The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has long supported required alcohol labeling. We have sent multiple letters of support to the Department of Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and Congress. Last year, AAFA also co-hosted a congressional briefing to help teach lawmakers about the needs of people with food allergies.

We recently sent comments to the TTB in support of allergen and ingredient labeling on alcoholic beverages in containers. Read the full letter.

The Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act’s (FALCPA) allergen labeling requirements only cover products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The rules do not apply to most alcoholic beverages because they are regulated by the Department of Treasury. The FDA’s allergen labeling rules also do not apply to most meat, poultry, and egg products. These products are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Alcohol companies are not required to label for allergens. But wines, distilled spirits, and beers can have allergens that are used as processing agents or as ingredients. This is confusing and possibly harmful for people with food allergies.

Many people have allergies to foods that are not one of the nine most common food allergens. They need to know when their allergens are in a food or beverage. This is why it's important to require full ingredient labeling.

Alcohol especially poses risks to young adults with food allergies. Alcohol can impact response time and decision-making. This may affect the ability to properly treat a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

AAFA will continue to advocate on behalf of the food allergy community. We are hopeful the TTB will take action to require labeling on alcoholic beverages.

Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) is the food allergy division of AAFA.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and the Elijah-Alavi Foundation (EAF) worked together in 2022 to release the “Child Care Policies for Food Allergy: Elijah’s Law Report for the U.S. States and Territories.” Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) is the food allergy division of AAFA.

Our report looks at state and U.S. territory child care licensing regulations against 9 policy standards. The standards aim to protect children with food allergies in child care settings. The report also includes an advocacy toolkit to help you advocate for Elijah’s Law in your home state.

So far, Elijah’s Law has passed in 3 states: New York, Illinois, and Virginia. It has also been introduced in 6 states this year: California, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

If you live in one of those 6 states, you can use our simple tool to contact your state legislators and ask for their support of Elijah’s Law by clicking on your state below. In Maryland, Elijah’s Law has passed the House and the Senate, so your request will go to Governor Moore asking him to sign the bill into law.

CALIFORNIA

KANSAS

MARYLAND

MICHIGAN

MISSOURI

PENNSYLVANIA

Don’t worry if you don’t live in one of those 6 states. You can still take action! We encourage you to use our toolkit to advocate for Elijah’s Law in your state. The advocacy toolkit includes:

• Tips on how to find and communicate with your state and federal lawmakers
• A sample letter you can send to your state law makers in support of Elijah’s Law
• Elijah’s Law fact sheet
• Sample social media posts to help amplify your advocacy
• Sample bill language for Elijah’s Law

Together we can make sure that children with food allergies in all states have safe environments to learn and grow.

Gravy is the crowning glory to the mashed potatoes and stuffing on your holiday dinner menu. You make a wonderful gravy, but now have to avoid what you usually use to thicken it.

Many gravy recipes call for thickening with a "roux" of butter and flour. There are alternatives if you have to avoid milk and wheat.

Gravy Thickened With Starch

Watch video on YouTube

You can also thicken gravy using a starch slurry. Starches, such as cornstarch or potato starch, must be mixed with a small amount of cold water to make a slurry. Strain drippings into a saucepan.  Add more stock if needed. Bring to a simmer. For each cup of liquid, mix starch with a small amount of water. When the drippings are simmering, slowly whisk in the starch slurry. Continue to simmer until the gravy is thickened.  Adjust the seasoning to taste.

Equivalent thickening per 1 cup of liquid:

• 1T all purpose flour
• 1T cornstarch
• 1 1/2 tsp potato starch

Adjust the ratio of thickener to liquid based on how thick you prefer your gravy.

Cornstarch and potato starch are the best options for gravy.  Avoid arrowroot and tapioca starches because they can get "stringy" and look artificial in gravy.

Cornstarch gravy is more translucent than flour based sauces. Potato starch gravy is more opaque than cornstarch, but less opaque than flour.

Starch sauces require less simmering than flour based sauces. Do not boil. Don't overcook cornstarch based sauces or your gravy will lose some of its thickness.

Starch based sauces do not freeze well.

Gravy Thickened With Roux

Make your roux using an equal amount of vegetable oil or milk-free margarine in place of butter. Heat the oil or melt the margarine, then add your flour. Whisk until bubbly to remove the "raw" taste of the flour.  Add your liquid as usual.  Bring to a simmer, while whisking, until your gravy is thickened. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Use a gluten-free flour mix or single alternative flour. Sweet rice flour, sorghum flour and garbanzo flour are great single flour options. Sweet rice flour can be found in the Asian section of the grocery store and makes a very smooth sauce. Garbanzo flour, also known as besan, chana or chickpea flour, can be made by lightly toasting dried garbanzo beans then grinding them in a blender. Use the same ratio of 1 Tbsp "flour" to 1 Tbsp "fat" to thicken 1 cup of liquid.

Fixing Lumpy Gravy

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you wind up with lumps! This is easily fixed by pouring your gravy through a fine sieve.

Need mashed potatoes to pour that delicious gravy over? Learn how to make creamy mashed potatoes without milk or soy! Check out KFA's Safe Eats™ recipe collection of more than 1,500 allergy-friendly recipes to help you plan your menu!

Warmer weather is here and that means outdoor cookouts, barbecues, and events. By preparing ahead of time, you can reduce your stress and avoid allergic reactions. Here are some ways to keep your child safe at gatherings.

1. Bring the Epinephrine

This is the most important part of preparing for an outing. Keep your child’s epinephrine auto-injectors with you at all times. Make sure you know how to give your child epinephrine correctly in case of an allergic reaction. Remember to protect epinephrine devices so they don’t get too hot or too cold. Keep them out of the sun and out of reach of other curious children.

2. Keep Safe Food Safe

Allergen cross-contact can easily happen at cookouts and potlucks. If you bring a dish to share that is safe for your child, set some aside and label it before putting the dish on the serving table. Keep it separate from the main food area. Cross-contact can happen if guests mix up serving spoons, touch other items on their plate, or drip across another dish as they are serving.

Another option is to bring a safe meal just for your child. Make it fun so your child isn’t disappointed if their food is “different.”

3. Skip Foods Without a Label

Make the day about having fun with family and friends instead of the food being served. Sometimes this can be hard when there are yummy-looking foods on the table. Bring extra treats for your child.

If a food doesn’t have a label you can read, don’t feed it to your child. Snacks or other foods out of the package can look like something your child eats safely, but different brands can have different ingredients.

This goes for dishes prepared by other guests too. Even if they can tell you what ingredients or brands they used, they may not remember everything they added while they were preparing it.

4. Keep an Eye on Your Young Child

Little ones often don’t understand which foods are safe and which are not. In the time it takes for you to turn your head and say hello to someone, little ones can pick up a bite of food or be offered food by others. Keep a close eye on your child to make sure accidents don’t happen. Be sure they know which adults to come to when they want something to eat.

If you are at the gathering with a spouse or trusted family members or friends, take turns being "on duty" so everyone gets to socialize. Or train a trusted older child or teen to shadow your child.

5. Bring Wipes to Keep Hands Clean

Most likely, your child will be playing with other children and adults who are eating unsafe foods. Bring disposable hand wipes so it is easy for everyone to keep their hands clean. Remember that hand sanitizers do not remove food proteins. If a bathroom is not available to wash up, hand wipes are your next best option.

6. Let Others Know About Your Child’s Food Allergy

Make sure everyone knows about your child’s food allergy. Ask them not to feed your child at all. Have quick answers ready about why food allergies are a big deal. Let the host know about your child’s food allergy before the event. They may be willing to help you spread the word and help keep your child safe.

The manufacturers of most epinephrine devices offer U.S. savings programs and patient assistance programs.

Epinephrine is the only treatment for a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis [anna-fih-LACK-sis]. It is only available through a prescription by your doctor. Most prescriptions come with two devices in one box.

People with food allergies should have epinephrine with them at all times. For children, this might mean that you need extra epinephrine auto-injectors. For example, your child may need to keep epinephrine at school, as well as some at after-school care. And you may want epinephrine devices that stay at home or go with you when you leave the house.

Here are savings offers for epinephrine auto-injectors and pre-filled syringes, as well as other ideas that may help you save money on drug costs. Your final copay, if any, may vary depending on your insurance plan and the deductibles for your family. Talk with your doctor about which epinephrine device is right for your family.

Savings Programs for Epinephrine Devices

• AUVI-Q^® – AUVI-Q has two assistance programs. If you have commercial insurance that covers AUVI-Q, you may be able to get AUVI-Q for as little as $35 for multiple cartons filled during the same transaction. If your insurance doesn’t cover it or if you have a high-deductible plan, you’ll pay no more than $150. Eligible patients without commercial insurance or Medicaid may be able to get AUVI-Q for no cost through the kaléo patient assistance program. Call 502-213-7601 for questions.
  
  
• EpiPen^® and EpiPen Jr^® – Use The EPIPEN^® Savings Card^® to reduce your out-of-pocket cost up to $300 per EPIPEN TWO-PACK® and/or EPIPEN JR TWO-PACK® carton per prescription refill (up to three cartons per prescription) and can be used for six cartons per calendar year. If you have questions, call 1-800-657-7613 (8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday). VIATRIS™ also has a patient assistance program.
  
