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In 2008, the power and reach of our online community was confirmed when three of our parent members compared notes after each of their children had severe allergic reactions — and found each child had consumed the same chocolate soy milk. Together, they reported the incident to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and had their products tested at the FARRP Research Lab in Nebraska. The lab found that each container had been contaminated with milk. Working with both the parents and soy milk company, the FDA recalled the product within two weeks. One of these same parents had the misfortune of her child having anaphylaxis to yet another food a month later. Once again she had the product tested and once again the test confirmed contamination (with gluten). But this time the product was not recalled. How does this happen to foods we think are safe for our children? And why are some foods recalled while others are not? Convoluted bureaucracy and regulation loopholes produce a genuine case of caveat emptor when food shopping for our children. In this issue of eNews, two news articles by Chicago Tribune reporter, Sam Roe, investigate this very problem; his findings underscore the challenges we face in purchasing safe foods for our kids. This issue also features an article written to help you understand how to determine if a product is safe for your child. You'll find information about contamination issues, learn when to call the manufacturer and discover questions you can ask to evaluate a product's safety before you serve it to your child.  For those of you wondering, "what can I do?" the Food and Drug Administration is currently accepting public comment on the how to deal with advisory labeling for foods that "may contain" an allergen. KFA will be submitting a comment to the FDA by the January deadline, and we'd like your help. We have a few questions to ask you that should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Please take our survey! In the meantime: keep reading those labels, call manufacturers, find companies you can trust – and when in doubt about a food, don't use it. Kind regards, Lynda Mitchell and the KFA Team 
How Can You Tell if a Product is Safe for Your Child's Food Allergies? 
Understand food labeling and call manufacturers when in doubtThis new article goes over some important points to keep in mind as you gauge the risk or safety of products you buy. Learn about some tricky food labeling points and questions you can ask when you call a manufacturer. Read this newest article from KFA on food labeling and product safety: Is That Food Really Safe for Your Food Allergic Child? (HTML web page) The Fear in All That Holiday Cheer How to balance your child's food allergies with the party buffet This new article in Maryland Family Magazine provides some insights on approaching the holidays from Dr. Robert Wood (Johns Hopkins University), Anne Muñoz-Furlong (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network), and Lynda Mitchell (Kids With Food Allergies). Celebrating Holidays With Food Allergies Resources from KFA to help you safely navigate the holiday season with food allergies Holidays 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. Is there any way around the stress and pressure of a holiday known for allergen-laden foods? KFA offers several resources filled with advice on how to safely celebrate food-laden holidays. • These booklets are filled with ideas for safe activities, recipes and strategies for celebrating holidays at home, with family and friends, or at school:
Celebrating Christmas with Food Allergies
 (PDF to save & print)  Ten pages of great Christmas ideas for non-food related holiday crafts and activities, and tips for safe dining strategies. Christmas food allergy recipes include allergy-free gingerbread cookies, candy canes, rice nog, and an egg-free alternative to royal icing for assembling gingerbread houses.Celebrating Chanukah with Food Allergies
(PDF to save & print)  Food-free Chanukah crafts, games and activities to make and enjoy dreidels, menorahs and gelt; strategies for making meals safe, and allergen-free recipes for latkes and sufganyot.  • And for our nursing mothers, former KFA volunteer and eNews editor Heather Hetler shares her tips on how to survive an elimination diet during food-laden holidays:Celebrating the Holidays While Breastfeeding an Allergic Baby
Breastfeeding a child with food allergies can be especially challenging around the holiday season. The consequences of “cheating” on the elimination diet go much further than a few extra pounds gained. These 10 tips will help you survive the holiday season. Attention Amazon.com Holiday Shoppers! Please bookmark this link: http://www.amazon.com/?tag=kidswithfooda-20 When you use this link to visit the Amazon.com Web site, a portion of your purchases will be given to KFA. It's easy, and it won't cost you one cent extra! Amazon.com is excited to announce their new Holiday Toy List which allows customers to watch hundreds of toys, video games, sporting goods, electronic gadgets, and DVDs in action. The Holiday Toy List can be sorted by age or price. With Amazon's easy-to-use video display, you are just a few clicks away from discovering the perfect gift. Shop to support KFA! 
Children at Risk in Food Roulette "American children with food allergies are suffering life-threatening — and completely avoidable — reactions because manufacturers mislabel their products and regulators fail to police store shelves, a Tribune investigation has found." A Recipe for Disaster "Getting any single product on the shelves of any grocery store may involve a dozen firms and suppliers, each one not entirely certain of the other's health standards...One key threat: cross-contamination, which is when certain ingredients inadvertently end up in other products during the harvesting or manufacturing process."  Sign up for a free Associate Membership to read the messages posted in our "Main" online support group forum. What are your favorite allergy free products? Parents share their favorites. What are yours?
Real tree or fake tree? "Our house is loaded with seasonal and environmental allergies. My husband loves the fake tree because it saves money and doesn't have any pollen. I hate it because no matter how well we pack it up at the end of the year, it's super dusty when we take it out. We cannot agree." Which do you prefer, and why?
A message from Our Sponsor 
Best Wishes for Safe and Happy Holidays from KFA  With several holidays just around the corner, don't forget that our Safe Eats™ searchable recipe database contains hundreds of recipes that can help you plan for success!
Recipes range from cookies, pies, and candy to stuffing, cranberry dishes and egg nog substitutes. In addition, if you need help adapting a recipe or if you are on a quest for a safe ingredient, be sure to stop by our food and cooking forums where you can get some parent-to-parent answers to your questions. 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. The Safe Eats Recipe Database is one of a number of benefits for our Family Membership Subscribers. These are free sample recipes from Safe Eats™ for you to enjoy:
 Congratulations to KFA member Amy Wallace for her winning recipe of Almost Gingerbread Cookies in this month's issue of Family Fun Magazine.For Family Members only:
 Be sure to visit the Allergy Buyer's Guide section of our Web site to see a growing list of businesses that provide allergy-friendly products and services! Advertisements 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. Mention this ad for 10% off your order. Enjoy Life Foods At Enjoy Life, our whole business is making smile-good foods that keep your insides happy too. Gluten-free and free of the eight most common allergens, our cookies, snack bars, granolas, trail mixes, bagels, chocolate chips and NEW chocolatey bars are yummy! To learn more and download valuable coupons, visit www.enjoylifefoods.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! Candles With Meaning ATTENTION HOLIDAY SHOPPERS! Candles With Meaning offers unique, soot-free candles which make wonderful gifts. Experience "The Hottest New Thing In Candles"! Holiday shopping that makes a difference! CWM is thrilled to be donating a portion of its revenue to KFA! Awareness Badges HOLIDAY SALE: Take 30% off on entire website! Allergy stickers, bag tags, and medicine bags. Visit www.awarenessbadges.com and enter promotional code "Holiday" for savings. 
The following foods were recently recalled. Check our Web site for complete details: U.S. allergy recalls
Canadian allergy recalls
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 ad. 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. Copyright © 2008, 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: Beth Puliti and Melanie Croft Go to Kids With Food Allergies Web site |
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