KFA e-News Monthly Newsletter: March 6, 2008
March 6, 2008
 Sponsor | Happy Anniversary Kids With Food Allergies!
February 28th marked Kids With Food Allergies' three year "anniversary"! During the past three years, we've grown to 10,000 members and newsletter subscribers. |
We've accomplished a lot in the past three years through hard work and teamwork. This year we've already added two new forums, Parents of Children with FPIES, for parents of children with Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome, and Share Your Food Allergy Journey, where members can share their stories. We've also switched our e-newsletter to a twice-monthly format to provide you with a more timely connection to the news. We hope you find these new features helpful. And there is more to come!
We have you to thank for our success, in addition to our awesome team working on the forums or behind the scenes. Those of you who participate, donate, support us with your family memberships, volunteer countless hours, or tell others about Kids With Food Allergies all make KFA a great place. Our volunteers in particular are so vital in filling many different roles to help us continue to grow. We also continue to rely on our Medical Advisory Team for guidance and for developing resources for our Web site.
Take care and thank you for being a part of our success!
Lynda Mitchell
President
Announcements
New Items for Easter
The following are available to all Web site visitors:- Five Egg Decorating Activities for Children with an Egg Allergy
- 16 Peanut Free, Egg Free and Milk Free Treats for Easter Baskets
- Download a booklet containing both of the above items plus Easter egg hunt ideas, more Easter-themed activities and allergen-free recipes for marshallows and "Mock Buckeye" candies: Safely Celebrating Easter with Food Allergies
News
Free MedicAlert Enrollments for Needy Individuals
The Food Allergy Initiative and the MedicAlert Foundation are partnering to provide free memberships for low-income children and adults who suffer from food allergies. Read more on the FAI Web site.Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital Food Allergy Research Study
Help physicians at Children's Memorial Hospital learn more about food allergy and its impacts! Click Here to complete a 15 minute survey for parents of children with food allergy. More than 1,700 families have completed the survey, but 3,000 surveys are needed to close the survey and start analyzing the results.AFAA Food Allergy Conference April 5 in Minneapolis
The Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota (AFAA) will host its 2008 Food Allergy Conference and Exposition on Saturday, April 5th in Minneapolis. Sessions topics will include Food Allergy Basics; Food Labeling; Food Allergy Research Update; Nutritional Challenges; Asthma & Rhinitis; School Safety; Eczema & Hives; an "Ask the Doctors" Panel; a Panel for Dietitians; and more. For more information, visit www.minnesotafoodallergy.org, request a brochure at afaa@att.net, or call (651) 644-5937.Must Read Discussions on Our Online Support Forums
Sign up for a free Associate Membership to read the messages posted in our "Main" online support group forum.Keeping milk-allergic toddler safe from siblings
"I asked the allergist what to do now that my 11 month old is crawling. She said not to eliminate milk from our house, but to teach the older kids to be careful, and to know how to treat a reaction.."
How do you find a way to keep milk in the house for older siblings when you've got a busy toddler? Parents share their strategies for keeping the home as safe as possible.
What should I feed my 10 month old who's losing weight?"I would like to start weaning him at 12 months, but as of now he has no other source of protein besides my breastmilk. And it doesn't seem like that is enough for him - he is starting to lose weight."
One mom asks for others' experiences with weaning a food allergic baby on to solid foods.
For Our Family Membership Subscribers
Access to all of our Resources and Iron Chef Competitions are benefits for our Family Membership Subscribers. You will need to login to access these items:NEW Basic Ingredient Substitutions for Common Food Allergens:
- Basic recipe substitutions for Food Allergies (overview)
- Basic recipe substitutions for Corn Allergy
- Basic recipe substitutions for Soy Allergy
- Basic recipe substitutions for Thickeners
- Basic recipe substitutions for Wheat Allergy
- Basic recipe substitutions for Egg Allergy
- Basic recipe substitutions for Milk Allergy
Our spring issue of Support Net is available now!
In this issue: - Meet 6 year old twins and food allergy buddies Audrey and Lillian, our Rising Stars.
- Seeking a Solution: Mary Klinnert, PhD., a psychologist from National Jewish Medical Center, helps explain normal levels of stress for a child, and when to seek professional help.
- 11 Ways to Organize: Great ideas for organizing your home to help keep your food allergic child safe.
Support Net is free for KFA Family Members, and is available for $2.95 for non-Family Members.
A Message from Our Sponsor
Click on the banner to visit the Ian's Natural Foods Web site.
Healthy Food Shopping for Children with Specific Diet Needs
By Maria McGuinness, M.Ed., R.D.On Staff Dietitian, Ian’s Natural Foods
Getting children to eat healthy foods can be a daunting task for many parents and childcare providers. When a child’s diet needs to be monitored closely because of health concerns like food allergies or diabetes, the challenge is even greater. Planning meals and finding foods that are allowable for a child who has a restricted diet requires knowledge, time, creativity, dedication, and a sense of humor! At times, parents may feel frustrated with what seems like a lack of food choices; they may question whether or not their child’s diet is nutritionally sound. Food allergies affect approximately 8% of all American children less than three years of age. The incidence of peanut allergies has doubled from 1997 to 2002. There are many people who need to avoid foods with certain ingredients.
