10 Surprising Food Allergy Dangers
LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA — As the number of children with potentially fatal food allergies continues to grow, an increasing number of parents are learning not to take anything for granted. When ingestion of even a tiny amount of a common food can be deadly, staying safe often means an extremely high level of vigilance.
Here are 10 surprising places where food allergens are often found:
1. Pet Food: Toddlers may want to have a bite, or a food-allergic individual may get a slobbery “kiss” from a dog that has a mouth full of allergen-containing food.
2. Children’s Museums: Interactive exhibits may contain food-related items, such as ground-up walnut shells (that look like coarse sand) in paleontology displays.
3. Stuffed Toys: The “stuffing” in stuffed animals, bean bags, and other stuffed items may actually be crushed nut shells.
4. Soaps and Shampoos: May contain milk, nuts, wheat, or other food ingredients.
5. Movie Theatre Seats: Likely to be covered with butter and candy residue.
6. Play Dough: Contains wheat and possibly other allergens.
7. Hotel Rooms: Bits of food may be hiding under the bed, behind the furniture, etc., where a baby or toddler is likely to find them.
8. Bird Feeders: Birds tend to spread the bird seed – which can contain nuts, seeds, wheat, milk, and other allergens – all over the yard.
9. Clowns’ Pockets: Clowns and other entertainers at children’s events often throw candy to the crowd.
10. Open Containers of Otherwise Safe Food: Someone who had allergenic food residue on their fingers may have put their hand in the bag or box, thereby “contaminating” the entire batch.
Linda Coss, author of “How to Manage Your Child’s Life-Threatening Food Allergies – Practical Tips for Everyday Life,” gives those who are managing severe food allergies the following advice: “Don’t make any assumptions about where allergens may or may not be. Ask a lot of questions. Read the ingredient label on anything that has one, including non-food items. And always make sure your emergency medication is close at hand!” To learn more and view the online media kit for all three of Linda Coss’ food allergy books, please visit www.FoodAllergyBooks.com .