Food Allergy Awareness for Every Holiday

The best place to start becoming familiar with common allergens is the label of ingredients. Nearly every product on the market these days will specifically address ingredients that are known allergens on a separate line at the very bottom of the content list, making it easy to quickly spot potentially dangerous items. A few of the most common offenders to keep an eye out for are peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and dairy items Obviously there are many other things out there that people may be allergic to, but it's nearly impossible to avoid absolutely all of them, so start with these more common allergens In addition to listing the ingredients that went into making a food product, a label should also inform you whether or not that item could have experienced accidental exposure, or cross-contamination, by being produced in a facility or on machinery that processes known allergens. For example, you might see a statement under the ingredient list that says, "Processed on equipment that also processes peanuts". This minimal exposure can still be very dangerous for individuals who are highly allergic. Don't worry, while this may seem like a lot to look for at first, it will soon become very quick for you to glance at labels and easily identify problem items.

Once you're familiar with how to identify an allergen within a food product, you can start considering safe alternatives to use for your next holiday event. For example, instead of bringing a pecan pie for dessert during the Christmas season, consider making a pumpkin pie instead to avoid the use of nuts. Perhaps the most important time to be vigilant about what you're providing is Halloween. When kids are running around with a bag full of candy, things tend to be a free-for-all. They are more likely to get their hands on a potentially dangerous sweet simply due to the sheer volume of their loot, since even the most diligent parent can overlook a needle in a haystack. When purchasing your Halloween candy at the store this year, try to avoid not only the more obvious offenders such as chocolate items with nuts, but also the things you wouldn't normally think of as containing worrisome ingredients?like some brands of candy corn or jelly bean.

It takes a little more time to investigate the food products that you provide, but it's worth every second if you can help keep a child safe and happy on every holiday throughout the year.