Posts filed under 'Baby And Food Allergies'

Wheat – One of the Nine Most Common Food Allergens

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions are severe adverse reactions that occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to a particular allergen. These reactions may be caused by food, insect stings, latex, medications and other substances. In Canada, the nine priority food allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, milk, eggs, seafood (fish, crustaceans and shellfish), soy, wheat and sulphites (a food additive).

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

When someone comes in contact with an allergen, the symptoms of a reaction may develop quickly and rapidly progress from mild to severe. The most severe form of an allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death. A person experiencing an allergic reaction may have any of the following symptoms:

  • Flushed face, hives or a rash, red and itchy skin
  • Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue
  • Trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
  • Anxiety, distress, faintness, paleness, sense of doom, weakness
  • Cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
  • A drop in blood pressure, rapid heart beat, loss of consciousness

How are food allergies and severe food allergic reactions treated?

Currently there is no cure for food allergies. The only option is complete avoidance of the specific allergen. Appropriate emergency treatment for anaphylaxis (a severe food allergy reaction) includes an injection of adrenaline, which is available in an auto-injector device. Adrenaline must be administered as soon as symptoms of a severe allergic reaction appear. The injection must be followed by further treatment and observation in a hospital emergency room. If your allergist has diagnosed you with a food allergy and prescribed adrenaline, carry it with you all the time and know how to use it. Follow your allergist’s advice on how to use an auto-injector device.

Frequently asked questions about wheat allergies

I have a wheat allergy. How can I avoid a wheat-related reaction?

Avoid all food and products that contain wheat and wheat derivatives. These include any product whose ingredient list warns it “may contain” or “may contain traces of” wheat.

What is the difference between a wheat allergy and celiac disease?

Wheat allergy and celiac disease are two different conditions. When someone has a wheat allergy his/her immune system has an abnormal reaction to proteins from wheat, with symptoms similar to that of other allergic food reactions. When a person with celiac disease eats food containing the protein gluten (found in wheat and some other grains) it damages the lining of the small intestine, which stops the body from absorbing nutrients. This can lead to diarrhea, weight loss and eventually malnutrition. If you are unsure whether you have a wheat allergy or celiac disease, consult an allergist or a physician.

How can I determine if a product contains wheat or wheat derivatives?

Always read the ingredient list carefully. Wheat and wheat derivatives can often be present under different names, e.g., semolina. For other common ingredient label names, refer to the list below.

What do I do if I am not sure whether a product contains wheat or wheat derivatives?

If you have a wheat allergy, do not eat or use the product. Get ingredient information from the manufacturer.

Does product size affect the likelihood of an allergic reaction?

It does not affect the likelihood of a reaction; however, the same brand of product may be safe to consume for one product size but not another. This is because product formulation may vary between different product sizes of the same product.

Watch out for allergen cross contamination!

Cross contamination is the transfer of an ingredient (food allergen) to a product that does not normally have that ingredient in it. Through cross contamination, a food that should not contain the allergen could become dangerous to eat for those who are allergic.

Cross contamination can happen:

  • during food manufacturing through shared production and packaging equipment;
  • at retail through shared equipment, e.g., cheese and deli meats sliced on the same slicer; and through bulk display of food products, e.g., bins of baked goods, bulk nuts; and
  • during food preparation at home or in restaurants through equipment, utensils and hands.

Avoiding wheat and wheat derivatives

Make sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that contain wheat and wheat derivatives. Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read labels every time you shop. Manufacturers may occasionally change their recipes or use different ingredients for varieties of the same brand. Refer to the following list before shopping:

Other names for wheat

Atta
Bulgur
Couscous
Durum
Einkorn
Emmer
Enriched/white/whole wheat flour
Farina
Gluten
Graham flour, high gluten/protein flour
Kamut
Seitan
Semolina
Spelt (dinkel, farro)
Triticale (a cross between wheat and rye)
Triticum aestivum
Wheat bran/flour/germ/starch

Possible sources of wheat

Note: Avoid all food and products that are made from wheat and/or contain wheat in the ingredient list including baked goods, baking mixes, breads, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, muffins, battered/fried foods, bread crumbs, cereals, crackers, croutons, creamed (thickened) soups, gravy mixes and pasta.

