Food Allergy Assistant

Reporting a Mislabeled Food

2009-11-13T10:22:00.000-05:00

We depend on food labels. If the label has incorrect information, someone with food allergies could have a severe, even fatal, reaction.

Quick thinking on the part of Crystal Johnson, who discovered chocolate covered peanuts in her pecan ice cream, may have saved lives. Peanuts were not listed on the label and should not have been in the ice cream. She has a friend with a peanut allergy and knew this could cause a serious reaction. Ms. Johnson contacted FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) and the FDA (Food and Drug Association) as well as Mars, the parent company for Dove who manufactured the ice cream product. She saved the container and the FDA sent someone to her home to test it. The product did indeed contain peanuts and was recalled.

That's how it's done.

By the way, Ms. Johnson did get a letter of apology from Mar's and coupons for free ice cream. Here's the entire article.

Food Allergy Blog Carnival: November 12, 2009

2009-11-12T07:18:00.008-05:00

Welcome to the November 12, 2009 edition of the Living With Food Allergies Blog Carnival.

Karen Blue presents
Interview with The No Biggie Bunch a series of books for kids with allergies"

Kim, The Food Allergy Coach presents
Allergen Free Baking: Baked treats for all occasions
"This is a great book for parents of kids w/ food allergies!"

Lara DeHaven presents
A Wheat-Free ?Graham Cracker? Crust

OCMomActivities presents
Goodbye beloved oats...
"I hope this is the right tone of post. :) It's about my recent discovery of my allergy to Oats."

That concludes this edition. Thank you for stopping by.

Be sure to submit your blog article to the next edition of Living With Food Allergies Blog Carnival to be published November 25, 2009.

Have a great week-end!

New Food Allergy Studies

2009-11-11T04:59:00.000-05:00

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has just wrapped up their annual conference. Many studies related to food allergy were presented at the conference. Here are some interesting highlights:

"Use of Epinephrine for the Treatment of Anaphylaxis by US Emergency Medical Service(EMS)Personnel in the Pre-Hospital Setting"- Only 17 states require EMS-Basics to have epinephrine available, and 15 states do not require any level of EMS to carry epinephrine for anaphylaxis treatment.

"Proactive Egg Ingestion in High-risk Patients with Severe Egg Allergy" Twenty-nine severely egg allergic patients were introduced to egg in carefully controlled increments. Eighty-six percent were able to eat one fourth of cooked whole egg within 10 months.

"What Does a Patient with Anaphylaxis Do before Seeking Medical Attention?" Many people delay medical treatment of a food allergy reaction because they believe the symptoms will subside over time. Of those who sought medical care for a reaction, only 30% used self-injectable epinephrine prior to arrival for treatment. This study concluded that more education is needed as time is critical when treating an allergic reaction.

"The School Nurse's Perception of Food Allergy - A Statewide Survey" A survey conducted in Mississippi revealed that students were more likely to have food allergy action plans if the school nurse received information on food allergies from parents or a physician, or if the student attended a school in an urban area. The study showed that 97% of the nurses surveyed had at least one child with food allergy in the school. Only 30% of schools had action plans for children with food allergy.

Want more detail on any of these highlights? Read the summaries here.

The Heart of FAAN Ambassador Program

2009-11-09T09:25:00.003-05:00

Do you know a child who should be the face of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network? Mine said, "no way", but I'm sure some of you may know a food allergic child who would be a perfect fit.

Seven-year-old Nadia DiNatale is one child who hopes to be the FAAN ambassador. She says, “It is also very important for all people to work together to help others to understand food allergies, and food allergy safety, so that people with food allergies can live safe and happy lives.”

Well said, Nadia!

If you want to nominate a child for this important role, check out the Heart of FAAN Ambassador Program page. Children need to be between the ages of 3-11 and a nomination requires a $100 tax deductible donation.

Anyone can vote for a child, with a $10 donation, through Feb. 14, 2010.

Food Allergy Community Up in Arms Over Nut Article

2009-11-06T08:32:00.003-05:00

Chatelaine, a leading Canadian woman's magazine, recently published an article that has caused a backlash among those in the food allergy community. "It's Just Nuts", written by Patricia Pearson, makes comments like "carrying the lunch he is most likely to consume (she's talking peanut butter sandwiches here) into his elementary school is equivalent to showing up with a gun", are clearly intended to fuel anger.

