Washington D.C. based FAAN (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network) is the nation’s largest non-profit allergy resource. FAAN works with policymakers on federal, state, and local initiatives in areas such as food labeling, epinephrine availability, and management of food allergies in schools, camps, airlines, and restaurants. Tirelessly advocating for safety is FAAN’s CEO Julia Bradsher who has established FAAN’s vision to be a world leader in food allergy and anaphylaxis awareness. We are pleased to announce on June 25, 2010 our own Bay Area Allergy Advisory Board’s Mireille Schwartz has stepped onto the FAAN National Board of Directors. Although she will frequently travel to D.C. to participate in National advocacy, Bay Area Allergy Advisory Board’s scope and role will continue, and now achieve further advancement within our local community due to this strategic partnership.

National Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network: www.foodallergy.org

We’re proud to be recognized by Chronicle Staff Writer Carolyne Zinko as a resource for Tattoo Allergy Safety in this Sunday’s Style Section. 

Article: TV, Celebrities Give Tattoos High Profile

 Here is the full statement: “Tattoos are a wonderful way to express personal creativity and independence, but care should be taken to ensure you’re always treating your body right. Some might believe tattoo inks are made from ‘chemicals’, when in fact most pigments are derived from organic compounds like turmeric, squid inks, logwood, even cinnabar. And all red inks carry risks of allergic reactions. Most tattoo inks technically aren’t ‘inks’; they’re composed of pigments suspended in a carrier solution. If you suffer from severe allergies you can still enjoy tattooing, but these allergic reactions can lead to permanent scarring or other adverse symptoms. So always speak with your artist or ask for the name brand of the ink company and inquire what it’s made from before you get that needle pumping ink under your skin and into your bloodstream.”

Photo Credit: Russell Yip / The Chronicle

In the world of allergies, there are a few common culprits to which many sufferers can relate. But what of those whose allergies fall ouside of the mainstream – for example, allergic to…meat?

 Bay Area Allergy Advisory Board found an interesting study by our friends at ABC News Health.

Article: 12 Unusual Allergic Reactions Revealed

Getting Rid of an Epinephrine Auto Injector

If you or someone you love has a life threatening allergy (anaphylaxis), chances are you have at least one EpiPen on hand at all times, many stored at home, and perhaps even a few at facilities or schools you may frequent regularly. An EpiPen is an auto injector (spring activated needle) which expels epinephrine (adrenaline), and should be handled with care.

How to use, care for and store an EpiPen may be common knowledge among those who require one, however, disposing of EpiPens can prove taxing, and potentially nerve-wracking. With a needle many inches long chocked full of a foreign agent, many anaphylactics have a small collection of expired or faulty EpiPens sitting in their homes, without a clear idea as to where or how to correctly dispose of them. Here are some of your options – and preparations you should make – when it comes time to dispose of an EpiPen.

If possible, return your EpiPen to the plastic case it came in and screw the large green lid on as tightly as possible. If your EpiPen has been used, carefully avoid the exposed needle at the head of the injector while placing it back inside the plastic case. You may want to do this over a napkin or paper towel in case any solution left in the injector drips out of the syringe.

Call the following professionals to confirm that they will assist you in properly disposing of your EpiPen. Health care professionals vary greatly in their services, so take the time to pick up the phone before assuming any of the following will relieve you of your epinephrine injector:

Your pharmacist disposes of their own stock of expired EpiPens and will often take yours as well. They also know their customers, (perhaps they even filled the prescription in the first place) and will not be suspect of you when you walk in with a tube full of adrenaline. Bonus for you: You can get a new EpiPen prescription filled at the same time to replace the one you’re throwing away and save yourself a trip.

Your doctor’s office will have a ‘sharps’ disposal, and will sometimes take auto-injectors as well.

The local hospital, the emergency room or allergy clinic in your local hospital may all accept an EpiPen for disposal as they themselves will be disposing of their own used sharps and needles daily.

Medical Labs, especially those where blood work and needles are a staple will sometimes take EpiPens for disposal.

Always ask if the facility charges a fee for disposing of your EpiPen. Many do. Often, it’s well worth the extra couple of minutes it takes to call the next professional on the list to get the service for free.

If all else fails, you can dispose of your EpiPen in your household garbage. Especially in cases where the EpiPen has been used, use extreme care and ensure that the injector is completely secure in its plastic case. Place the EpiPen directly into a garbage can that cannot under any circumstances be accessed by a child.

Executive Director Mireille Schwartz was recently interviewed by Los Angeles Magazine.

LA Magazine: Why is this the year of Allergy Intelligence?

Mireille Schwartz: An empowered, educated food allergic individual is his/her own best defense. New, emerging strategies and prophylactic medication allow each person to manage their own health better and work with their Immunologist to create Action Plans they can each live with.