Baking powder, flour
Beer
Coffee substitutes made from cereal
Chicken and beef broth (canned/cubed)
Falafel
Gelatinized starch, modified starch, modified food starch
Host (communion/altar bread/wafers)
Hydrolyzed plant protein
Ice cream
Imitation bacon
Meat, fish and poultry binders and fillers, e.g., deli meats, hot dogs, surimi
(used to make imitation crab/lobster meat)
Pie fillings, puddings
Prepared ketchup, mustard
Salad dressings
Sauces, e.g., chutney, soy sauce, tamari sauce
Seasonings
Snack foods, e.g., pretzels, candy, chocolate bars

Non-food sources of wheat

Cosmetics, hair care products
Medications, vitamins
Modeling compound e.g., PLAY-DOH©
Pet food
Wreath decorations

Note: These lists are not complete and may change. Food and food products purchased from other countries, through mail-order or the Internet, are not always produced using the same manufacturing and labelling standards as in Canada. For example, some gluten-free products from Europe may contain wheat starch.

What can I do?

Be informed

See an allergist and educate yourself about food allergies. Contact your local allergy association for further information.

If you or anyone you know has food allergies or would like to receive information about food being recalled, sign up for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) free e-mail “Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts” notification service available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/tools/listserv/listsube.shtml
?foodrecalls_rappelsaliments. When you sign up you will automatically receive food recall public warnings.

Before eating

Allergists recommend that if you do not have your auto-injector device with you, that you do not eat. If an ingredient list says a product “may contain” or “does contain” wheat or wheat derivatives, do not eat it. If you do not recognize an ingredient or there is no ingredient list available, avoid the product.

What is the Government of Canada doing about food allergens?

The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe food to all Canadians. The CFIA and Health Canada work closely with municipal, provincial and territorial partners and industry to meet this goal.

The CFIA enforces Canada’s labelling laws and works with associations, distributors, food manufacturers and importers to ensure complete and appropriate labelling of all foods. The CFIA recommends that food companies establish effective allergen controls to prevent the occurrence of undeclared allergens and cross-contamination. The CFIA has developed guidelines and tools to aid them in developing these controls. When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential serious hazard associated with a food, such as undeclared allergens, the food product is recalled from the marketplace and a public warning is issued. The CFIA has also published several advisories to industry and consumers regarding allergens in food.

Health Canada has worked with the medical community, consumer associations, and the food industry to enhance labelling regulations for priority allergens, gluten sources and sulphites in pre-packaged food sold in Canada. Health Canada is proposing to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to require that the most common food and food ingredients that cause life-threatening or severe allergic reactions are always identified by their common names allowing consumers to easily recognize them.

Where can I get more information?

For more information on:

  • food allergies;
  • ordering free copies of this pamphlet; and
  • subscribing to the free “Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts” e-mail notification service,

visit the CFIA Website at www.inspection.gc.ca or call 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Below are some organizations that can provide additional allergy information:

Allergy/Asthma Information Association www.aaia.ca

Anaphylaxis Canada www.anaphylaxis.ca

Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires www.aqaa.qc.ca (French only)

Canadian Celiac Association www.celiac.ca

Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology www.csaci.ca (English only)

Health Canada www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Developed in consultation with Allergy/Asthma Information Association, Anaphylaxis Canada, Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires, Canadian Celiac Association, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Health Canada.

Add comment April 14, 2009

Sesame seeds – One of the nine most common food allergens

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions are severe adverse reactions that occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to a particular allergen. These reactions may be caused by food, insect stings, latex, medications and other substances. In Canada, the nine priority food allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, milk, eggs, seafood (fish, crustaceans and shellfish), soy, wheat and sulphites (a food additive).

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

When someone comes in contact with an allergen, the symptoms of a reaction may develop quickly and rapidly progress from mild to severe. The most severe form of an allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death. A person experiencing an allergic reaction may have any of the following symptoms:

  • Flushed face, hives or a rash, red and itchy skin
  • Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue
  • Trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
  • Anxiety, distress, faintness, paleness, sense of doom, weakness
  • Cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
  • A drop in blood pressure, rapid heart beat, loss of consciousness

How are food allergies and severe allergic reactions treated?

