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Welcome to The Food Allergy Foundation (FAF) a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families and individuals manage life with food allergies. We are the "new voice" in the food allergy community focusing our efforts on funding food allergy research, support groups, education, awareness & advocacy across the country & around the globe. 

From a Mom's View

The Hardest Thing ...

by Joyce Ahrens

This afternoon I asked my 5th grade daughter what the hardest thing is about having a food allergy. We don’t usually talk about her allergy using “those” kinds of negative terms-hardest, worst, or most terrible- choosing instead to count our blessings, maintain a positive attitude, and use our resources as best we can. We prefer to use terms like “challenging” or “frustrating,” but today, as I prepared to write this column, I wanted to hear honestly from Emma, in her life with a food allergy as she lives it, what she feels is the hardest thing.

Her first response surprised me a little, as I would have guessed it to be third or fourth. (There’s that Mommy-thinking-that-she-knows-her-child-best thing!) Her second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth responses (and perhaps the fact that there were six responses that flowed so freely when I asked her for only one) made me just plain sad. I wasn’t sad because of the tone of Emma’s responses, but sad because I realized today that I have never really asked Emma before this moment how she really does feel about her allergy. It has been something that has existed in our lives since she was a tossley little two year old. It is this thing that we manage and learn about, maneuver, and plan around. We advocate, promote, educate, support, and just keep going. But what do we feel? More importantly, what do our children who are living with these allergies every day feel as they go through their daily walk, facing the prospect of their mortality on a daily basis, snack by snack, meal by meal.

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Does "Your" Baby Have a Food Allergy? 

In a recent article in Chicago Parent, Dr. Jacqueline Pongracic, head of Allergy and Immunology at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago tells us that "younger kids have the largest proportion of new food allergy diagnosis".

The article goes on to the state that "food allergies in younger children can be especially scary to parents, since adequate nutrition is vital to a baby's growth and development. To make matters even more complicated, other conditions may mimic food allergies. So how do you know what's a real food allergy and what isn't?"

"Key symptoms of a food allergy reaction are hives, swelling of the face and breathing problems such as wheezing," Pongracic says.

The article continues with ... "While severe allergic reaction symptoms are relatively easy to spot (distinctive facial swelling and hives), gastrointestinal issues may leave parents confused".

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From a Mom's View

The Test Results Are Positive

by Joyce Ahrens

“The test results are positive.” Never have the same five words caused me more joy or sadness with their utterance. When I said them in February of 2000, my face beamed with anticipation as I told my husband with tears in my eyes that we were expecting our second child in the fall. That September we were blessed three weeks early as tiny, beautiful Emma Elizabeth joined our family. We chose the name Emma because it meant “embracing everything.” As I held my newborn, I envisioned a world free of obstacles for her as she explored and experienced life to its fullest.

Emma’s babyhood was not one without mysteries. She was jaundiced at birth and they were hesitant to allow us to take her home from the hospital. After we got home, she had daily heel pricks, weigh-ins, and a bili-light vest to wear continuously for a week. For the next month, Emma nursed every 1 ½ hours around the clock (can we say VERY tired Mommy?) as her body recovered from the jaundice. At one month old Emma developed an ear infection and required antibiotics. At two months she began rhythmically rubbing her face on our shoulders when we held her. She literally rubbed the skin off of her own chin, leaving bloody abrasions in its place. This continues for months. Our pediatrician did not have answers. I was breast feeding Emma as her only source of nutrition and asked if it was possible that something I was ingesting could be irritating her. The doctor told me that it was chapped skin from slobbering and instructed me to smear Crisco shortening on the baby’s face, just like the pediatrician’s grandmother had done years before. We quickly switched pediatricians!

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COMING to a city near you . . .

Food Allergy Golf Outing

Join us for a beautiful day of golf at the 1757 Golf Club in Dulles, Virginia on Monday, June 25, 2012. Just minutes from Washington Dulles International Airport - the 1757 Golf Club is The Ultimate Golf Experience in Northern Virginia.

Email us for more information at info@foodallergyfoundation.org

The Food Allergy Foundation Ball

Join us for an evening of delicious allergy friendly fine cuisine, fabulous wine and spirits, a silent and live auction all to benefit The Food Allergy Foundation on Saturday, May 12th, 2012 in the Washington, DC area.

Email us for more information at info@foodallergyfoundation.org 

2/11/12 Walmart Recalls Cruller Bakery Pastries Due To Mislabeled Milk Allergen

2/10/12 Whole Foods Market is Recalling Its 3 Ounce and 26 Ounce Pumpkin Bundt Cakes Because The Products Contain Undeclared Milk

2/3/12 Nest Collective Voluntarily Recalls Select Revolution Foods Jammy Sammy - Strawberry Jam & Peanut Butter Snack Size Sandwich Bars Due to a Labeling Error (Undeclared Peanut on Inner Wrapper)

1/31/12 President Global Corporation Announces Bin-Bin Snow Rice Crackers and Bin-Bin Rice Crackers Recall For Undeclared Egg

1/31/12 Gemini Food Corporation and Tong Enterprises Announces Bin-Bin Snow Rice Crackers and Bin-Bin Rice Crackers Recall For Undeclared Egg

1/28/12 How Sweet It Is Fudge and Candy Company Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Milk Allergens In Products "Peanut Butter Buckeye" and “Peanut Butter Smoothie” Date Code 01/23/2012 and Earlier

1/28/12 Walgreen Co. Voluntarily Recalls Certain Lots of 13 Oz. Chocolate-Covered Raisins As Product May Contain Peanuts, Almonds, Soy Due to Packaging Error

See more Food Allergy Alerts