The article is poorly researched and self-serving for the author who admits her child is a picky eater.

Come on, let's all play nice and be respectful to each other. It is obvious the author did not speak to school officials to find out the details of the peanut ban in her school. She did speak to one parent, who questioned whether or not her child really had a peanut allergy (diagnosed by an allergist) and whether he really needed an EpiPen® because "they are expensive", "expire" and "probably the daycare staff wouldn't know how to use it anyway".

That's the parent she chose to interview?

Over 190 comments have been written to the magazine about this article. Allergic Living magazine has also gone on the record and has sent a letter to the Chatelaine signed by 206 people who are angered over the piece.

Check out the article and feel free to leave your comments as well. The editor of Chatelaine needs to hear loud and clear that a sensational seeking article like this is unacceptable.

Egg-Free H1N1 Vaccine

2009-11-04T05:42:00.002-05:00

FluGen, Inc. has announced a cell-based production of flu vaccine that doesn't use egg in any part of production. Great news for those with egg allergy.

Read all about it.

The company hopes to ramp up production and have vaccine ready, "in the very near future".

My questions:

Will it be FDA approved for use in the United States?

Will there be a method for getting it to people with egg allergy first as they are unable, or at risk to get, the egg-based vaccines?

I'll keep you posted on this.

Swine Flu: This Century's Scarlet Letter?

2009-11-03T05:48:00.000-05:00

"You have H1N1," the doctor calmly told me last week.

"But I can't," I replied. "I don't feel that sick." Granted, I had just spent two days doing little more than lying on the sofa with my sore throat, cough and occasional low fever...but swine flu?

This couldn't be that. Plus, yuck. I didn't want to tell anyone I had swine flu. It would sound like I haven't been washing my hands or I've been allowing sick people to cough and sneeze in my face. I've been following every precaution. How could this happen to me?

But the doctor told me this is typical of what they are seeing. People are reporting cold symptoms of sore throat, congestion and cough. Then add low grade fevers between 100-101.5 degrees with fatigue and sometimes body aches. That's what I had.

She prescribed Tamiflu®. I rested, took my medicine and got better.

The rest of the family used Clorox Wipes® to wipe down surfaces, avoided sharing hand towels and stayed away from one another. Two of the four of us got the flu, the other two..not...or not yet.

So, it seems like this is what swine flu will look like for most of us. Common sense dictates that we need to listen to our bodies, take care of ourselves if we get sick and get appropriate medical care if symptoms get worse or can't be managed at home.

Yes, we need to take H1N1 seriously. Just like you I've heard about the deaths from this flu, particularly in children. It's scary, but for most families it's manageable. For those of us with kids with asthma or other health issues, we need to take special precautions if our kids get sick. Tamiflu® can be taken prophylactically for a period of time in the event of possible exposure to the flu. Plan ahead and talk to your doctor now about your concerns.

Dey Introduces New and Improved EpiPens®

2009-11-02T02:05:00.001-05:00

The next-generation EpiPen® Auto-Injector is now available. It has some new features such as needle protection before and after use to eliminate accidental needle pricks. I like that. It also has a new color- orange- and a new shape- oval- with easier to read instructions. Sounds good. Check out the full press release.

Food Allergies at College

2009-10-30T05:06:00.001-04:00

We're still years away from dealing with food allergies at college. I have heard from friends, though, that many campuses have set up food allergy policies. This article, in the Miami Hurricane, student newspaper of the University of Miami, features food allergy issues.

FAAN (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network) recently started a site where parents and students can find out how food allergy friendly campuses are. You enter the name of the university and search. The FAAN College Network seems to be fairly new with limited data at this time. But, check back as more campuses provide information. This could be a great tool for families. I love the concept.

Have any of you dealt with food allergies and colleges? What's it been like?

Getting Enough Vitamin D

2009-10-28T05:05:00.000-04:00

A recent study out of Harvard reveals that one in five children between the ages of one and eleven, are not getting enough Vitamin D. We need vitamin D to help maintain calcium levels to keep our bones strong. It also turns out that this vitamin might help prevent serious diseases, including infections, osteoporosis, diabetes and even some cancers.

It's important.

