Another Food Allergic Reaction, with no known cause!

Last night, for no know reason we can come up with, Alexis' lips began to swell!

Shortly after dinner, one that I made with completely safe ingredients, Alexis complained that her lips started to itch. Within minutes her lips swelled to more than double the size. Immediately we gave her Benedryl which felt like forever before it kicked in. Luckily, the swelling and itching did not go to her throat and her breathing remained fine, but we still can not figure out what the reaction was caused by.

Living with life threatening food allergies does not come with a hand book telling you how, when or why reactions will occur - there is no rhyme or reason so therefore we must remain on high alert at all times. Whew...that can be exausting, but what can you do?

Loaded up on Benedryl, my Sweet Alexis slept peacefully last night (lucky for me Grandma is in town and slept with her and was able to moniter her through the night). Today, she's running around the neighborhood happy as can be...me, still very puzzled about the whole thing but glad it wasn't more serious.

Beware of bakeries making False Allergy claims!

You won't believe this...My family and I attended a festival this past weekend where a new local cupcake company was selling their goodies. I approached the booth admiring their adorable cakes and creations (always looking for new ideas). The owner jestured to the children and said their cupcakes were for sale. My response was a very polite "no thanks they have food allergies, but they look delicious". The owners response was "I can bake allergy free!" To which I replied, "Please be very careful, you can make someone very sick because you are not baking in a dedicated facility" and I gave her my business card.

Her response...."Well, I have degree in food science and I have insurance."

WHAT!!!!! Insurance! Food allergic community be very aware...only trust your safe allergy treats to come from dedicated facilities such as the Sweet Alexis Bakery, Divvies, Enjoy Life or Vermont Nut Free! These trusted companies in addition to those found on http://www.peanutfreeplanet.com/, http://www.foodallergy.org/, or http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.com/, are liscenced manufacturers of allergy safe treats and are produced in dedicated facilities. We not only understand food allergies but what is required by law and the importance in safety.

Unfortunately, do to the rise in popularity of gluten free items many local bakeries are baking without gluten and selling them as gluten "free" when infact they are made in facilities with wheat amount other allergens. Just because one can bake omitting an ingredient does not mean they are safe for the food allergic community due to cross contamination.

We need to get 60 Minutes to do a expose on this...before someone dies by eating a cupcake filled with allergens made by a company looking to make money. Afterall, they have insurance.

Listen to KVEC tomorrow at 4pm

Listen for me on the Dave Congalton Show tomorrow at 4pm. Dave is a big supporter of the food allergic community and we will be discussing safety and awareness of #food allergies in schools. Listen in at 920 AM (920kvec.com) or call

800-549-KVEC.

Don't worry Dave, my special dairy free, egg free, peanut and nut free (#vegan) red velvet and cookies and cream #cupcakes are on their way!