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Posted by john on August 26th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
Any parent of a child with allergies knows how stressful it is worrying about their diet every day. Now a host of new snack products are available to help alleviate some of those concerns.
Four year old Lindsay Hall has severe food allergies. The discovery was horrifying for her mom.
“When Lindsay was 11 months, I made scrambled eggs with cheese. She started turning blue,” said Kim Hall.
Lindsay is allergic to milk, eggs, nuts and cocoa. That means her mom Kim, has to be on guard 24-7.
“If she’s exposed, even the smallest amount could cause an anaphylactic reaction which would cause her throat to potentially close,” said Kim.
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The Halls aren’t alone. 12 million Americans now have food allergies. Now several companies have developed allergen free treats. They’re made in special kitchens and bakeries that don’t use many of the common culprits like tree nuts, milk and eggs.
Benjamin Sandler has life threatening allergies. His mom Lori started one of these new companies. It’s called Divvies. All of their ingredients are certified allergen free and are routinely lab tested.
“We are so vigilant. We want everybody that has a food allergy to feel totally comfortable consuming our product,” said Lori Sandler.
It certainly gives the Halls peace of mind.
“We are so thrilled. Not only do I know what everyone’s eating is safe, then they’re also eating what Lindsay is eating and she’s not alienated,” said Kim Hall.
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Posted by john on August 19th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
NEW YORK, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) announced today that Governor Eliot Spitzer has signed into law the Allergy & Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2007 (AAMA; A.4051), landmark legislation that will help protect New York schoolchildren who suffer from life-threatening food allergies. The full text can be viewed at http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A04051. The new law requires the New York State Commissioner of Health to develop model state guidelines to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis (a potentially fatal allergic reaction) in schools. All New York schools must receive the guidelines by June 30, 2008. Though the AAMA calls for schools to develop policies based on the guidelines, it provides flexibility for each school to create a policy consistent with its unique environment and culture. “This vital legislation will save lives,” said Robert Pacenza, Executive Director, FAI.
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“If a food-allergic child accidentally ingests even a miniscule trace of the wrong food, it can trigger a reaction that can kill within minutes. The AAMA will provide New York parents and schools with sensible guidelines to help keep these kids safe. FAI is proud to have been the organizing force behind this effort.” During the past year, FAI led a coalition of food allergy support groups and parents across New York State to achieve the passage of the AAMA. In the months ahead, the organization plans to consult with the Commissioner of Health and other interested parties to create the new food allergy guidelines. FAI expresses its appreciation to Governor Spitzer and to Senator Serphin Maltese (R-Long Island) and Assemblyman Jose Rivera (D-Bronx), who championed the bill in the New York State Assembly. About Food Allergies Food allergy is a major public health concern, affecting more than 11 million Americans — at least 6% of children under age 3, and 3-4% of the adult population. In particular, the number of children with peanut allergy doubled from 1997-2002. Every year, at least 150 people die from food allergy, and severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) account for more than 30,000 emergency room visits. There is no cure, and no therapy to prevent anaphylaxis — only emergency treatment with epinephrine to control a reaction that is already in progress.
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Posted by john on August 15th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ — Hundreds of community and business leaders, members of civic organizations, and citizens will come together Sunday, October 7th at De Anza Cove in Mission Bay Park in San Diego for a massive fundraising walk to increase awareness about food allergy and to raise money for research and education.
The event, which is also being held in 18 other cities across the country as well as online, is sponsored by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and is called Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure. Last year, it raised more than $1 million nationwide.
More than 12 million Americans have food allergies, which is the leading cause of anaphylaxis (a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction) outside the hospital setting and results in more than 30,000 emergency room visits each year. Eight foods account for 90 percent of all allergic reactions in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, pecans, etc.), wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Food allergy afflicts one in 25 Americans overall, and one in 17 under age 3.
“Over the last 10 years, we have seen a doubling of the incidence of food allergies, and scientists don’t know why,” says FAAN CEO and founder Anne Muñoz-Furlong. “It’s critical that we all work together to help them find the answer, as well as a cure.”
More than 500 San Diego-area residents are expected to walk with company teams, organizational groups, families, and individually. Also attending will be NBC 7/39 News Anchor and Reporter Monica Dean, the San Diego honorary chair. Joining her in spirit will be the National Honorary Chair, country music star Trace Adkins.
