach out to your school board, superintendent, principal, and/or school health office to let them know that the guidelines are available at www.foodallergy.org/CDC. If your school district already has school food allergy management guidelines in place, ask your school officials to consider the CDC guidelines the next time changes are proposed.

Tell Your Friends: Let other families know that they can help increase awareness of the new CDC guidelines by notifying their district or school leaders.

Detail: Food Allergy Counseling: CDC and Voluntary Food Allergy Guidelines for Schools

0 School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act Signed, November 13, 2013

Very exciting news from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) website: "On November 13, 2013 President Obama signed into law the  School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, which encourages states to adopt laws requiring schools to have on hand “stock” epinephrine auto-injectors."

Here is some of the coverage from around the web and more about what this means.

FARE press release: "President Obama today signed into law the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act during a ceremony attended by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) CEO John L. Lehr, members of FARE’s board of directors and key congressional sponsors. This historic and potentially lifesaving legislation is the first federal law encouraging schools to stock epinephrine for use in allergic emergencies, and has been championed by FARE for more than two years.”

From CNN.com: Obama reveals daughter Malia’s peanut allergy at bill signing: "This is something that will save children's lives," the President said at the signing. "Some people may know that Malia actually has a peanut allergy. She doesn't have asthma, but obviously making sure that EpiPens are available in case of emergency in schools is something that every parent can understand."

From the White House Blog: "Today in the Oval Office, President Obama signed into law the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, which will encourage schools to plan for severe asthma attacks and allergic reactions, and provide millions of families with greater peace of mind. The law makes an important change to the Children’s Asthma Treatment Grants Program and other federal asthma programs, which authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to give funding preferences to states for asthma-treatment grants if they: maintain an emergency supply of epinephrine (EpiPens), if they permit trained personnel of the school to administer epinephrine, and if they develop a plan for ensuring trained personnel are available to administer epinephrine during all hours of the school day." 

From the Wall Street Journal: "Rather than require schools to stockpile EpiPens, the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Law provides a financial incentive. States that require schools maintain a supply of the medication and permit trained school personnel to administer it will get preference for receiving federal children’s asthma-treatment grants. A similar preference has been in existence since 2004 for states that allow students to self-administer medication to treat asthma and anaphylaxis."

Video via Politico Blog.

Detail: School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act Signed, November 13, 2013

0 Food Allergy Counseling: How Common Is Anaphylaxis: Study

Some of the most well-respected leaders in the food allergy medical field, including Robert A. Wood, MD; Philip Lieberman, MD; Hugh A. Sampson, MD; and F. Estelle R. Simons, MD
were involved in a new study about anaphylaxis.

The conclusion: "According to the peer-reviewed study, anaphylaxis very likely occurs in nearly 1-in-50 Americans (1.6%), and the rate is probably higher, close to 1-in-20 (5.1%)."

Here's a full text of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) study. 

Below is a partial of the press release from Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

***

NEW STUDY SHOWS NEARLY 1-IN-50 AMERICANS AT-RISK FOR SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTIONS

Anaphylaxis is More Common Than Many Thought, Most Patients are Not Prepared

A novel study by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) published today in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), finds that severe life-threatening allergic reactions – anaphylaxis – are common in the U.S.  According to the peer-reviewed study, anaphylaxis very likely occurs in nearly 1-in-50 Americans (1.6%), and the rate is probably higher, close to 1-in-20 (5.1%).

The article, Anaphylaxis in America: The Prevalence and Characteristics of Anaphylaxis in the United States, based on AAFA’s study of the same name, provides one of the most reliable estimates to-date of the prevalence of severe, life-threatening allergies in the general population.  It is also helping experts understand how the public, patients and caregivers think, feel and behave regarding anaphylaxis.  For the full text of the article, visit www.aafa.org/AnaphylaxisInAmerica.

