Most people believe that a product labeled as hypoallergenic will not cause an allergic reaction, but is this really true?

The definition of hypoallergenic is that a product is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction or will cause fewer allergic reactions. Unfortunately, there are few FDA standards that regulate the use of the term, so it’s hard to determine which products are truly hypoallergenic.

With infant formula, things can get confusing because there are several different types that claim to be hypoallergenic. One example is hydrolysate formulas. Although they claim to be hypoallergenic, the protein in these formulas is only partially broken down and allergic reactions can still happen. 

To distinguish them from hydrolysates, amino acid-based formulas like Neocate are sometimes referred to as “super” hypoallergenic. This is because they are made up of individual non-allergenic amino acids.

As the parent of a child with food allergies, it is important to ask yourself, “What makes this product hypoallergenic?” before giving it to your child. One thing that the FDA does require is a list of ingredients on the product label.  So be sure to read that ingredient list carefully and look out for potential allergens.

One other thing that you may want to consider when choosing a medical food (such as specialized infant formula) is how much it has been tested. With medical foods a manufacturer is only required to have 29 consecutive patients tolerate the formula in a trial and then they can claim it is hypoallergenic. And if the trial fails the first time, they can repeat it again until they reach 29!

Have any other questions about hypoallergenic products? Ask away!

- Sarah

Check out this blog entry from the Consumer Reports health blog. Nicole A. Sarrubbo, editorial associate at Consumer Reports, wrote about an experience she had going to babysit a 7-year old boy with severe allergies to a number of foods, including milk, eggs and nuts. As practice, Nicole injected an orange with an EpiPen so that she would know what to do in case the boy had an allergic reaction. However, while the boy’s mother was teaching Nicole how to use the EpiPen, she accidentally injected herself with it!

Fortunately, this particular mom only felt a bit jittery after the accidental injection, but in some cases it can cause extreme discomfort. According to a review of 26 studies in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, there were nearly 70 incidents of unintentional EpiPen injections over the course of 20 years. However, it is believed that the accidental injection rates are highly underreported.

As Nicole suggests in her blog, practicing using an EpiPen is important so that if an allergic reaction was to occur, you feel prepared. However, it’s a good idea to always be prepared by keeping extra supplies on hand, incase you accidentally inject yourself. And remember to handle the EpiPen with care, even if you are only demonstrating how to use it.

Neocate is now on Facebook!

The EpiPen. According to an article on MSNBC.com, doctors prescribed 1.9 million EpiPens in 2007, a 36 percent increase from 2003, when 1.4 million were prescribed. Since food allergies are on the rise, this comes as no surprise.

The pocket-sized, life-saving EpiPen has cultivated quite a following. It “auto injects a pre-measured dose of epinephrine to someone experiencing anaphylaxis, a severe whole-body allergic reaction.” Some parents have 10 or more EpiPens around the house at all times, as well as at school, in the car and on their allergy-prone little one.

Stylish EpiPen carriers and portable pouches have even emerged. There are carriers covered in cartoon characters for the younger kids and discreet leg straps for the older kids that might be a bit self-conscience.

For many years, the EpiPen was one-of-a-kind. Currently, there is another company that makes a similar product, but the EpiPen has maintained 97 percent of the market.

For the entire EpiPen article, click here.

- Nita