Currently there is no cure for food allergies. The only option is complete avoidance of the specific allergen. Appropriate emergency treatment for anaphylaxis (a severe food allergy reaction) includes an injection of adrenaline, which is available in an auto-injector device. Adrenaline must be administered as soon as symptoms of a severe allergic reaction appear. The injection must be followed by further treatment and observation in a hospital emergency room. If your allergist has diagnosed you with a food allergy and prescribed adrenaline, carry it with you all the time and know how to use it. Follow your allergist’s advice on how to use an auto-injector device.

Frequently asked questions about sesame seed allergies

I have a sesame seed allergy. How can I avoid a sesame seed-related reaction?

Avoid all food and products that contain sesame seeds and sesame derivatives. These include any product whose ingredient list warns it “may contain” or “may contain traces of” sesame.

How can I determine if a product contains sesame seeds or sesame derivatives?

Always read the ingredient list carefully. Sesame seeds and sesame derivatives can often be present under different names, e.g., tahini. For other common ingredient label names, refer to the list below.

What do I do if I am not sure whether a product contains sesame seeds or sesame derivatives?

If you have a sesame seed allergy, do not eat or use the product. Get ingredient information from the manufacturer.

Does product size affect the likelihood of an allergic reaction?

It does not affect the likelihood of a reaction; however, the same brand of product may be safe to consume for one product size but not another. This is because product formulation may vary between different product sizes of the same product.

Watch out for allergen cross contamination!

Cross contamination is the transfer of an ingredient (food allergen) to a product that does not normally have that ingredient in it. Through cross contamination, a food that should not contain the allergen could become dangerous to eat for those who are allergic.

Cross contamination can happen:

  • during food manufacturing through shared production and packaging equipment;
  • at retail through shared equipment, e.g., cheese and deli meats sliced on the same slicer; and through bulk display of food products, e.g., bins of baked goods, bulk nuts; and
  • during food preparation at home or in restaurants through equipment, utensils and hands.

Avoiding sesame seeds and sesame derivatives

Make sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that contain sesame seeds and sesame derivatives. Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read labels every time you shop. Manufacturers may occasionally change their recipes or use different ingredients for varieties of the same brand. Refer to the following list before shopping:

Other names for sesame seeds

Benne/benne seed/benniseed
Gingelly/gingelly oil
Seeds
Sesamol/sesamolina
Sesamum indicum
Sim sim
Tahina
Tahini
Til
Vegetable oil

Possible sources of sesame seeds

Aqua Libra® (herbal drink)
Baked goods, e.g., breads, cookies, pastries, bagels, buns
Bread crumbs, bread sticks, cereals, crackers, melba toast, muesli
Dips, pâtés, spreads, e.g., hummus, chutney
Dressings, gravies, marinades, salads, sauces, soups
Ethnic foods, e.g., flavoured rice, noodles, shish kebabs, stews, stir fry
Flavour(ing)
Herbs, seasoning, spice
Margarine
Processed meats, sausages
Risotto (rice dish)
Sesame oil, sesame salt (gomasio)
Snack foods, e.g., bagel/pita chips, candy, granola bars, halvah, pretzels, rice cakes, sesame snap bars
Tahini
Tempeh
Vegetarian burgers

Non-food sources of sesame seeds

Adhesive bandages
Cosmetics, hair care products, perfumes, soaps, sun screens
Drugs
Fungicides, insecticides
Lubricants, ointments, topical oils
Pet food
Sesame meal, e.g., poultry and livestock feed

Note: These lists are not complete and may change. Food and food products purchased from other countries, through mail-order or the Internet, are not always produced using the same manufacturing and labelling standards as in Canada.

What can I do?

Be informed

See an allergist and educate yourself about food allergies. Contact your local allergy association for further information.

If you or anyone you know has food allergies or would like to receive information about food being recalled, sign up for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) free e-mail “Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts” notification service available at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/tools/listserv/listsube.shtml?foodrecalls_rappelsaliments. When you sign up you will automatically receive food recall public warnings.

