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March 25, 2009
Food Allergy Research, Treatments and "Cures"
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) held its annual meeting for 2009 last week, resulting in multiple news headlines about current food allergy research and potential cures. The highlights are included below. These news stories have sparked food allergy discussions in the national media and we invite you to join our members in discussing how to respond to family and friends who have seen the media coverage about the "peanut allergy cure".
Additionally, the newly-released, Spring 2009 issue of Support Net™ contains an article titled, "Hot Stuff!" that explains recent research which shows some allergenic foods are tolerable when heated. Support Net™ is a biannual food allergy magazine for KFA Family Members. |
Lynda Mitchell (KFA President) and
Deb Indorato (KFA Medical Advisor, R.D., L.D.N.) represented KFA at the AAAAI Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. |
KFA exhibited at AAAAI and our President, Lynda Mitchell, met with physicians and other medical care providers from across the nation to reach out to patients who need support. More than 140 care providers have requested KFA's brochures so they can distribute them locally to their patients.
You too can help spread the word about KFA and food allergy awareness by purchasing our new All-Occasion Greeting Cards. These adorable cards feature artwork by a food allergic child and graphic design by a KFA volunteer.
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These cards can be used for any occasion, such as:
- Thanking a friend who helped include your child;
- Thanking a chef for going above and beyond to provide you with a safe meal;
- Inviting a play group to your home for a food-free play date;
- End of year thank-you gifts for teachers;
- Sending holiday or birthday wishes to a loved one along with an allergy-safe treat.
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The back of each card includes a food allergy awareness message and our KFA logo. By purchasing these greeting cards, you will support KFA's mission and programs.
Kind regards,
Melanie Carver, e-News Editor
Food Allergy Resources
Special Features for our KFA Family Members: Family members will need to log in to access Support Net™. Associate Members can upgrade their membership to a Family Membership in order to view this magazine.
 NEW! Support Net™ Spring 2009 (Download PDF  )
- Hot Stuff! — Recent research shows some allergenic foods can be tolerable when heated. Find out what the latest studies are all about, and what this does —and doesn't mean— for your child right now.
- Money-Saving Secrets from the Coupon Queen — Coupon Queen, Sarah Roe, tells how she turned to couponing to lower her grocery bills after her son was diagnosed with multiple food allergies.
- KFA's Rising Star — Meet Blake, age 5, who is so happy with the new foods he can eat after he passed some oral food challenges during a recent stay at National Jewish Health in Denver.
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Available to the public: The articles below are available to all Web site visitors.
NEW! Cooking and Baking for Egg Allergy
This cooking guide explains the difference between egg replacements and egg substitutes, how to replace eggs used as binders or leavening agents, how to replace egg white glaze and provides a list of featured egg-free recipes.
 Celebrating Easter with Food Allergies (Download PDF )
This booklet contains tips and ideas to help you safely celebrate Easter with food allergic children, including: allergy-safe crafts, Easter basket ideas, Easter egg hunts, Easter egg decorating activities and allergen-free recipes.
Celebrating Passover with Food Allergies (Download PDF )
This 24-page booklet contains tips and ideas to help you safely celebrate Passover with food allergic children, including: preparing for Seder, activities for Seder, allergy-free Passover recipes and Passover resources.
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A Message from Our Sponsor
 
This issue's "Must-Read Forum Topics" are also food allergy news items. 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!
Researchers Move Closer to Cracking Peanut Allergies
"Medical researchers appear to be one step closer to conquering potentially deadly peanut allergies. At a scientific meeting this week, they're reporting on an experimental treatment that has freed a small number of children from their allergies."
Early Peanut Consumption: Postpone or Promote?
A commentary by Dr. Wesley Burks from Duke University reviewing recent studies about peanut allergy development in infants and whether introducing peanut early or not has helped in avoiding development of food allergy.
Dr. Burks concludes that early peanut consumption to prevent development of food allergy remains unproven. More studies are needed. And for now, the best we can do is to follow the 2008 AAP guidelines which are summarized in an article our KFA Medical Advisory Team wrote:
Food For Thought: Preventing Food Allergies
AAAAI: Blood Tests for Food Allergy Found Inaccurate
"Common blood tests... are often wrong about allergies and aren't a good basis for restricting youngsters' diets, researchers said here.