LA Mag: Why are we hearing that folks can indulge in mini-amounts of, say, peanut butter and build up a tolerance to cure themselves of allergic reactions?

MS: Patently untrue. There are studies in controlled environments – medical facilities – wherein test subjects can ingest miniscule amounts of a protein allergen and MAYBE increase their tolerance over time. These medical experiments are not designed to “cure” food allergy, rather the goal is to manage a severe anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction) by reducing the number of histamines released in an allergic crisis. I’m hearing good things about these studies, and time will tell how effective they are. For the time being my best personal advice is to strictly avoid food-allergens and hope that the body either outgrows the allergy or settles down and the allergic reaction becomes less severe. Always carry your Epi Pen and antihistamine, and practice with friends & family until you know how to utilize these life-saving tools.

LA Mag: Do you personally live with food allergy?

MS: I do and I don’t! (Laughs) I used to have a family member with severe food allergy to Peanuts and Tree Nuts, but with several years of strict management and avoidance our issue has settled down and gone away. The way my Board and I function is to design individualized strategies for food allergic Bay Area youths – what works for one person may not work for another. But we stick with it and customize comprehensive action plans for each and every child until we find a way that works for not only the youth but also for the entire family.

LA Mag: Do you feel compelled to provide this service or is it a labor of love?

MS: It’s what I was put on this earth to do. I can’t differentiate, but I know what you’re asking. And the answer is: both. Any one family I can help is reason enough to do what I do. 

Executive Director Mireille Schwartz and Boardmember Damion Matthews

We want to direct your attention to this piece in the San Francisco Chronicle that gives some very useful advice for how to travel safely when you or a loved one has a food allergy.

The article reviews Selectwisely.com, which helps liberate travelers who have food allergies and other health concerns.

Our appreciation goes out to the Chronicle for recognizing the importance of food allergies, and sharing this useful resource.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/24/TRVR18P0HC.DTL&type=travel

This is an amazing opportunity to help build awareness and fund research to improve the health of millions of people affected by food allergies. FAAN is a national nonprofit whose mission is to raise public awareness, to provide advocacy and education, and to advance research on behalf of all those affected by food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Approximately 12 million people, or 4% of the U.S. population, suffer from food allergy! Over 380,000 California children under the age of 18 years cope with food allergies daily. One in every 25 kids in a school can have a potentially fatal reaction to a food allergen.

One of FAAN’s main fundraising efforts is the Walk for Food Allergy, a family-friendly event that brings the community together in support of FAAN and its efforts against food allergies. In 2008, 25 sponsors and over 600 walkers in San Francisco helped earn over $110,000 for FAAN. Way to go, San Francisco!

With the support of hundreds of sponsors and over 15,000 walkers, FAAN raised $2.3 million from all 26 Walk for Food Allergy events held across the country in 2008. In the sixth year, the demand for FAAN Walks has increased to 36 cities across the nation. On Saturday, September 12, 2009, San Francisco will host its third Walk for Food Allergy in Golden Gate Park.

Mireille’s Honorary Co-Chair, Country Music star Trace Adkins, understands the serious dangers of food allergies from his experience in managing his daughter Brianna’s severe allergies to multiple foods, including to peanuts, milk, and eggs. He continues to help FAAN as the national spokesperson and to serve as the National Honorary Walk Chair for the 2009 Walks.

In 2008, Trace appeared on “The Celebrity Apprentice” in an effort to raise awareness of food allergies and support FAAN. “I’m so pleased to be able to lend my name as the National Honorary Chair,” says Trace.

Please visit foodallergy.org for more information about this important organization and the September 2009 event.

A delicious selection of “Let Them Eat Cake” goodies.

For a truly allergy-conscious catering of delicious treats at your next Bay Area event, we recommend the

good folks at Let Them Eat Cake! They call themselves “The Allergy-Friendly Patisserie,” specializing in egg-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan deserts, and they’re just great!

Amanda Macdessi, executive pastry chef for Let Them Eat Cake!, provided all of the allergy-safe items at a recent high-profile event that the Juicy Couture store in Union Square hosted for the San Francisco Zoo’s annual fundraiser, ZooFest for Kids.

BAAAB’s Mireille Schwartz, who helped organize the event at Juicy Couture, brought Let Them Eat Cake! into it and was so happy to create an allergy-safe environment for all of the guests.

Contact Information: Let Them Eat Cake! [T: 408-716-8582]

Many people may be affected by it and not even know the cause. But now scientists have discovered both the cause and the treatments.

• Article: “Oral Allergy Syndrome May Explain Mysterious Reactions” [cnn.com]