There is good news. The number of available products that can be safely consumed by people with food allergies has increased. There are tasty, wonderful options to be found at the supermarket. Food manufacturers understand that there is a demand for foods that avoid the major food allergens or added sugars and fats. Most importantly, the foods need to taste good! If you are willing to spend some time, ask questions, and try new products, the challenge of feeding children with dietary restrictions doesn’t have to be an impossible one.
To help consumers find foods that are safe and healthy to eat, an important piece of legislature was passed in 2004. It is known as the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). This act regulates the labeling of foods that contain one of the major food allergens. FALCPA defines the major food allergens to be: milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. Raw meat, poultry, fish, eggs and fresh fruits and vegetables are exempt from these labeling requirements. By January 1, 2006, all packaged foods must comply with the labeling requirements. Foods that are labeled prior to the 2006 date do not have to comply with the new regulations. This will provide consumers with added information about what is contained in the foods that they buy.
Shopping at a natural foods store or organic foods stores may provide parents/childcare providers with a greater variety of food choices. If you are looking for wheat-free foods, you may find a greater selection at these types of stores. They may carry several brands of wheat-free French toast sticks, for example. Other more conventional markets may only stock one type of wheat-free French toast sticks, if any. Many natural food store chains are willing to provide store tours and informational sessions for consumers. Take advantage of these services to learn more about what foods may be available. Don’t be afraid to have a conversation with the store manager about a specific food product that you are looking for. Many managers are willing to do some investigating to find different food products and make their customers happy!
There are many online resources available for people with various health concerns. When considering food allergies, there are some great options. Two websites worth checking out are: The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (www.foodallergy.org), and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (www.aafa.org). Don’t be afraid to utilize community resources by talking with other parents who have children who face these same challenges, or seeking professional advice from a local registered dietitian.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions of the food manufacturers. Call the food companies and inquire about what is added to the foods you may be purchasing. Ian’s Natural Foods will be offering a $1.00 off coupon and a $1.00 off cookie buttons to parents who contact them through the “contact us” email at customerservice@iansnaturalfoods.com . Please put “POFAK” in the subject line and include your mailing address. You may also call them with questions at 1-800-543-6637. Ian’s specializes in a specialty line of foods for kids with food allergies (all containing: no wheat, no gluten, no milk, no casein, no eggs, no nuts and no soy), including:
-Chicken Nuggets
-Chicken Patties
-Fish Sticks
-Lightly Battered Fish
-French Toast Sticks
-Popcorn Turkey Corn Dogs
-Chicken Finger Kids Meal
-French Bread Pizza*
-Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons**
-Crunchy Cinnamon Cookie Buttons**
-*this item does contain soy
**this item is only wheat and gluten free
Allergy Buyer's Guide
Advertisements
Click on the banner to visit the Cookies for Me? Web site
Click on the banner to visit the Cookies for Me? Web site
Simple Soynut Butter
Five delicious flavors of Simple Soynut Butter created especially for kids. Guaranteed peanut-free, tree-nut-free, gluten-free, organic, vegan and kosher. Simple Soynut Butter is carefully produced in its very own dedicated facility. www.simplefood.com
Meraby's Allergy Family Foods
Delicious all-natural muffin and pancake mixes that are free of dairy, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. With canned wild Maine blueberries and dried cranberries in the box, our mixes are quick and yummy! Just add oil and water. www.meraby.com
Whey Out Chocolate
The Allergen-Free Chocolate Bunnies have arrived! Whey-Out Chocolate offers chocolate bunnies and all sorts of delicious Easter treats that contain no milk, egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat or gluten. Visit our Easter shop at www.wheyoutchocolate.com
Divvies
Spring has sprung at Divvies featuring beautiful pastel-colored jelly beans and frosting for cupcakes. Divvies bakery cookies, gourmet popcorns, and cupcakes are baked and popped without peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and milk in Divvies' own dedicated facility. As seen on the Martha Stewart Show! http://www.divvies.com/
Food Allergy Recalls
The following foods were recently recalled. Check our Food Allergy Alerts for complete details:
U.S. allergy recalls
- BCN Trading Inc. Asian Boy Brand Dried Ginger (undeclared sulfites)
- Mayfield Dairy Farms half-gallon rectangular paper cartons Mayfield vanilla classic ice cream (undeclared pecans)
- Lion Pavilion LTD. Grassplot brand dried pachyrhizus (undeclared sulfites)
- Pierre’s Ice Cream Company Pierre’s homestyle Dutch chocolate ice cream (undeclared peanut butter cup candies)
Canadian allergy recalls
- Safeway crumpets (undeclared milk protein)
- Bahay-Kubo Chicken Embutido chicken meat loaf, Pork Embutido pork meat loaf, pork bola steamed bun with meat ball, chicken bola steamed bun with chicken ball; Ongpin Cuisine pork lumpia (undeclared wheat and soy)
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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.
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Copyright © 2008, Kids With Food Allergies, Inc., all rights reserved.
ISSN 1939-8166
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Project Manager: Lynda Mitchell
Editor: Heather Hetler
Proofreaders: Amy Hugon and Becca Godleski
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