1 in 12 kids may have food allergies

As many as one in every 12 kids in the United States may have a food allergy, according to a new study that appears to confirm that the condition is more widespread — and perhaps more dangerous — than previously thought.

Full story here.

Fenway Park does it again - providing a 2nd peanut-free section this season!

Hurray for Fenway Park! Peanuts were banned last Sunday from an entire 226-person section of the ballpark for the second time this season as part of a growing effort to accommodate fans with allergies.

The seats are washed, swept, inspected, and swept again, adhering to cleaning guidelines from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter. Signs posted last Sunday made a simple request: “Thank you for not eating peanuts and Cracker Jacks.’’ Last Sunday, ballpark greeters stood at the entrance to the section and acted as peanut police, alerting fans of the ban.

A critical-care nurse and an emergency room doctor stood in the aisle with stethoscopes dangling from their necks and an extra supply of EpiPens — syringes filled with epinephrine to treat severe allergic reactions. The medical staff on duty said they have never had to use an EpiPen during an allergy friendly game, but it offers piece of mind for parents.

What an amazing effort! There are 500 families on the waiting list for these tickets. Read the full story here.

Nearly half of Major League Baseball teams set aside seats for at least one game without peanuts. Unfortunately the Cincinnati Reds are not one of these teams. Hopefully we can change that - please see my previous posts about the Reds and Peanut-Free nights, and join our facebook page!

Organzing Your Food Safely

Organization is one of the keys to keeping your food-allergic kids safe at home. Labeling food containers is something I do almost every day to help identify who can have what. Rowan has her own shelf in the fridge, and I have a 'safe food' chart hanging on our fridge. We have a sitter that comes to our house 4 days a week, and these simple steps help eliminate confusion.

I saw this new product called SafeKeepers on Nut Free Mom today. SafeKeepers are a food allergy solution for organizing your food safely. Plastic food storage containers printed with the universally recognized “Stop” and “Go” signs on each container with matching covers, letting you know what’s safe to eat and what isn’t. And they're BPA free.

48 pieces for $18 plus shipping.
I am definitely buying these!

Allergy-Free Strawberry Cupcakes

Cybele Pascal's recipe for Allergy-Free Strawberry Cupcakes looks delicious! I'll be making these soon.
Allergy-Free Strawberry Cupcakes
© 2011 by Cybele Pascal

FDA Meeting: Do Food Dyes Cause Hyperactivity?

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration met to try to determine whether a link exists between artificial coloring and hyperactivity in children. I think it's pretty major that the FDA is even considering that there may be a link between food dyes and kids’ behavior. There is a good NPR article about this debate here.

My girls are pretty calm, so hyperactivity is not high on my list of worries. But in dealing with food allergies, I prefer to limit processed foods that are full of added colors. The girls are already avoiding a few major food groups, so most of their calories need to be nutritious.

Emily's Story: A Food Allergy Angel

Last week was Food Allergy Awareness Week, and I saw a lot of great stories, recipes and discussions. I was feeling pretty confident, because I try to stay up to date on the latest information and we have a pretty good safe-food routine established at home.

Today I read Emily's Story - and it just breaks my heart. Emily died 5 years ago, and it was caused by an allergic reaction. This happened here in Cincinnati. Today would have been her 19th birthday.

I have to admit, I absolutely hate reading stories like this, because it makes me feel anxious and sad, and it makes me worry about my girls even more than I already do.

I'm sharing this because I think other parents need to see how serious food allergies can be. And it reminds me that I cannot let down my guard. I also need to stop worrying about what other people think of me. There will always be people out there that think food allergies are exaggerated, or that I'm just a parent trying to get attention. I've overheard parents of older kids talking about 'The Food Allergy Nazi Mom' in their kids classroom, and it makes me feel awful. I know what that mom is dealing with, and she is just trying to keep her child safe. It can be hard to get other parents to understand that there isn't any room for error. An Epi-pen does not typically reverse a reaction - it can give some relief for about 15 minutes, until an ambulance arrives. (This is why you should always carry two - in case you need to buy more time)

Please take the time to read Emily's Story. It's a good reminder that food allergies are very serious. If your kids don't have food allergies, be thankful, and try to be more understanding of families that deal with this every day. If your kids do have food allergies, ALWAYS have your Epi-pens with you and be prepared to use them.

Reds say no to peanut-free baseball (again)

I contacted the Reds again this year, about the possibility of a peanut-free section for one game. Here is the email I received today, from Sean Brown, Director of Ballpark Operations:

Ms. H,

This offseason, we reviewed the policies other clubs have in place for their peanut free or peanut sensitive areas.

In doing so, we discovered that it would not be advantageous for the Reds or for the families of those affected by a peanut allergy, to host such an area within the ballpark.

I apologize we cannot accommodate your request or that of your children.

Thanks,
Sean

There are other Major and Minor League teams that are providing peanut-free sections for games, so please check Peanut Free Baseball for a list of teams and games in your area.