I would like to take this time and remember some of the recent and not so recent deaths that have occurred from food allergies. These are just some of the reported cases. It is very sad that there have been so many and yet we have not heard about most of them.

Thank you for reading and sharing. The more we talk about it, the more others around us will too.  If you scroll down to the bottom of this page, you can view some of their pictures.

 "Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.”

This list was updated on February 7, 2021.

Food Allergy Deaths in 2021:

Cason Hallwood, 12, Dies from Suspected Anaphylaxis on Christmas Day. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2020:

Alexandra Erokhova, 25, passed away after suffering a reaction to a dessert at her wedding. Full Story

Nick Kelly, 16, passed away after suffering a suspected allergic reaction to takeaway. Full Story

Alexander Hall, 37, dies from an undiagnosed fish allergy after dining with his wife. Full Story ​& Full Story

Tom Morton (age unknown), suffered from an anaphylactic reaction to food and passed away. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2019:

Ellen Raffell, 16, died from anaphylactic reaction to a food she had eaten. Full Story

Sam Collins, 19, passed away on the 4th of August 2019 as a result of the anaphylaxis. Full Story

Logan E. Lewis, 20, died from an anaphylactic reaction to milk. ​Full Story

Wyatt Michael Polachek, 12, had an allergic reaction to something he had eaten at a party. Full Story

Ava-Grace Stevens, passed away after suffering a severe anaphylactic reaction while on vacation. Full Story

Christopher Trimper, 42, passed away due to complications from a shellfish allergy. Full Story

Rachel Hunger, 21, On April 19, Hunger suffered anaphylactic shock after eating an egg roll she didn’t know contained peanuts. Full Story
 
Tessa Perez, 11, was pronounced dead after suffering an allergic reaction to peanuts and going into anaphylaxis. Full Story

​Raffi Pownal, 11, died of anaphylaxis. The boy was known to have an allergy to milk. Full Story

Denise Saldate, 11, suffered a fast-moving anaphylactic reaction to milk protein from an unexpected source: a new prescription toothpaste. Full Story

Fathimath Hana, 24, died after suffering a severe allergic reaction. She had a Seafood allergy. Full Story

Brandon Cheatham, 17, died after eating some brownies that had walnuts in them. Full Story

Habiba Chishti, 9, passed away after eating an ice cream while on holiday in Spain. Full Story & Full Story

Cameron Jean-Pierre, 11, died from a suspected asthma attack induced by an airborne allergen. (Fish)
Full Story & Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2018:

Jadhen, 6, suffered an anaphylactic reaction after eating pancakes containing dairy. Full Story

Ruben Bousquet, 14, dies after eating popcorn at a movie theater with his parents. Full Story

Kyah Rayne Cohen, 21, died from an reaction to one taste of peanut sauce. Full Story 

Shante Turay-Thomas, 18, suffered an anaphylactic reaction after eating food thought to contain hazelnuts. Full Story

Sadie Bristow, 9, died after suffering anaphylaxis. She had a known dairy allergy. Full Story & Full Story

Kelly Ann Moyer, 39, died from anaphylaxis - fatal anaphylactic allergic/asthma reaction. Full Story & Full Story

Joanna Frances Salmingo-Fontaine, 30, died after suffering a severe reaction to nuts. Full Story & Full Story

Isabel Marrero, 9, died from an anaphylactic reaction in March this year, after her mother gave her what looked like her favorite biscuit. Full Story

NAME UNKNOWN, 6, Perth girl dies from a severe allergic reaction to dairy. Full Story

Alexi Stafford, 15, died from a severe reaction to a cookie containing peanut. Full Story & Full Story

Maximillian McGlinchey, 19, died as a result of anaphylaxis to peanut exposure after eating a meal at a Chinese restaurant. Full Story

Amanda Huynh, 12, died of an allergic reaction after eating a granola bar. Full Story

James Turnball, 15, passed away due to anaphylaxis after consuming a take-out meal. Full Story

George Hodgkiss, 31, died after having an allergic reaction to cashews. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2017:

Allison Suhy, 18, died after eating a donut that contained peanut. Full Story

Celia Marsh, 42, died after eating a super-veg rainbow flatbread containing a yoghurt that was supposed to be dairy-free. Full Story

Elijah Silvera, 3, died after being a served a grilled cheese sandwich at his preschool. He had a severe milk allergy. Full Story

Justin Mathews, 33, died after being exposed to walnuts during sandblasting. Full Story

Nainika Tikoo, 9, died after eating pancakes topped with blackberries. Full Story & Full Story