For people with food allergies, getting enough vitamin D may be challenging. In the U.S., milk is fortified with Vitamin D. For the dairy allergic, getting vitamin D by drinking milk is not an option. Turns out, milk alone (even 8 glasses a day!) is not an adequate source. A glass of milk typically contains 50-100 IU. We may need between 1,000 to 2,000 IU per day of vitamin D. Research is ongoing to pinpoint the daily requirement of Vitamin D.

Good natural sources of Vitamin D can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines. Sunlight is a source of the vitamin as well. Of course excessive sun exposure can cause other problems, so be sensible.

If you're concerned about Vitamin D, talk to your doctor and see if a supplement might be beneficial.

Miss Roben's, The Allergy Grocer, is Back

2009-10-26T08:50:00.001-04:00

Oh, how I've missed you, Miss Roben's...

For those of us who have been buying allergy friendly foods for awhile, Miss Roben's was a one-stop shop. Only available through mail order, Miss Roben's and The Allergy Grocer, offered a wide variety of foods and helpful telephone advice.

Then came news that Miss Roben's was out of business. Many of us struggled to find substitutes for our favorite mixes and ingredients. Shopping several companies meant increased shipping and handling costs. It was a big loss to the food allergy community.

Then, finally a few months ago, brought news that Miss Roben's and The Allergy Grocer would be back- bigger and better.

Well, they're here. I just got off the phone with Seth. They've got an updated website and will offer live chat as well as online and telephone orders. The website will be involved in testing over the next few days, so it may go down from time to time. For this week, call in your orders (New Number: 1-888-476-3350) while they get the last few kinks ironed out. You can also sign up for their newsletter to receive special offers.

Go ahead, check it out.

Welcome back Miss Robens and The Allergy Grocer. You're looking good!

Food Allergies: A YouTube Sensation

2009-10-23T05:25:00.001-04:00

Do you know there are over 2,000 YouTube videos devoted to food allergy? You can find everything from a mom conversation with Disney chefs about food allergies to recipes to back to school tips.

The ones I like the best are devoted to teaching children about food allergies. Look through the list and see if you can find a few that help your family deal with food allergy.

Flu Vaccine for Egg Allergic?

2009-10-21T05:29:00.000-04:00

The Food Allergy Asssistant received many comments on the post related to HINI vaccine and egg allergy. There is much confusion and alarm for our children with egg allergies who are affected by the egg-based method for making flu vaccine. I've done more research and this is what I found:

There is much interest in a cell-based flu vaccine that would be safe for those with egg allergy.The technology currently used to make our chicken egg-based flu vaccine is over 50 years old.The new technology is animal cell based, rather than egg based. This process could save weeks in manufacture time and is less likely to become contaminated.

One company, Novartis, is close. They are building a plant in Holly Springs, NC with hopes of completion in 2010 or 2011. Novartis clinical trials of a cell based flu vaccine in the U.K. have been successful. The Wall Street Journal reports possible U.S. shipment of cell-based swine flu vaccine in December or January.

Let's keep in touch. We may be able to get cell-based flu vaccine this season. My hope would be that it goes to allergist offices first...

Check out this NY Times article regarding cell-based flu vaccine.

Food Allergy Survival Guide: Monday Review

2009-10-19T02:46:00.000-04:00

The Food Allergy Assistant loves to learn something new from a food allergy book. I just learned that eating raw dough from a gluten-free batter can cause stomach upset. The batter contains uncooked bean flours which can lead to the tummy trouble. I learned this while reading "Food Allergy Survival Guide" by Vesanto Melina, Jo Stepaniak and Dina Aronson.

I was asked to review a copy of "Food Allergy Survival Guide", which boasts "living well without dairy, eggs, fish, gluten, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, wheat, yeast and more". Quite a tall order!

The first half of the book is devoted to food sensitivities. There is a conversation about the differences between food allergies, food sensitivities and food intolerances. For the remainder of the book, the term "food sensitivity" is used. The authors share a wealth of information in the next several chapters about how to read labels and manage nutrition planning. An entire chapter is devoted to wheat sensitivities and Celiac disease.

The second half of the book consists of recipes that avoid the top eight allergens. All recipes are vegan as well, which is less clear until the reader peruses the recipe section. The recipes will be a godsend for those who have multiple food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances. If that same person follows a vegan lifestyle, this book is a complete match. Those with fewer dietary limitations, will be able to modify most of the recipes to bring in the foods safe for them and avoid those that aren't.

