According to the Food and Drug Administration, McCormick and Company, Inc. is voluntarily recalling particular Lawry’s Fajitas Spices and Seasonings packages because they contain undeclared milk ingredients. This recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product was mispackaged and therefore, the package label did not list milk as an ingredient. Those with an allergy or intolerance to milk should not use this product.

The recalled Lawry’s Fajita Spices and Seasonings packages have a UPC Code of 2150022500 and a “best if used by” date of OCT0110PX62.

All grocery stores are removing the recalled products from their shelves.

If you purchased this product and would like a replacement or refund, call 1-800-952-9797.

- Christine
 

Neocate is now on Facebook!

Here’s an interesting article from the Potomac Gazette about a Maryland food allergy family that nicely highlights the need for better diagnosis of infant milk allergies.

However, I wish the reporter would have explained further hypoallergenic formulas and the differences between hydrolysate formulas and elemental formulas. In the article, Victoria Goldberg, mother of two boys who were allergic to milk as babies, mentions that the hypoallergenic formula she gave her oldest still caused a reaction. That’s likely because it was a hypoallergenic hydrolysate.

Hydrolysate formulas (i.e. Nutramigen, Alimentum) contain protein chains that are partially broken down, which makes it easier to digest than typical baby formula. However, sometimes that’s not enough. Some babies need elemental formula (i.e. Neocate) that contain individual amino acids (the building blocks of protein) instead of protein chains.

I think understanding this distinction is key – especially since it can mean the difference between a sick, miserable baby and a happy, healthy baby.

- Nita
 
Neocate is now on Facebook!

Good news — According to the latest issue of FDA Week, precautionary allergen statements on food packages are still a top priority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) met with the FDA in March to discuss concerns that the FDA’s food safety priorities might have changed because of the peanut contamination issues. However, the FDA assured FAAN that food allergy labeling is still of the upmost importance to the agency.

Back in September, my fellow blogger wrote an entry on the allergy labeling public hearings that occurred. Anne Munoz-Furlong, FAAN Founder, said the FDA is currently reviewing the public comments they received before, during and after that meeting.

Any food allergy label updates on your end?

- Christine

I’ve been reading Coping with Allergies & Asthma, a magazine designed to aid allergy and asthma sufferers in taking a proactive approach to improving their quality of life. It’s a great way to get a quick update on what’s going on in the allergy community.

While the magazine has a lot of great content, one article in particular stuck out to me in the March/April issue that I wanted to share with you. The article, “Don’t Let Your Child’s Asthma or Allergic Illness Define the Family,” has a great message for all allergy parents — the emotional symptoms that come along with the physical symptoms of a food allergy can be just as hard, if not harder, to deal with.

The article offers the following tips to keep family allergy anxieties in check:

• Focus on the normal elements of childhood;
• Beware of transmitting anxiety to your children;
• Have one medical hour a week to focus on the allergy; and
• Reserve time for the allergy-free siblings.

Unfortunately, the articles aren’t available on the magazine’s Web site, but a table of contents is. You can see what else was in this issue of Coping with Allergies & Asthma by clicking here.

And to subscribe to the magazine, click here.

-Nita
 

Last week, my fellow blogger wrote an entry on the latest issues in food safety brought to light with the peanut and pistachio scares. This continues to be a topic covered by the mainstream media, and I think this continued focus is great for raising awareness about food safety and hopefully will benefit the food allergy community who is always on high alert.

Here are a few follow up articles on the food safety topic that are worth reading:

“Local, State Agencies Lack Resources to Ensure Food Safety” in the Washington Post: This article is on a study by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services that determined that local and state health officials ¾ not federal ¾ are the ones doing the bulk of the food safety work. However, their performance is lacking because of scarce resources and weak leadership from the federal government. To read the entire study, click here.

“To Fill Food Safety Gap, Processors Pay Inspectors” in the New York Times: This article discusses the industry specific need for agency oversight when it comes to food safety that wasn’t provided for them by the federal government. Therefore, many industries sought out their own agencies for oversight. However, many food safety experts are now troubled with leaving safety standards to industry discretion.

Food safety affects all of us, and we can only hope that this increased awareness will put pressure on the government to make food safety a top priority.

Have you read any interesting articles on this topic?

- Christine