Jacob MacDonald, 15, suffered an allergic reaction after eating a cookie containing peanuts. Full Story

Chloe Gilbert, 15, died after eating a food containing yogurt. She had a dairy allergy. Full Story

Khoo Siew Hong, 60, died after eating prawns. She was allergic to shellfish. Full Story

Alastair Watson, 3, suffered an anaphylactic reaction during a baked milk challenge. Full Story

Anthony Lyson, 18, died of an anaphylactic reaction after accidentally consuming nuts. Full Story

Michael Julian, 27, suffered an allergic reaction that caused his brain to swell. Full Story

Georgina Hickman, 24, died after eating a single peanut flavored crisp. Full Story

Karanbir Cheema, 13, died after suffering an allergic reaction to cheese. Full Story & Full Story

Nissan Hayuni, 32, died on board a flight after consuming a specially ordered kosher meal. Full Story &
Full Story

Owen Carey, 18, suffered an allergic reaction and passed away after eating a piece of chicken. Full Story
 
Anthony Maruca, 23, suffered an allergic reaction and passed away suddenly from anaphylactic shock.
Full Story

Megan Lee, 15, dies after suffering an allergic reaction to takeaway food from a restaurant. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2016:

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, died of an anaphylactic reaction suffered during a flight. Full Story

Maleek Lawal, 10, died from a severe allergic reaction to an item containing dairy. Full Story

Nasar Ahmed, 14, died after suffering an allergic reaction from a school lunch containing milk.  Full Story

Domonic Prince, 32, suffered an allergic reaction after eating a salad purchased from a deli.

Tanner Sorensen, 14, had an allergic reaction to a cookie containing nuts. Full Story

Oakley Debbs, 11, died from an allergic reaction after eating a cake containing nut resin. Full Story

Ben Scott, 37, died from an allergic reaction to nuts. Full Story

Mariyah Pina, 14, had an allergic reaction to an unknown allergy. Full Story & Full Story

Breyton Horomona, 15, suffered a severe allergic reaction and died after eating calamari. Full Story

Paul Wilson, 38, died after eating a dish that contained peanuts. Full Story

Javier Avina, 10, died from asthma possibly caused by his peanut allergy. Full Story

Victor Lee, 10, tragically died after suffering an allergic reaction. Full Story

Abigail Raye Reiswitz, 13, died from asthma complications triggered by a reaction to milk. Full Story & Full Story

Bruce Kelly, 22, died after eating chocolates containing peanuts. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2015:

Georgia Murphy, 13, died from an allergic reaction after eating pizza. Full Story

Jermain Bourbon, 11, died from an anaphylactic reaction. Allergic to dairy, eggs and nuts. Full Story &
Full Story

Miles Bengco, 11, died from an allergic reaction to Mycoprotein. Full Story 

Katherine Schaefer, 18, died from an allergic reaction that led to a severe asthma attack. Full Story

Shalev Hazan, age unknown, died after eating a granola bar containing nuts. Full Story

Annie Legere, 13, died from anaphylactic shock after an unknown allergic reaction, likely to something she ate, according to her doctors. Full Story

Lois Tate, 13, died at the hospital while being treated for asthma. Parents suspect it was the food they served their food allergic child. Full Story, Full Story & Full Story

Cody Steven Kimball-Godfrey, 17, died from an allergic reaction. Full Story

Rachel Cole, 18, suffered an anaphylaxis reaction to peanut oil and died 6 days later. Full Story & Full Story

Cameron Wahid, 7, died after eating a dish that may have contained dairy. Full Story

Morgan Elizabeth Crutchfield, 17, died from an allergic reaction. Full Story & Full Story

Simon Katz, 16, died from an allergic reaction to peanut butter. Full Story

Andrea Mariano, 18, died from an anaphylactic allergic reaction. Full Story 

Amanda Thompson, 50, died after having an allergic reaction to a Sorbet. Full Story

Dylan Hill, 18, died after eating at an Indian restaurant. Full Story

Maisie Durant, 21, died after eating a cereal bar containing nuts. Full Story

Shahida Shahid, 18, died from an allergic reaction after eating at a local restaurant. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2014:

Alice Brooks, 19, died after suffering an allergic reaction. Full Story

Caroline Lorette, 14, died from an allergic reaction to dairy. Full Story

Brandon Dixon, 13, died after eating a candy bar given to him at school. Full Story

Deborah Mary Molloy, 52, died from an allergic reaction to lentils. Full Story

Richard Hugh Goins, 23, died after exposure to a food containing peanut. Full Story & Obituary