  
• Authorized Generic of EpiPen^® and EpiPen Jr^® (Epinephrine Injection, USP) Auto-Injectors – Use the Epinephrine Injection, USP Auto-Injector Savings Card to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses up to $25 per generic two-pack. It can be redeemed for up to three cartons per calendar year. If you have questions, call 1-800-657-7613 (8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday). VIATRIS™ also has a patient assistance program.

• Epinephrine Injection USP Auto-Injector, Generic from Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries – If you have commercial insurance may save up to $30 per carton, up to three per prescription. If you have any questions, call 1-844-248-7949.

• Authorized Generic of Adrenaclick® Epinephrine Auto-Injector – If you have commercial insurance, you may get up to $10 off per pack. If you have any questions, call 330-757-8402.
  
  CVS Health sells these generic epinephrine auto-injectors at all CVS Pharmacy locations.
  
  

Other Possible Ways to Save Money

• Change insurance plans – If you are privately insured through work, see if you can shop around during open enrollment. If your family’s income is below a certain level, you might be offered Medicaid and/or your children might qualify under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This depends on your state. Visit Healthcare.gov or your state’s health insurance site.
  
  
• Switch to the “preferred” device for your plan – If you have prescription benefits, you may save on copays by agreeing to use the epinephrine device that is on the insurance “preferred” list.
  
  
• Use mail order – If you have prescription benefits, look into your plan’s mail order pharmacy options. This may give you a lower price or provide more two-packs of medicine for the same price. Many mail order prescription plans provide patients with a three month’s supply of medicine for the cost of two month’s copay.
  
  
• Talk with your doctor – If you have insurance, talk with your doctor. Sometimes they can write the prescription so you can get more sets of medicine for one copay. Typically, a two-pack of epinephrine auto-injectors is considered a 30-day supply under your prescription plan. A doctor might write the prescription for six auto-injectors (three two-packs) to be filled at once. This could then be filled through the mail order pharmacy, as described above.
  
  
• Shop around – Call around to different pharmacies. Prices can vary, especially between large chain pharmacies and smaller independent pharmacies. Be aware that the pharmacies at club stores such as Costco and Sam’s Club are generally available to non-members too.
  
  
• Check with your local children’s hospital – This option may work if your child sees doctors at a major children’s hospital. Ask if they have any grants or patient assistance programs that can help pay for your child’s prescription.
  
  
• Talk with your employer – If you have medical insurance through an employer, contact their human resources department. Explain that your insurance will not cover a life-saving medicine for you or your child. Sometimes, if you have a generous employer, they will try to help you.
  
  

Updated January 2024

Knowing the foods that cause your child’s food allergy reactions can help you best manage their allergy, reduce stress, and avoid restricting their diet unnecessarily. To help diagnose a food allergy, an allergist may recommend allergy tests.

But allergy tests only tell part of the story. Instead, food allergy tests work with your child’s personal, medical, and symptom history to help your child’s doctor confirm their allergens.

What Do Food Allergy Tests Look For?

There are two categories of food allergies:

• Immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated – a type of allergy that has the potential to cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis
• Non-IgE-mediated – a type of allergy that usually affects the digestive tract (gut), such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES)

Food allergy tests are best for IgE-mediated food allergies. They are rarely recommended for non-IgE-mediated food allergies.

What Are the Most Commonly Used Food Allergy Tests?

There are four types of food allergy tests that are most often used by allergists:

• Skin prick test
• Specific IgE (sIgE) blood test
• Component test
• Oral food challenge

Skin Prick Test

Skin prick testing (SPT) is one of the most commonly used allergy tests. You may have heard it called a “scratch test.” With SPT, the allergist places a drop of an allergen on your child’s skin and the lightly pricks it. This causes the allergen to go into the top layer of the skin.

If your child has IgE antibodies – immune cells that react with an allergen and cause an allergic reaction – to the food, they will develop a red, itchy bump. This bump is called a wheal or a flare.

Just because your child reacts to the allergen doesn’t mean they are allergic to the allergen. But if your child has had symptoms in the past when eating the allergen, SPT can help confirm the allergy.

Specific IgE Blood Test

The specific IgE (sIgE) blood test measures levels of specific IgE in the blood for certain foods. This test was previously known as RAST or ImmunoCAP testing. The allergen will be introduced into a sample of your child’s blood to see if IgE antibodies are found.

Like SPT, a positive result doesn’t mean your child is allergic. It can be used to confirm a diagnosis if other factors suggest an allergy. Also, the results – or “class levels” – don’t relate to whether or not your child is more likely to have anaphylaxis. Your child can have a low class level and still have a severe allergic reaction.

Component Test

A component test is another type of blood test. It’s different from other tests because it looks at IgE levels in the blood to different proteins in a food instead of the whole food. These tests are designed to try and determine if your child’s IgE tests are elevated due to true food allergy or are false positives from cross-reactivity with inhalant allergens.

Oral Food Challenge (OFC)

The best way to know if your child is actually allergic to a food is to have them eat it during an oral food challenge (OFC) in an allergist’s office. It’s the gold standard for confirming whether or not your child has a food allergy.

In an OFC, your child eats small, increasing amounts of their suspected food allergen. The allergist and their staff watch your child for a reaction and are prepared to treat any symptoms, if they arise. It’s the most reliable allergy test for food allergies.

What Should I Do If I Think My Child Has a Food Allergy?

If you think your child has a food allergy, see a board-certified allergist, if possible. They know how to look at your child’s full history along with allergy tests to confirm or rule out a food allergy. Avoiding foods without a proper diagnosis can lead to issues like food anxiety, poor quality of life, and poor nutrition – factors that can have a major impact on your child’s well-being, health, and development.

Medical review: June 2023 by David Stukus, MD

Enjoy Life Foods announced that it is closing one of its manufacturing facilities in Indiana. It will close on or before April 1, 2024, and is expected to be permanent.

This facility produced Enjoy Life’s baked goods line. Reports indicate that once the current inventory is gone, these products will no longer be available. The following products have been removed from Enjoy Life’s website:

• Chewy Bars
• Brownie Bites
• Soft Baked Cookies
• Crunchy Cookies
• Enjoy Protein Bites
• Breakfast Ovals

Enjoy Life will continue to make their Lentil Chip, Baking Chocolate, and Chocolate Bar products. You can use Enjoy Life’s product locator and online grocers like Instacart, Amazon, iHerb, Vitacost, Thrive Market, Walmart, and Target to buy remaining inventory.

Find alternative foods with KFA’s Allergy-Friendly Foods Collection and Safe Eats® Allergy-Friendly Recipe Collections. Make cookies and bars ahead of time and freeze them to enjoy later. Here are some recipes to get you started:

• Mock Nutri-Grain® Bars
• Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
• Chewy Choco Chip Cookies
• Pumpkin Cookies
• Wacky Double Chocolate Cookies

What alternative baked goods have you found? Share in the comments!

Warm weather is a great time for kids to get together with friends and have fun. If your child has food allergies, it’s still possible to have wonderful playdates. Here are some things to remember and some great ideas for fun things to do.

1. Get the Other Parents Involved in Planning the Playdate

Make sure other parents understand your child’s food allergy. Ask for their help in making the playdate inclusive and fun for everyone. But know they may not always understand if they don’t manage food allergies. Even the most well-meaning people may not fully understand food allergies.

2. Avoid Scheduling Playdates During Meal Times

So food will not be a concern, schedule playdates before or after meal times. Many find that 10:30 in the morning or 2:30 in the afternoon are ideal. During the summer, after dinner works well, too. If you schedule it right after meal times, ask that the other children wash their hands before the playdate.

3. Host Playdates in Your Home

Hosting playdates in your own home is usually the easiest to manage from the food allergy perspective. Let the other parents know you’ll provide the snack. Politely stick to a “no outside foods or drinks” rule. Ask them to leave everything other than water in their car.

If another child has food allergies that are different from your child’s, talk with the other parent about food that is safe for everyone.

4. Stay with Your Young Child for Playdates at Other People’s Homes

When your child is young, it may be best if you stay for the playdate. This way, you can be completely responsible for your child. You can be sure your normal food allergy precautions are taken, and you can be there if other issues arise.

Even if you are going to stay, talk with the other parent about your child’s food allergies. Offer to bring snacks for all of the children and ask them to wash their children’s hands before you arrive. If your child is still young enough to put everything in their mouth, bring your own toys and blankets from home.

5. Plan Ahead for Drop-Off Playdates at Other People’s Homes

As children get older, they naturally want more independence. By the age of 10 or so, most playdates can be drop-off events. Your child may be ready for this when they have shown you they can follow an “only eat food from home” rule and self-advocate when necessary.

If you are not going to stay for the playdate, you must be sure the other parent is willing and able to care for your child. Communication is very important. Talk with the other parent. Get to know them, at least a little. You might start the conversation by saying, “As you probably know, my child has food allergies. I wanted to talk with you about how our children can have a playdate together.”

Find out if the other parent is willing to learn how to recognize and treat an allergic reaction. If they say yes, teach them. It is best if you can do this before the planned playdate. This will give them a chance to decide if they are not willing or able to take care of your child so you can make other plans for the kids to get together.