I found two pages in the back of the book to be of enormous help. They contain a chart listing vitamin and mineral needs at various ages and stages. This is so important when trying to meet nutritional needs in the midst of needing to eliminate major food groups.

So, does the Food Allergy Assistant recommend "Food Allergy Survival Guide"?

Yes. I believe this book should be one of the resource books for people dealing with food allergies. I don't view it as a beginner primer on food allergies. For those newly diagnosed, the interchangeable use of "allergy", "sensitivity" and "intolerance" may lead to some confusion. That said, I see it as a guidebook, in addition to other resources, to help those who deal with multiple food allergies.

Check out the book's website to learn more.

Homemade Candy Corn

2009-10-16T06:34:00.001-04:00

Trying to find safe candy corn for your child with food allergies?

Good luck.

Nearly all of them contain labels like, "manufactured in a facility with peanuts, tree nuts, dairy and egg". So, when I came across Cafemom's recipe for making your own candy corn, I couldn't resist.

We did it last night. We only had green and pink food coloring in the house so they look like Easter candy corn, but they taste like the real thing. Honest! And they're jumbo size, which the kids love. You can cut them smaller if you like.

For those of us with dairy allergies, use dairy free margarine (like Fleischmann's Unsalted Sticks or Earth Balance) in place of the butter and Vance's non-dairymilk alternative for the powdered milk.

Let me know if you're adventurous enough to give this a try!

Photo: BOWL OF CANDY CORN
© Ingrid Perlstrom | Dreamstime.com

Milk Allergy Desensitization Study

2009-10-15T02:25:00.000-04:00

So, this is it. The final installment of 11 year old Brett's video diary of his participation in Children's Hospital of Boston's milk allergy study. He's been participating in a desensitization study getting small amounts of milk over a period of time. Six months have passed since he started. This video tells the end. Has he been cured of his milk allergy, or must he continue to avoid milk?

So, go watch it. Then come back so we can chat.

Go on...

Tick Tock

I'll wait right here...

See, still here.

Okay, so you've seen it? Cause spoiler alert right here. The outcome is about to be revealed.

Amazing, right? This milk allergic boy is cured! He can drink milk and is eager to participate in more food allergy studies so he doesn't have to read labels any more.

This is incredible news for all of us who care about someone with a food allergy. We're getting there. Maybe our kids won't have to worry about their children being diagnosed with food allergies. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

What did you think of the video?

Update on the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act (S. 456)

2009-10-14T06:59:00.000-04:00

Check out this article featuring the co-sponsor of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act which will probably be brought to the floors of the Senate and House "after health care reform is settled".

Hmmm...when will that be!?!

Anyway, in a nut-shell (pun intended), here is what the act would do:

(1) Tell parents they need to give the school information about the child’s food allergy.

(2) Individual plans for food allergy management, tailored to the needs of each child, will be created and maintained.

(3) Strategies will be developed between schools and providers of emergency medical services.

(4) Strategies will be developed to reduce the risk of exposure to allergens .in classrooms and common school areas.

(5) Staff, parents, and children will receive general information on life-threatening food allergies

(6) School personnel who regularly come into contact with children with life-threatening food allergies will receive food allergy management training.

(7) School personnel who regularly come into contact with children with life-threatening food allergies will be trained how to administer epinephrine when the nurse is not immediately available.

(8) Food allergic children will have access to epinephrine.
*
(9) A plan will be created to address the appropriate response to an incident of anaphylaxis of a child while engaged in extracurricular programs of a school.

(10) When epinephrine is administered, information will be recorded and parents promptly notified.

We really need a law for this? Isn't most of it just plain common sense and the given right for any human being?

So, if passed the bill would provide grants of up to $50,000 to local educational agencies that choose to implement the guidelines in K-12 public schools. It's got bipartisan support in both Houses -- the Senate bill has 28 co-sponsors and the House bill has 44.

Silk Soy Milk: Monday Review

2009-10-12T19:05:00.000-04:00

We first heard about Silk Soy Milk several years ago at the Cheesecake Factory...really. We brought little guy's food and explained to our server that he couldn't eat anything on the menu due to his food allergies. When she heard he had a milk allergy, she asked if we'd ever tried Silk's Very Vanilla Soy Milk. She said it tastes like a vanilla milkshake. You know what? She was right.