Aaron O'Farrell, 11, died from anaphylactic reaction. Full Story & Full Story

Derek Landon Wood, 11, died after eating a cookie from a local grocery store. Full Story

Sergio Lopez, 24, died after eating a mole sauce containing peanuts. Full Story & Obituary

Scott Johnson, 16, died from a milk allergy after eating pancakes at a restaurant. Full Story

Nutan Ajay, 16, died from an allergic reaction to egg. Full Story

Casey Ryan, 29, died from an allergic reaction to peanut oil. Full Story

Edward Alfred Horan II, 24, died after exposure to a food he is allergic to. Full Story

Jaime E. Mendoza, 16, dies after allergic reaction to peanut butter cookie. Full Story

Chandler Swink, 19, dies from an allergic reaction to peanut. Full Story

Joseph DeNicola, 7, dies after suffering an allergic reaction on Halloween. Full Story

Jack Burden, 18, died from a severe allergic reaction. Partial Story

Paul Wilson, 38, died from anaphylaxis. He had a peanut allergy. Full Story

Lydia Lavoshan, age unknown, died after having an allergic reaction to tahini, which contained sesame. Full Story

Edward Debbage, 8, died from an anaphylaxis reaction. Allergies to various foods. Full Story 

Connor Donaldson, 12, dies after eating food containing peanut. Full Story 

Food Allergy Deaths in 2013:

Elin Wahlgren, 16, died from an allergic reaction after eating tacos. Full Story

Ronak Warty, 10, died after drinking a wrongly labelled drink containing dairy. Full Story

Cody Hardy, 17, died from an allergic reaction to milk. See comments section for full story.

Marcus Terranova, 8, died from an anaphylactic reaction caused by an unknown food allergy. Full Story

Dora Mae Coburn, 68, died from an allergic reaction to bananas. Full Story

Abbie Benford, 15, died from an anaphylaxis reaction. Full Story

Emma Slone, 14, died from a reaction to a nut based sauce. She had a peanut allergy. Full Story

Andrew Turner, 35, died from eating bread containing nuts. Full Story

Shimmer James, 6, died after an allergic reaction to peanut. Full Story

Taylor Brown, 11, died from an allergic reaction. Partial Story and Partial Story.

Marcus Sweet, 46, died after an allergic reaction to coconut. Full Story

Connor Donaldson, 12, died from a suspected allergic reaction from nut allergy. Full Story

Giovanni Cipriano, 14, died from an allergic reaction to peanuts. Full Story

Derek Stephenson, 31, died from an allergic reaction after eating a curry dish containing peanut. He had a peanut allergy. Full Story

Ethan Williams, 14, died from a suspected tree nut allergy. Full Story

Natalie Giorgi, 13, died from an allergic reaction to peanut butter. Full Story

Mason Wight, 11, died from an allergic reaction. Partial Story

Jackie Scott, 35, died from an allergic reaction caused by peanut allergy. Full Story

Tanner Henstra, 11, died from an allergic reaction to peanut butter. Full Story

Adrian Gutierrez, 8, died from a possible reaction to milk. Full Story

Maia Santarelli-Gallo, 12, died of an allergic reaction after eating ice cream at the mall. Full Story

Cameron Fitzpatrick, 19, died after eating a cookie that contained peanut oil. He had a peanut and tree nut allergy.  Full Story

Faith Tolbert, 2, died after from an allergic reaction to peanut. Partial story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2012:

Danika Rae, 17, died from complications related to an airborne allergic reaction and asthma attack. Full Story

Myriam Ducre-Lemay, 20, died after kissing her boyfriend that had eaten peanut butter. Full Story

Michael Saffioti, 22, died from dairy allergy after eating oatmeal containing dairy. Full Story

Jack Levee, 17, died from a severe allergic reaction and a asthma attack. Full Story

Jack Irvine, 15, died after eating a cookie containing nuts at camp. Full Story 

William Luckett, 15, died after eating Chinese takeaway. He had a peanut allergy. Full Story

Ethan Thomas, 11, died from an allergic reaction to curry. He had a nut allergy. Full Story

Natalia Green, 17, died from an allergic reaction to chicken satay containing peanut. Full Story

Diallo Robbins Brinson,15, died from of an allergic reaction after eating a cookie. Full Story 

Amaya Seraton, 8, died from an allergic reaction. Details are unknown. Full Story

Ammaria Johnson, 7, died at school after being exposed to something containing peanut. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2011:

Raymond Cho, 16, died after eating a cookie in class that contained walnuts. Full Story