Before eating

Allergists recommend that if you do not have your auto-injector device with you that you do not eat. If an ingredient list says a product “may contain” or “does contain” sesame or sesame derivatives, do not eat it. If you do not recognize an ingredient or there is no ingredient list available, avoid the product.

What is the Government of Canada doing about food allergens?

The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe food to all Canadians. The CFIA and Health Canada work closely with municipal, provincial and territorial partners and industry to meet this goal.

The CFIA enforces Canada’s labelling laws and works with associations, distributors, food manufacturers and importers to ensure complete and appropriate labelling of all foods. The CFIA recommends that food companies establish effective allergen controls to prevent the occurrence of undeclared allergens and cross-contamination. The CFIA has developed guidelines and tools to aid them in developing these controls. When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential serious hazard associated with a food, such as undeclared allergens, the food product is recalled from the marketplace and a public warning is issued. The CFIA has also published several advisories to industry and consumers regarding allergens in food.

Health Canada has worked with the medical community, consumer associations, and the food industry to enhance labelling regulations for priority allergens, gluten sources and sulphites in pre-packaged food sold in Canada. Health Canada is proposing to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to require that the most common food and food ingredients that cause life-threatening or severe allergic reactions are always identified by their common names allowing consumers to easily recognize them.

Where can I get more information?

For more information on:

  • food allergies;
  • ordering free copies of this pamphlet; and
  • subscribing to the free “Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts” e-mail notification service,

visit the CFIA Website at www.inspection.gc.ca or call 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Below are some organizations that can provide additional allergy information:

Allergy/Asthma Information Association
www.aaia.ca

Anaphylaxis Canada
www.anaphylaxis.ca

Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires
www.aqaa.qc.ca (French only)

Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
www.csaci.ca (English only)

Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Developed in consultation with Allergy/Asthma Information Association, Anaphylaxis Canada, Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Health Canada.

Add comment April 14, 2009

Peanuts – One of the nine most common food allergens

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions, which can be severe, are adverse reactions that occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to a particular allergen. These reactions may be caused by food, insect stings, latex, medications and other substances In Canada, the nine priority food allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, milk, eggs, seafood (fish, crustaceans and shellfish), soy, wheat and sulphites (a food additive).

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

When someone comes in contact with an allergen, the symptoms of a reaction may develop quickly and may rapidly progress from mild to severe. The most severe form of an allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death. A person experiencing an allergic reaction may have any of the following symptoms:

  • flushed face, hives or a rash, red and itchy skin
  • swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue
  • trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
  • anxiety, distress, faintness, paleness, sense of doom, weakness
  • cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
  • a drop in blood pressure, rapid heart beat, loss of consciousness

How are food allergies and severe allergic reactions treated?

Currently there is no cure for food allergies. The only option is complete avoidance of the specific allergen. Appropriate emergency treatment for anaphylaxis (a severe food allergy reaction) includes an injection of adrenaline, which is available in an auto-injector device. Adrenaline must be administered as soon as symptoms of a severe allergic reaction appear. The injection must be followed by further treatment and observation in a hospital emergency room. If your allergist has diagnosed you with a food allergy and prescribed adrenaline, carry it with you all the time and know how to use it. Follow your allergist’s advice on how to use an auto-injector device.

Frequently asked questions about peanut allergies

I have a peanut allergy. How can I avoid a peanut-related reaction?

Avoid all food and products that contain peanut and peanut derivatives. These include any product whose ingredient list warns it “may contain” or “may contain traces of” peanut.

Can a peanut allergy be outgrown?

It was once thought that peanut allergies were lifelong. However, recent studies show some children may outgrow their peanut allergy. Consult your allergist before reintroducing peanut products.

How can I determine if a product contains peanut or peanut derivatives?

Always read the ingredient list carefully. Peanut and peanut derivatives can often be present under different names, e.g., arachis oil. For other common ingredient label names, refer to the list below.

What do I do if I am not sure whether a product contains peanut or peanut derivatives?

If you have a peanut allergy, do not eat or use the product. Get ingredient information from the manufacturer.

Does product size affect the likelihood of an allergic reaction?

