For your information: Collector’s Edition of Allergic Living

On behalf of our friends at Allergic Living magazine, just a reminder that tomorrow – Friday, March 12 – is the cutoff date to get the magazine’s Collector’s Edition 5th Anniversary issue as part of a new subscription.

The issue’s theme is of high interest: “The Future of Allergies”. Allergic Living’s journalists investigate not just one, but several new therapies for food allergies and celiac disease being developed by world-leading researchers. The future looks bright!

To sign up for an Allergic Living subscription, simply go to www.allergicliving.com and click the “Subscribe/Renew” tab.

Note: If you have an up-to-date subscription with the magazine, you will receive this special issue. If you received a renewal notice: the same cutoff date applies.

AL’s media release

Future of Allergies

– the Therapies Are Coming

In May 2005, Allergic Living magazine published its inaugural issue. Now this spring, Canada’s magazine dedicated to lifestyle and health news coverage of allergies will turn 5 years old.

To mark the occasion, Allergic Living’s Spring 2010 issue will be its 5^th Anniversary Collector’s Edition. The theme is “The Future of Allergies,” looking 10 years ahead to find out where food allergy, celiac disease and environmental allergy research will be.

Allergic Living turns to its investigative team, who report from the front lines of research. The resulting articles show very good news ahead. There will be therapies for food allergies and celiac disease – and not just one. If all goes to plan, there should be pills, vaccines and immunotherapy. Considering avoidance is the only “treatment” at the moment – a therapy revolution is literally coming.

The Spring 2010 Allergic Living also features:

- New statistics on food allergies in North America.

- A celebration of the 5^th anniversary of Ontario’s groundbreaking Sabrina’s Law – protecting students with anaphylaxis.

- Article on neurological disorders in kids and celiac disease.

- Fabulous Southwest cuisine recipes by Chef Simon. Free of top allergens and gluten.

- 5^th Anniversary Allergy Contest: test your knowledge and win one of 4 copies of The Allergen-Free Baker’s Handbook by Cybele Pascal.

- Coverage of the 2010 AAAAI conference in New Orleans.

Those with allergies or celiac disease won’t want to miss this issue.

Direct inquiries to info@allergicliving.com or 1-888-771-7747 (416-604-0110).

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This post was passed on to us from Gwen Smith of Allergic Living Magazine

Subscribe to Allergic Living Magazine Now is a post from: Best Allergy Sites

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An estimated 11 million Americans suffer from food allergies. It is reported that peanut allergy doubled in children from 1997-2002. With this increase in diagnosis and awareness has come an increase in visibility in the media and online.

Websites and blogs are popping up chronicling personal experiences, life stories and some are even offering advice. How do you know if a site is offering valuable or even safe information?

More than likely you don’t, which is why medical advice should always come from a medical professional. That being said, there is a fine line to be drawn here and many of these food allergy sites and blogs are tremendously valuable. Some, however, are not and are even downright dangerous. How do you weed them out?

Sites offering a cure
There is currently no treatment that “cures” food allergies. There are several studies being done and there is hope, but currently no FDA approved cure. We’ve seen a wide range of treatment related sites or sites claiming to cure food allergies using a variety of techniques. Please proceed with caution, consult your allergist first and remember that there can be side affects to any medication be it herbal, natural or otherwise.

Sites claiming allergen free products
A product is only allergen free if it is completely free of the specific allergen protein. No traces allowed. This is done by ensuring initial ingredients are allergen free, by making sure the manufacturing facility is allergen free and by testing foods for allergens. Remember that the current US labeling laws apply to food items only, and only to ingredients within an item. Warning labels such as “May Contains” or “Processed In” are voluntary. Manufacturers are also not required to let you know if an allergen is in their facility. More importantly, there are no FDA laws or definitions of what allergen free, peanut free or gluten free is. Manufacturers can, and have, put these labels on their products even with traces of allergen proteins in them. Buyer beware.

Referral Sites
There are many allergy sites and blogs that refer readers to other sites and products claiming to be allergen free. When referred to a site, keep in mind where the referral is coming from. What is that person’s experience, what is their background and what makes them an expert? Take the referral with a grain of salt and do your own homework. Sadly we’ve seen several sites recently posing as allergy specific sites and forwarding readers to businesses that are clearly not allergy related or friendly. This can lead to a dangerous outcome. Large budgets and aggressive PR put these sites in front of you as expert sites. Don’t be fooled.

The increase in food allergy sites and blogs helps to spread awareness and information. However, it can also spread misinformation. Always keep this in the back of your mind when visiting a new site or blog.