Efrat Chen, 26, died after eating a dessert at a Tel Aviv restaurant. Full Story

Hayden Wileman, 9, died after eating a cereal. He had an unknown peanut allergy. Full Story 

Jharell Dillard, 15, lost his life after eating a chocolate chip cookie, which unknowingly contained nuts. Full Story  

Tyler Cody Davis, 20, died from an allergic reaction after eating at the KSU Campus Dining Hall. Full Story

Christopher Smith, 17, died after eating takeout food from a Wirral, England restaurant. Full Story

Veronica Cirella, 8, died from allergic reaction. (undisclosed food allergy and cerebral palsy) food fed at home by mother (under investigation) Full Story

Mathew Lee, 26, died after eating a salad that contained nuts. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2010:

Ashley Frangella, 20, died from an allergic reaction to milk. Full Story

Megann Ayotte Lafort, 6, of Montreal died from asthma attack that is believed to be caused by a food allergic reaction. Full Story

Katelyn Carlson, 13, died after eating Chinese food with her class. Full Story

Yla Aquino, 17, died on prom night after accidentally digesting peanut butter. Full Story 

Poppy Harvey, 19, died after unknowingly eating a cake that contained peanut. Full Story 

Kevin Edouard, 21, died from suspected peanut allergy after eating on a cruise ship. Full Story

Emma Egerton, 18, died from takeaway curry. She had a peanut allergy. Full Story

Darren Taylor, 44, died from unknown fin-fish allergy. Full Story

Charlie Fidler, 8, died after an allergic reaction at a football barbecue. He was allergic to eggs, milk, wheat and certain nuts. Full Story

Molly Giles, 10, died from one spoonful of curry. She had a nut allergy. Full Story

Molly Dyer, 13, died from curry takeout. She had a nut allergy. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2009:

Danny Macpherson, 21, died from an allergic reaction after eating Indian takeout. Full Story  

Robert Anderson, 15, peanut, tree nut, egg allergy and asthma. Treated as asthma but later identified as anaphylaxis. (unconfirmed report) Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2008:

Mercedes Mears, 10, died after suffering an asthma attack. Food allergies are suspected to have played a part in her death. Full Story & Video

B.J. Hom, 18, died from an allergic reaction while on a family vacation. Full Story 

Andrew Michael Smith, 8, died from an allergic reaction while celebrating super bowl Sunday with family. Full Story

Daniel Sargent, 30, collapsed after taking a bite of a chocolate chip cookie. Full Story

Rodney Hawkins, 35, died from shellfish allergy after being served wrong. Full Story 

Dexter Skinner, 16, died after eating a chocolate bar. He had a peanut allergy. Full Story

Christopher Gould, 14, died after eating a cashew. Full Story 
 
Mark Nicholson, 28, died from peanut allergy after eating chili burgers. Full Story

Angus Myers, 32, nut allergy, died after eating take away curry. Full Story

Elizabeth Hoborough, 39, died days later after eating prawn soup. Full Story

Carol Lynn Winston Kiener, 66, died from a peanut allergy. Partial Story

Deja Vacey Hay, 7, died from milk allergy after drinking juice. Full Story

Paul Anthony Thurston, 30, died in jail when served a sandwich containing peanut butter. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2007:

Nathan Francis, 13, died after given a lunch of beef satay at camp. Full Story 
 
Karim Oughton, 13, died after eating a Brazil nut. He had never had a reaction before. Full Story

Carley Janelle Kohnen, 13, died from a burrito. She had a peanut, egg and milk allergy. Full Story

Grant  Freeman, 38, Collasped and died after eating a tomato entree. He was allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, seafood and chicken. Full Story

Mohsen Hussain, 9, died after having a sweet from the pick and mix candy section. He had a  nut allergy and asthma. Full Story

Jessica Cordoroy, 10, died after eating a pie at a restaurant. She had a peanut allergy and asthma. (unconfirmed story)

Stephanie Faulkner, 14, died from a dish at a restaurant that unknowingly contained nuts. Full Story

Kylie Lynch, 20, died after eating a dessert at a cafe that contained nuts. Full Story 

Francesca Sanna Mimmy, 19, Collasped and died minutes after brushing her teeth. She had several food allergies. Full Story

Michelle Bray, 21, died from seafood allergy. She had a severe anaphylactic reaction to a dim sim and collapsed. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2006:

Emily Vonder Meulen, 13, died at the mall after eating a sandwich she had eaten many times before. Full Story 

Amber Norman, 12, died after eating a sweet treat in school. Full Story

Paul Derrick Howard, 16, died from a sesame allergy most likely contained in a cereal bar he had eaten. Full Story

