On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a hearing in College Park, Maryland to develop a long-term strategy to clear up accidental-allergy warnings that are misleading consumers. In case you missed it, here is my entry on this topic from a few weeks ago.

If you couldn’t make the meeting, you can still have your food allergy opinion known! The public can submit written comments to the FDA regarding this hearing until January 14, 2009.

Comments can be submitted to:Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)Food and Drug Administration5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061Rockville, MD 20852. Or online at:
http://www.regulations.gov/.

I encourage all of you to submit a comment!

The FDA, according to their Web site, “is developing a long-term strategy to assist manufacturers in using allergen advisory labeling that is truthful and not misleading, conveys a clear and uniform message, and adequately informs food-allergic consumers and their caregivers.”

For more information on what was covered at the hearing, click here.

- Christine

Gina Clowes is the founder of AllergyMoms.com. We would like to thank her for guest blogging for us and sharing her family’s allergy story.

Note: This article was originally written for Health Central: My AllergyNetwork.com. To view the article there, click here.

Since my son was diagnosed with multiple food allergies six years ago, our lives have changed in many ways. That initial transition period was challenging and I learned a lot from the school of hard knocks. I really wish I had known more about what to expect, and what is the new normal would be like. I’m hoping that some of what I’ve learned might help you to smooth over the rough spots as you get accustomed to life with a child who has food allergies.

Educating Friends, Family and others on Food Allergies
As we adapt to the food allergy world, we forget that in general, people do not “get it” with regard to food allergies. Even after you begin to educate them, it may take awhile (or all of eternity) for them to comprehend that a trace amount can cause a serious reaction. You can try different ways to get through to them (i.e. articles, books, videos), but if they’re still asking if your peanut allergic child can have a Snickers bar, move on.

My son’s first preschool had a policy that parents were to notify the school in advance of any birthday treats so that I could prepare a special treat for my son on those days. I’ll never forget the one day that I arrived a little early to see 15 kids eating a cupcake with sprinkles and an ice cream cup while my son sat with a bag of wheat-free pretzels and a water bottle. The birthday mom forgot to let me know and my three-year-old boy was left out of the class celebration entirely.

The following year we shopped around for a different preschool. The director there promised to provide the snacks that were safe for all of the children. I explained that I didn’t think that would be possible since my son had multiple allergies including milk, wheat, egg, peanuts and nuts. She replied, “It’s only food. We’ll make it work. Besides, it will be good for the other kids to try a variety of foods.” Needless to say, I handed over my check immediately. My son came out of his shell at that school during a wonderful year of inclusion.

Joining the Food Allergy “Club”
The most important thing that I wish I knew is that the “new normal” would become normal to me and to our whole family. But we continue to find new challenges in spite of our adaptation to our “allergy normal” routine. We ship boxes of foods to our hotel when we travel and only stay with relatives or at a hotel with a kitchen. I don’t leave the house without snacks, drinks, wipes and a medication bag. My family could probably survive a long weekend just with the contents of my purse. We host most holidays in our home and for others, we load up our car like we’re caterers. We often bring a second birthday cake to parties as inevitably other children want what my son has. And I’ve become a master cake maker who can whip up a wheat/dairy/egg/ and nut-free Taj Mahal cake in 90 minutes if need be!

One other thing that I’d wish I’d known is that I would meet so many wonderful allergy moms. For whatever reason, it usually the mothers in allergy-affected families who handle the additional cooking, baking, holidays, coordinating school plans, training of caregivers and the other responsibilities that come with having a child with food allergies. In spite of this additional responsibility, many of my friends have chosen to become authors, educators, advocates, and support group leaders on top of everything else. These extraordinary moms give 110% everyday to keep their kids safe and provide as “normal” a life as possible. These moms are some of my closest and dearest friends. Like them, I would not have asked to become a member of this allergy club, but while I’m here, at least I can enjoy the company!

- Gina Clowes

I know it might seem like we write about formula fraud quite often, but we just want to make sure your little ones are safe! Here’s another warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about avoiding infant formulas imported from China.

To see the official FDA warning, click here.

The warning does not affect any of the six companies regulated by the FDA that have been approved to distribute formula in the U.S. (Abbott Nutrition, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Nestle USA, PBM Nutritionals, Solus Products and SHS/Nutricia) so don’t be too alarmed! I would suggest, however, avoiding any formula not made by these six FDA approved manufacturers.

To make sure you are getting the safe and appropriate formula for your little one, check out these reminders:

Know where your formula comes from;
- Be aware of online formula scams;
- Be wary of borrowing or buying formula from a friend; and
- Check the expiration dates.

It might seem OK to borrow some formula from a friend or buy it from a Web site like eBay; however, you can never know if it was stored properly or exactly where it came from. It’s always better to err on the side of caution and purchase a formula from the proper Web site, store or pharmacy.

If you have any questions, shoot them on over!