Registration for the San Diego Walk for Food Allergy begins at 8:00 a.m. There is no fee to participate. Participants will walk a 2-mile route, after which festivities will be held, including The Rad Hatter hat designing and rock wall climbing. The event is sponsored by Verus Pharmaceuticals and Dey Pharmaceuticals.
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“With each step that’s taken, we’ll move closer to our goal of teaching others about the serious nature of food allergies, and to finding a cure,” said Sonya Sheik, walk chair.
On Wednesday August 15, 2007, Whole Foods will donate 5% of the total proceeds for the day to the FAAN Walk for Food Allergy in the San Diego area. You can help donate money simply by shopping at the La Jolla Whole Foods Market location at 8825 Villa La Jolla Drive, on Wednesday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Sheik also announced that 12-year-old Jeremy Dinkin of Del Mar has been chosen as the San Diego FAAN walk ambassador based on his essay detailing his experiences with food allergies. In 2006, Jeremy was elected President of the sixth grade class at Del Mar Hills Academy of Arts and Sciences and will be attending Earl Warren Junior High school this fall. As the San Diego FAAN walk ambassador, Jeremy who is severely allergic to over six major foods and latex, will share his experiences. When asked why he would like to be the San Diego FAAN walk ambassador, Jeremy said, “I can show people how to deal with food allergies correctly and help them understand the importance of being careful and avoiding dangerous foods.”
In addition, 17-year-old Kathleen Toohill, also of Del Mar has agreed to be the Teen Ambassador for the San Diego FAAN walk. Kathleen will be a senior at Cathedral Catholic High School, where she plays varsity lacrosse, is an Executive Ambassador, tutors for National Honor Society, and works on the staff of El Sol, the literary magazine. Kathleen was involved in the 2006 SD FAAN as a volunteer and is also a member of FAAN’s 2007 Teen Advisory Group. She is allergic to peanuts, nuts, soy, melon, peas, and sulfa and cephalosporins.
ABOUT FAAN
Founded in 1991, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in information about food allergy, a potentially fatal condition that afflicts approximately 12 million Americans, or one out of every 25, and is rapidly increasing in prevalence. A nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., FAAN has 30,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and 62 other countries. It is dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to educating people about the condition, to advocating on behalf of all those affected by it, and to advancing research into its causes, prevalence, cure, and prevention. FAAN provides information and educational resources about food allergy to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. The FAAN Medical Advisory Board, which reviews all of the organization’s educational materials, is comprised of 14 of the leaders in food allergy science and medicine in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to its printed materials, FAAN also sponsors such awareness programs as Food Allergy Awareness Week, the Mariel C. Furlong Awards for Making a Difference, food allergy conferences, and fundraising walks.
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Posted by john on August 10th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
Allergy to insects is quite common, particularly in the monsoon season when different species of insects breed and multiply. Insects have very short life and when they die, their wings and bodies become part of the ground dust. After drying and disintegration, when such dust is inhaled, it can cause allergic asthma. Asthma due to cockroach remnants is very common and present throughout the year.
Insect stings that most commonly cause allergic asthma reactions:
Some people with asthma are allergic to insects at home. The degree of reaction produced depends upon the type and quantity of venom introduced.
But in some people the venom acts as an antigen and, with the antibodies already present, causes an allergic reaction. Kill these insects before they can make you suffer with severe asthmatic attacks.
* If possible, immediately remove the stinger. Be careful not to squeeze the area, which may force the venom into the body and worsen the situation.
* Use an inhaler immediately after an insect bite as a precautionary method.
* Seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.
A visit to an allergist or your asthma doctor becomes must on the start of symptoms to manage the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of allergies and asthma.
He might suggest allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy treatment. Venom immunotherapy shots are effective in curing allergic reactions.
Medical treatment will be based on:
* extent of the reaction
* the tolerance towards specific medications, or therapies
Since you are prone to asthma caused by insects, keep prescribed medications handy at all times and follow the attached instructions if you are stung. These medications are for immediate emergency use while going to a hospital.
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What can be done to prevent these triggers?
Avoidance of insects is the best preventive measure. To control these allergens, one can do the following:
* Use cockroach or insect baits/traps.
* When outdoors, be careful of eating or drinking uncovered foods or beverages, which can attract insects.
* Be well covered when outdoors – keep exposure minimum.
* Avoid walking barefoot, and wear closed shoes when walking in grassy areas.