Since then, we've found Silk's regular vanilla flavor a great substitute for milk in the breakfast cereal. They now carry an organic brand too. I use Silk in any recipe that calls for milk. We love it in smoothies and it's great in my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Recently, representatives from Silk asked me if we would try their new Silk Heart Healthy. They sent me a coupon. Very tasty with the added benefit of phytosterols, a plant ingredient that helps the body reduce cholesterol. That's a great benefit for the moms and dads out there who have to lower cholesterol.

Check out Silk Soy Milks- dairy allergic or not. You can sign up for a 75 cent coupon from the homepage.

By the way, this is a photo of a shelf in my refrigerator! Any other Silk fans out there?

Friday Feature: mallergies

2009-10-09T06:02:00.002-04:00

This week's Friday Feature is an interview with Marie-Ida, creator of a food allergy resource called mallergies. This interactive site focuses on the latest trends in food allergies. With their own food allergy apparel line, great recipes and tons of resources, you'll find a wealth of information. Join me for this interview with the creator of mallergies:

What is your food allergy background?

At the age of 6 months, I had my first anaphylactic shock. While my parents were away, my grandparents decided to introduce some new foods to my baby diet. My granddad gave me a pinch of jam, honey, caramel and finally peanut butter. Instantly, I stopped breathing and they had to carry me to the village doctor. That day, the doctor diagnosed my peanut allergy.

I am extremely cautious with everything that may contain traces of peanuts and/or nuts and always carry an EpiPen® with me. I believe I have managed my food allergies pretty well. I traveled, studied and worked for several years in England and Australia. I never felt different over those years, except sometimes when I am restricted with my food choices in restaurant, bakeries, cafés and bistros.

I realize that I eat healthier and avoid junk food or fast food as they often handle or contain peanuts and nuts.

What are you passionate about in the food allergy field?

I mostly like the exchanges with people who experience food allergies. By looking at blogs, forums, Facebook Groups, Twitter and websites, I see that food allergy is a topic concerning many parents, children, teachers, caretakers, medical staff, etc.

I also see companies trying to modify their production by asking manufacturers to apply allergen free measures. Science and medicine are collaborating and trying to find a cure and remedies. Environmentalists, nutritionists and dietetics are debating on several issues which may have caused the increase of food allergies in the last decades. Food allergies touch many fields and for those reasons, I am always passionate to read and learn more about this health issue and condition that I have.

What else are you working on in the food allergy area?

Recently, I started my own business and website about the latest trends on food allergies named mallergies. Mallergies’ approach is to prevent food allergies while offering reassurance to allergic people and informing their relatives and entourage.

By the intermediary of this e-business, I wish to reach more people who are connected directly or indirectly by food allergies, around the world. I know, by personal experience, that anyone affected with a food allergy condition can at some point, be frustrated about the restriction of eating out or finding allergen free foods. Dynamic, informative and complete, mallergies is the online resources to use and access daily from the comfort of your home.

To date, prevention is the only way to control food allergies; therefore, information must be accessible to everyone affected directly or indirectly by food allergies and intolerances. Allergic individuals will find information on a wide variety of topics : allergens, food labeling, news, product reviews, reactions, recipes, resources, symptoms, and much more.

What are your favorite food allergy friendly food staples?

I recently discovered a yummy cupcake store called Petits Gateax in Montreal. The chef is very aware of food allergies because he has peanut and nut allergies and guarantees that none of these allergens are presented in his pastries.

I also like to purchase foods through the CAC (Certified Allergen Control) (in Canada).

What are some of your other interests/hobbies?

My other interests in life are cooking, traveling, learning languages, writing (in French and English), reading and skiing. My friends and family are very important in my life and we love to get together for catching up, coffees or long dinners.

Thank you Marie-Ida for creating this valuable resource and for sharing your story.

Grill Charms vs The Shark Tank

2009-10-08T05:58:00.000-04:00

Back in April I reviewed a product called Grill Charms®. The idea was to use a stainless steel charm to mark grill meats for different cooking preferences or specific food allergies or intolerances.

A great idea, I thought. Well, The Sharks thought so too.