For this training, go through your child’s Anaphylaxis Action Plan. Use your epinephrine device trainer to show them how to use the medicine. Talk about steps to take to avoid allergic reactions. Make sure they understand that during the playdate there must be an adult nearby who is prepared to act in an emergency.

Offer to send safe snacks for all of the children, including siblings. When you arrive, give the other parent the safe snacks, as well as the emergency medicine and a quick reminder about how and when to use it. Remind them that if they go anywhere, such as the local park, they need to take the medicine with them. Give them a phone number where they can reach you immediately if they have any questions or concerns.

6. Plan Fun Food-Free Activities

There are lots of great activities that can be enjoyed without food. You just need to ask the other parents in the group for their help to avoid turning the activity into a “food occasion.”

When choosing a location for playdates, trust your gut. Think about which locations are naturally more allergy-friendly than others. For example, the playground at a public park might be a better option than a local fast food restaurant or pizza parlor. Ask the other parents in your group not to bring or serve food.

Here are some Ideas for fun activities that don’t involve food:

• Ride bikes.
• Go hiking.
• Go swimming.
• Fly kites.
• Play board games.
• Enjoy the play area at your local mall.
• Go on a “park safari” where you spend 45 minutes each at three local parks. Get out different toys (such as balls, sand toys, and Frisbees) at each park.
• Attend a kid-friendly workshop hosted by some of the large home improvement stores.
• Paint pottery at the local pottery-painting place.
• Go indoor wall climbing.
• Go roller skating or ice skating at the local rink.
• Play miniature golf.
• Attend summer programs at your local library. Check out some books while you’re there!
• Visit nature centers, state parks, and historic sites. Take the guided tour.
• Visit a children’s museum.
• Put on bathing suits and run through the sprinklers.
• Attend your city’s free outdoor concerts.

7. Host Random “Parties” At Your House

Add a theme to a playdate and call it a party. It can make it seem more fun. Ideas include:

Water Blaster Battle – Bathing suits, water blasters, and a lot of fun.

Paint with Water – Give each kid a bucket of water and a large paintbrush (the kind you’d use to paint a wall, purchased at the local dollar store), and let them “paint” anything they want outside.

Chalk Art Festival – Cover the driveway or sidewalk with pictures.

Build a City – Use whatever crafts supplies you have on hand to turn empty cereal boxes into a miniature city.

Board Game Day – Everyone brings their favorite board game.

LEGO Build-a-Thon – The kids can work together or separately to make their masterpieces.

Outdoor Game Day – Play outdoor games such as hide-and-seek, capture the flag, and hopscotch.

Welcome to our April research update! Getting involved with research is an important way to impact food allergy treatments, education, and awareness.

This month, we are highlighting research opportunities and news on:

• Early introduction of peanut
• Oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergy
• Clinical trial for children with peanut allergy
• Epinephrine nasal spray
• Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
• Clinical trial for teens and adults with eosinophilic gastritis (EoG) with or without eosinophilic duodenitis (EoD)

Interviews and Focus Groups

Participants Needed for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Focus Groups

AAFA, in partnership with PlatformQ Patient Education (PPE), is looking for people who manage eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) to take part in a focus group. The focus group will give you a chance to share your firsthand experiences and needs while managing EoE. Information learned from this focus group will help AAFA and PPE improve our education.

The time commitment will be about 2 hours. If selected for the focus group, you will be compensated for your time. If you would like to participate in the focus group, please take this quick survey to see if you qualify.

LEARN MORE

Medical Review: April 2024 by John James, MD

Weekday mornings can be hectic – packing lunches and backpacks, finding lost shoes and library books, and making sure everyone has a good breakfast to start the day. Serve up a homemade breakfast even on busy days by making family favorites ahead and freezing.

Muffins

Bake up a batch of your family’s favorite muffins and freeze them. After baking, allow them to cool completely. Then arrange on a baking sheet to freeze. Once frozen, store them in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag.

Defrost one muffin or a few at a time in an airtight container overnight and enjoy for breakfast! Forgot to take them out of the freezer? Microwave on low power for a quick defrost to enjoy warm muffins!

Muffins can be a great way to include whole grains and a serving of fruit. Most muffin recipes are flexible. You can swap out part of the flour for whole wheat flour. If your child has a wheat allergy, look for recipes that use whole grain flours like oat, millet, and sorghum. You can reduce the sugar in many recipes by one-third. Pair with low-fat yogurt or a milk-free alternative or a Yogurt Smoothie.

Search for muffins that are free of your allergens in KFA’s Safe Eats® Allergy-Friendly Recipe Collection. Try one of our favorites:

• Apple Pie Muffins – It tastes like apple pie for breakfast!
• Cheryl’s Pumpkin Muffins – Pumpkin flavor is always a classic fall favorite.
• Fruit Mini Muffins – Mini muffins are perfect for little hands. Banana is a classic, but also try pureed plums or pears.
• Millet Banana Muffins – These wheat-free banana muffins are made with whole grain millet flour and flax egg substitute.
• French Toast Muffins – Brown sugar and cinnamon combine for hot-off-the-griddle flavor.
  
  

Pancakes, French Toast, and Waffles

You can freeze pancakes, French toast, and waffles too! Make extra after a relaxed weekend breakfast or when you make breakfast for dinner. Arrange cooled items in a single layer on baking sheets lined with parchment paper and freeze. Store in an airtight container. Add a square of parchment or waxed paper between pieces to make them easy to separate.

When ready to serve, heat from frozen. It’s best to reheat pancakes and French toast in an oven or toaster oven. Spread them out on a parchment-lined or lightly greased baking sheet and cover tightly with foil to keep them from drying out. Bake them in a 350 F oven. You can toast waffles on a medium setting similar to commercial frozen waffles. Top with jam or your child’s favorite chocolate spread, or dip in syrup.

• Pancakes, Egg- and Milk-Free – This is KFA’s most popular pancake recipe! Add blueberries or other add-ins for a sweet surprise.
• Oat Pancakes – Fill up on these hearty pancakes made with oat flour and a hint of cinnamon.
• Pumpkin Pancakes – Try our wheat-free buckwheat pancakes made with pumpkin and spices.
• Family Favorite Waffles and Pancakes – This recipe makes a super simple batter that can be used for either waffles or pancakes.
• Oat Waffles – Make fluffy wheat-free Belgian waffles.
• Millet or Rice Waffles – Here’s another simple-to-make wheat-free waffle recipe.
• Family French Toast – Up the nutrition content by adding in some veggies with this French toast made with pureed sweet potato.
• Gluten-Free Raisin Bread – Bake up this yummy bread for toasting or make it into French toast. Slice and freeze with parchment or waxed paper between the slices for easy separation. Before you begin, learn some tips for baking gluten-free bread.
  
  

Oatmeal

Warm and creamy, hot oatmeal is great for breakfast. But sometimes, you just need a version to grab and go!

• Overnight Oats – Made in individual serving-sized jars, these can be customized to give everyone their favorite flavor. Use plastic containers for kids to eat in the car or toss in a lunchbox for morning snack.
• Oatmeal and Brown Sugar Fruit Bars – All-purpose baking mix and oats are transformed into fruit-filled bars. Bake in the evening for the next day’s breakfast or freeze individual bars wrapped in waxed paper. Defrost wrapped bars overnight on the counter.
• Oatmeal Breakfast Bars – These easy bars are simply oatmeal and dried fruit that you can customize to what your family likes. Wrap in waxed paper and store in an airtight container.
  
  

Teaching your child about food allergies is an important part of keeping them safe. Children can start to learn about food allergies at a young age. This knowledge will give them confidence with self-managing their food allergies as they get older.

Here are some resources created just for kids to help them learn more about food allergies. The links below include books, videos, games, music, and classroom resources.

1. Ally and Andy’s Activity Book

This coloring and activity book from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) gives children and families a basic understanding of food allergies, as well as asthma. It is a fun way for children to learn about food allergies in a story format. It has coloring pages, word finds, crossword puzzles, word scrambles, mazes, and other activities. It also has a list of allergy and asthma website resources for parents and kids. This book is available as a free PDF download in English, Spanish, and Arabic. If you don’t have a printer, you can take screenshots of the pages and load them into a paint type app on a tablet or computer for your child to work on. This book also has a printed English version (single book or pack of 10) available for purchase.

2. Arthur Family Health: Food Allergies

Arthur, a popular PBS character, and his friends offer several resources to help your child understand food allergies. Their site has information for adults and kids, games, activities, and videos. It also includes a link to an “Arthur” episode on food allergies, “Binky Goes Nuts.”

3. We Bare Bears (Cartoon Network)

Panda, one of the main characters on the “We Bare Bears” cartoon, has a peanut allergy. His allergy is a common part of the story line. The cartoon shows the characters avoiding peanuts and using epinephrine auto-injectors to treat allergic reactions.

Note: This show does show characters having anaphylactic reactions. Even though it handles reactions positively, you might want to watch it first if your child is alarmed by seeing reactions on TV.

4. Kyle Dine, Performer

Kyle Dine uses music to teach kids and families about food allergies. His site offers CDs, DVDs, and awareness items you can buy.