* When gardening, watch for insect nests in trees, and flower beds.
* Other areas in which to be careful: swimming pools, under leaves, trash containers.
* Have your home sprayed with insecticide - but not when you’re present there. Be sure that the repellent is aired out for a couple of hours before you come home.
* Never swat at a flying insect. If need be, gently brush it aside or wait for it to leave.
* Garbage cans stored outside should be covered with tight-fitting lids.
* Avoid sweet-smelling perfumes, hair sprays, colognes and deodorants.
Avoid wearing bright-colored clothing so that you do not attract insects.
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Posted by john on August 6th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
The Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center is now offering allergy-friendly guest accommodations and 99.9% allergenic-free meeting facilities.
“At the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center, we’ve always made it a priority to offer personalized service to our guests,” says Helen Simmons, General Manager at Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center. “We’ve taken that philosophy to unprecedented heights with our new allergy-free rooms and meeting facilities.”
Utilizing the PURE Room system, the most comprehensive allergy-friendly system in the hospitality industry, this hotel now offers guests an environment where surfaces are treated to minimize contaminants and irritants, such as mold spores, yeast, bacteria, pollen, dust, dust mites and chlorine — as well as their odors. These allergy-friendly guest rooms feature a state-of-the-art air purification system that maintains air quality averaging four times cleaner than the threshold for asthma patients
In the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center, air is purified at greater intensity and is filtrated eight times more frequently than standard air handling systems. Featuring a 99.9% non-allergenic treatment of air and surfaces, and frequently recycled air to lower levels of sleep-inducing carbon dioxide, this IACC-Certified Conference Center provides an environment designed to increase meeting attendee productivity. As poor indoor air quality can affect attentiveness, responsiveness and performance, this conference facility has the possibility to drastically increase conference participation and meeting efficiency.
“With the spotlight on personal wellness these days, we feel we are providing an option to travelers that they are looking for and have been unable to find,” says Haley Payne, Director of Wellness for Thayer Lodging Group.
Thayer Lodging Group, the privately held real estate investment company that owns the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center, recently committed to offering allergy-friendly guest accommodations at all of their hotels as well as 99.9% allergenic-free meeting facilities at their Executive Meeting Centers (EMC), Conference Centers and select meeting hotels
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Posted by john on July 29th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
NEWARK, N.J. -
Schering-Plough Corp. said Monday its second-quarter profit more than doubled as revenue climbed 13 percent on the strength of cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia.
Net income climbed to $517 million, or 34 cents per share, after preferred dividends for the quarter ended June 30 from $237 million, or 16 cents per share, a year ago. Excluding charges related to a licensing payment and the planned acquisition of Organon BioSciences NV by year’s end, the Kenilworth-based company would have earned 41 cents per share.
Sales grew to $3.18 billion from $2.82 billion a year ago.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected a profit of 35 cents per share excluding one-time items on sales of $3.07 billion.
Assuming it got half the revenues from its global cholesterol joint venture with Merck & Co., Schering-Plough’s adjusted net sales would have totaled $3.8 billion, up 15 percent year-over-year. The joint venture also brought it $490 million in equity income.
Despite the big jump in profit and the company beating analysts’ expectations, Schering-Plough shares slipped 3 cents to $31.46 in afternoon trading after rising as high as $32.50 earlier in the session. Their 52-week high is $33.81.
Analyst Steve Brozak of WBB Securities said the report “was anticlimactic” given investors’ high expectations and the lack of any new growth initiatives.
“You have to tell people how you’re going to knock the cover off the ball going into the future,” Brozak said.
Unlike other major drug companies, Schering-Plough does not give profit forecasts - often key to boosting stock price - and has not since turnaround expert Fred Hassan four years ago was brought in as CEO to salvage the then-struggling company.
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Chris Schott of Bank of America Securities wrote in a research note that sales were modestly above expectations. He said the Organon acquisition “represents a catalyst” that should add to earnings and further diversify profits away from the cholesterol drugs, which now represent about 65 percent of earnings.
“Seven out of our 10 largest-selling products, including Vytorin and Zetia, posted double-digit sales growth for the quarter,” Hassan told analysts Monday.
The top-selling products and their results: Remicade, for arthritis and other inflammatory immune disorders, up 28 percent to $394 million; Nasonex, for allergies, up 22 percent to $295 million; Pegintron, hepatitis C, up 3 percent to $234 million; Clarinex, an antihistamine, up 11 percent to $250 million; and Temodar, for brain tumors, grew 26 percent to $216 million.