Dr. Robert Wood is the lead author of the article, chair of the AAFA research panel that conducted the study, and Director of Allergy & Immunology at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.  “This study provides the first estimate of anaphylaxis prevalence in the United States using a large unbiased survey,” according to the article.  But the authors also pointed out that patients do not appear adequately equipped to deal with future episodes, indicating the need for public health initiatives to improve anaphylaxis recognition and treatment.

“One of the most alarming things we found is that, despite the common occurrence of anaphylaxis, most people are not prepared to do the right thing when emergency reactions occur,” says Mike Tringale, Senior Vice President at AAFA and one of the authors of the article.  “We need to re-double our efforts to make sure that people are informed and have access to the right medication.”


For the full text of the article, visit www.aafa.org/AnaphylaxisInAmerica.

Detail: Food Allergy Counseling: How Common Is Anaphylaxis: Study

0 Food Allergy Counseling: Food Allergy Friendly Halloween Tips, Jo Frost

A few weeks back I was invited to a webinar hosted by

Mylan Specialty, LLC, marketers of EpiPen that featured the Supernanny Jo Frost. Jo has had food allergies (shellfish) since she was little and it was fun to listen to her talk about how the crew on her show and the families she works with are allergen-free for the week she works with them on her show Family S.O.S. with Jo Frost.

She also gave a some solid tips to follow for Halloween, have a look at the picture.

As always: 

•    Discuss the your food allergy needs with your board certified medical provider.
•    Go over your anaphylaxis action plan
•    Have your two EpiPen epinephrine auotinjectors and emergency medications on you at all times
•    Don't hesitate to use them

Keep in mind this Allergic Girl's must-haves when managing  severe, life-threatening food allergies:


•    A thorough understanding of your food allergy diagnosis
•    An ability to clearly communicate that diagnosis to those around you
•    Support from friends and family around your diagnosis
•    Your emergency medication on hand, as well as your anaphylaxis action plan, just in case
 
Always consult your personal board certified medical provider about what is safe for you and your food allergic needs.
 
*SPECIAL OFFER: Through the end of 2013, there a 0$ co-pay program through EpiPen: https://activatemysavings.com/epipen/.*

Detail: Food Allergy Counseling: Food Allergy Friendly Halloween Tips, Jo Frost

0 Food Allergy Counseling: Egg Allergy & Flu Shots, 2013

Influenza is a respiratory illness. As an asthma girl, that puts me in a high-risk category, so, I get my flu shot every year. However, for those of you with an egg allergy or caring for a loved on with an egg allergy, the whole flu shot question has been a winding road. Don’t get it, get it, get it in stages – every year there seems to be a new path to take and every allergist, pediatrician and pulmonologist has a different opinion. This year, the below recommendation is from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) who says: take it.


*Have a conversation with you board certified medical health provider about what is best for your needs and what the real risk to you is.* 

The below is a press release from American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI):

Egg Allergic Children Now Have no Barriers to Flu Shot
Newest research shows no increased danger 

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILL. (Oct. 1, 2013) – All children should have flu shots, http://www.acaai.org/allergist/allergies/Types/drug-allergy/Pages/flu-shots-egg-allergy.aspx even if they have an egg allergy, and it’s now safe to get them without special precautions. This finding is from the latest update on the safety of the flu vaccine for allergic patients, published in the October issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the official journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

The current recommendation from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is to observe children allergic to eggs for 30 minutes after a flu shot. Also to have the shot under the care of a primary care provider, if the reaction to eating eggs is only hives, or an allergist, if the reaction to eating eggs is more serious.

However, “In a large number of research studies published over the last several years, thousands of egg allergic children, including those with a severe life-threatening reaction to eating eggs, have received injectable influenza vaccine (IIV) as a single dose without a reaction” said allergist John Kelso, MD, fellow of the ACAAI.

This update, endorsed by the AAAAI/ACAAI Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, concludes that based upon the available data, "Special precautions regarding medical setting and waiting periods after administration of IIV to egg-allergic recipients beyond those recommended for any vaccine are not warranted. For IIV, language that describes egg-allergic recipients as being at increased risk compared with non-egg-allergic recipients or requiring special precautions should be removed from guidelines and product labeling.

