Food Allergy Safety 101

Posted on May 2, 2009

(ARA) - With the number of children with life-threatening food allergies on the rise, practicing food allergy safety is more important than ever. From closely reading labels to understanding hidden allergens and food manufacturing processes, there is a lot that can be done to keep children free of allergic reactions.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), four out of every 100 children under age 17—or three million children—have a food allergy. The recent CDC study, "Food Allergy Among U.S. Children: Trends in Prevalence and Hospitalizations," also shows an 18 percent increase in children with food allergies since 1997. And the number of children hospitalized for food allergies jumped from 2,600 in the late 1990s to 9,500 annually in recent years.

These babies and children have immune systems that attack specific foods as if they were viruses or unwanted bacteria, causing painful and sometimes life-threatening allergic reactions.

Preventing an allergic reaction sounds simple: avoid the food that is causing the trouble. But it is more difficult than it sounds. When browsing the grocery store shelves or formula aisle at the pharmacy, it is not always clear what exact ingredients a product contains or if it is manufactured in an entirely allergen-free facility.

Avoiding allergic foods, even in small amounts, is also more important than many people understand.

"A food allergy reaction is serious," says Registered Dietician Steven Yannicelli, director of science and education for Nutricia North America. "In severe cases, children may experience life-threatening anaphylaxis, which prevents them from breathing and can be fatal if not treated immediately. Other symptoms, like diarrhea and vomiting, are less severe but can still have dramatic negative effects on a child's health and well-being."

Here are several tips to protect children from coming in contact with foods allergens.

Labeling

• Read all food labels carefully to ensure they do not contain allergens.
• Only purchase foods and formulas with clearly labeled ingredients.
• Research foods and ingredients before food shopping or dining out.
• Avoid foods with ingredient names you do not recognize until you have researched them carefully.

Hidden Allergens

• Watch out for alternate names for allergens. For example, milk often shows up on labels as "casein" or "whey." There are other hidden ingredients that may indicate casein or whey, so be careful.
• Check ingredients in every food and formula. Allergens can show up in unexpected places like salad dressing and nutrition bars.

Manufacturing Facility

• Understand the environment in which the foods and formulas you give your child are manufactured.
• For the most peace of mind, purchase products manufactured in 100 percent allergen-free environments. For example, many food manufacturers put "manufactured in a peanut-free facility" on food labels. However, many manufacturers of formulas do not. Make sure you ask your doctor about formulas manufactured in a 100 percent dairy-free environment.

For more information on food allergy safety tips, visit www.testforallergy.com/fas101.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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