ABC runs a show called "The Shark Tank". It gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their businesses to major investors. Leslie Haywood and her Grill Charms® were featured on the show on September 29, 2009. Check it out. Leslie's up first. See how she did.

Have any of you tried grill charms to deal with food allergies? Let me know.

Keeping a Food Allergy Friendly Kitchen

2009-10-07T12:22:00.003-04:00

Children's Hospital of Boston brings us their latest video in the series, "A Cure for Food Allergies?". In this installment, Brett's mother shows how she keeps things safe in her kitchen with two food allergic children. Through labeling and color-coding items are kept separate for members of the family. They have a dairy drawer in their fridge like we do!

Do you have any tips for keeping a food allergy friendly kitchen?

Halloween Can Be Really Scary for Those With Food Allergy

2009-10-07T11:14:00.004-04:00

Forget the ghosts and goblins. It's the candy bars and packaged sweets that cause the most fright in our house.

Our rules for trick-or-treating are:

No eating anything until it is checked at home.
Let the giver drop the candy into the trick-or-treat bag to avoid direct contact with the candy.

I have special treats on hand to substitute unsafe candy with safe items. Most of these special items need to be ordered. With only 24 days until Halloween, the time to order is now. Check out:

Premium Chocolatiers
Enjoy Life's boom CHOCO boom bars
Amanda's Own
Chocolate Emporium
Peanut Free Planet
Divvies
Nothin Nutty
Vermont Nut Free Chocolates

All the unsafe candy goes to a local homeless shelter, lest it wind up on my hips!

Food and Food Allergy Resources

2009-10-05T06:35:00.000-04:00

One thing food allergies has brought to my life is a greater awareness of food in general. I'm constantly asking "What's in it?", "How's it made?", "Where was it manufactured?". Fortunately, the Internet has made answering these questions much easier. I tracked down some fascinating sites for anyone who eats food:

The International Food Information Council has a great section devoted to food allergies. Bounce around the site, though, for other areas of interest such as food safety and nutrition. They offer a free online newsletter.

I recently posted a list of Food Allergy resources at Suite 101. You can find support, books and other resources. Let me know if I missed any you love.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a wealth of info including a database of over 13,000 foods and their nutritional information. This is especially helpful when looking for substitutes if cutting out major food groups due to food allergy. Also check this site for laws and regulations related to food.

Food Safety.gov is another super source for tips to keep food safe and prevent illness. You can subscribe to alerts and get e-mail notification when the government makes a food advisory. Just last Friday, an alert came out warning about high levels of lead in certain dried fruits. Who knew?

Find the sites that are helpful to you and visit them regularly, or better yet- sign up for their automatic updates. We all need to eat and we all need timely information to eat safely.

Still Confused About Egg Allergy and Flu Shots?

2009-10-02T03:10:00.000-04:00

Yes, I am too, but the most thorough recommendation I've read comes from my neighbors to the north. The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has issued a complete report with their recommendations. It covers both seasonal flu and H1N1.

In a previous post, I linked to US guidelines.

I'm still researching this and I'm still on the fence about it. After a bad experience with an egg challenge several months ago, it is hard to imagine going through that again. I continue to research and weigh options...sigh...

Reality Show on Food Allergies

2009-09-30T05:56:00.000-04:00

The next two videos from Children's Hospital in Boston are in. My heart skips a beat every time I watch one of these because I think "Oh, we're getting close. We're getting closer to finding a cure!"

In this video installment, Ming Tsai, chef and owner of Massachusetts restaurant, Blue Ginger, and father of a son with food allergies talks about life with food allergies at home and at work.

He talks about "what a pain in the rear it is to travel with food allergies".

Yup, we can relate.

He also talks about how eating in restaurants is an important part of every child's life and that's why he has made a committment to create a safe restaurant. "I have moms crying tears of happiness when they watch their food allergic children eat a safe meal in my restaurant," Tsai says.

I know, priceless...

The second video is a trip to Brett's school during Food Allergy Awareness week. Brett is the boy who is participating in the milk allergy study at Children's. He educated his classmates and raised money for food allergy research. What a great idea to hold a gum and hat day!

The big reveal is in an upcoming video. Was the milk study successful for Brett. Will this dairy allergic child be able to eat dairy? This is one reality show I don't want to miss.

Stay tuned...