The benefits of the flu vaccination far outweigh any risk,” said Dr. Kelso. “As with any vaccine, all personnel and facilities administering flu shots should have procedures in place for the rare instance of anaphylaxis, a severe life-threatening allergic reaction. If you have questions or concerns, contact your allergist.”

Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children. By age 16, about 70 percent of children outgrow their egg allergy. Most allergic reactions to egg involve the skin. In fact, egg allergy is the most common food allergy in babies and young children with eczema.

Further, the flu is responsible for the hospitalization of more than 21,100 children under the age of five annually, yet only two thirds of children receive the vaccination each year. Some go unvaccinated because of egg allergy. ACAAI also advises the more than 25.7 million Americans with asthma to receive the flu vaccination. Because the flu and asthma are both respiratory conditions, asthmatics may experience more frequent and severe asthma attacks while they have the flu.

Everyone with allergies and asthma should be able to feel good, be active all day and sleep well at night. No one should accept less. For more information about allergy and asthma, and to locate an allergist in your area, visit AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org. 

About ACAAI The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 5,700 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyAndAsthmaRelief.org

Detail: Food Allergy Counseling: Egg Allergy & Flu Shots, 2013

0 Food Allergy Counseling: AllergyEats Becomes an OpenTable Affiliate

Another exciting relationship forged between our friends at AllergyEats and Opentable.com an online restaurant reservation service. Opentable.com is a valuable tool to communicate your needs to a restaurant before you step across the threshold. I use it all the time, as well as have talked about it on my blog. It’s one of many tools I suggest utilizing to communicate your needs with dining out with a severe life threatening food allergy. Here is the press release from AllergyEats. Congratulations, Paul!

***

New Relationship Streamlines the Process of Finding Allergy-Friendly Restaurants
& Making Reservations 

BOSTON, MA (June 18, 2013) – The food allergy community depends on AllergyEats  the leading guide to allergy-friendly restaurants nationwide, to reduce the guesswork and anxiety surrounding dining out with food allergies.  Now, thanks to a new affiliate relationship with OpenTable, they can also quickly and easily make restaurant reservations directly from the AllergyEats website and smartphone app. 

OpenTable is now available via the AllergyEats core website and smartphone app – allowing people to instantly use their computer, tablet or smartphone to make reservations at any US restaurant on OpenTable. OpenTable  is the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations, seating more than 12 million diners per month via its site and mobile solutions.  More than 450 million diners have depended on OpenTable to find a restaurant, choose a table and book their reservations online.   

“AllergyEats, a peer-based ratings and review site, lets people see at-a-glance which restaurants have been more willing and better able to accommodate special dietary requirements, allowing food-allergic diners to make more informed choices about where to dine.  Once they find an accommodating restaurant, they can now instantly make reservations through the AllergyEats site or app, provided the restaurant is part of the large and growing OpenTable network,” said Paul Antico, Founder/CEO of AllergyEats, father of three food-allergic children and passionate food allergy advocate. 

“This relationship streamlines and simplifies the process of finding allergy-friendly restaurants and then making reservations at those accommodating establishments.  AllergyEats has become even more valuable as a one-stop resource for dining out with food allergies,” Antico continued.   

Both AllergyEats and OpenTable are free to use. 

According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), 130 million people eat at a food establishment daily.  As many as 15 million people nationwide, 9 million of them adults, have food allergies, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, and these numbers are expected to rise.  With a reported 4% of the U.S. population living with food allergies, and millions of food-allergic people dining out each day, AllergyEats has become a tremendously popular resource for finding – and rating – allergy-friendly restaurants.  AllergyEats has grown steadily since its early 2010 launch, and is continuing its upwards trajectory with thousands of new users each month. 