5. The BugaBees

Colorful insects explain food allergies through these children’s books. Eight best friends find ways to have fun and stay safe with food allergies. One book also helps siblings, friends, and classmates learn how to help kids with food allergies prevent reactions.

6. Resources for Teachers

Teal Classroom™: Food Allergy Awareness Kit

Forty-five percent of severe allergic reactions in schools begin in the classroom. A Teal Classroom™ means you have a classroom that encourages being safe and inclusive for people (students and staff) with food allergies. Share this guide with your child's teacher, school nurse and administrators as a resource to raise food allergy awareness in your child’s school. This book is available as a free PDF download.

Potential Food Allergens in Preschool and School Activities

Did you know some craft supplies and school activities can have hidden food allergens? Use our list to know what allergens to watch for. You can also use the list to teach your child to identify possible allergens in items like play dough. Or share your list with your child's teacher as you work together to make their classroom safe.

Make rice or cornstarch play dough free from the most common food allergens.

Watch on YouTube

KidsHealth in the Classroom Teacher’s Guides

This site from Nemours offers resources to teach students about food allergies. They have downloaded PDFs for all grades that include discussion questions, activities, and quizzes.

Allergy-Friendly Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup
by Melanie Carver

Many casserole recipes call for cream of mushroom soup, but the canned versions available at the store are filled with milk, soy and wheat (not to mention fat and salt).  This recipe provides a delicious alternative that avoids those allergens and is also vegan and gluten-free.  I prefer it to be very flavorful and chunky, so I pack it with herbs and use lemon juice to make tangy "buttermilk" for the base.

With this recipe, you can make a variety of Thanksgiving dishes for those with milk and/or soy allergy, are vegetarian/vegan, or have Celiac disease.

Ingredients
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp gluten-free flour (I use garbanzo bean flour)
1 cup diced/sliced cremini or white mushrooms
1/4 cup finely diced white onion
1 1/4 cup original or unsweetened milk alternative (I use So Delicious coconut milk beverage)

1 Tbsp lemon juice (or vinegar)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

pinch dried rosemary

pinch dried oregano

1/4 tsp poultry seasoning or Garlic & Herb Mrs. Dash
3 Tbsp minced fresh parsley (optional)

Substitutions and Notes
Poultry seasoning is just a blend of spices that is pre-mixed for you. You can also make your own using any combination of thyme, parsley, oregano, sage, rosemary, marjoram, celery seed, black pepper.  Alternately, you can use a Mrs. Dash blend, if safe for you.

If you don't want your soup to be really chunky, reduce the amount of mushrooms and onions and use a food processor to chop finely.

Any gluten-free flour should work, I prefer the nuttiness and fullness of garbanzo bean flour for this recipe. You can also use rice flour, sorghum flour, or millet flour.

Instructions
In a large saucepan or bistro pan, heat the oil on medium heat. Add the chopped mushrooms and onion and cook for several minutes.

Pour and measure the milk beverage into a measuring cup and add the lemon juice (or vinegar) to it so that it can begin to sour into "buttermilk".  This process takes about 10 minutes, so you do want to do this step early on.

When the mushrooms and onions have softened and reduced in size, add the gluten-free flour to the pan and whisk.  The flour will "gum" with the oil/liquid.  Allow to cook for a few minutes while you prepare the spices or chop the parsley.

The milk is ready to pour in when there are separated "blobs" in it.  Pour the milk in slowly, and continue to whisk.  Allow it to slowly come to a boil (still on medium heat) and then reduce the heat to medium-low.

Add the spices (dry and fresh) and continue to simmer until the soup has thickened and reduced.

The final product will fit in a standard mason jar (about 400 mL); which is a little more than one store-bought condensed cream of mushroom can.

Serve the soup to eat right away or use it in another recipe that calls for cream of mushroom soup (casserole, vegetable dishes, etc.).

The information shared here is for your convenience only, it is not an endorsement or guarantee of the product's safety. Please read the ingredient labels and contact the manufacturer if needed to confirm the safety of a product for your child.

Melanie Carver is the Vice President of Community Services for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). (Kids With Food Allergies is a division of AAFA.)  She is a long-time vegan and has a special interest in nutrition. She is the mother of two, one of whom still has food allergies.

Information from AAFA’s Ask the Allergist is not a substitute for a consultation with a health care professional. Always talk with your own doctor before making changes to your asthma or allergy management plan.

Q:  My son is allergic to sunflower seeds. Without having tried it, would he be also allergic to sunflower oil? 

A: As you know, people who are allergic to one seed may not be allergic to all seeds. Sesame is the most common seed allergy in the U.S., and most allergists recommend avoiding sesame oil, which is often unrefined. Sunflower is likely the most second most common seed allergy in the U.S. Not much is known about sunflower allergy.

Highly refined sunflower oil would not likely cause an adverse reaction in those with a sunflower allergy. But less refined or unrefined oils that contain the sunflower protein could possibly cause allergic reactions. Cold or expeller pressed oils are typically unrefined. Refined oils use a high heat process which can help remove food proteins from the oil and are unlikely to cause food allergy. I advise my patients to use caution since both oils exist.

Dr. Douglas Johnston is our Ask the Allergist columnist. Dr. Johnston is a board-certified allergist/immunologist with Asthma & Allergy Specialists, P.A., in Charlotte, North Carolina. He obtained his D.O. from New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, New York. Dr. Johnston grew up with both allergies and asthma. He decided it would be exciting to help people with these conditions. His passion about food allergies also comes from having a child with a peanut allergy. 

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared a week in May to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Week at the request of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) is the food allergy division of AAFA.

Since then, we have expanded our annual awareness campaign to a full month. May is a perfect time to educate patients, family, friends, co-workers, and other people about asthma and allergic diseases that impact more than 100 million people in America.

Each year, AAFA continues to spread awareness in May during National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Recently, AAFA sent a letter to President Biden asking him to declare May to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month (see letter below). The letter highlights the importance of promoting awareness, education, and understanding of these diseases.

You can join our efforts to improve asthma and allergy awareness and health care in three ways.

• Use our simple tool below to send a tweet to President Biden and join AAFA in requesting this important declaration.
• Use the White House contact form to email President Biden using this link: whitehouse.gov/contact
• Call the White House at 202-456-6213.

Let’s make the 40^th anniversary of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month count!

President Joseph R. Biden

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

April 4, 2024

Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the leading patient organization advocating for people with asthma and allergies and the oldest asthma and allergy patient group in the world, I am writing to request that you issue a proclamation declaring May as “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.” I believe this declaration will support the leadership you’ve already demonstrated, and AAFA has supported, in addressing health equity, climate change, access to health care, and lowering the cost of inhalers.

I was honored to attend your event on April 3 on lowering health care costs where you recognized that in the United States, asthma presents significant burdens for over 27 million adults and children, as well as their families and caregivers. Annually, asthma costs our society an estimated $82 billion in direct and indirect expenses, including medical costs related to 4.9 million office visits, 1.5 million emergency visits, and 169,330 hospitalizations. It is estimated that from 2019 to 2038, the total cost of uncontrolled asthma could exceed $963 billion in direct and indirect costs. Asthma is also the leading chronic disease among children and a top reason for missed school days.

Racial and ethnic disparities in the burden of asthma have long been established and supported by a large body of evidence. Black people in the U.S. have the highest rates of asthma. Black people are nearly three times more likely to die from asthma than White Americans. Black patients are also nearly 6 times more likely to be treated for asthma in hospital emergency rooms compared to White patients. These disparities are largely driven by interrelated and multidimensional social and structural determinants. Long-term systemic racism and discriminatory policies in housing, education, labor, health care, and the environment have created disadvantages for minority populations and exacerbated racial disparities in health.

Food allergies represent another significant burden on over 20 million people in America. Approximately 1 in 16 children and adults in the U.S have food allergies.^1,2 Food allergies can result in a severe reaction caused anaphylaxis that in rare cases can lead to death. Unfortunately, the prevalence and impact of food allergies in the U.S. are increasing; for example, the rate of emergency room visits for food-related anaphylaxis increased by 124% from 2005 through 2014.³ Children with food allergies are also two to four times more likely to have asthma or other allergic diseases.⁴

Raising awareness and educating people on how to manage asthma and allergies is key to beginning to address these longstanding disparities and the burden of disease. National Asthma and Allergy Awareness week was first recognized in 1984 by President Reagan at AAFA’s request. We ask that you continue to recognize the importance of raising awareness for the millions of Americans and their families living with asthma and allergies and have included a draft proclamation for you use to this letter. Thank you for your consideration and leadership.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Mendez

President and CEO

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Download AAFA’s letter to President Biden asking him to declare May to be National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.

References
1. Ng, A.E. & Boersma, P. (2023). NCHS Data Brief, no 460: Diagnosed allergic conditions in adults: United States, 2021. National Center for Health Statistics. https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:122809
2. Zablotsky, B., Black, L.I., & Akinbami, L.J.(2023). NCHS Data Brief, no 459: Diagnosed allergic conditions in children aged 0-17 years: United States, 2021. National Center for Health Statistics. https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:123250
3. Motosue et al., “Increasing Emergency Department Visits for Anaphylaxis, 2005-2014.” J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017 Jan - Feb;5(1):171-175.
4. Branum, A., & Lukacs, S. (2019). Food Allergy Among U.S. Children: Trends in Prevalence and Hospitalizations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db10.htm

In a rare occurrence, a trillion cicadas from two different broods are expected to begin appearing in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States at the end of April. These are a type of insect that live underground and then emerge from the soil every 17 years to mate. And there’s a lot of them.

