Milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy and shellfish.
Those are the top eight food allergens (literally accounting for 90% of all food allergy reaction in the US) and when they hit the system of somebody with food allergies it leads to their system going bonkers. Okay, not a very scientific explanation …. more specifically it can lead to Anaphylaxis.
Guest: Eleanor Garrow-Majka; FAAN (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network)
Listen to our interview with FAAN ~ HERE (or visit the link on the bottom of this post to listen and download the interview)
Anaphylaxis – def.: A serious allergic reaction this is rapid in onset and may cause death. The most common causes of of anaphylaxis are food, medication, insect stings and latex.
Signs of an anaphylactic reaction include:
- Tingling, itchiness or a metalic taste in the mouth
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling, itching of the mouth and throat
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Cramps and stomach pain
- Paleness (due to a drop in blood pressure)
- Loss of consciousness
Some nasty stuff. For the approximately 12 million Americans with food allergies (4% of the population or 1 in 25 people) it can not only be nasty but quite deadly. When you combine that with the fact that the incidence of food allergies is highest in young children – many under the age of three – you realize just how important awareness of these allergies is.
As our guest, Eleanor Garrow-Majka, described her first awareness that her child had a food allergy occured when her son had a dangerous (and severe) allergic reaction that landed them in the emergency room. Ms. Majka went on to explain to us in detail the differences between for allergies and intolerances, the most common food allergy problems, challenges for folks with the allergies and helpful tips on successfully living with these allergies.
The interesting thing is that while there seems to be agreement that food allergies are on the rise, as of yet, nobody has been able to determine why?
If you, a friend or family member have food allergies, of think you might, after you listen to Ms. Majka’s informative interview please check out the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network website (FAAN). It’s a fantastic website with a wealth of information, tips, guides for teachers/friends/schools and even some really great allergen safe recipes.
Some Great Helpful Brochures From FAAN (most are PDF files)
- Food Allergy Facts and Statistics
- How to Read a Label
- Do You Have a Food Allergy?
- My Child Has Food Allergies: What Should I Know?
- Components of an Effective Allergen Control Plan
Allergy Detail Pages
Help …..
- For School Professionals
- For Health Professionals
- For Food Industry and Service Professionals
- Back-to-School Tool Kit
- College and Universities
- Field Trip Tips
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