About AllergyEats
AllergyEats, a free, peer-based website and smartphone app, is dramatically improving the way food-allergic and gluten intolerant individuals find – and rate – allergy-friendly restaurants.  The easy-to-use ratings and comment system allows food-allergic diners to instantly share their feedback about their restaurant experiences.  This peer-based ratings and review site lets people see at-a-glance which restaurants have been more willing and better able to accommodate special dietary requirements, allowing food-allergic diners to make more informed choices about where to dine. 

Detail: Food Allergy Counseling: AllergyEats Becomes an OpenTable Affiliate

0 Food Allergy Counseling: A Partnership between FARE and MedicAlert Foundation

I've been wearing a MedicAlert Bracelet since my senior year of college and I talked about that in this blog post.

I'm wearing that same MedicAlert Bracelet in my Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies (Wiley, 2011) book trailer:



I'm showing that same MedicAlert bracelet off in the NY1 news spot with Chef Nick Anderer of Maialino in New York City.

And now, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE ), MedicAlert Foundation have joined to offer a "...10% discount on membership, 20% of the proceeds from your [MedicAlert Foundation] membership will support FARE " in fulfilling its mission to advance food allergy education, advocacy, awareness and research." 

Here's more from a joint press release and from the MedicAlert Foundation website today, June 18, 2013: 

Food Allergy Counseling: A Partnership between FARE and 

Through our valued partnership with Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) , MedicAlert Foundation is pleased to offer the MyVoice program to FARE supporters, which provides special discounts on our memberships. MedicAlert's medical IDs and services will help protect you or your loved one - at home or wherever you may be during an emergency.

In addition to a 10% discount on membership, 20% of the proceeds from your membership will support FARE in fulfilling its mission to advance food allergy education, advocacy, awareness and research. Additionally, FARE supporters who enroll in MedicAlert membership and order a MedicAlert medical ID can enter coupon code: FARE during check out to take $10.00 off the purchase price of their medical ID.*

A food allergy diagnosis is life-changing. Avoiding the allergen is not always easy, and despite constant vigilance, accidental exposures can occur. Sever allergic reactions (known as anaphylaxis) can be life-threatening, so every second counts.

When your child has a food allergy, everyday events like birthday parties, field trips, and eating in the school cafeteria can be hazardous to his or her health. Moreover, those with certain types of allergies (like food allergies) are at risk for a sudden, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction – which is why every second counts in a life-threatening allergic reaction

Whether you have a food allergy yourself or are the parent of a child with food allergies, the MyVoice program is there for you to help communicate your vital medical information in an emergency situation.  MedicAlert Foundation stores your vital medical information (also known as Emergency Medical Information Record - EMIR®), and links it to your personalized medical ID. First responders are trained to recognize MedicAlert medical IDs in emergencies, and know to contact our 24/7 Live Emergency Response Service to obtain your medical information. Our services ensure emergency responders and hospital staff get your up-to-date medical information, the moment they need it, to make informed decisions about your treatment and care. In addition to our 24/7 Emergency Response service, we also offer 24/7 Family Notification and 24/7 Physician Notification service. 

FARE recommends individuals with food allergies use a medical ID, a practice that is also recommended in the food allergy clinicalguidelines developed by an expert panel sponsored by the National Institute ofAllergy and Infectious Diseases.

Detail: Food Allergy Counseling: A Partnership between FARE and MedicAlert Foundation

0 One in Three Children Experience Anaphylaxis on Valentine's Day

Mylan Specialty, makers of Epi-Pen, released a new survey on January 31, 2013 that found “…of the 302 U.S. adults, age 18+, who self-identified as caregivers of at least one child with a life-threatening allergy to food and/or latex…one in three reported that their children with life-threatening allergies have experienced anaphylaxis on Valentine’s Day.” [Disclosure: I have a relationship with Mylan Specialty.]

