GREAT RESOURCES JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!


http://snacksafely.com/snacklist.pdf

List of surprising (and not surprising) unsafe food

NOT ALWAYS SAFE

- Asian Foods - especially egg rolls, wontons which are often sealed with peanut butter.  Anything made in a wok

- Bake Goods - cross contamination is possible in ALL bakeries unless they are nut free

- Potato Chips & Popcorm -  Many fancy flavors / brands are fried / popped in peanut oil.  *note there are many different opinions on whether or not peanut oil has peanut protein.  Bottom line it depends on the processing - not worth the risk and confusion

-Chocolate Chips / baking chocolate - this is something that changes by the BATCH.  I have been in the store and found the same brand, same product with different allergy labeling. 


this is a work in progress

Auvi-Q

Now that Jessica is moving into Middle School, which comes with a lot of fun challenges, we were going to get her Auvi-Q  instead of her Epi-Pens.  The Auvi-Q is smaller and easier to carry.  It also speaks the instructions and reportadly is even easier to use. 

HOWEVER, I just read a few reviews that EMS, schools and even hospital staffs may not recognize it as an auto-injector.  What? Really?!

So we would need to re-educate EVERYONE

The purpose of this post is simply to say - when thinking of switching to a different auto-injector make sure everyone that cares for your child is aware the look has changed.  Last thing anyone needs is everyone looking for the "Epi-Pen" and the new auto-injector is sitting in plain view.

Additionally - ALWAYS carry more then one device anyway.  Tragically a 13 year old recently passed even after 3 Epi-pens were used. 

Sigh, If only we could keep them safely tucked in our arms forever. 

Restaurant Frustration

Jessica is 10. For the last year or so we've had her tell the waiter about her allergy. Trying to make sure she is comfortable and confident in speaking for herself. Sounds great right? Now why is it when she does many servers look at her like she ordered "I'mAllergicToPeanuts" from the menu? It's very frustrating. She looks the waiter in the eye and speaks very clearly. The waiter looks confused and looks to an adult for translation. It's hard to teach your child to speak up when no one will listen. It makes me worry about the day she goes out to eat with her friends and the waiter doesn't take her seriously. Last night the waiter recommended the gluten free pasta . Oh she's allergic to peanuts? we have gluten free pasta! not sure what gluten has to do with peanuts. Wish there was a magical, easy way to educate people about food allergies.

I hear other countries have it all figured out with trained allergy personnel on staff at restaurants. Seriously, all it really takes is a willingness to learn. A moment to listen and understand.

After all it IS a matter of life and death.

E-Belt - Carry your epi pen discreetly and safely

Jessica carries her epi pen in this handy carrier. Here's the website address for the E-belt.

Peanut Free Mama's Website

http://peanutfree.ning.com/
Found this link from a visitors comment.

Thanks  --- http://peanutfree.blogspot.com/

HOW to be.....Peanut Free

How to be . . .Peanut Free

Always Check labels – as processes and ingredients can change at anytime

Be aware of knock-offs. Companies often come out with products that look almost exactly like other brands. For example there are at least a dozen lollipops on the market that look like dum dums.

Allergen labeling law consists of two parts:
I. The labeling of allergens that are part of the recipe:
1) Always declare the presence of any top allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, wheat, fish and crustacean shellfish) whenever they are part of the recipe, regardless of the source (e.g., flavors, spices, colors, other minor ingredients, etc.)

2) Label these allergens in commonly understood terms at least once within the ingredient listing (e.g., casein (milk), etc.)

NOT Covered by law & voluntary
The use of "May Contain " labeling:
Policy that if the protein from any one of the top eight allergens* were to be unintentionally transferred from one product/ingredient to another, indicate this in a statement just below the ingredient declaration ("Allergy Information: May Contain "). As a result, some companies use the "May Contain " statement when: They have used all reasonable means to eliminate the allergen cross contact; and have documented proof that, despite our best cleaning efforts, allergen cross contact exist

Safe as of 10/2008

Masterfoods (mars) ( 800 551 9982 press 3 )

All Skittles bite size candy & gum
All Starburst
All Combos

Hershey (800 468 1714)
**Always check the label

Twizzlers products (be aware that snack size / Halloween packages may have cross contamination)
Kissables
Milk Duds
Whoppers
Original Jolly Ranchers (Jelly beans and other versions may not be safe)
Hershey Milk Chocolate 1.55 ounce bars in packages of 4 or more. Original plain Hershey bars. Miniatures are NOT safe. Purchase singularly NOT safe.
Kisses should NOT be considered safe. They come from 2 plants – 1 peanut free and 1 not. Reading the label is the only way to be sure.