Brent Schivley, 16, died from a peanut reaction after eating a chocolate chip cookie. Full Story
 
Jane McVeigh, 17, died from nut allergy after unknowingly eating chicken satay at a birthday party. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2005:

Gina Marie Hunt, 14, died after having an allergic reaction after eating Chinese food at the mall with her friends. Full Story

Christina Desforges, 15, died after kissing her boyfriend, who had just eaten a peanut butter snack. Full Story

Thomas Schatten, 43, died an hour later after receiving treatment for his peanut allergy from an alternative medicine practitioner. Full Story 

David Joseph Boutot, 17, died from drinking a protein shake that contained whey. Full Story
 
Kailey Brianna Bowles, 7, died from a taste of hot cocoa in her room. She had a milk allergy. Full Story

Alison Armstrong, 11, died after eating a candy apple at the Grants Pass, OR Boatnik Festival. According to friends and family, Alison tasted peanut right away. The apple had been cooked in peanut oil. She was highly allergic to peanuts. (Can't locate full story)

Matthew Joseph Deluce, 24, died from peanut allergy after eating at a restaurant in Texas. Partial Story

Karen Lynn MacDonald, 27, died from accidential ingestion of peanut oil. Full Story

Chantelle Yambao, 13, died from peanut and nut allergy after eating a store-bought Nanaimo square. Full Story

Beverley Taylor, 37, died after eating a cashew that tasted like a peanut. She was allergic to peanuts, eggs, dairy, wheat and latex. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2004:

Jonathan Begley, 9, died from an allergic reaction to food while at school. Full Story

Amanda Mills, 19, died days after having an allergic reaction to a sandwich containing traces of nuts. Full Story. 

Alex Baptist, 4, died after being exposed to peanuts at school. Full Story.

Chris Clements, 17, died after eating chocolate that unknowingly contained hazelnut. He had a  tree nut allergy. Full Story
 
Habib Khan, 10, died at school after eating a meal from home. He had asthma and a dairy allergy. He died from an asthma attack, but it is believed to be triggered from the dairy allergy. Full Story

Amy Bauer Topic, 34, died from peanut allergy after accidental ingestion. Full Story

Phillip Heywood, 19, died from a peanut allergy after eating half a portion of curry. Full Story

Emily Givner, 38, died shortly after eating a sandwich wrap. She was allergic to chocolate, nuts, seeds and animals. Full Story
 
Prasad Gajare, 9, died from milk allergy. Partial Story

Sam Pettett, 22, died from eating a curry dish. Allergy unknow, but died from allergic reaction.  Full Story

Raya French, 37, died from tomato allergy after eating spaghetti bolognese for dinner. Full Story

Laura Benson, 19, died after eating a Rice Krispy Treat that unknowingly contained peanut butter. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths 2003:

Matt Schmauch, 29, died after eating at a Chinese buffet. Full Story

Kate Obertelli, 21, died after eating takeout food containing curry paste. Full Story 

Singh Bhamra, 49, died from egg allergy after unknowingly eating cake containing eggs. Full Story

Sabrina Shannon, 13, died from dairy protein that was still present on some school lunch tongs. The same tongs were used to pick up Sabrina's french fries. Sabrina's Law took effect on January 1, 2006. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2002:

Trent A. Hankins, 31, died after touching food containing peanut oil at a dinner party. Full Story  

Thomas Egna, 5 months, died from milk allergy after being fed milk in a daycare. Full Story

Richard Sobrino, 38, had an allergic reaction to a candy bar and later died at the hospital. He had a peanut allergy.  Full Story

Hamidur Rahman, 14, died from peanut allergy while on a school excursion. Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2001:

Nathan Walters, 9, died on a class field trip after eating a sacked lunch offered to him which contained a peanut butter sandwich and cookies. Full Story

William Gallagher, 16, died after eating walnuts from his home economics class. Partial Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 2000:

Sarah Hubert, 13, died from Milk Allergy. Partial Story.

Nicola Ratcliffe, 18, died from a nut allergy after eating Indian food. Full Story

Luisa Dennis, 28, died from walnut allergy after eating bread that unknowingly contained walnuts. Partial Story

Patrick Maxeiner, 24, death is suspected to have been caused from a peanut allergy. (unconfirmed)  Partial Story

Food Allergy Death in 1999:

Joseph Murphy, 18, died after eating pistachio nuts. He knew he was allergic to peanuts, but not aware of his nut allergy. Full Story

Food Allergy Death 1998:

Mark Villa, died after eating a sugar cookie containing peanut butter.  Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 1996:

Kristen Wyak Norris, 13, died from anaphylactic shock due to complications from asthma and
allergies. She was allergic to nuts.Full Story

Joshua Ramirez, 21, died from peanut allergy after eating a cookie in a vending machine in his dormitory.Full Story

Food Allergy Deaths in 1991:

Johnny Robbins, 16, died after eating an egg roll containing peanut butter. See comments section for full story. 