More from the press release: “The survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Mylan Specialty, revealed that teens that date were significantly more likely to have experienced anaphylaxis during Valentine’s Day than those who do not date (47% versus 13%) and:
 

• Less than half of parents (47%) talk to their child about risks posed to children with life-threatening allergies from physical contact related to Valentine’s Day, such as being kissed by someone who has recently eaten food they may be allergic to.
• Only 47% of parents tell their teen that when going on dates, they should tell their date about their life-threatening food allergy.
• 35% of parents did not indicate that they remind their teen to bring his/her epinephrine auto-injector on dates"

As this study illustrates, having a conversation about “romance” and food allergies is not an easy one, especially with teens who may have their iPod headphones in their ears every time you try to with them.  My advice to parents from the press release: 

“As children mature, parents’ conversations should evolve with their needs and age-specific concerns. Food allergy talks need to reflect what is happening in their children’s lives and the real-life challenges they face on a daily basis.”

What that means is that conversation about anaphylaxis, emergencies, Epi-Pens, food allergies are ever changing as your child changes.  Once your child receives a diagnosis of life-threatening food allergies, that is the beginning of an ongoing conversation about how to manage that diagnosis. Receiving an anaphylaxis action plan from your board certified allergist is not a final step – it is the beginning of exploring what allergens to avoid and how, what symptoms to watch out for, what emergency means, what anaphylaxis looks like and what to do in case of that emergency.

I know it’s scary to start having these conversations with your children, especially ones about dates and Valentine's Day, but they want to hear from you, even your teenagers, they’re looking to you for guidance (and they're listening to you even when their headphones are in).

Detail: One in Three Children Experience Anaphylaxis on Valentine's Day

0 Udi’s Granola, Recall, December 2012

"Dec. 19, 2012 – DENVER – Udi’s Healthy Foods, LLC of Denver, Colorado, is voluntarily recalling its 12-ounce bags of “Udi’s Gluten Free Au Naturel Granola” with UPC 6-98997-80615-8 and “Best By 041913 12265 1” because they may contain undeclared almonds. People who are allergic to almonds run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products." Here’s the full press release from Udi's Gluten Free.

This recall from Udi’s Gluten Free happened right before Christmas. Their granola line was never nut-free; they make a granola with nuts and always have to my knowledge. And accidents happen. Their bread products (muffins, bagels, loaves etc) used to be made away from the granola, and any nuts and was made in a different part of their plant from their bread products. However, I reached out directly to Udi’s to ask them to confirm that. the below is from Udi’s directly:

**
 
Thanks for reaching out to us. Our baked goods are completely nut free and made in dedicated nut free facilities.  The only product of ours containing nuts will be our granolas, but these are made in a completely separate bakery from the rest of our gluten free baked goods. This way we can assure that there will never be any cross contamination of nuts in our baked goods.

Most of our granolas do contain nuts, except the Au Naturel. Our nut-free granolas are thus not made in a nut-free facility, but we do have measures in place to clean and sanitize equipment between batches and sequence production in such a manner to avoid nut contamination of nut-free products.
 
**

Any further questions, please reach out to Udi’s Gluten Free directly:
http://udisglutenfree.com/
http://udisglutenfree.com/contact-us/
mail@udisglutenfree.com

Detail: Udi’s Granola, Recall, December 2012

0 Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis, Mall Tour, 2012

Mylan Specialty L.P., maker of Epi-Pen, is working hard to get the word out about anaphylaxis, especially in schools. (More about food allergy and anaphylaxis from the NIH can be found here in their patient guidelines.) Given that school is so often where children experience their first food allergic reaction, the message and these resources couldn't be more timely. I especially like the idea of a mall tour. The below is from a press release [Disclosure: I have a relationship with Mylan Specialty L.P.]:

Mylan Specialty L.P. today announced the launch of a comprehensive, community-inspired resource for families, school staff and students designed to raise awareness of and preparedness for life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in the school setting: www.Anaphylaxis101.com.  The enhanced website, which is part of the Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™initiative, now includes a personalized, virtual tour to access resources provided by leading patient, professional and advocacy groups.  This fall, the educational tools will be brought directly into communities via an augmented reality exhibit that will travel the country to drive home the importance of raising awareness about anaphylaxis and being prepared when anaphylaxis occurs.