Just Born (888 645 3453)

Peanut Chews made in separate plant. All other Just Born products are made and packaged in a peanut free plant
Marshmallow Peeps
Teenee Beanee Jelly Beans
Mike and Ike
Zours
Hot Tamales

Topps (800 489 9149)

Baby Bottle Pop
Ring Pop
Vertigo Pops
Push Pop
Juicy Drop PopsBazooka lolly pops NOT safe


Cadbury Schweppes Adams (800 565 6317)

Following are made in a peanut free plant
Swedish Fish
Sour Patch Kids
Gum: Trident, Dentine, Bubblelicous, Chicklets, Chloretes, Stride

Wonka (Nestle 800 225 2270)

Company Allergen Statement.:
“Almost all of the current WONKA sugar candies are nut-free except the WONKA® Bar and DONUTZ®. However, we strongly recommend that consumers always read the ingredient statement for the most current information.”
Reality
Wonka deals with many different vendors / factories. Labels must always be read as warnings / safety of products varies by plant. Small “treat” size bags may not be labeled.

BOTTLE CAPS®
EVERLASTING GOBSTOPPER®
FRUIT RUNTS®
LAFFY TAFFY®
LAFFY TAFFY® FLAVOR FLIPPERS®
LIK-M-AID® Fun Dip
NERDS®
NERDS® Gum Balls
NERDS® Rope
OOMPAS®
PIXY STIX®
SPREE®
CHEWY SPREE®
SWEETARTS®
CHEWY SWEETARTS®
SWEETARTS® Shockers
SWEETARTS® Gummy Bugs
TART 'N TINYS®

Tootsie Roll Industries (773 838 3400)

“We are pleased to be able to inform you that, at this time, all of our confections are gluten, peanut and nut product free. We do not use wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale, spelt or any of their components and that includes our manufacturing process. We do use corn and soy products in the manufacturing of our products.
Copyright 2006 Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.”

Tootsie Roll
Tootsie Pops
Tootsie Fruit Rolls
Frooties
Dots
Child's Play
Caramel Apple Pops
Junior Mints/Junior Caramels
Charleston Chew
Cella Cherries
Charms
Blow pops
Andes
Sugar Daddy/Sugar Babies
Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy
Charms Family Fun
Dubble Bubble
Razzles
Cry Baby
Nik-L-Nip

Spangler Candy Co (419 636 4221)

Dum Dum Pops, Saf-T-Pops, Swirl Saf-T-Pops, Marshmallow Treats, Candy Canes, Cane Classics, and Dum Dum Canes do not contain milk and nut products (see note below regarding Dum Dum Gum Pops and Dum Dum Chewy Pops).

The ingredients in these products, as well as the processing aids (such as release lubricants), do not contain any tree nuts, peanuts, peanut by-products, eggs, milk, or dairy products. These products are processed on dedicated lines.

Dum Dum Gum Pops and Dum Dum Chewy Pops made in the USA are free of peanuts, tree nuts, egg, gluten, and milk.
Dum Dum Gum Pops and Dum Dum Chewy Pops made in Brazil are manufactured in a facility where peanuts and milk are used in the manufacturing of other products. Please check the back panel for country of origin. Dum Dum Chewy Pops are a new item of small or larger filled pops (chocolatey chewy filling, sour chewy filling, and gum filling). These filled pops are in a 3-color bag and are not mixed with the Original Dum Dum Pops.

Chupa Chups (419 636 4221)

Chupa Chups Creamy Lollipops
Chupa Chups® Fruit lollipops
Whistle Pops
Crazy Dips
Cremosa lollypop

Philly Swirl
All ices, pops, ice creams

Wise Snacks
All safe BUT pretzels


Brands with trustworthy labeling

These companies provide an allergy box which is located below the ingredient statement

· Look for “May contain .. . .” If it has May contain wheat, soy, milk etc and does not list peanut it’s safe
· Anything that says May contain peanut, shared equipment with peanut is not safe.

Keebler Brand
Hostess
Kelloggs
Sunshine
FritoLay


NEVER SAFE
Dunkin Donuts
Snyders