Kids may be fascinated with the cicadas – playing with them, watching them, or closely looking at their shells. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has an important message: If your child has a shellfish allergy, make sure they don’t eat cicadas (as tempting as that might be for some). The warning goes for adults too.

If your child has a shellfish allergy teach them not to put cicadas or other insects in their mouth or eat them. Here’s why:

Yep! We have to say it!

Don't eat #cicadas if you're allergic to seafood as these insects share a family relation to shrimp and lobsters. https://t.co/UBg7CwrObN pic.twitter.com/3qn7czNg53

— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) June 2, 2021

David Stukus, MD and member of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s (AAFA) Medical Scientific Council, explains:  

Here’s the deal:
🍤People with shrimp, crab & lobster allergy reaction to a muscle protein called tropomyosin
🦞They do not react to the shell
🪰Cicadas also have tropomyosin

⚠️If you have a shellfish allergy, it’s not advisable to eat cicadas.
Casual exposure poses no risk.👍 https://t.co/9HfJAklWum

— Dr. Dave Stukus (@AllergyKidsDoc) June 2, 2021

Dr. Stukus explains people with a shellfish allergy usually react to a muscle protein called tropomyosin. A lot of insects have the same muscle protein.

“If you have a shellfish allergy, it is probably not a good idea to eat cicadas or other insects without at least first discussing it with your allergist,” says Stukus.

Study is limited on this. But in her research, Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, MD and PhD at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, says studies show cockroach exposure could lead to the development of shellfish allergy in kids.

“The immune system can confuse certain proteins in seafood with similar proteins that are present in the muscles of cockroaches that commonly elicit an allergic response," says Dr. Mahdavinia. She also notes dust mites and cockroaches are two common household allergens that have tropomyosin. There could be a link between inhaling the protein and shellfish allergy.

Dr. Mahdavinia’s research also shows Black children have higher rates of shellfish allergy compared to white children. This could be due to social determinants of health, including structural racism.

Don’t let general seafood warnings related to cicadas confuse you.

When the FDA put out its cicada warning, they directed it toward anyone with seafood allergies. But it really should have been directed at anyone with a shellfish allergy.

“People who have allergies to finned fish like salmon or tuna tend to react to other proteins which don’t necessarily cross react,” explains Dr. Stukus. “If you have a seafood allergy, you don’t always necessarily have to always avoid crustaceans and finned fish.”

But there is good news for kids with a shellfish allergy who still want to check out cicadas up close.

There’s no muscle protein in the cicada’s shell. The only time cicadas pose a risk for people with a shellfish allergy is if you eat them. It’s OK for kids to keep observing the big bugs so long as they don’t consume them.

“Cicadas are not going to bother anybody with shellfish allergy unless they actively go out of their way to capture them and then ingest them,” Dr. Stukus shares. “That’s the risk for reaction. You can have millions of them on your trees and in your yard − you are going to be fine. The shells they leave behind will not cause any risk for people who want to collect the shells.”

Kids With Food Allergies is the food allergy division of AAFA.

Shawnee Milling Company Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk and Egg in “5lb. Food Club All Purpose Flour”

For Immediate Release

March 29, 2024

Contact Information

1-800-654-2600

Company Announcement

Shawnee Milling Company of Shawnee, Oklahoma is recalling 5 lb.Food Club brand All Purpose Flour with Best if Used by date 03/07/2025, because it may contain undeclared milk and egg. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs or milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The recalled Food Club All Purpose Flour was distributed retail stores in Ohio and New York.

The product comes in a 5 lb., blue paper pack marked Best if Used by 03/07/2025 on the top of the front panel of the bag. See Example below.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered by the firm that an equipment breakdown during production could have allowed allergen cross-contact.

Consumers who have purchased 5 lb. Food Club All Purpose Flour Best if Used by 03/07/2025 are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-654-2600 8 AM – 5 PM CST Monday through Friday.

Do you know about the allergic march? This is the name for the natural history of allergic diseases. This refers to how allergic diseases progress in a person over time. It usually starts in infants as dry skin. It can then progress during childhood to eczema (atopic dermatitis), food allergy, nasal allergies, and asthma.

John James, MD, board-certified allergist, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) presented important information you need to know about the allergic march. Kids with Food Allergies is the food allergy division of AAFA.

Watch on YouTube

In the video, we talk about:

• What the allergic march is
• Stages of the allergic march
• The allergic march’s connection to asthma
• If there are ways to prevent the allergic march

Related Resources

The allergic march

Allergies

Allergic rhinitis

Asthma facts

What are asthma triggers?

How to correctly use your asthma devices

Eczema

Looking for candy for the kids, or kids at heart, in your life who have food allergies? Here is the Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) candy guide for food-allergy-friendly sweets! You can use this guide when shopping for candy for holidays, gatherings, treats, parties, or just for fun!

Avoiding Food Allergy Reactions

Remember, read labels every time on any food you give your child. Ingredients can vary for many reasons, especially on different sizes and treats in seasonal packaging.

Also, remember that a holiday, party, or celebration is not the best time to try new foods.

Find Allergy-Friendly Candy

Search KFA’s Allergy-Friendly Foods collection for candies and treats to fit many food allergy needs.

The buttons below take you to different searches for candy free of the allergens listed on the button. The “Free of Top Food Allergens” button searches for candy and gum free of the most common food allergens – milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish. We have also included buttons below for common categories.

You can set up your own custom search. Click “All Candy” then “Show Search Query.” Adjust the search for what you want to avoid and then click “Search” at the bottom of the form.

     

Click the item in the search results to view the product listing in our Allergy-Friendly Foods collection. Each product includes information about allergens and ingredients, flavors, and varieties, as well as facility information from the manufacturers’ websites.

Some companies make holiday-themed candy. You can include seasonal tags in your search to find holiday candy. Here are the tags you can search for:

• Valentine
• Easter
• Halloween
• Thanksgiving
• Hanukkah or Chanukah
• Christmas
  
  

Note: The “Free of Top Food Allergens” and the “Peanut & Tree Nut Free” searches may include items that contain coconut.

KFA has also created a shareable handout for our candy guide. Our handout lists candies free of the top allergens. Download it to take shopping or to share with teachers and your child’s other caregivers.

Download, print, and share this guide

Below, we have listed a few of the products you can find in our Allergy-Friendly Foods collection.

Chocolate

Enjoy Life Chocolate Minis – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

free2b Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

PASCHA Chocolate Bars – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

No Whey! Foods Choco NoNo’s – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

Gummies and Chewy Candy

Sunkist Fruit Gems – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

Surf Sweets Delish Fish – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

YumEarth Organic Giggles – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

Hard Candy and Lollipops

No Whey! Foods Chocolate Lollipops – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

YumEarth Organic Pops – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

Mints and Gum

Glee Gum – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

Red Bird Candy Puffs – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

Seasonal

Amanda’s Own Chocolates – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, shellfish, mustard, sulfites, and lupin

No Whey! Foods Chocolate Lollipops – Free of milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), coconut, sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish

Other Sweet Treats

All Free Brownie Bites - Individually wrapped chewy brownies in a variety of flavors. Can also be frozen to enjoy later.

Better Bites Mo Cupcakes - Soft chocolate cupcakes filled with vanilla cream and dipped in chocolate ganache. Available individually or in 6-packs.

Drizzilicious Mini Rice Cakes - Mini rice cakes drizzled with various flavors for a crunchy, low-calorie snack. Available in 4 oz. or .74 oz. bags.

Partake Cookies - Crunchy or soft-baked cookies in a variety of flavors. Also available in individually wrapped mini snack packs with seasonal packaging.

Other Ways to Buy Allergy-Friendly Candy

In addition to our Allergy-Friendly Foods collection, you can also find many options online at the Natural Candy Store. Their site allows you to filter and shop by allergens too.

Updated March 2024

Epinephrine is a life-saving medicine used to treat a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis [anna-fih-LACK-sis]. People with food allergies need to carry epinephrine with them at all times. If you or your child have food allergies, your doctor will probably write a prescription for an epinephrine device.

Your doctor will prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector that is easy to use. There are several types of epinephrine devices available. Each device has its own unique set of instructions. Understanding those differences is important so you know how to use the device your doctor prescribes.

Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) has a resource to help you learn about available epinephrine devices. Our webpage includes:

• Current epinephrine devices
• Links to the devices’ websites
• Savings program information
• Links to training videos or instructions for each type
• Details such as available strengths, needle exposure after injection, and refill reminders

Use this resource as you talk with your doctor to decide which device is best for you and your child.

