Allergic Living

I'm so proud of my daughter and her good friend (both 8)! Thay had a plan to pool their Halloween loot, count and categorize each piece and then divide it evently amoungst them. Each would get what they liked the most, they'd equaly share what they both liked and the rest was to be left for the Great Pumpkin.

Nice - she's such a great girl, Susan. Gwen

Glad to hear you're not allergic anymore! :)
I'm happy to report that in Canada we are also using the RAST as well as doing skin prick tests with actual allergens in some circumstances.
All tests can have false results either positive or negative and the gold standard is still an oral challenge (under medical supervision). Have you had this?
... Read MoreRe the peanut oil-is that hgihly refined oil or cold processed? I understood that cold pressed oil still contains the protein. I didn't think the fryer was hot enough to denature the protein.

My blood tests we're all negative and so we're the prick tests. But just to be sure im doing the oral test in November witch is even better but at this point i think im not allergic , it's just to clear my head !! as for the fryer it's all good never had a reaction ! thanks for your reponse ..

Thanks Victoria. FYI, we're getting so many Forum comments that the AL.com Forum's rebuttal now has its own thread: http://tinyurl.com/ylqo529

We have hundreds of signatures now - thanks to everyone who signed, and keep them coming. We're finishing the list this evening. Gwen

Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide had the character Cookie eat a cookie which contained his allergen (nuts) because he didn't want to refuse the grandmother of the girl he liked! :P

the new movie, Monsters vs. Aliens has an anaphylaxis from peanut brittle.

Just want to remind everyone that Allergic Living already debunked this trend in of our Spring 2009 issue. http://www.allergicliving.com/features.asp?copy_id=258

Stay tuned for a group letter being developed by Pam Lee - anaphylaxis advocate and AL associate editor.

Pam, Associate Editor, Allergic Living and B.C. anaphylaxis advocate has prepared this letter for those who want to join us in a expressing our disappointment in Chatelaine for choosing to printing Patricia Pearson's opinion article It's Just Nuts.

You can either send it to Chatelaine yourself or add your name to our list http://www.allergicliving.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4957&start=45

Letter To Chatelaine Magazine:... Read More

As parents and supporters of children diagnosed with serious food allergies, it was with shock and dismay that we read the article "It's Just Nuts" in the December issue. Writer Patricia Pearson presented a slanted, narrow view of a health issue that touches our hearts and lives every single day.

In her selective reporting, Ms. Pearson has taken her personal criticisms too far. We are responding in this letter [for publication] to protect our children, and so that the general public can know the truth.

As parents, we are not hysterical or neurotic; we are not over-reacting. Contrary to Chatelaine's article, the issue in schools is not peanuts, it's anaphylaxis. That severe form of allergic reaction can develop with alarming speed following the ingestion of even trace amounts of an allergy trigger. The safeguards put in place to protect our kids in schools are based on directives from medical professionals, government ministries, allergy education associations and even parents whose children don't have allergies. Principals, school nurses and parents work on an individual basis to ensure that students at risk, based on a history of severe reaction and medical testing, are accommodated appropriately. What's fair to ask of the local community is always considered.

Our fear is that Ms. Pearson's article plants seeds of doubt in the minds of those on whom we depend to help keep our kids safe. Slightly fewer than 2 per cent of kids have serious peanut allergies. Statistically that's a huge increase from a generation ago; one of the highest incidence rates in the world. When you add the children who have other life-threatening food allergies, the rate rises to 6 per cent. That's thousands and thousands of children at risk of a condition that can cause a traumatic and even fatal reaction.

Ms. Pearson seems to imply that 2 to 6 per cent of Canadian kids are not worth bothering about, not worth the trouble to keep safe. We strongly disagree. We are all of equal value in our great country.

Sincerely,

Sara's done such amazing work for the allergic community. Gwen