It does not affect the likelihood of a reaction; however, the same brand of product may be safe to consume for one product size but not another. This is because product formulation may vary between different product sizes of the same product.

It was once thought that peanut allergies were lifelong. However, recent studies show some children may outgrow their peanut allergy.

Avoiding peanut and peanut derivatives

Make sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that contain peanut and peanut derivatives. Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read labels every time you shop. Manufacturers may occasionally change their recipes or use different ingredients for varieties of the same brand. Refer to the following list before shopping:

Other names for peanuts

Arachide
Arachis oil
Beer nuts
Cacahouète/cacahouette/cacahuète
Goober nuts, goober peas
Ground nuts
Kernels
Mandelonas, Nu-Nuts™
Nut meats
Valencias

Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read labels every time you shop.

Possible sources of peanuts

Almond & hazelnut paste, icing, glazes, marzipan, nougat
Nut substitutes e.g., reflavoured and reformed peanuts that look like other nuts
Baked goods, e.g., cakes, cookies, doughnuts, pastries
Cereals
Chili
Desserts, e.g., frozen desserts, frozen yogurts, ice cream, sundae toppings
Dried salad dressing, soup mix
Ethnic foods (including sauces and soups), e.g., chili, curries, egg rolls, satays, Szechwan sauce, Thai food
Gravy
Hydrolyzed plant protein/vegetable protein (source may be peanut)
Peanut oil
Snack foods, e.g., candy, chocolate, dried fruits, energy/granola bars, mixed nuts, popcorn, potato chips, trail mixes
Vegetarian meat substitutes

Non-food sources of peanuts

Ant baits, bird feed, mouse traps, pet food
Cosmetics, sun screens
Craft materials
Medications, vitamins
Mushroom growing medium
Stuffing in toys

Note: These lists are not complete and may change. Food and food products purchased from other countries, through mail-order or the Internet, are not always produced using the same manufacturing and labelling standards as in Canada.

What can I do?

Be informed

See an allergist and educate yourself about food allergies. Contact your local allergy association for further information.

If you or anyone you know has food allergies or would like to receive information about food being recalled, sign up for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) free email “Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts” notification service available at
www.inspection.gc.ca/english/tools/ listserv/listsube.shtml?foodrecalls_rappelsaliments. When you sign up you will automatically receive food recall public warnings.

Before eating

Allergists recommend that if you do not have your auto-injector device with you that you do not eat. If an ingredient list says a product “may contain” or “does contain” peanut or peanut derivatives, do not eat it. If you do not recognize an ingredient or there is no ingredient list available, avoid the product.

Watch out for allergen cross contamination!

Cross contamination is the transfer of an ingredient (food allergen) to a product that does not normally have that ingredient in it. Through cross contamination, a food that should not contain the allergen could become dangerous to eat for those who are allergic.

Cross contamination can happen:

  • during food manufacturing, through shared production and packaging equipment;
  • in stores through shared equipment, for example, cheese and deli meats sliced on the same slicer; and through bulk display of food products, for instance, bins of baked goods, bulk nuts; and
  • during food preparation at home or in restaurants through equipment, utensils and hands.

What is the Government of Canada doing about food allergens?

The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe food to all Canadians. The CFIA and Health Canada work closely with municipal, provincial and territorial partners and industry to meet this goal.

The CFIA enforces Canada’s labelling laws and works with associations, distributors, food manufacturers and importers so that foods are completely and appropriately labelled. The CFIA recommends that food companies establish effective allergen controls to prevent the occurrence of undeclared allergens and cross-contamination. The CFIA has developed guidelines and tools to aid them in developing these controls. When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential serious hazard associated with a food, such as undeclared allergens, the food product is recalled from the marketplace and a public warning is issued. The CFIA has also published several advisories to industry and consumers regarding allergens in food.

Health Canada has worked with the medical community, consumer associations, and the food industry to enhance labelling regulations for priority allergens, gluten sources and sulphites in pre-packaged food sold in Canada. Health Canada is proposing to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to require that the most common food and food ingredients that cause life-threatening or severe allergic reactions are always identified by their common names allowing consumers to easily recognize them.

Where can I get more information?