Updated January 2024

Yankee Doodle Biscuits

 by Kathy Przywara

I'm a Yankee...I was born and raised north of the Mason Dixon line.  I know about pretzels and scrapple. Biscuits were not a staple at our house.  The rare times that we did have biscuits, they were Bisquick "drop biscuits" or pucks that exploded out of a cardboard tube. So, why is a Northern girl talking about biscuits? Because I figured out how to rock those babies! They may not hold a candle to your Southern grandma's buttermilk biscuits, but I bet she's not making them gluten-, dairy-, and egg-free. These come out flaky and wonderful and are still better than any biscuit I ever had as a kid!

This recipe started out as a tweak to Alton Brown's "healthier" biscuit recipe that used part whole wheat flour. I decided to tackle it gluten free, and I figured I could start with my brown rice flour mix and be able to lighten that up a bit with more starch to emulate the lower protein flour blend.  I chose cornstarch since that adds nicely to the texture and there is not already cornstarch in the flour mix.  If you can't use corn, swap it out for another starch (tapioca, potato, arrowroot).

I stumbled on to a number of tricks as I was perfecting this recipe.....

• Treat it gently - Even though there is no gluten to activate, you still need to handle this as little and as gently as possible. If you go all gangbusters, you will wind up with tough biscuits. Pat it out gently. Use a pastry blender for all the mixing to avoid transferring the heat of your hands to the dough.

• Uniformity is not your friend - When cutting in the fat, you want to leave some pieces larger than others. Don't work it until everything is "coarse meal". This goes along with....

• Flip and fold - This brilliant little trick dawned on me as I was looking at puff pastry methods where you work the fat in by wrapping dough around a block of butter then begin a process to fold and roll thus building up layers of flour and fat. In the heat of the oven, those layers of fat will melt bathing the flour to create lovely flaky layers. Leaving some larger pieces of fat and doing a couple quick folds really makes these biscuits flaky. Don't skip this step!

• Invest in a scale - I've converted over to weighing out my flours since even slight variations can effect the outcome of gluten-free baking. It's really worth the $30 investment for a scale. But I've included volume measurements for the scale impaired.

Yankee Doodle Biscuits

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (154g)  Brown Rice Flour Mix - see below
1/2 cup (64g) cornstarch
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup cold butter* or margarine, cubed
3/4 cup cold So Delicious coconut milk beverage

Substitutions and Notes
*If you use butter, this recipe will not be milk-free. There are milk-free (and soy-free) margarines available that can be used to make this recipe milk-free.

*If you want to make a sweet scone, add 2 Tbsp sugar to the dry ingredients. You can also brush the top with melted butter or margarine and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 °F.

Measure out the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Cut fat (butter or margarine) into small cubes using a sharp knife.

Using a pastry blender, cut in the fat. Don't overdo this; leave some larger pieces.

Pour the coconut milk in and, using the pastry blender, gently mix until you have a soft dough. This may seem a bit wet, but that's OK. Dust your counter liberally with flour mix and dump out the contents of the bowl.

Using your hands, gently gather everything up and pat it together into a rectangle. Don't be afraid to dust with extra flour as needed. This actually helps maintain the layers of dough. Fold 1/3 over the center, then fold over the other side.

Give it a quarter turn and gently pat out into a rectangle again.  Liberally sprinkle with flour to make sure nothing is sticking to the counter or to your hands. Repeat the folding, then pat out to rectangle again.  This time, pat it out evenly to about a thickness of 1/2".

Cut out using a floured cutter. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet about an inch apart.

Gather up the scraps and gently pat it back together. This is a bit tricky as you need to smush it together enough so it doesn't just fall apart, but not so much as you loose your layers. Cut out as many more biscuits as you can.

I generally do one more gather, pat, and cut. Those last scraps, I just gather up and pat into a round. That becomes my "cook's treat". You only get nice flaky layers when you have a clean cut on the edges. So, that last one that is just patted together and doesn't have cut edges will not puff up as nicely. That's OK - that one's mine! The one I get to eat with no guilt!  See that one on the lower left? That has my name all over it!

 Bake biscuits for 12-15 minutes depending on size. Because they are gluten free, they will only get slightly golden. Allow to cool a few minutes before serving. If you won't be serving them immediately, transfer to a cooling rack to keep them from getting soggy on the bottom.  Nobody likes soggy bottoms.

Don't they look fabulous? Check out those flaky layers! Yes, those ARE really gluten free! Enjoy your cook's treat with your tea and jam of choice.

Brown Rice Flour Mix (116 g/cup)

This is one of my go-to flour mixes that I keep on hand. It works well cup-for-cup in cookies and muffins. It already has xanthan gum in it, so usually you can omit any called for in recipes. This makes 4 1/4 cups, but I usually scale it up and make a quadruple batch.

1 cup (120g) brown rice flour

1 1/2 cup (180g) white rice flour

1/4 cup (36g) potato starch

2/3 cup (70g) tapioca starch

3/4 cup ( 81g) sweet rice flour (Mochiko)

1/3 cup (36g) arrowroot starch

2 tsp xanthan gum

Mix together thoroughly and store in an airtight container. Give it a stir before using.

The information shared here is for your convenience only, it is not an endorsement or guarantee of the product's safety. Please read the ingredient labels and contact the manufacturer if needed to confirm the safety of a product for your child.

Kathy Przywara is the mother of two children with food allergies and started as a volunteer for Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) when we opened as a nonprofit. She is now our community manager, volunteer coordinator and manages our recipe collection. Her recipe for Wacky Cake is KFA's most popular recipe.

Baron Spices, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Soy and Wheat in Blues Hog Sweet & Savory Seasoning

For Immediate Release

April 09, 2024

Contact Information

Baron Spices, Inc.
1-800-622-2190

Company Announcement

Baron Spices, Inc. of St. Louis, MO is recalling 708 units of Blues Hog Sweet and Savory Seasoning, because it may contain undeclared Soy and Wheat allergen. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to Soy and Wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Blues Hog Sweet and Savory was distributed to MD, VA, DC, and DE through Giant Food Stores.

Product is in 6.25 oz plastic bottles with the label Blues Hog Sweet and Savory Seasoning with a lot number of 034-363 and 034-364.

No illnesses have been confirmed to date.

A supplier to Baron Spices, Inc sent a replacement ingredient and did not disclose that it included allergens. The replacement ingredient contained soy and wheat whereas the original product did not contain either allergen.

Consumers who have purchased Blues Hog Sweet and Savory Seasoning should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of the product.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-622-2190.

It is important to get rid of expired and unused medicine safely. They can be harmful to someone they aren't prescribed for, especially children. Or someone might misuse them. And getting rid of them improperly can cause them to end up in the water supply, affecting both humans and wildlife. There are several ways you can properly get rid of medicines, like epinephrine auto-injectors, inhalers, and prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.

How Can I Dispose of Prescription Patches and Pills?

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Each April and October, certain law enforcement agencies across the U.S. will allow you to drop off expired and unused prescription pills and patches so they can be safely disposed.

Use the Collection Site Locator to find an agency near you that is participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The agencies will only take pills, tablets, capsules, patches or other solid forms of prescription medicines. They cannot take needles, sharps, inhalers, liquids, or illegal drugs. This includes liquid nebulizer medicine and epinephrine auto-injectors.

Some pharmacy chains have medicines drop boxes in many locations, such as Walgreens and CVS. Check with your local pharmacy location to find out what types of medicines they accept.

How Can I Dispose of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors and Devices?

To dispose of epinephrine auto-injectors or needles, visit safeneedledisposal.org. Search by state to find where you can take these for safe disposal.

How Can I Dispose of Liquid Medicines?

Ask your pharmacy for ways to dispose of liquid medicines, like children's antihistamines and nebulizer medicines. Walgreens also accepts liquid medicines.

How Can I Dispose of Inhalers?

To dispose of inhalers, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you read "handling instructions on the labeling of inhalers and aerosol products. These products could be dangerous if punctured or thrown into a fire or incinerator. To properly dispose of these products and follow local regulations and laws, contact your trash and recycling facility."

Some Walgreens locations accept inhalers, but this varies by location. Contact your local Walgreens to confirm if they accept inhalers.

Other options for disposal may include the local health department, police or fire department, pharmacies, and trash and recycling facilities. Please contact the facility before visiting. Verify if they accept inhalers, as well as any procedures for disposal.

How Can I Dispose of OTC Medicines?

You can take your OTC medicines to Walgreens and CVS.

You can also get rid of OTC medicines safely at home if you follow the right steps. According to knowyourotcs.org, follow these steps:

1. Mix medicines with an unpleasant substance, like kitty litter or used coffee grounds. Do not crush tablets or capsules.
2. Place the mix in a container, such as a sealed plastic bag.
3. Throw the container in your trash.

The FDA has more information on how to safely dispose of medicines.

Updated October 2022

Many people are concerned about the food you can’t see – the food left on restaurant tables, school cafeteria tables and in the home kitchen. It’s a valid concern. Some cleaning methods don’t completely remove food allergens. A person with a food allergy may be at risk of having a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) from cross-contact if they eat their food off that surface.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has done a study called “Allergen Removal and Transfer Using Wiping and Cleaning Methods in Retail Food Establishments.” It looks at the best ways to clean to prevent cross-contact from food.

The study focuses on restaurants and retail food vendors. But this study can be helpful for schools too, especially as they look at new ways to manage food allergies due to COVID-19.

