allergy and kashrus alert--tofutti cuties

May 12, 2009Milk Allergy AlertTofutti Brands Inc. Announces Precautionary Recall of 12 Pallets of Vanilla Cuties Due to Possible Trace Level Milk ContaminationContact:Steven Kass908-272-2400FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- May 12, 2009 -- Tofutti Brands Inc. has completed a precautionary investigative recall of 12 pallets of its 8-Pack VANILLA CUTIES mini sandwich frozen dessert novelties (UPC 0-20188-01301-2) due to possible trace level milk contamination reported for a limited number of lots shipped which were produced in July of 2008. VANILLA CUTIES are labeled as Milk Free and persons who have an allergy or severe sensitivity or intolerance to Dairy products run the risk of serious or life-threatening injury if they consume products with milk ingredients. Tofutti Brands uses stringent quality controls to prevent milk contamination of its products and sells more than 60 million individual VANILLA CUTIES each year.From early March to early April 2009 Tofutti Brands received telephone reports from 6 consumers who experienced skin rash symptoms after eating VANILLA CUTIES produced at a minor production facility during 3 days in July of 2008. No illness or serious injury has been reported and no further reports have been received. The suspect product in question was identified as having been produced at only this one minor facility and the 12 pallets shipped from the suspect lots have been recalled. The bulk of these 12 pallets were recalled from the New York City metro area as well as from some distributed to the Midwest, New England, the Mid Atlantic Region and California. No complaints from consumers were received from the Midwest or New England Regions. Investigation and reports from Distributors and store visits indicate that none of the suspect product remains in distribution and it is not currently being offered for sale.The suspect product in the above 12 pallets is identified by the labeled Manufacturing facility code 360-300 which will appear on one of the two end flaps of the box of the VANILLA CUTIES. Consumers who may have purchased VANILLA CUTIES bearing this code are urged to return them to the place of purchase for full refund. This recall does not involve any of the Company’s vanilla or other flavored TOFUTTI CUTIES manufactured at its other facility. Consumers with questions may contact the Company at 908-272-2400, Monday-Friday, from 9:00AM-5:00PM EST.

ETA: URL http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/tofutti05_09.html

Kashrus and Allergy alert

Just received from the always up-to-the-minute FAAN:

MILK ALLERGY ALERT

February 17, 2009

Osem USA, Inc., is recalling "Osem Creamy Pasta Chicken Flavor, Meals-on-the-Go" due to undeclared milk.

The product was distributed to all-kosher stores and kosher sections of supermarkets nationwide.

The product is in a 1.94-oz. package.  All production codes are affected.

Consumers with questions may call (800) 200-6736.

Back from the allergist

Sachy had his big allergy appointment today.  The office was great logistically and professionally--easy for us to get to, ample free parking, they have great hours, they saw us right on time, the doctor was terrific and has a particular interest and full knowledge of EG, and discussed everything he thought with us with complete explanations.

He suspects that while this was true hives (as opposed to chicken pox / coxsackie / measles / mumps / impetigo / whatever other rashes you can imagine)(we brought photos, which helped), that the hives were actually caused by a virus and not by a food allergy.  However, amid much hysteria (I exaggerate not here--Sachy had a full vagal response, turning red, sweating, vomiting, the works) he had a blood draw done to test for a few foods Sachy had recently eaten before he got the hives.  He did also feel that his breathing was mildly asthmatic but that he just needed to have albuterol handy, and he thinks Sachy should follow up in the Spring regarding seasonal allergies.  We'll check back in once we get the test results!

Cool yet itchy

This is what Sachy looked like when he woke up.  Basically we need to keep giving him Benadryl every 6 hours around the clock.  The pediatrician says it may take up to 5 days to get whatever the problem is out of his bloodstream, so he has an appointment with the allergist next Friday (giving him enough time to get rid of the allergen and then get the Benadryl out of his system so testing can be accurate).

Could be an interesting (itchy) morning

What you see here is Sachy's leg.  The white lines are from his scratching.  The big red blobby blotches are hives, with which he is covered from cheeks to toes.

Of course, this is the morning when I am supposed to be doing a program with his class.  The good news is that means we can send him in to school knowing I'll be there on site for most of the morning to check on him; the bad news is that if he progresses to more manifestations of random allergy nonsense, there goes the whole program!

He says he woke up at 4 am with the hives, itching all over.  How could he come in contact with something at 4 am in bed?

Can I start a petition demanding the recall or impeachment of all eosinophils and IgE?

Allergy resource

The USDA has published an allergy resource, essentially an annotated bibliography on food allergy information. The introduction states:

This publication is a collection of resources on the topic of Food Allergies and Intolerances for consumers. Resources include books, pamphlets and audiovisuals and Web resources. Many of the pamphlets are available in single copies and some may also be purchased in bulk from the organization listed (Web addresses are provided for materials available online). The books and audiovisuals can be either borrowed from your local library or purchased from your local book store. Materials may also be available to borrow from the National Agricultural Library (NAL) collection. Lending and copy service information is provided at the end of this document. If you are not eligible for direct borrowing privileges, check with your local library on how to borrow through interlibrary loan. Materials cannot be purchased from NAL. Contact information is provided for the producing organization if you wish to purchase or order any materials on this list. This contact information can be found in section C.

The whole text in clear format is available online at http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/pubs/bibs/gen/allergy.pdf
There are sections for types of publication, as well as a breakdown by allergen. There is also a section on resources meant for use by children.
p.s. See section B-7 for sulfite intolerance

Hives--we has 'em. Weird kids too

Feivel has developed some kind of allergy to one of his soaps--every time he bathes in the last week, his whole abdomen is covered in hives! I took a photo of his cute tummy to show you, but then he panicked, becoming convinced that I was planning on sending the picture to a doctor who was going to put him in the hospital. I told him I'd get him some Cetaphil and some Ivory, gave him some Benadryl, and got him calmed down.

Meanwhile, last night while Jeffrey changed Gilad's diaper, Gilad lay on the sofa whacking his own head with his own hand, and yelling at himself, "Stop punching myself! Stop punching myself!" He thought it was just too funny. We don't live in a sit-com, we live in a cartoon.

AllergyMoms 101 non-edible treats

(photo is Sachy at his last birthday party with yet another cake he helped bake and decorate--but couldn't eat; this post needless to say is dedicated to him)

AllergyMoms has a wonderful list of 101 non-food treats to give children as opposed to sweets or food prizes and treats. Especially perfect this time of year as we're all celebrating one thing after another and are tempted to do it with sweets which one child might not be able to have. Unfortunately a few things are food related (marshmallow shooters--what were they thinking?) but for the most part it's great.