- Nita

Gina Clowes is the founder of AllergyMoms.com. We would like to thank her for guest blogging for us and sharing her family’s allergy story.

Note: This article was originally written for Health Central: My AllergyNetwork.com. To view the article there, click here.

If you’re reading this article, chances are your child has recently had a frightening allergic reaction. Or, after months of colic, acid reflux, eczema, hives or wheezing, your child was finally diagnosed with multiple food allergies. With either of these events, you may not realize it, but you’ve been hit by the allergy avalanche. If you are at all like I was when I when the avalanche got me, you’re wondering how in the world you will keep your child safe and how will you ever have a normal life. There is a lot to do to get up to speed but you’ll find soon enough that it becomes second nature. So here is your allergy mom to-do list.

Find a friend who “gets it.”
If you already know someone who has a child with food allergies, call her for a shoulder to cry on. She’ll “get-it” and in the months and years to come, this category of people will become your lifeline.

If you haven’t met anyone who cares for a child with food allergies, you will. We’re everywhere! Search for a local support group in your area, or visit one of the online groups like peanutallergy.com, foodallergysupport.com or the forums on allergicliving.com. They’re all free and even if you are reluctant to post at first, it will still be a comfort to know that you are not alone in experiencing the fear, anxiety or sadness that you may be feeling.

Buy a great book and educate yourself.
You will have lots of questions about this potentially life threatening condition and there are things that you should know but might not know to ask. One of my favorite’s books is “Food Allergies for Dummies” by Robert Wood MD. Dr. Wood has a severe peanut allergy himself, so he has an understanding of food allergies from a unique perspective. No rolled eyes from him! Another excellent book is Understanding and Caring for Your Child’s Food Allergies by Dr. Scott Sicherer from the Jaffe Clinic at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Get your spouse onboard!
The importance of this one cannot be overstated. Being Married with Special Needs Children can create an enormous amount of stress that can tip the proverbial apple cart if you’re not careful. Involve your spouse in the allergist’s appointments whenever possible. Buy him or her book or video so that he or she can learn more and you can make decisions together. It often makes a difference when someone hears from an expert rather than their spouse.

Find a great allergist who understands food allergies.
Now that you know the questions to ask, you need to find an allergist who understands food allergies. There are different kinds of testing and neither skin nor blood testing yields black or white results. Each food-specific score has to be interpreted individually based on the patient’s age, individual history, other allergies or previous reactions and on the food itself.

Keep a separate binder for copies of all of your child’s test results and remember to get your doctors help to interpret them. Write down questions and the answers you are given. And remember, medical advice should come from medical professionals.

Prepare an emergency kit for home and away from home.
You’ll need a Food Allergy Action Plan or Emergency Plan that you complete with the help of your child’s doctors. The form should include a recent photograph of your child for quick identification. If your child has a prescription for EpiPens or Twinject, make sure you include the prescription label and a letter from your child’s doctor for travel. You will also want to include a liquid antihistamine (Benadryl) and a measuring spoon if that is part of your plan.

These steps don’t need to be done in any particular order, but they will lay the groundwork for the changes that lie ahead. If you can educate yourself, find some support in your spouse and friends and if you have an allergist you can work with you are well on your way to a smooth transition. Next time, I’ll share tips on preparing your home, talking with your child and navigating visitors and play dates.

- Gina Clowes

How many times have you been to a grocery store or a restaurant, and read a vague warning note that says, “This product may contain peanuts?” As an allergy parent, I’m sure you’ve noticed these not so direct labels quite a bit.

Recently, there has been a lot of coverage over the confusion that allergy labeling is causing. And I know this is frustrating! All you want to know is, can my child eat this, yes or no? Lucky for you, and for all allergy parents out there, the FDA is holding a hearing today, September 16, to discuss setting allergy labeling standards (right now, allergy warnings are voluntary).

This hearing could not have come at a better time. Parents are so befuddled that many of them are just ignoring food labels altogether. It seems that most allergy parents hold the opinion these days that the safest thing you can do for your allergy prone little one is to cook everything at home from scratch. However, this is not feasible or practical for many busy families.

Here are a few tips on avoiding the confusion:
- Do your research at home – find a list of products you KNOW are allergen free.

- Air on the side of caution – if a product says, “Made in a factory with milk,” and your child has a milk protein allergy, stay away from it. You are better off buying a product made in a 100% dairy free environment, like Neocate.

- Have one “homemade” food item on hand for an easy meal – that way you won’t pick up a product that “may” contain an allergen because you are in a hurry.

Today’s FDA hearing is the beginning of a long process to clear up accidental-allergy warnings that are misleading consumers. This will be the FDA’s first step in developing a “long-term strategy.”

The hearing, being held in College Park, Maryland, is open to the public. For more information on attending the hearing, click here.

And for more information on the current food allergy standards, click here.

How do you feel about food allergy labels? I’d love to know!

- Christine