Daiya “Cheese” changes Ingredients

For those of you, like me, who have a dairy allergy, this is important for you to note. Today we got a different looking  box from Daiya for our Swiss “Cheese”. The package is smaller and says “improved texture and flavor”.  Of course Dave looked for ingredient changes…and sure enough there was an ingredient change.  The good news is they have removed Pea Protein Isolate, carrageenan, safflower oil and canola oil from the product!  They have added 3 new ingredients to replace the items above. I am waiting to hear back from Daiya if they are changing the entire line of products and will let you know when I find out. Here is what I could surmise from doing google searches on the new ingredients:

-Potato Protein Isolate: used as thickener (replaces the pea protein isolate)

-Konjac Gum:  (replaces the Carrageenan) Konjac is a dietary fiber which is based on Konjac flour being obtained from the tuber of Amorphophallus Konjac by means of drying and milling. Through further extraction and drying steps Konjac  can be processed until Konjac glucomannan is obtained. It is a polysaccharide consisting of the monosaccharide glucose and mannose.  Fresh Konjac contains an average of 13% dry matter and 64% of the dry matter is glucomannan. Glucomannan is a type of soluble dietary fiber.  Soluble fibers attract water and form a gel, which slows down digestion. It can delay the emptying of your stomach and makes you feel full, which helps in weight control. Slower empting of the stomach may also affect blood sugar levels and have a beneficial effect ion insulin sensitivity, which may help control diabetes. Konjac can also help lower LDL (“bad”) blood cholesterol by interfering with the absorption of dietary cholesterol.

Whole Algal Flour:  (replaces carrageenan, canola and safflower oils) It’s a pale yellow to green powder made of dried algae—specifically, Chlorella protothecoides strain S106 and approved by the FDA in 2014. It is said to be free of known allergens and will produces a softer feel in the mouth and will replace the fats.

Photos of new package on left and old package on right.

I will let you know when I learn more!

 

Meat Allergy: Shingles and MMR Vaccine Might Trigger Anaphylaxis

Dave Bloom from Snack Safely wrote a great article about the shingles and MMR Vaccine (measles, mumps, ruebella) … if you have an allergy to Beef, Pork, Gelatin or Alpha Gal Allergy, you definitely want to read this information!

Click Here to Read Article

A Tribute to Super Hero Moms!

Mother’s Day is here again and it got me thinking about the mothers who are in my life.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized how different the mothers are that come into our cafe, deli & bakery. They are different by necessity. Each year on Mother’s Day we all acknowledge the mothers in our lives but a mother to a child with food allergies, celiac disease or autism is quite different because of the additional burden when it comes to caring for her child. A very big part of this care is safely feeding that child.

If you think about it, most families can go out to eat and celebrate mother’s day and they can go out to eat anytime and anywhere.  If invited to a BBQ; they can go  and relax and eat with friends and family, they can order take out for a quick meal at home, they can go to school or on vacation with no worries when it comes to eating. That is something that the parents who come here with their children are not able to do.

If you know (or are) a mom to a child with Food Allergies, Celiac Disease or Autism, then you know what I am talking about.  If you are not, I would like you to imagine your life and what it would be like if you had to inspect every morsel of food that your child or children ingest because of the fear of behavioral changes, severe sickness or the possible death of your child.

Imagine Yourself in the following situations:

-Your child with autism is not invited to birthday parties. What do you need to do every day to reassure this child that they are truly loved and special?

-Your child is invited to a birthday party and you have to bring every morsel of food with you to make sure that they are safe. You can’t just drop them off and then go out for coffee; you have to watch over them like a hawk to keep them safe from all of the unsafe food around them. What would that be like for you?

-Your family is invited to Christmas or a holiday meal and you still have to make your own safe meal to bring for your child. You never get a break, what would that be like for you?

-Imagine going on vacation and the additional weeks of prior planning required in order to  find stores where you may be able to find safe food and trying to find restaurants that could safely feed your child.  Imagine coming up empty handed and knowing that when you go on that vacation, you will need to drive rather than fly so you can bring all of your coolers full of safe food with you.