Results of supervised oral food challenges in 125 children failed to support most diagnoses of food allergies made on the basis of serum IgE testing, David Fleischer, M.D., of National Jewish Health in Denver, told the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology."
Impact of Peanut Allergy on Quality of Life, Stress and Anxiety in the Family
This study analyzed the impact of peanut allergy on quality of life and anxiety in children with confirmed peanut allergy, their parents and siblings. The findings reported that mothers of peanut allergic children have significantly lower quality of life and suffer more anxiety and stress than fathers do.
Sesame Allergies on the Rise in U.S.
According to recent research, sesame allergy has increased more than any other type of food allergy in the past decade and if your child is allergic to tree nuts, there is a good chance that he or she is allergic to sesame as well.
KFA Testimonial
—"This caring community has made life better for our whole family during the last 18 months. My son's diagnosis came from the allergist but all of the practical advice of how to live day-to-day came from the real experts in KFA support forums and the excellent resources on this site. Your willingness to share your own experiences and the wisdom that comes with it is a gift all year long. My stress levels are lower and my children's lives more normal because of all of you. Words cannot express how grateful I am for the kind people of KFA!"
Your generous contribution is used to support our education program for families with food allergic children.
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Times are tough for some of our favorite food allergy-conscious companies. It is important to support these businesses to the extent that you can so that they can continue to provide safe options for our kids. Unfortunately, Allergy Grocer (aka Miss Roben's) has closed for business due to the economy.
Visit KFA's Allergy Buyer's Guide to find other places you can shop for foods and products that cater to the food allergic consumer.
15% off for eNews subscribers
Navan Foods has some Miss Roben's products in stock, while supplies last. Through April 15, if you use the coupon code "KFA" on any order, Navan Foods will give you a 15% discount off your entire order. In addition, Navan Foods will donate 1% of your sale to KFA when you select KFA as your non-profit of choice at checkout.
Advertisements
Click on the banner to visit the Take In Case Web site.
NEW! Allergy Apparel
www.AllergyApparel.com offers hip clothing for your kiddo with an allergy. Whether your kiddo's school needs
to know, their caregivers need to be reminded, or you are attending a celebration, one of our tees or hoodies is your
answer.
For each sale using the promo code KFA, Allergy Apparel will make a donation of $2.00 to www.kidswithfoodallergies.org
NEW! Quail Oaks Ranch Almond Butter
Quail Oaks Ranch Organic Almond Butter is a healthy alternative because it is processed at an almond only kosher certified facility. Our customers are rest assured our almond butter is 100% organic, nutritious, delicious and safe from peanut and other tree nut contamination!. www.quailoaksranch.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!
Premium Chocolatiers
Offering the finest gourmet truffles and chocolates suitable for chocolate lovers with milk and nut sensitivities. All chocolates use our signature blend of roasted cocoa beans along with the finest ingredients. Easter bunnies available. www.premiumchocolatiers.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 & delicious baking mixes that bake up easily. Available in natural food and grocery stores, or check www.pamelasproducts.com for online retailers.
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
The Safe Eats™ Recipe Database can be accessed in full, 24 hours a day, by our Family Membership Subscribers. To get a preview of Safe Eats™, free featured recipes are available to all Web site visitors and are included in this issue of eNews.
Reminder: Safe Eats™ recipes are donated by members and have not been tested in a test kitchen. Be sure to verify the safety of all ingredients.
| Free Featured Recipes: | For Family Members only:
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Food Alerts! Have you checked the Allergy Recall Alerts section at KFA recently? The following foods were recently recalled:
U.S. allergy recalls
- Engelhart Gourmet Foods, Inc.: Smoked All Natural Chef Bruce chicken sausage (may contain wheat)
- Golden Chocolate International: Brighton Beach Candy (undeclared walnuts)
- Caudill Seed Company: Wegmans Organic Butter Flavor Microwave Popcorn (undeclared milk)
Canadian allergy recalls
- Golden Chocolate International: Brighton Beach Candy (undeclared walnuts)
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
Important notice
We will never sell, rent or trade your e-mail address to any other organization. Please see our Privacy Policy.
Project Manager: Lynda Mitchell
Editor: Melanie Carver
Proofreaders: Tanya Bumgardner, Melanie Croft and Jen Blanford
Go to Kids With Food Allergies Web site |