Food Allergy Death in 1989:

Cheryl Winegardner, 10, died from a peanut allergy while on a school field trip. Full Story

Food Allergy Death in 1986:

Katherine Brodsky, 18, died after eating chili from a restaurant that was flavored with peanut butter. Full Story

"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones
shine down to let us know they are happy."

If you have never heard of FAACT or are just not sure what they are all about, then I am happy you are reading this blog.  I just recently joined the FAACT Team as Director of Education and Community Outreach and I am so thankful to be part of this team.  The entire FAACT team consists of mothers of children with food allergies, so they understand what it is like to have a child with life threatening allergies.  It is so great to have a connection with these ladies and know we are working towards the same goal.  All of us on the team want to make this world a better place for people suffering from food allergies through awareness and education.  I am a huge fan of any food allergy organization, but this organization is very special.  All of the ladies within the FAACT organization truly inspire me, and they are equally passionate about food allergies.  I am so honored to say I work with these ladies. 

Eleanor Garrow-Holding is the Founder and CEO of FAACT.  I first met Eleanor when she worked with the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) as Vice President of Education and Outreach.  From the very first moment I met her, I felt an immediate connection.  She was so warm and probably the most supportive and encouraging person I have ever met.  I was new to the world of food allergies and she welcomed me to the food allergy community with open arms.  After this first encounter, we continued a friendship via email and Facebook and I am confident it will continue to grow in the years to come.  You can read more about this fabulous lady here.  

Thanita Glancy is FAACT's Director of Civil Rights Advocacy.  My first meeting with her was at a FAAN Leader's Summit in Chicago, where she discussed 504 Plans in great detail.  This lady is a warrior and knows her stuff when it comes to the food allergic and their civil rights.  Her discussions helped me a great deal when it came to mapping out my son's 504 Plan for Kindergarten.  I am truly thankful for her knowledge and her compassion.  You can read more about Thanita here.

Karen Harris is the Vice President of Education and Outreach at FAACT.  If you just talk to Karen for a couple minutes you will want to be her friend.  She is such a kind and compassionate person and I am so grateful to be working alongside her.  I first met Karen via Facebook and we immediately connected and I was honored to have the opportunity to meet her at a FARE Leader's Summit in Chicago, IL.  Read more about Karen here.

Amelia Smith Murphee is General Council and Vice President of Civil Rights Advocacy at FAACT.  I have not yet had the opportunity to meet Amelia face to face, but I am looking forward to meeting her soon.  We have talked via Facebook and telephone and I am certainly glad to have this lady on our team.  She understands food allergies and the rights of food allergic individuals.  I can tell she is a very smart lady and has great knowledge regarding civil rights and advocacy.  You can read more about Amelia here.

How can you not want to support and join this team of amazing food allergic moms and advocates?  The FAACT team have so much planned for the future along with this year's Food Allergy Leadership Summits and Food Allergy Conferences in Anaheim, Atlanta, Denver and Philadelphia.  I really love FACCT's main focus, which is education, advocacy and awareness.  And most importantly a connection with people who truly understand what it is like to deal with food allergies on a day to day basis. 

To learn more about FAACT and how you can become a FAACT Patron, please visit the website here. 

The No Biggie Bunch is extending an exclusive Back to School offer to No Nuts Moms Group members. With every book order by No Nuts Moms Group members, now through September 30th, The No Biggie Bunch will provide a copy of Everyday Cool with Food Allergies – FREE! Just use the coupon code NNMG1 at checkout on The No Biggie Bunch website.

Everyday Cool with Food Allergies is a resource for kids and caregivers alike, and part of The No Biggie Bunch children’s book series for kids creatively coping with food allergies. Created by a mom of kids with food allergies, The No Biggie Bunch stands for being prepared, staying safe and having a great attitude. It aims to engage, educate and empower children with food allergies and their friends.    

Start your school year off with The No Biggie Bunch and keep the food allergy conversation going!     

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Since it is Food Allergy Awareness Month, Nut Free Wear is offering No Nuts Moms Group members a chance to win an allergy awareness t-shirt of their choice. Enter the contest below and to learn more about this great company, check out their website and products here.

