The Danger of Food Allergies Affecting Children

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the prevalence of food allergies has increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011. Every three minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room, which amounts to about 200,000 visits per year.

Some of the most common food allergies in children are caused by a few culprits, namely peanuts and cows, followed by milk, eggs, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish, and wheat. The most severe food reactions are caused by peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish, allergies that tend to last a lifetime yet kids frequently outgrow allergies to wheat, eggs, soy, and cow’s milk. Which allergy is the scariest for parents?

Parents state that peanut allergies have the biggest fear factor, yet gluten intolerance is the hardest to manage daily. In any case, it’s important to recognize how heavily food allergies weigh on both parents and teachers. Trust and teamwork is key and when children are older, they become the most important member of that team. If you have a child or if you know someone who is affected by food allergies, here are some tips that may help:

1. Read labels! Although it’s important for everyone to read food labels, it’s particularly important to become a supermarket sleuth to search for offensive ingredients.  Since 2004, the FDA has mandated that food allergens need to be clearly listed on food packages and in addition, it is required that a company must note if a product was created on equipment that could have been shared by a potential allergen.

2. Be aware of the buzz words associated with various allergies. For example, eggs can be labeled as albumin, globulin, lecithin, livetin, lysozyme, vitellin, or any word with the prefix “ova” or “ovo.” Knowing the synonyms of foods that need to be avoided will make detecting them much easier.

3. Notify other parents if your child is going on a play date at their home; be clear about allergy restrictions and the risks associated with cross contamination. Don’t assume they fully understand the impact of this issue.

4. If you’re unsure about a meal or a snack, take a pass. If a food doesn’t wear a label or a product is made in a mom and pop shop, where the ingredients are unclear, do not put your child’s life or their friend’s life at risk! Prevention is key.

5. Write, email, or call food manufacturers to be sure that you are getting products that are safe for you and your family. Sometimes even reliable staples can be made or processed with new ingredients that may not be tolerable, or in fact, could be dangerous.

Educate yourself as much as possible if you, your child, or your child’s friend has a food allergy… you can never be too prepared! (Adapted by Jessy Pearl)

Source: www.everydayhealth.com