-Imagine not being able to eat out on vacation, you have to make every single meal at home. So, basic hotels are out of the question, you must rent a full house with a full kitchen. You never get a true vacation.

-Imagine planning that trip to the beach, renting that ocean front condo and you or your child can never step foot outside or onto that beach because they are selling dry roasted peanuts on the boardwalk right in front of your condo and the sand is littered with peanut shells.  All your child wanted was to go to the beach and you made that happen but your child could only look at that beach through the window!

-Imagine going to a restaurant that says that they can accommodate your child’s allergies and watching them get gravely ill after eating their first bite.  For many this includes administering epinephrine and an ambulance ride to the hospital and a several day stay in that hospital. You then feel guilty for trusting that restaurant or waiter or chef with your child’s life.

-Imagine reading and inspecting every food label, calling food manufacturing companies and being assured the food is safe.  You feed the food to your child and end up calling 911 because it was not safe after all.  How do you forgive yourself when you know it is not your fault, but you are there to protect your child…how do you process this and live with it?

-Imagine sending your child to school and panicking every hour of the day wondering if your child is safe, even when they are grown and in college!

-Imagine the hours spent educating family, teachers, nurses and other students at school about the seriousness of food allergies, celiac disease and autism.Or volunteering to mentor parents of those who are newly diagnosed.  Exhausting!  Then you still have to be nice to the doubters or those who don’t care how serious your child’s allergy is. Frustrating!

-Imagine telling  your family about your child’s shellfish allergy and a family member dangles a shrimp in front of the child’s face on Christmas Day.  Do you still talk to that family member?

-Imagine telling your family about your child’s Celiac Disease and they think that it is okay to give them “just a little bit” and they say things like “he/she does not look sick” or “are you sure it was the “gluten” making them sick?” (Like you and your child don’t know when they have ingested gluten…others know when they have a cold, the symptoms are easy to recognize each time you get a cold; the same is true with Celiac Disease and a gluten reaction.)

-Imagine trying to explain to your family or strangers that your child is not being a “brat”; and that he/she has autism and is having a difficult time adjusting to this new environment. Imagine dealing with the disapproving and incriminating stares from strangers and not ever being able to lose your composure.

-Imagine sitting across from your doctor and hearing him tell you that you have breast cancer and your first thought is “OMG, how will I safely feed my food allergic child while going through this?” (You know that well meaning neighbors and friends can’t bring meals that are safe for your child when you are going through chemo.)

These mother’s wear a halo and a cape that is invisible to many, but not to me. I see the invisible super hero emblem that you display proudly each time your child needs to eat. These mother’s are truly super heroes! I am not saying that these mom’s love their child more than other moms; what I am saying is that they spend more time actively loving, worrying and preventing tragedy than the average mother. These mothers and their children truly inspire me and I am thrilled to be able to allow them some time to relax and feel the difference when dining at One Dish Cuisine Cafe, Deli & Bakery. This is why I am committed to opening more safe havens for these children and their parents.

Mother’s Day would not be complete without honoring the other great mothers in my life. My mother-in-law, Pat, raised a wonderful son, David, who is committed to welcoming folks back to the table with me here at One Dish Cuisine.  Pat’s weekly presence and support mean so much to me and I am so grateful to have her love and support and to have her in my life.

Additionally, my daughter-in- laws are wonderful mother’s to my two grandsons! I am so thankful for their monetary sacrifices and the decisions they both made to stay home and be with their child and bringing them to the cafe so I can see them! Truly, incredible.

My ex mother-in-law, Emily, is still a support system to this day! She is still that safe port in the storm for me when I need to talk with someone and she always gives me the courage to stand up and dust myself off and move on when things go wrong. I am so grateful that we have maintained such a wonderful relationship and I have learned so much from her and am happy to still call her my friend.

For my sisters who each show their children the love and support that they need; unique to their own circumstances. Each of you inspires me with the challenges that you handle so well each and every day.  Thanks for being great moms and great sisters.