For more information on:

  • food allergies,
  • ordering free copies of this pamphlet, and
  • subscribing to the free “Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts” email notification service, visit the CFIA Website at www.inspection.gc.ca or call 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Below are some organizations that can provide additional allergy information.

Allergy/Asthma Information Association
www.aaia.ca

Anaphylaxis Canada
www.anaphylaxis.ca

Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires
www.aqaa.qc.ca (French only)

Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
www.csaci.ca (English only)

Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Developed in consultation with Allergy/Asthma Information Association, Anaphylaxis Canada, Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires,and the Canadian Society of Allergy Clinical Immunology and Health Canada.

Add comment April 14, 2009

Eggs – One of the nine most common food allergens

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Eggs – One of the nine most common food allergens

Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions, which can be severe, are adverse reactions that occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to a particular allergen. These reactions may be caused by food, insect stings, latex, medications and other substances. In Canada, the nine priority food allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, milk, eggs, seafood (fish, crustaceans and shellfish), soy, wheat and sulphites (a food additive).

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

When someone comes in contact with an allergen, the symptoms of a reaction may develop quickly and may rapidly progress from mild to severe. The most severe form of an allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. Symptoms can include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure or shock, which may result in loss of consciousness and even death. A person experiencing an allergic reaction may have any of the following symptoms:

  • flushed face, hives or a rash, red and itchy skin
  • swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue
  • trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
  • anxiety, distress, faintness, paleness, sense of doom, weakness
  • cramps, diarrhea, vomiting
  • a drop in blood pressure, rapid heart beat, loss of consciousness

How are food allergies and severe allergic reactions treated?

Appropriate emergency treatment for anaphylaxis (a severe food allergy reaction) includes an injection of adrenaline, which is available in an auto-injector device. Adrenaline must be administered as soon as symptoms of a severe allergic reaction appear. The injection must be followed by further treatment and observation in a hospital emergency room. If your allergist has diagnosed you with a food allergy and prescribed adrenaline, carry it with you all the time and know how to use it. Follow your allergist’s advice on how to use an auto-injector device.

Frequently asked questions about egg allergies

I have an egg allergy. How can I avoid an egg-related reaction?

Avoid all food and products that contain egg and egg derivatives. These include any product whose ingredient list warns it “may contain” or “may contain traces of” egg.

Can an egg allergy be outgrown?

Studies show that most children outgrow their egg allergy by three years of age. However, a severe egg allergy can last a lifetime. Consult your allergist before reintroducing egg products.

Can a person who is allergic to raw eggs eat cooked eggs?

Usually not. While cooking can alter the protein of a raw egg, it may not be sufficient to prevent a reaction. Consult your allergist before experimenting.

Are flu and MMR shots safe for someone with an egg allergy?

Influenza vaccines are grown on egg embryos and may contain a small amount of egg protein. Consult your allergist before getting a flu shot. Although the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine may contain egg protein, it is considered safe for children.

How can I determine if a product contains egg or egg derivatives?

Always read the ingredient list carefully. Egg and egg derivatives can often be present under different names, e.g., albumin. For other common ingredient label names, refer to the list below.

What do I do if I am not sure whether a product contains egg or egg derivatives?

If you have an egg allergy, do not eat or use the product. Get ingredient information from the manufacturer.

Does product size affect the likelihood of an allergic reaction?

It does not affect the likelihood of a reaction; however, the same brand of product may be safe to consume for one product size but not another. This is because product formulation may vary between different product sizes of the same product.

Avoiding egg and egg derivatives

Make sure you read product labels carefully to avoid products that contain egg and egg derivatives. Avoid food and products that do not have an ingredient list and read labels every time you shop. Manufacturers may occasionally change their recipes or use different ingredients for varieties of the same brand. Refer to the following list before shopping:

Other names for eggs

Albumin/Albumen
Conalbumin
Egg substitutes, e.g., Egg Beaters®
Globulin
Livetin
Lysozyme
Meringue
Ovalbumin
Ovoglobulin
Ovolactohydrolyze proteins
Ovomacroglobulin
Ovomucin, ovomucoid
Ovotransferrin
Ovovitellin
Silico-albuminate
Simplesse®
Vitellin

Possible sources of eggs

Note: Avoid all food and products that contain egg in the ingredient list, e.g., powdered egg. The terms “ovo” and “albumin” mean the product contains egg.