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We’d like to remind you that Best Allergy Sites only lists and recommends sites and blogs that are thoroughly screened and entered by hand. All listed food manufacturers cater to the food allergy and intolerance community and either have allergen free facilities or a very specific cleaning AND testing protocol. You will not find non allergy friendly sites here. Keep in mind however that manufacturing practices do change and you should always double check with the manufacturer. If you find a company or food listed here that has changed it’s protocol, please do contact us and let us know. We value your safety.

Other articles you might be interested in:
Food Allergy Businesses: Putting Profits Before People

Allergy Bloggers On The Rise?

Weeding Out the Good from the Bad: Food Allergy Sites and Blogs on the Rise is a post from: Best Allergy Sites

Technorati Tags: allergy blogs, allergy directories, allergy sites

Website:
http://www.foodallergyfamilies.com

Site Description:
A place where families living with food allergies can receive the latest in recommended products, events, and entertainment that fit their lifestyle. We are also one of the only websites to provide a list of allergy aware schools around the country.

City/Location:
Mission Viejo

State/Province:
California

Zip/Postal Code:
92691

Country:
USA

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Food-Allergy-Families/328535449587?v=wall&ref=share

Food Allergy Families is a post from: Best Allergy Sites

Technorati Tags: allergy friendly schools, allergy information, food allergy

If you do have money set aside for donating this year and food allergy is your cause, following is a list of the top non profits that cater to the allergy community.

We’ve taken it a step further and have spent hours looking over public tax records for 2008 to give you an inside look on where your hard earned dollars go. Keep in mind that these nonprofits are not all the same size and that location plays a factor in expenses and salaries.

We encourage you to use this information as a starting point. Some nonprofits focus on research and finding a cure, while others focus on services for families or support groups in your area.

It’s up to you to decide what is most important for you and your family.

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The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN)

Numbers at a Glance
Total Revenue:   $5,887,477
Total Expenses:  $5,579,456
Grants and similar amounts paid:  $1,003,878
Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits:   $2,401,748

Some (but not all) Itemizations
Reportable compensation for the organization:
(Officers, directors, trustees, key employees)

Anne Munoz-Furlong:  $272,833
Terence J Furlong:  $204,021
Chris Fanning:  $46,676

Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations:

Anne Munoz-Furlong:  $40,291
Terence J Furlong:  $21,888
Chris Fanning:  $4,051

Misc Expenses Chosen from list of expenses:

Office expenses:  $951,962
Information Technology:  $63,690
Occupancy:  $196,725
Travel:  $150,251

Other Expenses not included in above:

Contract labor:  $135,399.
Meals and entertainment:  $81,743
Staff recruiting:  $81,440
Misc:  $76,809

Click here for the FAAN 990 form

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Food Allergy Initiative (FAI)

Numbers at a Glance
Total Revenue:  $10,130,132
Total Expenses:  $10,895,255
Grants and similar amounts paid:  $9,504,079
Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits:  $599,986

Some (but not all) Itemizations
Reportable compensation for the organization:
(Officers, directors, trustees, key employees)

Robert Pacenza:  $176,481
Jodie Kent:  $113,491
Barbara Rosenstein:  $107,667

Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations:

Robert Pacenza:  $10,000
Jodie Kent:  $6,431
Barbara Rosenstein:  $6,101

Misc Expenses Chosen from list of expenses:

Office expenses:  $8,335
Information Technology:  $0
Occupancy:  $117,918
Travel:  $56,768

Other Expenses not included in above:

Catering and décor:  $43,151
Postage and shipping:  $34,499
Public relations fees:  $24,753
Administrative expenses:  $23,056
Technology service:  $21,912

Click here for the FAI 990 form

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The Asthma Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)

Numbers at a Glance
Total Revenue:  $3,623,518
Total Expenses:  $3,685,998
Grants and similar amounts paid:  $67,982
Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits:  $1,565,731

Some (but not all) Itemizations
Reportable compensation for the organization:
(Officers, directors, trustees, key employees)

William McLin:  $223,206
Michael Triangle:  $120,970

Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations:

William McLin:  $20,000
Michael Triangle:  $16,021

Misc Expenses Chosen from list of expenses:

Office expenses:  $311,686
Information Technology:  $32,288
Occupancy:  $180,651
Travel:  $66,207

Other Expenses not included in above:

Bad debt:  $27,058
Filing fees:  $12,833
Misc:  $7,152
Professional dues:  $5,386
Subscriptions:  $4,210

Click here for the AAFA 990 form

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Kids With Food Allergies (KFA)

Numbers at a Glance
Total Revenue:  $135,815
Total Expenses:  $108,411
Grants and similar amounts paid:  $0
Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits:  $29,994