The study tested how well different types of cleaning wipes and towels removed allergens from common surfaces used in food service. They put foods with peanut, milk and egg on these surfaces and try different cleaning methods.

They tested these types of surfaces:

• Stainless steel
• Textured plastic
• Maple wood

The study found:

• Scraping food from surfaces before cleaning helped remove food allergens
• Wet wipes/cloths and alcohol/disinfectant (quat) wipes worked better at removing allergens than dry cloths
• If using alcohol/disinfectant wipes, a surface usually needs to be cleaned with more than one wipe
• Wiping for 5 to 10 seconds removed most of the food allergens, except for peanut butter on textured plastic surfaces
• Full cleaning (the wash-rinse-sanitize-air dry method) was good at removing allergens and reducing the transfer of allergens to other surfaces
• Soaking cloths in a sanitizing solution reduced allergen transfer between surfaces
• It was hard to remove food allergens from textured plastic

The study had some limitations, including:

• It did not measure the amount of allergens remaining on the surfaces
• It used single ingredients instead of food mixtures
• The wiping and cleaning was conducted on freshly applied food and the results may have differed if the food had dried on the surfaces

See the full study for more information.

Fire up the grills and set the table. It’s cookout season!

As you plan small cookouts, barbecues, and other outdoor events, try out these options from our Safe Eats® Allergy-Friendly Recipe Collection.

Appetizers

Buffalo Chicken Dip – Buffalo chicken dip is a popular snack, but traditional recipes contain milk products. Make this version free of egg, milk, fish, gluten, peanut, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat. Add vegetables or safe tortilla chips or crackers on the side for dipping.

Mock Ranch Dressing or Dip – Try this buttermilk-free version of one American’s favorite condiments. Use it as a dip or a salad dressing.

Hip Dip – This guacamole-like dip replaces avocado with edamame for a dip that can be served with raw vegetables, bread, chips, pretzels, or any dipping option you choose.

Main Dishes

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Kabobs – This crowd-pleaser calls for a marinade that tenderizers and flavors the chicken and mushrooms without soy and other major allergens.

Yamburgers – Looking for a vegan or vegetarian main dish? These patties use yams (sweet potatoes), bread of your choice, and other vegetables for a meat-free and allergy-friendly option.

Corndog Bites – Kids will love these corndog muffins. You can choose your own safe hot dogs for these bite-sized treats. Serve them with Garlic-Free Ketchup made without major allergens.

Turkey Burgers – If you can’t have ground beef due to alpha gal allergy (an allergy to red meat caused by a tick bite) or you want a patty free of major allergens, check out this recipe. Dress the burgers with egg-free and soy-free Mock Mayo, if you choose.

Sides

Millet Tabouleh – You can make this side dish a day or two in advance. It’s also versatile, so you can adapt it as needed to accommodate your family’s allergies.

Southwestern Baked Beans – These flavorful baked beans are a great complement to burgers and barbecue.

Fruited Carrot Salad – Carrots, dried fruit, and a dressing free of major allergens come together to make this refreshing side dish. Our allergy-friendly collection of salads are great side options for barbecues or cookouts too.

Desserts

Choco-Banana “Nice” Cream Sandwiches – Who needs ice cream when you have “nice” cream? Try this refreshing recipe that uses bananas, maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla in place of ice cream.

Fresh Fruit Cobbler – Cobbler is always a favorite. This allergy-friendly version of cobbler can be made with fresh or frozen fruit of your choice.

Creamsicle Cupcakes – This versatile dessert can be made various ways according to your child’s allergies. But no matter how you make them, the result is the same: they’re delicious!

Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) have introduced a bill to Congress called the “Epinephrine’s Pharma Inflated Price Ends Now Act,” also called the “EPIPEN Act” (H.R.6965). It is a bill that would cap the out-of-pocket costs for all brands of epinephrine auto-injectors to $60 per two-pack. This bill would apply to people with private insurance. Private insurance includes plans through an employer or individually purchased health insurance.

The EPIPEN Act addresses the high costs of epinephrine auto-injectors millions of people rely on. It would also increase access to the potentially lifesaving medicine.

Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. Some of the most common causes of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction are:

• Foods
• Drugs
• Latex
• Venom from stinging and biting insects

Anaphylaxis can have life-threatening complications. It is critical that people have access to epinephrine. Quick use of epinephrine can stop the allergic reaction.

The rising cost of epinephrine auto-injectors is hard on families managing food and other allergies. The increasing prices of these devices, including generics, have made it harder for many people to have access to auto-injectors.

The EPIPEN Act will make a big difference in the lives of many people and their families. It helps ensure people get the crucial medicine they need.

Will you help the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) gather support for this bill in Congress? You can ask your congressperson to support the EPIPEN Act using the form below. You can also edit the letter to include your own story about getting epinephrine auto-injectors.

Roly Poly Bakery Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Egg Ingredient in Multigrain Bread

For Immediate Release

April 12, 2024

Contact Information

1-860-229-5109

Company Announcement

Roly Poly Bakery of New Britain, CT is recalling its 20 ounce loafs of Roly Poly multigrain bread because the product contains undeclared egg product. People who have allergies to eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The recalled Roly Poly Multigrain Bread was sold at Roly Poly Bakery, at Polmart, CT, New Britain Market Place, CT , Bernat’s Deli, MA and Golemo’s Market, MA.

The product comes in 20-ounce clear plastic bag marked with product information on top and bar-coded part number 5005-8723 on the bottom and was purchased prior to 04/11/2024.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this product.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered during an audit that a production employee used an egg wash instead of water to apply sunflower or oat ingredients on external product’s surface.

Production of the product has been suspended until CT Consumer Protection and the company are certain that the problem has been corrected.

Consumers who have purchased 20 ounce loafs of Roly Poly multigrain bread are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-860-229-5109 between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm.

If you have a child with food allergies, how do you decide when they are ready to carry epinephrine and/or use that epinephrine themselves if they are having a severe allergic reaction?

Epinephrine is the only treatment for severe allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis [anna-fih-LACK-sis]. It gets injected into the outer thigh. It comes in a device that helps you give the injection. Epinephrine must be given quickly when symptoms begin. For this reason, it’s important to always have epinephrine nearby. People (of any age) who are at risk of severe allergic reactions should carry their epinephrine with them wherever they go.

How Do You Know When a Child Is Ready to Carry Their Own Epinephrine?

Every child develops on their own schedule. There is no specific age when a child must start to self-carry or administer. So how do you know when your child is ready to be responsible for carrying their epinephrine devices? The answer to this question depends on your child.

Here are some factors to keep in mind:

• Is your child comfortable carrying epinephrine at all times in a waist belt, backpack, purse, medicine bag, or other carrier?
• Does your child show they are able to remember their medicine bag or backpack and not lose it?
• Does your child show that they know not to play with the epinephrine?
  
  

How Do You Know When a Child Is Ready to Use Their Epinephrine and Inject Themselves?

There are no formal guidelines for when a child is ready to give themselves epinephrine. Many kids are ready to carry their epinephrine sooner than they are ready to self-inject. Many pediatric allergists agree that by age 9 to 11, a child should know:

• The symptoms of a severe allergic reaction
• The need to use epinephrine
• How to show the use of self-injectable epinephrine¹
  
  

By age 12 to 14, most allergists expect children to self-carry and self-administer epinephrine.

When your child is ready to self-inject depends on their maturity level, their needs, and their abilities. Here are some factors that will help assess if your child is ready to self-inject:

• Can your child use a training device to show they know how to use the device correctly?
• Can they recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis?
• Do they express confidence they can self-inject in an emergency?
• Does your child have developmental delay, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, etc. that may impact their decision-making skills?
• Does your child have a history of anaphylaxis?
  
  

Keep in mind that an allergic reaction may be so severe that your child may not be able to self-inject, no matter their age or knowledge. Because of this, federal guidelines for schools call for a trained staff member to give epinephrine in case a school nurse is not available.

If your child has recently had a severe reaction and someone else gave them epinephrine, talk about how they might handle a future emergency when there is no adult around.

Talk with your child and your allergist if you think your child is ready to have more responsibility self-managing their food allergy.

It’s important to think about these issues when your child is younger. This will make it easier to teach them how to manage their food allergy as they grow and it will create a foundation for good food allergy management as they become teenagers and young adults.

Medical Review: May 2022 by Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc

References
1. Children Assume Responsibility for Anaphylaxis Treatment | AAAAI. (2020, September 28). Aaaai.org. https://www.aaaai.org/Tools-fo...children-epinephrine

Imagine feeling pain when you swallow as you eat. Or imagine food getting stuck in your esophagus and you don’t know what to do. Picture, despite your best efforts, watching your child lose weight or refuse food. Imagine years of doctor visits and tests without answers. This is a common experience for people with eosinophilic esophagitis [EE-oh-sin-oh-FILL-ick uh-sof-uh-JIE-tis], also called “EoE.”

EoE is a chronic (long-term) allergic or immune condition that causes swelling in your esophagus. It can have a major physical, social, mental, and financial impact on people who have it and their families. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and its food allergy division, Kids with Food Allergies (KFA), and the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) studied the impacts of living with EoE in a report titled, Life with EoE: The Patient Experience and Opportunities to Improve Care in the U.S.