Alcoholic cocktails/drinks
Baby food
Baked goods and baking mixes, e.g., breads, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, muffins, pancakes, pastries, pretzels
Battered/fried foods
Confectionary, e.g., candy, chocolate
Cream-filled pies, e.g. banana, chocolate, coconut
Creamy dressings, salad dressings, spreads, e.g., mayonnaise, Caesar salad dressing, tartar sauce
Desserts, e.g., custard, dessert mixes, ice cream, meringue, pudding, sorbet
Egg/fat substitutes
Fish mixtures, e.g., surimi (used to make imitation crab/lobster meat)
Foam/milk topping on coffee
Homemade root beer, malt drink mixes
Icing, glazes, e.g., egg wash on baked goods, nougat
Lecithin
Meat mixtures, e.g., hamburger, hot dogs, meatballs, meatloaf, salami, etc.
Orange Julep®, Orange Julius® (orange juice beverages)
Pasta, e.g., egg noodles
Quiche, soufflé
Sauces, e.g., béarnaise, hollandaise, Newburg
Soups, broths, bouillons

Non-food sources of eggs

Anesthetic, e.g., Diprivan® (propofol)
Certain vaccines, e.g., MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
Craft materials
Hair care products
Medications

Note: These lists are not complete and may change. Food and food products purchased from other countries, through mail-order or the Internet, are not always produced using the same manufacturing and labelling standards as in Canada.

What can I do?

Be informed

See an allergist and educate yourself about food allergies. Contact your local allergy association for further information.

If you or anyone you know has food allergies or would like to receive information about food being recalled, sign up for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) free email “Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts” notification service available at
www.inspection.gc.ca/english/tools/listserv/listsube.shtml?foodrecalls_rappelsaliments. When you sign up you will automatically receive food recall public warnings.

Before eating

Allergists recommend that if you do not have your auto-injector device with you, that you do not eat. If an ingredient list says a product “may contain” or “does contain” egg or egg derivatives, do not eat it. If you do not recognize an ingredient or there is no ingredient list available, avoid the product.

Watch out for allergen cross contamination!

Cross contamination is the transfer of an ingredient (food allergen) to a product that does not normally have that ingredient in it. Through cross contamination, a food that should not contain the allergen could become dangerous to eat for those who are allergic.

Cross contamination can happen:

  • during food manufacturing, through shared production and packaging equipment;
  • in stores through shared equipment, for example, cheese and deli meats sliced on the same slicer; and through bulk display of food products, for instance, bins of baked goods, bulk nuts; and
  • during food preparation at home or in restaurants through equipment, utensils and hands.

What is the Government of Canada doing about food allergens?

The Government of Canada is committed to providing safe food to all Canadians. The CFIA and Health Canada work closely with municipal, provincial and territorial partners and industry to meet this goal.

The CFIA enforces Canada’s labelling laws and works with associations, distributors, food manufacturers and importers so that foods are completely and appropriately labelled. The CFIA recommends that food companies establish effective allergen controls to prevent the occurrence of undeclared allergens and cross-contamination. The CFIA has developed guidelines and tools to aid them in developing these controls. When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential serious hazard associated with a food, such as undeclared allergens, the food product is recalled from the marketplace and a public warning is issued. The CFIA has also published several advisories to industry and consumers regarding allergens in food.

Health Canada has worked with the medical community, consumer associations, and the food industry to enhance labelling regulations for priority allergens, gluten sources and sulphites in pre-packaged food sold in Canada. Health Canada is proposing to amend the Food and Drug Regulations to require that the most common food and food ingredients that cause life-threatening or severe allergic reactions are always identified by their common names allowing consumers to easily recognize them.

Where can I get more information?

