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November 18, 2009
We're Getting There...But We Still Need Your Help
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to those of you who've made a donation to our end-of-year fundraising campaign.
As an organization whose mission is to provide education and support, fundraising for us has always been a challenge. We are not raising money to find a cure for food allergy, rather we are trying to improve the lives of families and kids with food allergies — while we await treatments and cures that are years away from happening.
We realize that many donors — perhaps even you — might prefer to give to an organization that has a more urgent cause for fighting hunger, ending human rights abuses, curing cancer or other diseases. But as we all know, children with food allergies and their families face unique challenges and needs that only those close to this cause can fully understand. Our cause is important, too.
So, we'd greatly appreciate your keeping KFA in your annual year-end giving plans. Even a small donation of $5.00 will help. We are here to help families and their children — our children —and with your help, we can do more.
Warmest regards,
Lynda Mitchell
KFA President
Mom to a son off to college with food allergies
KFA Family Membership Save $10!
A Family Membership is just $25 per year— about the price of a cookbook or magazine subscription— and offers 24/7 access to all services that KFA offers to families. Save $10 by purchasing a two-year subscription for $40.
How a KFA Family Membership Can Help You
 You won't feel alone. Connect and share with other parents — we've got the most active support community on the Internet for families raising children with food allergies.
- You can find safe recipes. Search our collection of more than 1,000 allergy-friendly recipes. Just check off the allergens you need to avoid, select a category, and get a list of recipes you can try.
- You can keep up-to-date with access to special reports and publications. Family Membership subscribers have exclusive access to KFA's Support Net® twice-yearly publication and special educational resources.
Celebrating Thanksgiving with Food Allergies Updated!
 Holidays like Thanksgiving that revolve around food can truly be challenges for families raising children with food allergies. The traditional meal for your family can present numerous allergy risks -- and the risks can be even greater if you are not preparing the meal yourself but relying on someone else to cook the meal. Is there any way around the stress and pressure of a holiday known for allergen-laden foods? Or can the foods be made safe for your food-allergic kids?
Also download KFA's free PDF booklet on How to Celebrate Thanksgiving with Food Allergies to find 12 food-free crafts and activities, strategies for making dinner and school safe, and more!
52 Allergy-Free Holiday Recipes to the Rescue! NEW!
We've put together a collection of allergy-free holiday recipes to help KFA Family Members plan delicious meals this holiday season. This collection offers a wide variety of milk-free, egg-free, wheat-free, nut-free, and other allergen-free recipes so there is something safe for everyone. Full-color photos are included.
If you are not yet a KFA Family Member, you can view some of these recipes in our Free Featured Recipes area.
How to Enjoy the Holidays on an Allergy-Restricted Diet
Holidays can be stressful enough. But with so many seasonal functions centering around food, having a child with food allergies can be overwhelming. To help make the holidays more enjoyable, KFA has published this article (with permission) featuring an excerpt from the book, "Why Can't I Eat That! Helping Kids Obey Medical Diets," by John F. Taylor, Ph.D., and R. Sharon Latta.
A Message from Our Sponsor
Click on the image above to visit the Web site of this month's newsletter sponsor.
Sign up for a free Associate Membership to read the messages posted in our "Main" POFAK online support forum. Better yet, become a Family Member and join the discussion!
Recently, several of our members have dealt with anaphylaxis. By reading their stories, you can become better prepared to handle this emergency. Don't miss the News section below—it also contains vital information about epinephrine and anaphylaxis.
I gave two Epis last night (plus one at the hospital)
"Just got back from 24 hours at two different hospitals. Daniel had anaphylaxis yesterday morning to a gingerbread cookie mix that should NOT have contained any of his allergens."
Read about this mom's nightmare when her son experienced a biphasic reaction 15 minutes after discharge from the ER and why it might be important to have printed instructions from your allergist that direct ER staff on how to treat your child for anaphylaxis.
Baked milk study a bust for us
"Colin is sound asleep from the Benadryl. No epi was needed. He ate a tiny bit of the GF, EF muffin - about the size of a small plug. Within 2 minutes he said his tongue felt funny. I looked up to see the nurse watching him from the doorway and she said, I'm ending it."
Anaphylaxis at peanut challenge
"We had our peanut challenge today. He finished the challenge without one single hive - it was amazing. They let us go at 12:00 and we were SO excited. All the doctors and nurses were SOOO excited for us. They are just a great group of people.
12:10 - we're in the car and my child goes into anaphylaxis - coughing, wheezing, and complete full body hives and screaming. On the FREEWAY."
Visit KFA's Allergy Buyer's Guide to find foods and products that cater to the food allergic consumer. Please let our sponsors know that you found them through KFA!
Advertisements
Click on the banner to visit the Sweet Alexis Web site.
Click on the banner to visit the Enjoy Life Foods Web site.
Enjoy Life Foods
Enjoy Life is gluten-free and allergy-friendly, NO: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish or shellfish. Made in a dedicated nut-free and dedicated and/or certified gluten-free bakery. Ingredients are additionally tested to ensure strict allergen control standards are met. Available at natural food and select grocery stores nationwide. Be sure to try our NEW Crunchy Rice and Crunchy Flax cereals and our New and IMPROVED granolas!
www.enjoylifefoods.com www.facebook.com/enjoylifefoods www.twitter.com/elfceo
Allermates® for Safer Playdates
AllerMates are the perfect way to remind others of your child's allergies. We've just added three new wristbands to our growing product line. Enter the coupon code, KFA created just for Kids with Food Allergy members to receive 10% off of your order. Good till December 15th, 2009.