My mother, Vickie, who had seven children in eight years (no twins), buried two of them when they were young and still managed to pick herself up each day and  chose to see the “good” in her situation. Not only has she financially supported One Dish Cuisine but she taught me that loving and giving is the most important thing a person can do on this earth and when you combine that with following your passion; then you will feel complete. It took me quite a few years to get over the self induced “pity party” that I was having about my own situation, but thanks to my mom, I finally saw the light and understood that the food I was making for myself could also serve the needs of others.  I am happy to be able to live with passion, purpose and sleep well at night. I have never worked so hard or so many hours in my life and I don’t have any personal time for friends or family, but my mother taught me that this type of sacrifice is okay; knowing that what I am building here is so important for so many in need. I am so grateful that she taught me not to be afraid of challenges and that faith, love and giving are the most important gifts that I possess and that I have the ability to use these “gifts” every day and these gifts that I have don’t cost me anything when I give freely.  I am thankful for my mother never giving up on me, she is truly my hero.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you great mothers, you all are Super Heroes!

I publish this each year.

Letter to American Airlines re: Food Allergy Policy

Here at One Dish Cuisine Cafe, Deli and Bakery, we have the most amazing customers! The following letter is from our young customer, Leah, who is a teenager, asking American Airlines to re-think their food allergy policy.  Leah has a peanut allergy and so does her brother. I think you all will beyond impressed with this letter and the research she did in order to write this wonderful letter!

13 March, 2017

Mr. Robert Isom, American Airlines

Dear Mr. Isom,

American Airlines is an amazing machine of prominent leadership, in charge of thousands of people per day. And leaders all over the world should continuously be in tune to human needs and safety, making sure that those they are in charge of are both safe and happy. This includes the 3 million people in the world who suffer from anaphylactic nut allergies, who put their lives and safety into your hands (Idiom?) whenever they fly American. According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), “every 3 minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room” (Logos). People with food allergies live in fear of this statistic, everyday tasks made tricky. Flying is a whole other story. But American can be the airline allergic people come to, the airline they trust (Anaphora). It is American’s time to step up as a leader in the food allergy community, American’s time to save lives everyday because of positive safety measures installed for food allergies. It is American’s time, Mr. Isom. (Repetition)

Recently, there have been complaints against your airline for mishandling and lack of knowledge regarding food allergies. In a New York Times article, lawyer Mary Vargas (Ethos) states that “when [nut allergic] families request permission to pre board [and wipe their seat free of nut allergens]…they risk being taken off the flight” a negligent mark on American Airlines’ policies (Rabin 2). Not only is this bad publicity for an airline like American, and heartbreaking for those being kicked off the plane, it may be illegal. According to FARE, “American Airlines’ policy is a violation of the Air Carrier Access Act, which provides that no air carrier may discriminate against any…individual with a disability” [Logos/Ethos] (Russell 3). Since food allergies are a fatal disability under the law, American Airlines not allowing passengers to accommodate for their allergies (no “nut buffer zones”, no pre-boarding, etc) is not legal. Should American really be defined by discriminatory policies and illegal actions? (Rhetorical Question) That goes against all the excellent values of quality, dedication, and service that the airline stands for! And everytime American denies a nut allergic passenger the right to fly, or hassles them about a disability they cannot control, they not only lose a customer. They truly hurt someone, or worse, endanger their life.

Food allergies are not only tricky to manage, they are terrifying (Personification). The constant checking of the labels. The knowledge that a peanut butter sandwich is poison (Metaphor). All people with food allergies want is to feel safe, and be treated like any other person. Take it from Roseanne Bloom, a mother who was kicked off an American plane because her two sons had nut allergies. She writes, “several AA employees approached us…and told us we were not able to fly [on American]…your employees were condescending and rude…my boys felt discriminated against and were treated as if they had done something wrong…what had we done wrong?” [Pathos] (Bloom 2). What did they do wrong? (Rhetorical Question) Why should anybody be stopped because of an immune system response they cannot control? Denying nut allergic passengers the right to fly is not the answer to the problem. It hurts more than it benefits. When a young girl flies American and reports “employees were joking about her severe allergies…[being] very rude” it not only reflects negatively on the airline, it makes a disabled person feel terrible about something that they cannot control [Pathos] (Rabin 3). Food allergic people do not deserve to be treated like scum (Simile), or even worse than non allergic counterparts- it’s the opposite. They deserve to be on an airline that takes the time to care about their needs, and ensure they have a safe flight. Just like they would anyone else. Other airlines have already began to find solutions to make sure allergies are not an issue on their flight. American Airlines undoubtedly has the power and standing to follow suit. Will you take this opportunity to help the 15 million in the world with food allergies? (Logos, Rhetorical Question)