The company’s consumer health care segment posted $394 million in sales in the second quarter, up 13 percent compared with a year earlier. The increase was driven by higher sales of over-the-counter Claritin, and the February launch of MiraLAX, marking the first switch from prescription to over-the-counter sales in the laxative category in more than 30 years.
Sales in the animal health segment increased 10 percent to $264 million in the quarter with international growth led by the poultry, companion animal, aquaculture and swine product lines, along with a positive impact from currency exchange rates.
For the first half of the year, Schering-Plough earned $1.06 billion, or 70 cents a share, after paying preferred stock dividends, versus $587 million, or 40 cents a share, a year ago. Half-year sales rose to $6.2 billion from $5.4 billion a year ago.
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Posted by john on July 25th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
Mobile phone masts are not responsible for the symptoms of ill health some blame them for, a major UK study says.
Dozens of people who believed the masts triggered symptoms such as anxiety, nausea and tiredness could not detect if signals were on or off in trials.
However, the Environmental Health Perspectives study stressed people were nonetheless suffering “real symptoms”.
Campaign group Mast Sanity said the results were skewed as 12 people in the trials dropped out because of illness.
In the trial, many of those who blame masts for their symptoms reported greater distress when they thought the signal was on, suggesting the problem has a psychological basis.
“Belief is a very powerful thing,” said Professor Elaine Fox, of the University of Essex, who led the three-year study.
“If you really believe something is going to do you some harm, it will.”
The study was funded by the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme, a body which is itself funded by industry and government.
Modern appliances
It is unclear how many people in the UK suffer from “electro-sensitivity”, an allergy they believe can be triggered by a range of modern day appliances from hair driers to mobile phone masts.
This should be reassuring news for anyone who is concerned about the possible short-term health effects of masts
Dr James Rubin,
King’s College London
In 2005 the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said there was no scientific evidence to link their ill health with electrical equipment, while acknowledging sufferers could have real and unpleasant symptoms.
But the HPA research did not consider the effects of waves from phone masts, as most of the studies looking at electrical sensitivity were carried out before they were widely introduced.
A number of studies subsequently have looked at the mobile effect, but the Essex experiments are some of the largest and most detailed to date.
After 12 of the sufferers dropped out of the trial researchers tested a total of 44 people with a history of symptoms against a control group of 114 people who had never reported ill effects from masts.
When the signal was being emitted, and they were told of this, sensitive individuals reported lower levels of well-being.
This was true for exposure to both forms of mobile systems - GSM and UMTS (3G).
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However, when tests were carried out in which neither the experimenter or participant knew if the mast was on or off the number of symptoms reported was not related to whether a signal was being emitted or not.
Chance finding
Two of the 44 sensitive individuals correctly judged if it was on or off in all six tests, as did five out of 114 control participants.
“This proportion is what is expected by chance,” the researchers said.
The symptoms were real. As well as reporting feeling unwell, sensitive individuals had sweatier skin and higher blood pressure - both measures of a physiological response.
But this was regardless of whether the signal was on or off.
“Hence the range of symptoms and physiological response does not appear to be related to the presence of either GSM or 3G signals,” the study concluded.
Other experts endorsed the study’s findings.
Dr James Rubin, of the Mobile Phone Research Unit, King’s College London, said the findings were in line with those from most other previous experiments.
“This should be reassuring news for anyone who is concerned about the possible short-term health effects of masts,” he said.
But Mast Sanity declared “history has shown that many now commonly accepted physical conditions were initially dismissed as psychological”.
“Isn’t it time that the government woke up to the reality of electrosensitivity instead of attempting to persuade sufferers that it is all in their minds?” said spokeswoman Yasmin Skelt.
But another campaign group, Powerwatch, commended the research as one of “one of the best designed and executed studies to date” while stressing that the number of dropouts was unfortunate.
“So whilst it cannot be entirely ruled out that a small minority are truly sensitive, the proportions of any truly sensitive people are likely to be far lower than the 3% - 35% that has been quoted.”