Ian's Natural Foods
Ian's Natural Foods specializes in a variety of all natural allergen free foods for kids including chicken nuggets, pizza, cookies, and many more! For more delicious Ian's items visit your natural food or conventional market today! www.iansnaturalfoods.com
Sunbutter
SUNBUTTER® is made from sunflower seeds, contains NO peanuts or tree nuts and is produced in a peanut and tree nut free facility. We even test every batch for any traces of peanuts. SunButter is healthier than peanut butter with 1/3 less saturated fat and is high in vitamin E. Tastes great too! www.sunbutter.com
Pamela's Products
Pamela's Products makes the best gluten-free foods. Try our delicious cookies like crunchy Ginger Mini Snapz, chewy Peanut Butter or decadent Chunky Chocolate Chip. Enjoy fast, easy and delicious baking mixes that bake up easily. Available in natural food and grocery stores, or check www.pamelasproducts.com for online retailers.
Below are highlights from some of the studies presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting last week:
Egg Allergy No Excuse for Skipping Flu Shot
Dr. Amal Assa'ad from Cincinnatti Children's Hospital Medical Center provides her insights into vaccinating children with the seasonal and H1N1 flu shots when they have an egg allergy.
Gelatin a Culprit in Some Vaccine Reactions
Two case studies were presented showing children had reactions to vaccines but after evaluation, were found to an allergy to the porcine (pork) gelatin contained in the vaccines.
EMS Personnel May Not Carry Epinephrine
A study confirmed that the availability and use of epinephrine for anaphylaxis by emergency medical services (EMS) varies nationwide; only 17 states require EMS-Basics to carry epinephrine & 15 states do not require any level of EMS to carry epinephrine.
To find out more about this issue and view a map of states that require ambulance personnel to carry epinephrine, visit FAAN's EMT-Epinephrine Advocacy.
More Than 40% of People Having Anaphylactic Reactions Dangerously Delay Seeking Emergency Treatment
"Overall, the average time between the start of anaphylaxis symptoms and seeking medical attention was 20 minutes, but 43% reported a significant delay in seeking medical attention. Of those who reported a delay, most said the delay was because they thought their symptoms would subside. About half used medications to treat their anaphylaxis symptoms before seeking medical help, but less than a third with a prescription for a self-injectable epinephrine shot used one. Epinephrine is the only rapidly effective treatment for anaphylaxis."
Food Alerts! Have you checked the Allergy Recall Alerts section at KFA recently? The following foods were recently recalled:
U.S. Allergy Recalls
- Snacks on Racks: Gourmet Snacks Packs (undeclared milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, eggs, sulfites or wheat)
- Conagra Foods: Blue Bonnet Light Spread (undeclared milk)
- Jelly Belly Candy Company: 49 Flavors Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (undeclared peanuts)
- Curly's Food, Inc.: Healthy Ones Roast Beef (undeclared soy)
- Bay Valley Foods: Meijer Cream of Mushroom Reduced Sodium Condensed Soup (undeclared egg)
- Pelican Bay Ltd: Caramel Chocolate Truffle Hot Chocolate Mix (undeclared tree nuts)
- Charleston Cookie Co: Dean and Deluca "Americana" Cookie Tin (undeclared milk)
- Alexia Foods, Inc: Olive OIl, Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Oven Reds (undeclared tree nuts)
- Morningstar Foods: Great Value Half & Half, Great Value Heavy Whipping Cream, Kroger Heavy Whipping Cream, Wholesome Farms Chocolate Ice Cream Mix (undeclared soy)
- Mrs. Rios Corn Products: Flour Tortillas (undeclared milk)
- Pinnacle Foods Group: Armour Chili with Beans (undeclared wheat)
- Pop's Bakery Inc: Flour Tortillas (undeclared milk)
Canadian Allergy Recalls
- Groia and Nutkao: Nut Spreads (undeclared peanuts)
Disclaimer
This newsletter is provided to you as a member and subscriber benefit and your use of it is in accordance with our Web site's terms of service.
Recipes are shared for your personal use only. You are welcome to forward this e-newsletter to others, but please don't reprint, electronically reproduce, repost or redistribute recipes elsewhere without obtaining permission. For more information, see our terms of service.
Kids With Food Allergies, Inc. makes no representation, whatsoever, for the contents that may be contained in any of the sponsors or advertisers in this newsletter or the quality of any products, information, or other materials displayed, purchased or obtained by you as a result of an offer in connection with any advertisement.
Please follow the instructions at the bottom of the newsletter to unsubscribe if you no longer wish to be on our distribution list.
This newsletter is sent to all newsletter subscribers and registered members of Kids With Food Allergies, Inc.
Copyright © 2009, Kids With Food Allergies, Inc., all rights reserved.
ISSN 1939-8166
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Project Manager: Lynda Mitchell
Editor: Melanie Carver
Proofreaders: Jennifer Blanford, Melanie Croft, Laura Healy, Cristi Schwamb
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