Some (but not all) Itemizations
Reportable compensation for the organization:
(Officers, directors, trustees, key employees)

Lynda Mitchell:  $12,000

Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations:

Lynda Mitchell: $0

Misc Expenses Chosen from list of expenses:

Office expenses:  $3,964
Website expenses:  $21,371
Occupancy:  $0
Travel:  $8,422

Other Expenses not included in above:

Public relations:  $640
Conferences, conventions and meetings:  $9,891
Registration and membership fees:  $930

Click here for the KFA 990 form

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Where Do Your Food Allergy Nonprofit Donations Go? is a post from: Best Allergy Sites

Technorati Tags: AAFA, allergy nonprofits, donations, FAAN, FAI, food allergy, KFA, nonprofit

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is seeking public comment on draft Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy. The public comment period is open for 60 days beginning March 5 and ending May 3. Health care professionals and interested members of the public are encouraged to review the guidelines and participate in the open comment period by visiting the NIAID Food Allergy Clinical Guidelines public comment Web site.

“Food allergy is an important public health problem that affects millions of Americans, and may be increasing in prevalence,”  says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. ”These draft guidelines provide information to a wide variety of health care professionals about how to diagnose and manage food allergy, and treat acute food allergy reactions.”

The guidelines are based on an independent, systematic review of the scientific and clinical food allergy literature. Information gathered from the literature review was incorporated into a full report on the state-of-the-science in food allergy that will be made available after the publication of the final guidelines.

As part of the process of developing the guidelines, NIAID brought together a coordinating committee that included representatives from 33 professional organizations, advocacy groups and federal agencies. The role of the coordinating committee was to appoint an expert panel, review drafts, approve the final guidelines and develop a plan to distribute the final guidelines. The expert panel, composed of 25 members with expertise from a variety of relevant clinical and scientific areas, wrote the draft guidelines.

The guidelines cover the following topics:

• Definition and prevalence of food allergy
• Natural history of food allergy and closely associated diseases
• Diagnosis of food allergy
• Management of non-acute allergic reactions to food
• Management of acute allergic reactions to food, including anaphylaxis, a severe, whole-body reaction

“These guidelines represent a major commitment on the part of many people and organizations working to improve the care of individuals with food allergy,” says Daniel Rotrosen, M.D., director of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation at NIAID. “The process of developing the guidelines has also helped us identify gaps in the current scientific knowledge that we can begin to address through future research.”

All comments will be reviewed by the coordinating committee, expert panel and NIAID. Where appropriate, these comments will be used to develop final guidelines. The final guidelines are expected to be released by the fall of 2010.

More information on the development of the guidelines may be found at the NIAID Food Allergy Guidelines Web page.

NIAID conducts and supports research-at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide-to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-The Nation’s Medical Research Agency-includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

Your Comments Needed on National Food Allergy Guidelines is a post from: Best Allergy Sites

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“Enjoy wine and cocktails with friends, indulge in fine hors d’oeuvres, explore our fabulous auction and cruise Boston harbor at sunset!”

On the Majesty
May 2, 2010
5:30-7:00 Dockside Gala
7:00-8:30 Sunset Cruise
One Long Wharf, Boston Massachusetts

All are invited to attend. Ticket prices vary and start at $135. for a single ticket.

There are also sponsorship and advertising opportunities available.

I am serving as this years Auction Chair and am looking for donations for the
“Breath of Spring” silent auction.

All donations are tax deductible and your company will be listed on the AAFA-NE website, the auction brochure, in the newsletter and potentially in press releases. No donation is too small. Submission deadline is April 26, 2010.

Please email ruth (at) bestallergysites (dot) com if you are interested.

This is AAFA-NE largest fundraiser and all proceeds help in their mission to offer education and support to those with food allergies and their families.

We all know times are tough and we need and sincerely appreciate your support!

AAFA Annual Fundraiser: Breath of Spring 2010 is a post from: Best Allergy Sites

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I published a recent post titled Food Allergies and Vitamins that does list the gummy type. However, if you prefer a pill that is not geared towards kids or isn’t extra sugary–the Allergy Free Shop carries a few varieties that are free of many allergens. Two brands are listed below.

Deva brand Vegan Multivitamin is labeled free from dairy/casein, egg and soy. It contains 260% of calcium.

Product Ingredients
Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose Sodium, Vegetable Stearate, Modified Cellulose Gum, Silicon Dioxide (All of the ingredients are from plant or mineral sources)

Are there safe vitamins for those with food allergies? is a post from: Best Allergy Sites

Technorati Tags: allergy vitamins, calcium, dairy free, food allergies, gluten free, vitamins