Other airlines, such as Delta and JetBlue, have already found solutions (Bandwagon) to protect those with food allergies and help them get where they need to go. In an NY Times article, Sydney Silverman reports an excellent food allergy experience with Delta Airlines- recalling “a flight attendant asking people…‘Is it o.k if I don’t serve you peanuts on the flight?’, and they all said yes” [Dialogue] (Rabin 3). The attendant also made an announcement over the intercom to say they were not serving peanuts because of an on board allergy. No passengers complained or fought the allergy- and the flight went smoothly. Meanwhile, American’s policy says ‘We are not able to provide nut buffer zones, nor are we able to allow passengers to pre board to wipe down seats’. The policy also proclaims that nuts will still be served in the midst of a food allergy. These policies must be changed as food allergies continue to rise, and more allergic passengers look for an airline to protect them in the sky. One may agree with Dr. Andrew Craig of the American Peanut Council, [Ethos] who says that “the evidence about the perceived risks of eating nuts on planes has been presented [as low]” (Craig 2). But one man’s findings do not erase the story of Alisa Gleason, who “went into anaphylactic shock on board a…flight when a woman sitting several rows in front…opened a bag of peanuts” (Wicker 2). Or the story of a young 4 yr old, when “a passenger [despite warnings] sitting several rows away…opened a bag of nuts. The girl stopped breathing but luckily survived” (Wicker 3). Those stories could have gone many different ways. They could have ended in tragedy and loss. Or they could have not happened at all, because an airline took time to secure passenger safety. There could have been buffer zones, stricter warnings for non allergic passengers on board, a no nut flight, etc. (Enumeration) Allergies are on the rise, and sufferers need someone to take the time to care and protect them. It can be you, Mr. Isom. (Direct Address) A little extra time and preparation can save a life. Your motto says you are “The World’s Greatest Flyers.” And if you care about those with food allergies, saving lives and gaining new customers everyday- you truly will be.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and hope it inspired an idea of change in American Airline’s policies of dealing with food allergies. A lot of people do not really understand food allergies, or their fatality. But American can be the ones to help them understand, through excellent policies and safety measures. Because while allergic people still struggle to fly safely, the issue of food allergies on planes remains unresolved. American can be the ones to solve it once and for all, providing a safe place for nut allergic customers. The rewards of saving lives of nut-allergic people outweigh the benefits of discriminating against them. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Leah Packer

Works Cited:

Bloom, Roseanne. “American Airlines Nut Policy.” 25 Dec. 2016. Letter.

Craig, Andrew. “Nuts on Planes.” PeanutUSA.com, 2014, http://www.peanutsusa.com/about-peanuts/health-nutrition/186-nuts-on-planes-myths-media-and-facts.html. Accessed 10 Mar. 2017.

Rabin, Roni Caryn. “Travelers With Nut Allergies Clash With Airlines.” NyTimes.com, 26 Jan. 2017, http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/26/well/family/travelers-with-nut-allergies-clash-with-airlines.html. Accessed 6 Mar. 2017.

Russell, Ben. “WATCH LIVE:  Streaming Now: NBC 5 News logo_dfw_2x HomeNews LocalNBC 5 InvestigatesNBC 5 RespondsHealth ConnectionTexas NewsVideo Vault U.S. & WorldWeirdTraffic WeatherSportsEntertainment Few Clouds69° Connect  American Airlines Allergy Policy Discriminates: Complaint.” Nbc.com, 11 Jan. 2017, http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Allergy-Advocates-File-Complaint-Against-American-Airlines-410365005.html. Accessed 7 Mar. 2017.

Wicker, Amy. “Flying with Nut Allergies.” AllergySafeTravel.com, Jan. 2015, allergysafetravel.com/2015/01/flying-with-nut-allergies-a-call-to-action-2/. Accessed 9 Mar. 2017.

