Food Allergies: December 2006 Archives

ST. LOUIS — People with wheat allergies who have stayed away from beer now have a new option.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. today introduced Redbridge, which the company called the first nationally available sorghum beer. Starting today, Redbridge is available in restaurants and stores carrying organic products.

Sorghum is the primary ingredient in the beer from the makers of the nation's top-selling full-calorie and light beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Sorghum is a safe grain for those with wheat allergies. Anheuser-Busch is also marketing the beer as an alternative for those who choose wheat-free or gluten-free diets.

Many experts believe the current advice to parents to keep peanuts away from their babies may be making the problem worse.

In Africa, Asia and China, where peanuts are a staple food and routinely given to young children, rates of peanut allergy are lower than they are in the West.

Other research suggests the opposite - that early exposure to peanuts makes an individual more susceptible.

Parents are being asked to volunteer their babies for a major investigation into the causes of peanut allergy.

 

by Gloria Payne, DNJ

Did you know that almost 12 million Americans have a food allergy? About one out of every 25 American children under the age of 18 has a food allergy. Scientists have discovered that in the past five years, the existence of peanut allergy in children has doubled.

Did you know that there are approximately 150 to 200 food allergy-related deaths each year in the United States?

With the increased prevalence of food allergies, you probably will prepare food for someone with a food allergy, dine with someone with a food allergy or be a friend of someone with a food allergy.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Dec. 7, 2006)  - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to almond, peanut, or hazelnut proteins not to consume the Schär brand Wafers and Biscotti products described below. The affected products may contain almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts, which are not declared on the label.

All Best Before dates and lot codes of the following Schär brand products, imported from Italy, are affected by this alert.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Nov. 30, 2006) - The public warning issued on November 24, 2006 has been updated to include additional allergen risk and product information. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to almond protein or peanut protein not to consume the Schar brand Snack - gluten free chocolate wafers with hazelnuts. The affected product may contain almond and peanut proteins which are not declared on the label.

All Best before dates and lot codes of this product described below are affected by this alert.

The Schar brand Snack - gluten free chocolate wafers with hazelnuts, a product of Italy, is sold in a 105 g package bearing UPC 8 008698 005286 on the back panel. On some packages, the UPC on the back panel may be covered up with a sticker. These packages have a white sticker on the front panel which bears a different UPC 8 00869 80528 6. Both the UPC are affected. The package contains three individually wrapped 35 g Snack bars.

DALLAS - T-H Foods is recalling some crackers that may contain undeclared milk and could be harmful to people with certain food allergies.

The Illinois-based company says its Crunchmaster Sesame Rice Crackers were distributed to Costco warehouses in Dallas and Sumner, Washington.The crackers were packed in a 6-count multipack that includes sesame and cheese flavors. The packages are labeled "Best Before date of Jun082007B."Consumers with questions should contact TH Foods at: 1-800-896-2396.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press