Food Allergy Awareness Week

I know I've been MIA lately... 

Honestly, I have a separate private blog for friends and family 

that isn't censored on personal information like this one is (for the most part)... 

so I spend most of my blogging time over there!

BUT, I wanted to share a few things today!

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know that 

Eloise has severe food allergies to eggs and peanuts.  

I am continually surprised by how much people don't know about 

food allergies, but then... I was once that person also, 

so I'm not sure why I'm so surprised!  

My life has become totally engulfed in avoiding El's allergens

 that it's just second nature to me.  Though even at home, where we 

live in a nut-free environment, any little hive or sneeze makes me

 jump into action to make sure she didn't accidentally come

 into contact with something she is allergic to.

This week is FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK!  

Normally I am not all about assigning special "weeks" or "months" for things.  

But, of course, this one is near and dear to my heart... 

so I can understand why some people are passionate about 

other specially designated days, etc.

Here is a little graphic I made with some information...

(Someone lost their first tooth!)

 

Did you know that 1 in 13 children now has a life threatening food allergy?  

That's roughly 2 in every classroom!  (Thankfully we homeschool - last day 

of KINDERGARTEN!!  Hooray!).  I took El to a library program this 

spring and in just the small group of children and adults that attended there 

was peanut and egg allergy (Eloise), a boy with red dye sensitivity and 

shellfish allergy, a little girl with wheat allergy, a little girl with gluten allergy, 

2 adults with several food allergies and a librarian who learned she was all 

of a sudden allergic to peanuts and milk in her early 60's!  

(Food allergies can develop at ANY time in your life!)  

That's a lot for just a small little town and a small little library!  

It's more common than people realize.  Research shows that 

allergies DOUBLED between 1997-2007.  Of course, I can speculate on 

reasons why... but I am no medical or scientific professional, so I won't 

get into all of that!  

As a mother who deals with the anxiety of food allergies every time we 

step foot out of our own home (and sometimes while in it), I would urge you 

to think a little bit about those around you when you're out and about.  

Don't touch people's babies or offer them food without checking with 

a parent first (not saying any of you do!) and if you're hosting a party 

or get-together for children, maybe inquire if there are any allergies to be aware of.  

Trust me, it will be appreciated by the parents!!  At Halloween time, 

maybe look into the Teal Pumpkin Project.  You put a teal pumpkin 

out on your porch so Food Allergy kids know that they can get safe 

(non-food) treats at your house!  (But please, don't mix them in a 

bowl with food items as even the outside of wrappers can be contaminated 

just from being in a factory with allergens).

Also consider things like bird seed that usually contain or are manufactured

around peanuts and tree nuts.  Garden/Potting soil often has peanut shells

as a filler.  And also know that company's are required by law to list

any allergens that their food products may contain, but they are NOT

required to disclose if the items are made in a nut free facility or even

manufactured on the same production lines as allergens.

If you are trying to get information just from a label, it most

likely is not complete information.  The allergy community often are

making phone calls and sending inquiry emails as to the safety of food items.

I recently learned that there are lighter fluids that many contain peanut oil

due to the fact that they use "recycled oils" from restaurants and

can't guarantee that peanut oil or other allergens weren't in the mix.

Never would've thought of that one, would ya?

Me either.

In other words, Food Allergies are not so cut and dry!!

 Taking time to educate yourself, even a little means so much!!

This summer, Eloise plans to trying to raise enough money to buy 

some Food Allergy Awareness Children's Books to donate to our local library!