New Info From the 2017 GF Education Day

On Sunday June 11,  I had the pleasure to attend and speak at the Washington DC Gluten Free Education Day again this year. Each year this great event is made possible by the Celiac Disease Program at Children’s National Medical Center. In addition, our bakers Emily and Jennifer did a cooking demonstration of our quick breads.  I spoke about the pitfalls of FALCPA (Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act) and the GF Labeling Act and also gave some hints for easy weeknight meals.

This was a wonderful event for those who were newly diagnosed and those who are long time Celiacs got to learn what was new.  There were many activity sessions for children and so many well qualified speakers for adult sessions,  Unfortunately, I could not attend them all.  However, I was most impressed by the keynote presentation; The State of Celiac Disease- Current Research, Latest Advances and Mass Screening Protocols. Below are my notes from the session.

Dr Ivor Hill, Nationwide Celiac Disease Center Ohio; The Quintessential Autoimmune Disorder

-We know more about Celiac Disease than any other autoimmune disease! In 1888 Samuel Gee stated that diet would be the only cure. In 1950 William-Karel Dicke identified wheat, rye and barley as the problem.

-Factors in Celiac Disease are genetics, environmental factors, diet and other unknown triggers.

-Testing Recommendations are antibody blood testing, intestinal Biopsy and Genetic HLA Screening.

-Other grains that may be problematic for Celiacs are: Teff, Oats, Millet because they are in the same family! (Yup, they are a problem for me)

-Genetics; HLA and non HLA Genes found on chromosome 6, you can have DQ2 or DQ28 or both..they are necessary but not sufficient. There are many different versions of DQ2 and DQ8 genes with 40 different mutations associated. There is an autoimmune overlap.

-Trigger Factors; age, progression, prevalence, infections (rotovirus, adenovirus, stress, pregnancy and the Microbiome (lining of intestines) which is a trigger factor and is very different in those with Celiac.

-Research Treatments; Gluten Detox; grain modification is problematic due to the peptides in wheat. Glutenase; enzyme to relieve symptoms after gluten exposure is questionable because our stomach acid can destroy the enzyme.

-Peptide Transport Blockage; problematic…Lorazotide prevents opening of tight junctions in intestine that would let gluten in, but it only lasts about 90 minutes.

-Antibody Blockage or Nexvac 2 will only target those with gene HLA DQ 2.5.

-Future Research: He feels that the future will identify more genes involved in Celiac Disease. Right now half of all cases are cases of people who are asymptomatic.

Dr Edwin Lui, Colorado Children’s Hospital Celiac Disease Center; Is it Time for Mass Screening?

-Celiac Disease is not rare. Right now in the US the rate is 1.3%, Finland is 2% and Sweden is 3% (1984-1996 of all 12 year olds).

-Incidence of Celiac Disease is rising and more people are developing it.

-Who should we screen? Many have no symptoms. Those that are at risk are:

Those with: Type 1 Diabetes (3-12%), Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (7%), Liver Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, IgA Deficiency, Downs Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Pancreatic Disease, Kidney Disease, Addison’s Disease, Parathyroid Disease, Growth Hormone Deficiency, Family History.

-40% of population is at risk of developing Celiac Disease because they have DQ2 or DQ8 genes.

-Following children in Denver study found that 3% developed Celiac by age 15 while 5% developed the antibodies.

Dr Benny Kerzner, Celiac Disease Program Children’s National Health, Wash, DC; Best Practices for Management of Celiac Disease

-Dr Snyder, Dr Liu, Dr Fasano, etc, got together to set guidance for physicians for the care of those with Celiac Disease. Here are a couple of interesting points that he made. Some of this is new information for many of us!

-Check newly diagnosed Celiac for Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, Liver (AST and ALT) and Hepatitis B. (30-70% of Celiacs are non responsive to the Hep B Vaccine if they got it before they started on GF Diet! So make sure you get this taken care of.)

-Vitamin Deficiencies usually correct on their own once following a strict GF Diet…so they don’t usually screen for them unless there are issues that warrant it.  The same for bone density, etc.