About Get Schooled In Anaphylaxis: An Interactive Experience. At the Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis: The Interactive Experience exhibit, visitors will activate videos on an interactive mural through use of smartphones or tablets after downloading the free Anaphylaxis101 mobile app. They will also receive educational materials and giveaways, with a special offer for the first 100 people who visit the exhibit on each stop of the 10-city tour.

The coast-to-coast tour will hit key cities across the nation including:

·         Los Angeles, Calif. – Del Amo Fashion Center – Oct. 19-20
·         Denver, Colo. – Park Meadows Mall – Oct. 22
·         Baltimore, Md. – Arundel Mills Mall – Oct. 25
·         Chicago, Ill. – Orland Square Mall – Oct. 27-28
·         Dallas, Texas – Grapevine Mills Mall – Oct. 31
·         Houston, Texas – The Houston Galleria – Nov. 2-3
·         Orlando, Fla. – The Florida Mall – Nov. 8
·         Atlanta, Ga. – Lenox Square Mall – Nov. 10
·         Charlotte, N.C. – Concord Mills – Nov. 13
·         Philadelphia, Pa. – King of Prussia Mall – Nov. 16-17

For more information on the tour schedule visit www.Anaphylaxis101.com.

About Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™
The Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™ initiative offers practical information to educate the school community to help those at risk for life-threatening allergic reactions avoid their triggers, recognize anaphylaxis signs and symptoms and understand how to quickly get appropriate treatment and immediate medical care when anaphylaxis occurs.  Visit www.Anaphylaxis101.com to explore how anaphylaxis can affect the entire school community and learn more about life-threatening allergic reactions.  You can also download practical tools, learn more about Julie Bowen’s family story and watch a public service announcement (PSA) featuring the actress and sign up to receive news about activities and events.  Follow the Twitter handle @Anaphylaxis101 to get the latest news about the initiative.  Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis brings together information from leading patient, professional and advocacy organizations, each with the common goal of improving anaphylaxis education, and makes them accessible through www.Anaphylaxis101.com.

Detail: Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis, Mall Tour, 2012

0 Get Schooled In Anaphylaxis™, Mylan Specialty

A contest to help raise awareness about anaphylaxis sponsored by Mylan Specialty. The below is a press release. [Disclosure: I have a relationship with Mylan Specialty]:

“Modern Family” Star Julie Bowen Joins Mylan Specialty L.P. to Launch Health Awareness Initiative to Address Growing Rate of Life-Threatening Allergic Reactions

Get Schooled In Anaphylaxis™ Campaign Kicks Off with College Scholarship Challenge

Basking Ridge, NJ, September 26, 2012 – Emmy-award winning actress Julie Bowen, known for her comedic role in “Modern Family,” is for the first time publicly sharing her family’s experience with life-threatening allergies to help drive a national conversation on this serious health issue.  Bowen is partnering with Mylan Specialty L.P. to launch Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™, a multi-faceted public health initiative that aims to increase awareness of and preparedness for life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). To view the multimedia content, please click: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/57462-get-schooled-in-anaphylaxis/

The campaign’s first priority will be to focus on educating the school community. To get the school community involved, Bowen is calling on students nationwide to join the Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis Challenge™. Students in grades 1-12 are encouraged to visit www.Anaphylaxis101.com  and submit an essay describing an idea to help their school become more aware of and better prepared to support students who may be at risk for life-threatening allergic reactions. Fifteen students from across the country will be selected by a judging panel to win a $2,000 college scholarship.

  

Get Schooled In Anaphylaxis Challenge™ Entry Information

The Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis Challenge™ encourages school-aged children in grades 1-12 to write a brief essay and submit up to two visual images. Submissions should explain an idea to:

· Improve awareness of life-threatening allergies in schools;

· Help students who may be at risk for life-threatening allergic reactions feel more accepted in their school; or

· Provide a unique solution to a challenge faced by students who may be at risk for anaphylaxis. 