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Posted by john on July 22nd, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
Dunhills (Pontefract) Plc has withdrawn all batches of Haribo’s Pasta Basta, Apple flavour and Strawberry flavour (15g) confectionery, because of the presence of wheat gluten not shown on the label, making these products unsafe for people who are allergic or intolerant to wheat or wheat products. The Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
The product contains wheat gluten, but because these products were labelled for the Spanish market, there is no ingredients list in English. People who are allergic to wheat or wheat products are advised not to eat these products.
Product details
● Haribo Pasta Basta Apple flavour 15g
● Haribo Pasta Basta Strawberry flavour 15g
● Batch number: All
● Best before date: All
No other Haribo products are known to be affected.
The company is in the process of informing their customers and withdrawing all affected products and batches. Point-of-sale notices will be displayed in stores. Haribo have contacted the Anaphylaxis Campaign, Allergy UK and Coeliac UK, which will inform their wheat allergic and intolerant members of the withdrawal.
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Allergy alerts
Sometimes there will be a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold. Then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product). Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk.
In such situations the Agency will issue an Allergy Alert. It is also possible to subscribe to an email alert system to receive automatic messages whenever Allergy Alerts are issued.
Subscribing is a two-stage process. First of all, click on the link below. Click ‘Subscribe’ and insert your email address before submitting your request. Then we’ll send you an email asking you to confirm by clicking on a link. This is to protect you against getting unwanted emails.
If you no longer wish to subscribe to email alerts, simply repeat the process but click on ‘Unsubscribe’ instead. Again, we’ll send you an email asking you to confirm the request. This is to prevent you being unsubscribed by someone else.
You can get details of all the latest allergy alerts as soon as they’re issued by getting the details sent as a SMS text message direct to your mobile phone.
To sign up to this free service, simply send the text message ‘START ALLERGY’ to the number 62372. To unsubscribe, just text ‘STOP ALLERGY’ to the same number.
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Posted by john on July 17th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
Plenty of other things could have killed me over the years: stress, high blood pressure, liver disease due to heavy drinking, injuries sustained in misjudged pub fights due to heavy drinking, my wife garnishing my food with shards of glass due to my heavy drinking. But not this – surely I couldn’t be dying from an allergic reaction?
Bar hay fever, I had never shown intolerance towards any-thing. In fact, I had always had a slight disdain for people who said they were allergic to wheat or milk or peanuts or shellfish. Yet here I was in A&E, with a nurse massaging my thigh, preparing it for a shot of adrenalin two hours after I had been eating cockles. I had a steroid drip in one arm and an oxygen mask on.
“This may hurt a little.”
“Uhthonemine,” I said, meaning I don’t mind. Speaking properly had become a problem: my tongue was several times its usual size and my lips had taken over my face, which was decorated in an exotic-looking rash. It took immense concentration and will to swallow.
Adrenalin and steroids – and, indeed, doctors – are wonderful things, and after seven hours under observation I had recovered sufficiently to be released. But the diagnosis from the on-duty doctor was chilling: I had experienced anaphylactic shock, an acute severe reaction to an allergen, and if I had delayed coming to the hospital, it could well have killed me.
There are around 10 deaths a year in which anaphylaxis is cited as a contributing cause. Worryingly, this rate has doubled in the last two years. The most well-known food cause is peanuts, though others include eggs, milk and shellfish. And it isn’t just food: latex, insect stings and certain drugs can all provoke a reaction. “In a recent incident,” Vicky Fields from the Anaphylaxis Campaign told me, “one of our members was walking down a supermarket aisle and reacted severely to rubber car mats on display.”
In my case, the culprit remained in the shadows. I had just finished a course of penicillin, so perhaps I had reacted to that. The cockles I had eaten an hour or so before could have been the cause, but I ate them regularly and with impunity, so perhaps not. Perhaps it was a combination of the two, although it is possible to develop an allergy towards a substance that one had previously been immune to. “Theoretically, anything could be the cause,” were the doctor’s parting words.
The information I received from the on-duty doctor and, later, my GP was understandably vague, but instinct told me it would be wise to avoid shellfish and penicillin. I had steroids to calm any rashes and was prescribed two EpiPens (self-administered adrenalin shots) in case I experienced another life-threatening reaction.
The adrenalin is supposed to allow you 15 to 20 minutes to get to hospital. Without it, it is possible to die within a few minutes. Naturally, after my release I forgot to take my EpiPens when I went out. I tended to come out in a rash every time I took a brisk walk, but it would vanish an hour or so after wolfing down a handful of steroids. After a week, I had pretty much let slip from my mind that I had anaphylaxis. I was fond of shellfish, but it wasn’t going to impact dramatically on my life if I had to avoid it. So, too, penicillin; in the back of my mind was the thought that I would get ill again and it may be a slight problem finding a suitable antibiotic, but, again, it didn’t cause me too much concern.
