Another peanut allergy question

[2littleprincesses28]

Everyone has been so awesome helping learn about DD's peanut allergy I have aonther question...its law to label if it has peanuts but not if it was made in a plant that also makes peanut products right?

I looked for choc ice cream today and found one that didn't say anything about any kind of nut so I bought it, but still decided to call the information # on the box to ask about peanuts and guess what it was made in a plant that also makes peanut products.

If it's not labeled how do you know what is safe? I keep reading that Hershey's Kissables and kisses are safe but after finding out about this ice cream I am worried about what I am really feeding her...what does everyone do??

 

[aussietravellers]

From personal experience as someone living with the allergy, there is a degree of risk with everything that you put into your mouth or on your skin as it is possible to have touched something that and have peanut residue on your hands or a utensil not cleaned properly.

Now I don't want to scare you by saying this as it is not scary, there is risk in everything we do in life, crossing a street for example, you can reduce your risk of getting hit by a car by crossing at lights or a pedestrian crossing, but it's not 100% guaranteed that you still won't get hit by a car. You just have a new risk in your life, well your daughter does, and that is peanuts. You do the best you can, you can only do the best you can to avoid them, but there is no guarantee of not having a reaction, which is why you ALWAYS have the epipen and any other things that your doctor has given your daughter for when she has an allergic reaction. That is what it's there for, that's why we have epipens and emergency plans set in place if we have an allergic reaction, for those unexpected times.

I as an almost 40 year old adult , yes I said almost 40 have had many allergic reactions to peanuts over my lifetime so far, but I have my emergency plan in place and have always followed that. When I was a child I had to be taught to draw back adrenaline into a syringe and give it to myself, that was scary, now there are epipens which has made this allergy a whole lot easier. I feel that I am pretty good at avoiding them, I have not had an allergic reaction now to peanuts in over 15 years! I went to an allergist last year to see if maybe I didn't have it anymore, but unfortunately I had the highest result he had ever seen, so yes, I do still have a severe allergy. This said, I do take some degree of risk with what I eat, I do eat some products that were made in factories where peanuts are also found (never any other nuts) and I also do eat some may contains, but I am an adult looking after my own allergy, not a parent looking after a child, which would be much scarier I think. I don't eat all may contains but I do eat some.

Anyway, you have to decide what amount or risk you take for your daughter, what you will and will not let your daughter eat. By doing a lot of research, talking to your doctor, read boards and talk to other people with the allergy or parents with PA children, you will decide for yourself at what level you want to avoid and this too may change from time to time, there is no wrong thing to do (other than to serve your child a peanut butter sandwich), if you are being as careful as you feel you need to be to keep your daughter safe.

I know this is daunting at this stage, it will get easier, as time goes on.

 

[james'mommy]

I am allergic to peanuts and all additional nuts. For myself I will use products that do not have an allergy warning. I feel safe enough with those products. But I also always have the epi pen handy just in case.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

When we were avoiding peanuts (ddAlmost14 had several false positive test results to peanuts, mixed in with her true postive results for other allergens), I called ice cream manufacturers about their products. I was told that they start the day's run with either plain vanilla or plain chocolate ice cream base, then add in the various products as they go during the day. So I stuck with either plain vanilla or chocolate ice creams (without peanut warnings on the label!!!) until dd passed her peanut challenge.

Unfortunately you'll probably have to make lots and lots of phone calls in the future, but it WILL get easier as it become a new normal way of life.

 

[GoofyFairie]

Your safest bet is tomake your own desserts. When it comes to sweets, peanuts is in everything. All ice cream is manufactured on the same lines, all baked goods are baked in the same trays and ovens. I make all my childrens cakes, cookies and ice cream. I also make my own bread. I have a bread machine and an ice cream maker. It is not the most convienent, but it is the safest and I don't worry about an allergic reaction. Just because you carry your medication doesn't mean it will always work like it is supposed. I am not risking my childs life. It takes a little more planning, but piece of mind is worth it. I always call a manufacturer before I feed my kids new products to see what their labeling and manufacturing policies are. I do not buy any big name chocolate, only Vermont Nut Free Choclates. Good luck!