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May 13, 2009
Food Allergy Awareness: How to Prevent Allergic Reactions
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, and the week of May 10-17 is designated as Food Allergy Awareness Week. In honor of FAAW, take some time this week to educate yourself, your children, or those in your community about food allergies and allergic reactions. Education is the key to preventing allergic reactions.
Here are some fun ways to spread food allergy awareness:
Test your knowledge: Take a Food Allergy Quiz from ACAAI
For young children: KFA Coloring Page
For grade-school children and older: Food Allergy Word Search Puzzles from KFA
In this issue of eNews, you will also find a video interview of Dr. Robert Wood that explains what to do in case of an allergic reaction, free asthma screening locations, a new website for teenagers with food allergies, and a parent's story about her son's anaphylaxis.
Kind regards,
Melanie Carver —
eNews Editor
P.S. Don't forget to check KFA's Food Recall Alerts for products that have been recalled due to undeclared allergens!
Thanks, Health On the Net Foundation (HON)!
 The Health On the Net Foundation visited our Web site again this year and found that it complies with HONcode principles for trustworthy health information. What does this mean? HON has certified for another year that KFA demonstrates its commitment to meet ethical standards in the presentation of health information.
Food Allergy Resources
Each month, KFA provides new or updated food allergy articles to educate families, caregivers and the public about different topics regarding food allergies. Premium resources are available to KFA Family Members only.
Available to the public: The article below is available to all Web site visitors.
NEW! If I Had — An Allergic Reaction (Video)
Dr. Robert Wood, Pediatric Allergist and Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, and author of Food Allergies For Dummies, shares his thoughts on the detection and treatment of severe allergic reactions.
Watch this video to learn the answers to these questions:
- At what age does a child typically have his first allergic reaction to peanuts?
- If my child has an allergic reaction what should I do?
- Before visiting the emergency room, should I take any medications?
- What should I expect to happen at the emergency room?
- What is epinephrine?
- How is a definitive diagnosis made?
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Fundraising and Donations for KFA
Evergreen Helping Hands Fundraiser for May 2009
Evergreen Helping Hands now offers its specialty baking mixes for sale on its new Web site. Choose from a variety of mixes — pudding mixes, scone mixes, waffle mixes, pancake and cake mixes — during the month of May, and Evergreen Helping Hands will donate 25% of every sale to Kids With Food Allergies at no cost to you.
NIAID: Food Allergy Awareness Week
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) released a joint statement this week: “Food Allergy Awareness Week is a time to focus public awareness on this
growing health problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, almost 4 percent of adults and 5 percent of children under
the age of six are affected by food allergies. Allergic reactions to
food can range from mild, itchy hives to anaphylaxis, the most severe
reaction. Currently, the only way to prevent food-induced allergic
reactions is to avoid the allergen.
NIAID is committed to improving our understanding of food allergies, as
well as better prevention, diagnosis and management of the disease.”
Free Asthma Screenings
The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology is offering free asthma screenings by allergists for adults and children at more than 200 sites across the country as part of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.
Why Risk It?
Anaphylaxis Canada has launched a new Web site geared towards teenagers with food allergies.
A Message from our Sponsor
It's no secret we're proud of our children and grandchildren. That's why we developed our Carlson for Kids line to ensure that they receive the very best nutritional supplements. All Carlson for Kids products have been carefully formulated with a child's optimal health and nutritional needs in mind. No artificial colors or flavors are ever used. Carlson for Kids products are GLUTEN-FREE and contain no: wheat, rye, oats, milk, MSG, artificial dyes, peanuts, tree nuts, preservatives, eggs, corn or soy. And, extensive testing and research are done on every formula. After all, our grandchildren and your children depend on it. Carlson for Kids products include tasty chewable vitamins and minerals, calcium, and award-winning fish oils. For more information visit www.carlsonlabs.com.
KFA's note: Please check with your child's physician before starting any kind of supplementation regimen to make sure the product, ingredients and recommended dietary amounts are appropriate for your child's needs.
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!
Some of these topics may discuss foods. Remember to always verify the safety of any products mentioned on our forums to make sure they are truly safe for your child's unique food allergy issues.
My son had anaphylaxis last night
A mom to a 2-year-old shares details of an anaphylactic reaction and trip to the Emergency Room following his eating what appeared to be a “safe” meal from a fast food restaurant.
Look-alike foods
Do you use allergen-free foods that look just like an unsafe one? Or do you only purchase and use foods that look different? Parents weigh in on what approach they take with their children.
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 Allergy Apparel Web site.
Use promotional code KFA2 and Allergy Apparel will donate $2.00 to KFA.
icing
An allergen and gluten-free baking company serving the Celiac community and those with special dietary needs. We offer made-to-order fresh baked products shipped in 48 hours or less. Get 10% off with mention of this ad. www.allergenfreebakingcompany.com
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
NoNuttin' Foods
The BEST safe snacks you've ever tasted! Free of most common food allergens and gluten. Savor our all-natural, delicious treats that don't compromise flavor or texture. Try a low cost sample pack or place an order today at www.nonuttin.com or call toll free 1-866-714-5411!
Surf Sweets
Surf Sweets are great tasting natural and organic gummy candies and jelly beans. Made with organic sweeteners and Vitamin C, our products are free of corn syrup, artificial dyes and are produced in a facility free of the ten most common allergens. Check out our website www.surfsweets.com for details about our World Ocean Day Artwork Contest for kids 5-13.
Sweet Alexis
Sweet Alexis brings back simple pleasures. People with food allergies can safely and easily enjoy mouth-watering cookies and moist, delectable breads. Our foods are dairy-, egg- and nut-free.
Sweet Alexis: Keeping simple pleasure simple for people with food allergies. www.sweetalexis.com
Food Alerts! Have you checked the Allergy Recall Alerts section at KFA recently? The following foods were recently recalled:
U.S. Allergy Recalls
- Tofutti Brands Inc.: Vanilla Cuties Mini Sandwich Frozen Desserts (undeclared milk)
- Sugar Foods: Farmers Market Butter & Garlic Croutons (undeclared milk)
- LeClerc Foods: Market Pantry Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars (undeclared peanut)
Canadian Allergy Recalls
- No new alerts at this time
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: Tanya Bumgardner, Jennifer Blanford, Melanie Croft, Julie Godnik, Laura Healy and Cristi Schwamb
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