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Then I had another severe reaction. At the dog end of a long, hot bath, I felt my lips begin to tingle and felt – well, just odd. I got out of the bath and looked in the mirror. A ghoul stared back: I looked massively unwell, my eyes were sunken, my lips had ballooned, I had an alarming number of hives on my forehead, hands and feet, on top of the now-standard all-over rash. I needed to cool down and splashed water over my face and neck, but quickly realised I was on the verge of collapse. As soon as I lay down, I felt the need to cool off again and stumbled back to the bathroom. This zigzagging continued for 10 minutes, and then I started to panic. I became incredibly, unusually scared, as if something very terrible was going to happen. This sense of doom, I discovered, is not uncommon when having a reaction. I asked my wife to call an ambulance, because I felt like I was about to pass out and couldn’t remember at what point to use my EpiPen.
As long as my breathing wasn’t too laboured, my wife was told, there was no need to go into hospital or inject myself with adrenalin. My blood pressure had dropped, so I just had to lie down and take it, my thoughts alternating between the pedestrian and the chaotic. All night, my body felt foreign, as if made up entirely of right angles. It took two days for the hives and my lips to reduce this time.
More than anything, this second episode was frustrating. If I could be allergic to a bath, surely I could be allergic to anything? “These reactions,” my GP told me, “could have no obvious trigger.” Splendid. So it’s not necessarily shellfish? “Not necessarily; you could try a prawn, but have your EpiPen handy.” Double splendid.
Severe allergy is thought to affect more than 1 million people in Britain. Studies show that allergies as a whole are increasing, so it follows that extreme reactions will rise also. No one knows why, although one theory is the hygiene hypothesis – essentially, better hygiene, and the use of vaccines and antibiotics do not allow our immune systems to develop properly. Consequently, they end up attacking other, harmless things, such as proteins in food. “To put it in very simple terms,” says Jonathan Brostoff, professor of allergy and environmental health at King’s College, “it could be that we are becoming too clean.”
Or it may be because we are being exposed to substances that are relatively new to us. Sesame has become a familiar food item in the UK only recently (in hummus, say, or oriental cooking), and as such sesame allergy is increasing. The increase in latex allergy, too, appears to be related to an increase in contact: a Royal College of Physicians report says that 8 per cent of health workers have an allergy to latex rubber.
Yet allergy services in the UK are desperately stretched or, in some places, non-existent. Vicky Fields says research is the obvious way forward. “Our guess is that anaphylaxis will be the last to be solved as it is at the most severe end. The Government needs to pay attention to the lack of allergy centres and expertise in the area. The rise in NHS services has certainly not kept pace with the rise in allergies.”
Despite a six-week wait, I managed to get an appointment with a specialist, to see if the underlying cause for my anaphylaxis could be found. It couldn’t. A pinprick test, where solutions of different fish and shellfish were placed on the skin, showed no reaction. The specialist told me it could be a combination of food and exercise, that the penicillin had primed my immune system to react in unusual ways to foreign bodies, or that there is – and I was expecting this – “perhaps no discernable cause”.
I am still waiting for the results of a blood test for a shellfish or penicillin allergy. In the meantime, it is a case of being more aware of what I am putting into my body, keeping vigorous exercise to a minimum and having character-building cold baths. Minor changes aside, I am determined not to let it impinge on my quality of life, because although my dinner may not be, I like to think the world is still my oyster.
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Posted by john on July 15th, 2007 — in Flonase Top News
A Brisbane company is leading the way in Australia, with a major expansion into allergy free food products.
Statistics have shown the number of children with food allergies has doubled in the last five years.
Former CSIRO scientist Bob Hamilton was motivated to launch ‘Earlee Products’, which supplies manufacturers like Ingams and Woolworths with allergen free seasoned meat coatings, marinades and sauces.
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They are now expanding to provide gluten, nut, dairy and soy free lines.
Mr Hamilton says it’s quite easy to make a product that’s allergen free, but the key is to maintain flavour.
Producing mainstream and allergy free foods under the same roof increases the risk of cross contamination. Earlee Products has become one of the first companies to separate its production line.
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