Each entry will be evaluated by a judging panel including family caregivers, doctors, school nurses, advocacy groups and others in the allergy community. Winners will be selected based on creativity and originality of the idea, the clarity of the proposed solution and the potential for implementation of the idea. 

Essays can be submitted from September 26, 2012 to November 9, 2012.

For more information visit www.Anaphylaxis101.com. 

Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™

The Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™ initiative offers practical information to educate the school community to help those at risk for life-threatening allergic reactions avoid their triggers, recognize anaphylaxis signs and symptoms and understand how to quickly get appropriate treatment and immediate medical care when anaphylaxis occurs. Visit www.Anaphylaxis101.com to explore how anaphylaxis can affect the entire school community and learn more about life-threatening allergic reactions. You can also download practical tools, learn more about Julie Bowen’s family story and watch a PSA featuring the actress, and sign up to receive news about campaign activities and events.

More About Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur when the body is exposed to an allergen. Symptoms may include trouble breathing, chest pain, skin hives or redness of the skin, tightness in the throat, swelling of the lips and/or tongue, nausea, dizziness, a decrease in blood pressure, and/or fainting. Anaphylaxis symptoms may progress rapidly and become life-threatening, requiring prompt recognition and treatment initiation. While avoidance of allergic triggers is the critical first step in managing life-threatening allergies, allergens are not always obvious, and accidental exposure may still happen. Food allergy guidelines developed by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recommend epinephrine as the only first-line treatment for anaphylaxis management and that it be available at all times to those at risk for anaphylaxis. If experiencing anaphylaxis, a person should use an epinephrine auto-injector and seek immediate emergency medical attention. Delays in instituting therapy with epinephrine are associated with risks of death and morbidity.

About Mylan Specialty

Mylan Specialty, a subsidiary of Mylan Inc. (Nasdaq: MYL), is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription drug products for the treatment of respiratory diseases, life-threatening allergic reactions and psychiatric disorders. The company puts patients first and facilitates efficient, cost-effective partnerships with customers. For more information, please visit www.mylanspecialty.com.

About Mylan

Mylan is a global pharmaceutical company committed to setting new standards in health care. Working together around the world to provide seven billion people access to high quality medicine, we innovate to satisfy unmet needs; make reliability and service a habit, do what’s right, not what’s easy and impact the future through passionate global leadership. We offer a growing portfolio of more than 1,100 generic pharmaceuticals and several brand medications. In addition, we offer a wide range of antiretroviral therapies, upon which approximately one-third of HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries depend. We also operate one of the largest active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers and currently market products in approximately 150 countries and territories. Our workforce of more than 18,000 people is dedicated to improving the customer experience and increasing pharmaceutical access to consumers around the world. But don’t take our word for it. See for yourself. See inside. Mylan.com.

Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis™ and Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis Challenge™ are sponsored by and trademarks of Mylan Specialty L.P. © 2012. All rights reserved. MYS12-8001

Detail: Get Schooled In Anaphylaxis™, Mylan Specialty

0 Eczema, NIAID

According to a NIH/NIAID press release, October is Eczema Month. No surprise to me as my eczema started flaring up on my hands about two weeks ago i.e when the weather changed. More from the NIH website:

“Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a chronic condition of the skin that affects an estimated 9 to 30 percent of people in the United States...AD is closely associated with other allergic diseases, including food allergy, asthma, and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Children whose parents have asthma and allergies are more likely to develop AD than children of parents without allergic diseases. Approximately 30 percent of children with AD have food allergies, and many develop asthma or respiratory allergies. People who live in cities or drier climates also appear more likely to develop AD.” 

And here’s a video about wrap therapy and eczema from NIH/NIAID

Have more questions or concerns, contact a board certified allergist in your local area. You can find allergists through your medical insurer, AAAAI.org or ACAAI.org.

Detail: Eczema, NIAID