Hold the Nuts Please!

 

  Most people assume that because a certain food does not contain nuts directly that it is nut free.  Take this Drumstick for example.  I retrieved this image from a blog titled “Finally, other people’s dangerous allergies do something for me,” however it is extremely misleading for three reasons.

·         The box says “Hold the peanuts”

·         The blog is implying that this product was made for people with allergies because of his title.

·         I could not find the cookies and cream cone on their website, but Drumstick describes it’s Simply Dipped Vanilla cone as “Notes of sweet chocolate blend perfectly with luscious Vanilla. Nothing nutty about this one. Just classic deliciousness."

Because my local grocery store sells these, and my children would love to eat these, we have checked them out and they are definitely NOT peanut free.  Yes they do not have peanuts in the ingredients, but the warning is on the back of the package clearly stating that it may contain nuts.  This is the ingredients list that I got from the drumstick website.

Ingredients
DAIRY PRODUCT SOLIDS, SKIM MILK, CHOCOLATEY COATING (SUGAR, COCONUT OIL, COCOA, SOYBEAN OIL, WHEY POWDER, NONFAT DRY MILK, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, WHOLE MILK POWDER, PALM OIL, CHOCOLATE, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR), CONE (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, VEGETABLE SHORTENING [PALM OIL, SOYBEAN OIL], SOY LECITHIN, SALT), SUGAR, CREAM, CONE COATING (SUGAR, COCONUT OIL, PALM OLEIN, COCOA POWDER, SOY LECITHIN, PALM OIL, NATURAL FLAVOR), CORN SYRUP, TAPIOCA MALTODEXTRIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL MONOSTEARATE, CELLULOSE GEL, GUAR GUM, NATURAL FLAVOR, MONOGLYCERIDES, CAROB BEAN GUM, CELLULOSE GUM, ANNATTO COLOR, SALT. CONTAINS: MILK, WHEAT AND SOY INGREDIENTS. MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS.
MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS

For people who do not deal with allergies on a regular basis it is confusing.   That “nut free” ice cream just became a possible death trap.

FDA Requirements on Labels

The FDA only requires companies to list allergens that their product contains.  They do not require a may contain list or shared on equipment list.  This makes it almost impossible to know if the food you are eating is safe, so kudos to the companies who willingly supply their consumers with this information.  On the flip side of that, it is equally frustrating to think that some companies may possibly put this warning on their product to cover themselves in case of a lawsuit.  It seems as if everything has the warning which seriously limits our food options!

Restaurants

Eating dinner anywhere other than home always brings concern.  Unlike foodborne illnesses, cross- contact with an allergen is not killed during the cooking process. Advocate for yourself or your children when out to eat. 

Snack Guide

If you are unsure about the safety of snacks that your child is eating, check out this online snack guide that breaks down peanut, tree nut, and egg free options. 


Comment to let me know if you would have checked the label if the box said no nuts?

 

 

 

Raising Peanut Allergy Awareness

                                                                                                  Image sourced from Kids with Food Allergies

 

With estimations of peanut allergies tripling over the last couple of decades, it is likely that you or someone you know has the allergy.  One statistic on the Food Allergy Research and Education website says that 1 in 13 children will have some sort of food allergy.  In my family of six all four children have one.  While we are lucky that none of their allergies are airborne, if ingested it can be fatal. 

 We have come across many people who are on all sides of the spectrum on how to handle the situation.  As a parent it creates anxiety every time your child is at school, daycare, or with family and friends.  Here is some information to understand the concern of parents of children with allergies.

1.       What is a food allergy?
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating a certain food. Even a tiny amount of the allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. In some people, a food allergy can cause severe symptoms or even a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.”

 

2.       Concerns of parents

·         Are parents going to abide by the “peanut free” classroom?

·         If a child does bring peanuts, are they going to wash their hands after eating?

·         Are the adults supervising your child taking their allergy seriously? 

·         Do they know how to use an Epipen?

·         Did the person in charge read all labels, or just assume there was no nuts?

·         Kids are cruel – My oldest son told his brother that the candy he ate had nuts.  This was traumatizing for him and instantly he came to me asking if he was going to die.  We had a long discussion on why allergies are no joking matter.

3.       A few simple things I have done over the years to ensure our children’s safety

·         We don’t keep peanut butter in the house – Seems easy enough, but my husband and I both love peanut butter.  Eventually we decided that the risk was not worth it!

·         We ALWAYS carry at least two epipens per child – If ingested and an allergic reaction occurs, we have about 15-20 minutes to get them to the nearest hospital.  Having two gives us an extra 20 minutes since we can administer a second dose after the first 20 minutes. Remember to check the expiration date!

·         We ask friends and family to put away the nut bowl – A lot of people enjoy eating nuts.  It is not uncommon for some households to have a bowl out for people to enjoy, especially at parties.  Do not be afraid to ask them to refrain from doing so while you are there.  Most people just don’t think about it and are happy to have other snacks available.

·         We check every label – Even food that you would not suspect to have nuts, may have a warning of cross contamination. 

·         We bring our own dessert – Desserts are one of the most common foods that may contain nuts.  We bring our own to birthday parties so our children can still enjoy cake and ice cream. 

·         We teach our children to advocate for themselves – When my step-daughter lived in Seattle, she would take an accompanied flight to Detroit.  Even though you fill out an emergency card with vital information, it can be overlooked.  She had an experience, twice (insert angry face) where the flight attendant offered her peanuts.  To add insult to injury, after she respectfully declined letting them know she was allergic, they proceeded to give it to the woman sitting next to her! Thankfully at 10 years old, she had the courage to ask this woman she had never met if she would please not eat them. 

Here are a couple of links with information and statistics on allergies and a video on how use an Epipen

http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/peanut-allergy

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-allergy/basics/definition/con-20019293

  Do you have a child with allergies? Share some of your concerns and suggestions to help others facing this sometimes fatal disease.