In the News
Date indicates when added to the site

Hypoallergenic cats now on sale for $3950 USD (Sept 2006) BBC web site link

Cat allergen (and potentially other allergens) could blocked- (Sept 2006) BBC web site link

Doctor dies on golf course - outdated EpiPen  (Sept 2006)

Smarties and KitKat bars now have peanut varieties (Sept 2006)

Sesame allergies growing rapidly  (Sept 2006)

Quebec teen didn't die from "peanut kiss" (Sept 2006)

Canadian EpiPen Rights Sold (March 2006)

McDonald's fries  (Feb 2006)

Peanut Allergy Treatment Suspended (Jan 2006)


Allergy Sufferers urged to double protection (link to Article)
A doctor died on a golf course after being stung by a wasp. All he had with him was a 5 year old Epipen-- not enough to save him. Are you carrying an expired Epipen? Read the article for a summary of the coroner's report.

Product Alert ! KITKAT® AND SMARTIES® PRODUCTS in Canada
In the past these products were always regarded by most of us as safe for peanut/nut allergy. Apparently, the "snack" sizes were the only ones guaranteed to be peanut-free.
Now new variations with peanut/peanut butter have been introduced so check the packaging in Canada EVERY TIME before purchasing.
These new products are identifed as containing peanuts by:
+ the prominent position of Nestle's peanut warning
+ ingredients list includes a boldly-marked statement about the peanut content
+ visuals on the package clearly refer to peanuts/peanut butter in the product
If you have concerns about it, let Nestlé know by calling them at 1 800 387-4636 or go to http://www.nestle.ca/en/Talk_to_Nestle/Contact_Us/Contact_Us. and fill out the contact form.

Sesame Allergies growing rapidly
Read about a family who are trying to deal with sesame allergy amid the flood of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products that contain sesame oil.

Teen died from an asthma attack, not from peanut butter kiss, coroner says. May 11 2006

Provided by: Canadian Press

SAGUENAY, Que. (CP) - A Quebec coroner has ruled out a peanut allergy as the cause of death for a 15-year-old girl. Coroner Michel Miron said Christina Desforges died after suffering an asthma attack last November in Saguenay, about 250 kilometres north of Quebec City. The story made headlines around the world after it was revealed her boyfriend had eaten toast with peanut butter and then kissed her.

But Miron pointed out today that nine hours had passed before he kissed Desforges. He also says a recent study showed that, after one hour, most people who had eaten peanut butter no longer had allergen in their saliva. Miron added that the fact Desforges had smoked pot before the asthma attack did not help.

Canadian EpiPen® Rights Sold (March 2006)
"King Pharmaceuticals Inc., maker of the EpiPen device used to save people with severe allergic reactions, acquired Canadian rights to the product. King, based in Bristol Tenn., will pay Allerex Laboratory Ltd. $25 million US and a share of earnings from Canadian sales for the rights, the company said Thursday. Allerex, of Kanata Ont., currently licenses the Canadian rights to the EpiPen from Dey, LP of Napa California. King manufactures the Epipen for Dey. Net sales of EpiPen in Canada were $21.2 million US in 2004."

McDonald's fries have allergens (Feb 2006)
In an AP article it was reported that McDonald's fries have wheat and dairy ingredients which are added for flavouring. Apparently, their website recently (and without an announcement) added "contains wheat and milk ingredients" to the ingredient list. "The company said the move came in response to new rules by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the packaged foods industry, including one requiring the presence of common allergens such as milk, eggs, wheat, fish or peanuts be reported".

Peanut Allergy Treatment Suspended (Jan 2006)
"Biotechnology company Genetech Inc. has stopped a clinical trial of a promising peanut-allergy treament because of safety concerns raised during human experiments, a company spokesman reported. They stopped the trial after two volunteers had a more severe allergic reaction to peanuts than expected. Volunteers in the trial were given peanut protein to gauge how severe their allergies were and as a way to measure the effectiveness of the experimental drug called Xolair."
The company said the drug was not responsible for the reactions.. they will continue with the peanut-allergy program. The drug is genetically engineered to stop the allergic reaction from happening. (AP)
We can only hope that they are successful in the long run!

Links:

Canada.com - Search on 'peanut allergy' brought up lots of articles

CTV.CA - Treatment may provide hope for peanut allergies
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1047327382008_42736581//