Since I have been part of the food allergy world, I have seen the question about coconut get posted often. The main question is usually, "Is this a tree nut and should we avoid?" Post this question on Facebook and you will get a ton of comments regarding this subject.

Coconut is classified by the FDA as a tree nut and therefore all foods containing coconut by law must be listed as containing coconut or containing a tree nut. Coconut is really not a tree nut, but the FDA decided to call it one and confuse everyone. Some allergist say to avoid and some say not to. There are true coconut allergies, but you shouldn't just assume you can't consume coconut if you are allergic to tree nuts. Get tested and discuss this further with your board certified allergist.

This brings me to the reason why I decided to write this post. It seems that there have been some cases where manufacturing companies have labeled themselves as being tree nut free and then not disclosing that the item actually contains coconut. Most of us know that coconut is not a tree nut and most tree nut allergic are perfectly fine consuming it, but since it is considered a tree nut by the FDA and a tree nut is one of the top eight allergens then it must be labeled on the package. My family doesn't avoid coconut, but we do have some members within our No Nuts Moms Group that are very allergic and this can lead to a very serious reaction. So whether or not you believe a coconut to be a tree nut or not, it still needs to be labeled on a food item containing coconut. PERIOD! It is the law. If you have a coconut allergy, please be sure to investigate items a little further even if they are labeled tree nut free. If you find out a company is not labeling then let them know and also consider reporting them to the FDA.  

Helpful Resources:

Question: Is Coconut a Tree Nut?

Is Coconut Safe For People With Tree Nut Allergies?

Tree Nut Allergies

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I recently attended the third annual Mylan Blogger Summit in Canonsburg, PA. The night before the summit, Mylan also hosted a very nice dinner at Jackson's. It was very good and the staff appeared to handle food allergies very well. I always look forward to this summit because it is like a reunion for all of us from previous summits. The guest list included a lot of familiar faces, but also some new ones. Although this was the first time I met some of these women, I feel like I already know them very well from their blogs and social media. It was so nice to finally meet these women in person. Two of these women are Kristen Rutter from Nutfreemomma and Rachel Hayden from Mom Vs. Food Allergy. Not only do these ladies have great blogs, they are also Group Leaders for two local No Nuts Moms Groups. Kristen and I are family and she's Group Leader for No Nuts Moms Group of Cleveland, Ohio and Rachel is the Group Leader for No Nuts Moms Group of Dayton, Ohio, so meeting these two for the first time was very special to me.

The following morning we all took a shuttle from the hotel to Mylan's Headquarters. When we pulled up to the building, I was in awe. The front of the building is amazing and the inside is beautiful. Once we received our clearance badges and got settled in, we were served a very nice breakfast. Shortly after, the summit began and we all tweeted away throughout the entire day.

Just like the two previous Mylan Blogger Summits, I learned a lot and I was inspired by everyone in the room.  The speakers included: Julie Knell (Director of Communications, Mylan Speciality), Tony Mauro (President, Mylan North America), Sherry Korczynski (VP of Epipen Marketing, Mylan), Bruce Lott (VP of State Government Relationships, Mylan), Dr. Ruchi Gupta (M.D., M.P.H.), Siobhan Cavanaugh (Senior Director of Professional Affairs and Advocacy, Mylan), Michael Tringale (VP of External Affairs, AAFA), Becky Fry from American Red Cross and Allison May Rosen from 3D Communications. The Mylan representatives discussed many things including a new campaign called, "Life Happens, Be Prepared." The new ads can be found inside magazines such as Real Simple and Women's Day. We all viewed and discussed the latest Epipen TV commercial by Mylan. The reps were open to hearing our feedback and taking suggestions for future commercials regarding Epipen and anaphylaxis awareness. Mylan gave us the update on legislation to stock epinephrine in schools and also shared an addition to their EpiPen 4 Schools program. This program gives eligible schools up to four free epipens and now offers an EpiLocker for schools to store their Epipen Auto-Injectors. Mylan shared the launch of their new website happening next month and they discussed the new My Epipen App that is now available for free on iTunes and Google Play. They also talked about the $0-Copay Offer, which has been extended until December 31, 2014. 