As part of our research, we interviewed people with EoE and caregivers of children with EoE to understand the patient experience. Below, you’ll hear from Eva, Lisa, Lauren, Charlotte, and Rebecca* about how their experiences lined up with some of the key findings of our report.

The Diagnosis of EoE Can Take a Long Time

For many, receiving an EoE diagnosis can take years. Their symptoms can often be misunderstood or confused with other conditions. It can also be hard to find a specialist or get the needed testing to confirm a diagnosis. This delay can prevent them from getting the care, treatment, and symptom relief they need.

Rebecca was diagnosed with EoE 10 years after her symptoms began. She and her family didn’t realize her issues needed treatment.

“At the time, I didn’t even think about going to a doctor for it,” she said. “When I went to my parents about it, they were just like, ‘You need to eat smaller food and actually chew your food.’ I told them, ‘I am, but I’m still having problems swallowing things.’ But then I went off to college and it got worse. So, I basically lived off of mashed potatoes, really overcooked mac and cheese, and smoothies.”

Thankfully, Rebecca’s EoE is now well-managed after starting a biologic treatment.

Charlotte, an adult who had trouble swallowing for more than 20 years before her diagnosis, had her symptoms mistaken for a heart attack.

“I could breathe, I just couldn’t swallow,” said Charlotte. “They called the hospital and they sent an ambulance, and they were insistent that I was having a heart attack. I told them, ‘I don’t think so. I think it’s just a swallowing problem.’ But they said, ‘No, I think we really need to put you into the van and cart you off.’”

Why Is EoE Hard to Diagnose?

EoE can be tricky to diagnose for many reasons:

• Symptoms can vary from person to person and between age groups.
• People with EoE may have learned to manage their symptoms. They may cut food into smaller pieces, drink liquids when eating dry foods, put off meals, and avoid pills.

Eosinophils can be found in the esophagus for other diseases, such as:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Other forms of esophagitis that damage the lining of the esophagus
• Infection
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Limited EoE Treatment Options

EoE is typically treated through a combination of diet changes and medicines. There aren’t many treatment options approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for EoE. For most people, solutions come through a lot of trial and error, which can be stressful. Treatments may not work as well as they would like them to or only work for a short time. Some treatments can also be unpleasant to take.

Lisa’s 13-year-old son who has EoE faced challenges finding a treatment that worked.

“We tried an elimination diet first, but [my son] still didn’t get better,” said Lisa. “His eczema became a big comorbidity for him. They put him on budesonide and he had an allergic reaction. We stopped using budesonide, but the EoE and the eczema continued. He is now on biologics which has helped immensely for him.”

Rebecca’s 12-year-old son also has EoE. While they manage his EoE with an elimination diet and budesonide slurry, it’s not always easy.

“It’s been really rough for [my son] when he was on the budesonide slurry,” Rebecca shared. “The couple of times he’s had to do it, he gets really angry.”

What Treatments Are Available for EoE?

• Elimination diet
• Elemental diet (liquid, formula-based diet)
• Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
• Topical corticosteroids
• Biologic therapy
• Esophageal dilation

Read more about each treatment in our Life with EoE report.

EoE’s Impact on Social and Emotional Well-Being

EoE’s impact is more than just physical. It can have major social, mental, emotional, and financial impacts. When asked about the impact living with EoE can have on a family, Eva, caregiver of a son with EoE, had this to say:

“I think it can take a toll on the family of the patient. I think it can take a toll on mental health. And I think there’s a period of coming to terms with it and then grieving what it means, and then learning to live with it – the whole process of acceptance and all of that.”

Lisa spoke of its impact on regular activities many people take for granted. Traveling, eating out, attending events that include food, and more can be tricky with EoE.

“It adds a layer of complexity and stress to your life that some people never ever have,” she said. “I will be honest and say there are times I'm like, ‘I wonder what it's like to be so lucky to just be able to go grab dinner.’ That's not in our lexicon.”

Many people said they felt grief when they received their diagnosis due to changes they had to make to their diet, eating habits, and social life.

“It’s okay to mourn,” Lisa said. “You’re going to go through the mourning process because it’s going to be different. I just don’t think people are prepared for the emotional impact of this, especially at the beginning, which is quite massive.”

The Need for More Resources and Support

Our report found that people with EoE, caregivers, and health care providers feel there is a need for more EoE support and resources. Many people said it’s hard to find doctors who know how to diagnose and treat EoE. There is also a need for resources and educational material that address the wide range of experiences with EoE.

“I’ve run into so many [doctors] who don’t know what it even is or how to begin to treat it,” Rebecca said. “So, they go and they look up how people have been treated in the past, and it may not be the newest information … just having access to the educational material and being up to date on what the best practices are.”

Charlotte suggested that discharge papers have “resources and suggestions for food substitutions that were culturally sensitive and account for those who already have multiple diet restrictions because of health.”

How to Get Help Managing EoE

EoE can be a complex condition to manage. AAFA and KFA have created a guide called Your Guide to Managing Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) to help you understand the basics of EoE and how to manage it. The guide is available in both English and Spanish.

Download, print, and share

Descargue, imprima y comparta

The Life with EoE report and Your Guide to Managing Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) were developed independently by AAFA and made possible by support from Sanofi and Regeneron.

*Names have been changed for privacy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published findings about the milk content of dark chocolate bars and chips made in the United States that were labeled “dairy free” or had similar free-from-milk claims. The study found that four of the 52 products tested had enough milk to possibly cause an allergic reaction.

Many chocolate products are recalled in the United States because of undeclared allergens. The most common undeclared allergens found in chocolate are milk and peanut.

Read the Label

Read every label every time. It's a great time to review how to read food labels to prevent allergic reactions. The FDA doesn’t regulate “made in a facility with” or “may contain” statements. If you still have questions after reading the label, you may wish to contact the manufacturer and ask about how the product is made. You can ask whether the product is made on equipment dedicated to making dairy-free dark chocolate, whether the ingredients used are free of milk, and whether the manufacturer(s) test their products with dairy-free claims for the presence of milk.

The FDA does not define the terms “dairy free” or “milk free.” These claims are voluntary statements that should indicate that there is no milk or milk component in a product. If a product has a dairy-free or similar claim, the FDA would expect there to be no milk allergen in the product given that consumers with milk allergy depend on the accuracy of dairy-free claims. Note that the term "non-dairy" is a defined terms and allows a product to contain caseinate, a milk protein.

Milk-Free Chocolate Treats

If you have a milk allergy, there are still ways to enjoy chocolate!

Shop for Chocolate Using Allergy-Friendly Guides

KFA publishes allergy-friendly candy guides each year for Easter and Halloween. The lists include many candies you can buy year-round.

You can also search KFA’s Allergy-Friendly Foods collection. You can find a variety of chocolate candies, bars and chips from allergy-friendly food vendors. The list allows you to search by category, allergens and more.

Mold Your Own Chocolate Candies

Let your creativity shine by creating fun, safe chocolates at home using candy molds using milk-free chocolate chips or bars. Here are some recipes and guides to walk you through the process:

• Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Easter Eggs Candy – Create basic molded chocolates in any shape with this chocolate candy guide.
• Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Easter Bunnies – Use this guide any time of the year to create hollow chocolates with two-part molds. It also explains techniques like tempering.
• Crunch Chocolates – Use crispy cereal to create crunchy shaped chocolate treats.

Safe Eats® Allergy-Friendly Recipe Collection

If you’re looking for fun recipes beyond basic chocolate candy, check out the recipes in KFA’s Safe Eats® Allergy-Friendly Recipe Collection. It includes more than 1,500 recipes from our community members, including several allergy-friendly chocolate recipes. Search by category and allergens to find recipes to make at home.

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles
• Chocolate Dainties
• Chocolate Sunbutter Bark
• Easy Chocolate Cherries
• Mock Peanut Butter Cup Bars
• Peanut-Free, Milk-Free Chocolate Buckeye Candy
• Vegan Toffee with Candied Hemp Hearts
• Xavier's Chocolate Mint Bark
  
  

Abdallah Candies Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Almond in Abdallahs 8 oz. Sea Salt Almond Alligators

For Immediate Release

April 02, 2024

Contact Information

Abdallah Candies
952-890-4770 or 800-348-7328

Company Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 2, 2024 – Abdallah Candies of Apple Valley, MN is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Abdallah Candies 8 oz. sea salt almond alligators. The products have a chocolate covered cherries label with code 0315 on the bottom of the box. The boxes do contain sea salt almond alligators but have an incorrect ingredient label.

Sea salt almond alligators contain almonds as an ingredient, which was not declared on the ingredient label. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The product was distributed nationwide and sold in specialty retail stores, grocery stores, and other retail outlets. The recalled products were distributed from 03/01/2024 to 03/29/2024. Retail products are packaged in candy boxes with a label on the bottom of the box containing nutrition and ingredient information. The code 0315 is found in a box at the bottom center of the ingredient label. The company has not been notified of any illness associated with this product.

Consumers who purchased the product/code cited above are advised not to eat any product and should destroy or return the product to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions should call Abdallah Candies with their concerns. Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30 pm central time at 952-890-4770 or 800-348-7328.

No other products from this company are affected.