For more information on:

  • food allergies,
  • ordering free copies of this pamphlet, and
  • subscribing to the free “Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts” email notification service, visit the CFIA Website at www.inspection.gc.ca or call 1-800-442-2342/TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Below are some organizations that can provide additional allergy information:

Allergy/Asthma Information Association
www.aaia.ca

Anaphylaxis Canada
www.anaphylaxis.ca

Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires
www.aqaa.qc.ca (French only)

Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
www.csaci.ca (English only)

Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Developed in consultation with Allergy/Asthma Information Association, Anaphylaxis Canada, Association québécoise des allergies alimentaires, and the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and Health Canada

Add comment April 14, 2009

CFIA’s Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts

Health Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/allerg/allerg_alert-eng.php

Add comment April 9, 2009

Food Allergies and Intolerances

Health Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/allerg/index-eng.php

A food sensitivity is an adverse reaction to a food that other people can safely eat, and includes food allergies, food intolerances, and chemical sensitivities.

Food allergies are sensitivities caused by a reaction of the body’s immune system to specific proteins in a food. Current estimates are that food allergies affect as many as 6% of young children and 3% to 4% of adults.

In allergic individuals, a food protein is mistakenly identified by the immune system as being harmful. The first time the individual is exposed to such a protein, the body’s immune system responds by creating antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). When the individual is exposed again to the same food protein, IgE antibodies and chemicals such as histamine are released. Next link will take you to another Web site Histamine is a powerful chemical that can cause a reaction in the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system. In the most extreme cases, food allergies can be fatal. Although any food can provoke an immune response in allergic individuals, a few foods are responsible for the majority of food allergies.

A food intolerance is a food sensitivity that does not involve the individual’s immune system. Unlike food allergies, or chemical sensitivities, where a small amount of food can cause a reaction, it generally takes a more normal sized portion to produce symptoms of food intolerance. While the symptoms of food intolerance vary and can be mistaken for those of a food allergy, food intolerances are more likely to originate in the gastrointestinal system and are usually caused by an inability to digest or absorb certain foods, or components of those foods.

For example, intolerance to dairy products is one of the most common food intolerances. Known as lactose intolerance, it occurs in people who lack an enzyme called lactase, which is needed to digest lactose (a sugar in milk.) Symptoms of lactose intolerance may include abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhoea and flatulence.

Celiac disease is an inherited intolerance to gluten. The main sources of gluten in the diet are cereal grains and the only current treatment for celiac disease is to continually maintain a strict gluten-free diet.

Chemical sensitivities occur when a person has an adverse reaction to chemicals that occur naturally in, or are added to, foods. Examples of chemical sensitivities are reactions to: caffeine in coffee, tyramine in aged cheese and flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate.

If you experience adverse reactions to food, consult your family doctor and a dietitian to help you to determine if have a food allergy, intolerance or other food sensitivity.

Add comment April 9, 2009

Baby Food Start and Food Allergies Babies

Go to babyfirstfoods.com to find organic food recipes for your toddler and baby.
It is very important to follow the four day wait rule when introducing new solid foods to your baby. When you introducing new baby food over the course of 4 days, you are better able to determine what solids your baby is reacting to. Please note that some of the baby foods that appear on my list of “least allergenic” should not be used until a certain age. An example is a honey. Honey is least allergenic food, but could not be introduced until 1 year of age. Try and introduce new baby food in the mornings or early afternoons, so if some reaction will occur, you will be able to get to the doctors office.
List of “Least Allergenic Foods”
Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Avocados
Barley
Beets
Broccoli
Carrots
Cauliflower
Chicken
Cranberries
Dates
Grapes
Honey
Lamb
Lettuce
Mangoes
Oats
Papayas
Peaches
Pears
Poi
Raisins
Rice
Rye
Safflower
Oil
Salmon
Squash
Sunflower Oil
Sweet Potatoes
Turkey
Veal
List of “Most allergenic Baby Foods”
Berries
Buckwheat
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Citrus Fruits
Coconut
Corn
Dairy products
Egg whites
Mustard
Nuts
Peas
Peanut butter
Pork
Shellfish
Soy
Strawberries
Sugar
Tomatoes
Yeast
Wheat
Go to babyfirstfoods.com to find organic food recipes for your toddler and baby.

Add comment May 13, 2008

Categories

Baby First Foods - Recent Posts

Baby First Foods - Top Posts