Dr. Ruchi Gupta gave a presentation and I always enjoy hearing her speak. She is very engaging and interactive with us. She has helped me a lot throughout the last couple of years and I truly appreciate everything she does. Dr. Gupta went over some studies and research that she is working on and also took many questions from us. One of the studies discussed was completed in 2011 and concluded that 8 percent of US children have a food allergy. You can read more about the study here. Dr. Gupta is also working with others to get hospitals to correctly code cases of anaphylaxis. There are many cases that most likely get coded incorrectly for something other than anaphylaxis, so it is so important that we train hospitals and their staff on how to recognize and code anaphylaxis. As an example, some cases of anaphylaxis get coded as asthma or cardiac arrest. We also talked about food allergy testing and when to get tested and when not to get tested. Dr. Gupta said, "Don't get tested unnecessarily." We all know how unreliable testing can be, so you really shouldn't be getting tested and then removing foods that you really aren't even allergic to. Your allergist should be following the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States.

It was great to meet Michael Tringale from Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. AAFA is a not-for-profit organization and the leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies. They are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with asthma and allergic diseases through education, advocacy and research. AAFA released a great report in 2013 called The State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for schools. Find out what your school's rating is here. Another cool thing about AAFA is that they merged with Kids With Food Allergies, one of the leading food allergy organizations out there. Kids With Food Allergies Foundation and Asthma and Allergy Foundation announced their merger on February 15, 2013. Read the full press release here. Both organizations have done great things for our community and I look forward to seeing much more from them in the near future.

Becky from American Red Cross shared a video from an online anaphylaxis course offered on their website. She received a lot of feedback from the group and seemed to be very interested in our opinions and took our concerns seriously. Our first concern was their training video of the online course shows the child sitting upright in his chair when receiving epinephrine. Many of us, along with Dr. Gupta, questioned this since we have always thought that it best to lay the child down flat on their back. There is conflicting information online regarding this. I recommend checking out the following online course from Epi Center. At this time, this is the best resource out there regarding anaphylaxis first aid. The second concern we had was that the video states you should be wearing gloves before administering epinephrine. I think it is safe to say anyone that has knowledge with food allergies and anaphylaxis knows you do not need to wear a glove to administer an epinephrine auto-injector. All auto-injectors are made with a great safety feature that prevents any exposure of the actual needle. We also don't want anyone that is caring for someone having an anaphylaxis reaction to think they should ever delay treatment in order to go look for a glove before administering this life saving medication. Every second counts and we have to get the message across that they need to administer the epinephrine immediately and it is safe to do so. Delaying treatment for any reason may be fatal. The third concern was their anaphylaxis course was not included in the American Red Cross babysitting course. This should be a must for anyone caring for a child. Thanks to the food allergy community and our live tweeting, the representatives from American Red Cross quickly responded to our concerns. Because of all of us banding together, I really think that the Red Cross will make the appropriate changes.   

Allison May Rosen from 3D Communications spoke to all of us regarding effective communication and gave us some great tips on how to get our message across. I found all of her tips very helpful and I can see a lot of it to be very useful in the food allergy community. Especially when speaking with media and legislators regarding stock epinephrine in schools. I think I need an entirely separate blog for this topic because there was a lot of helpful information to share.  

The summit came to an end around 5 pm and it was time to say goodbye to all of my old and new friends. I always hate saying goodbye to them, but I know that I will see them again and talk to them often. I then boarded a plane back to Detroit, MI with my great friend Keeley from Keeley McGuire Blog.

Thank you Mylan for everything you do for the food allergy community.

Homa Woodrum (Oh Mah Deehness!), Kelly Lindberg (Food Allergy Feast), Joanne LaSpina (Food Allergy Assistant), Dr. Ruchi Gupta, Lisa Rutter (No Nuts Moms Group), Colette Martin (Learning to Eat Allergy- Free), Jenny Sprague (Multiple Food Allergy Help), Keeley McGuire (Keeley McGuire Blog), Elizabeth DiBurro (EBL Food Allergies), Ruth LovettSmith (Best Allergy Sites), Kimberly Pellicore (The Food Allergy Mom)  Lindsey Steffensen (Frugal Food Allergies), Kristen Rutter (Nutfreemomma), Rachel Hayden (Mom Vs. Food Allergy), Tracy Bush (Nutrimom - Food Allergy Liason), Kelly Rudnicki (Food Allergy Mama) (Not Pictured)  

I disclose in any communication made by me about Epipen (epinephrine) Auto-Injector and/or the Mylan Specialty Blogger Summit that such communication is at my own discretion and based on my own opinion.  I also disclose that my travel expenses were compensated by Mylan Specialty in exchange for evaluation and feedback on information presented during the meeting.

Want to know more about living well with food allergies like how to find a great allergist, create a support system that works and dine out with confidence? 

Sloane Miller's book: Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies (Wiley, 2011) can help.

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