For the Newly Diagnosed
Living With Food Allergy
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At a round table discussion “one of my final questions to the group was: ‘What do you think was the single most helpful factor in your adjustment to life with food allergies?’—I was expecting answers ranging from ‘a positive outlook’ to ‘faith in God’ to a spouse or other family member who had really pitched in. But every mom answered ‘the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network’!”
~ Marianne, FAAN member
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If you are reading this, chances are that you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with a food allergy. As you may know, to successfully manage your food allergy, your diet and lifestyle must change. While these changes may seem challenging and overwhelming at first, over time things will get easier.
This section of FAAN’s website highlights daily activities that may be affected by food allergy. It will help you learn what to consider in order to avoid an allergic reaction.
It may be of help to know that you are not alone: An estimated 12 million Americans have food allergies. If you have any questions after reading this section, please call us at (800) 929-4040 or e-mail us. We’re here to help you.
There is no cure for food allergy. Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent a reaction, which can be caused by even small amounts of a food allergen.
Planning in advance how to handle certain situations, reading labels vigilantly, and following avoidance strategies are the keys to maintaining control over a food allergy. Here are some important things to think about and plan for to avoid a reaction:
Grocery Shopping. When a food allergy is involved, grocery shopping takes extra time, because each ingredient statement must be carefully read. Manufacturers change the ingredients of their products frequently, and such changes are not always evident by looking at the front of a package. Read the ingredient label every time you purchase a food, even a “familiar” food.
The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2006, requires manufacturers to use simple language (e.g., “egg” and “milk”) for common food allergens and to list them if they are present in food products.
Read the labels on cosmetics and bath products (such as soaps and lotions), too, since these items may contain common allergens such as milk, egg, wheat, and tree nuts.
Cooking. Care must be taken in the kitchen to avoid contact between allergenic and allergy safe foods. For instance, while cooking, sauce from an allergenic food could splatter onto an allergy free food. Or there might be “cross-contact,” which is what happens when one food comes into contact with another, causing their proteins to mix. As a result of cross-contact, each food contains small amounts of the other food that may be invisible to us. For example, if a knife that has been used to spread peanut butter is only wiped clean before being used to spread jelly, there could be enough peanut protein remaining on the knife to cause a reaction in a peanut-allergic person. That’s why all equipment and utensils should be cleaned with hot, soapy water before being used to prepare allergen-free food.
Dining away from home. Hidden ingredients and cross-contact are common causes of food-allergic reactions in restaurants, according to a study. If you choose to dine away from home, be vigilant about verifying ingredients and preparation methods. Speak to the restaurant manager about menu items. To inform kitchen staff of your food allergy, use a “chef card” (.pdf ~156 kb) that lists the ingredients you must avoid.
Schools, child care, and camps. If your child has a food allergy, it is important to work with school and camp staff and child care providers to plan how the food allergy will be managed and how an allergic reaction will be recognized and treated.
Carrying medicine. Allergic reactions are never planned. If your doctor has prescribed medication such as epinephrine (EpiPen® or Twinject®), carry it with you at all times. Ask your doctor for a written plan that outlines when and how to use this medicine. Download a Food Allergy Action Plan form (.pdf ~200kb) and ask your doctor to fill it out.
Convincing others that food allergy is real is often the most challenging part of living with the condition. If you or your child has a food allergy, direct family and friends to this section of FAAN’s website so that they can better understand the precautions you must take.
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