Michigan children with food allergy and/or eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID) may enter our COFAF Kids 1st Annual Poster and Writing Contest between now and April 30, 2008 when all entries are due.  Based upon age, they may enter into three categories:  Poster, Essay and Poetry.  The winners will be announced during Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW) which falls between May 11 and 17 this year.  The prizes (books, DVDs and other fun food allergy related items) awarded in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for each age category are funded by a support group grant awarded by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.  We hope you'll get involved.

 

A local producer, Kevin Lindenmuth, is in the process of producing a documentary about food allergies, entitled "I'm Not Nuts: Living with Severe Allergies".  Kevin has two nieces with allergies to peanuts and tree nuts.  Please check out this article from The Livingston Community News.  Kevin was out to interview my family for the documentary.  In addition to interviewing other local families, he's also interviewed Dr. Harvey Leo, our medical director, and he's been to Virginia to interview Anne Munoz-Furlong of The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.  We are planning to work with Kevin to have him gain some footage from one of our meetings or events between now and July.  This way he will have some support group footage for the documentary.  Check out Kevin's website for more information about the documentary and his previous works.

Thanks, Kevin, for taking on this cause!  We greatly appreciate someone stepping up to the plate to educate others.  Educating others is truly one of the most important tools we have and this documentary will help make it easier for us.  We can't wait to see the finished product.

- Melissa Dalton

 

If you're like me, you need to get moving on Easter treats.  Here are some sources:

These first few companies, I've ordered from on numerous occassions and can personally recommend.

Gimbal's Fine Candies:  They have a larger assortment.  You can find their jelly beans at Walmart.  Many of their products are Kosher Pareve, Nut/Peanut Free, Gelatin Free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Egg Free and Trans Fat Free.

Divvies: Divvies sells cookies and cupcakes.  This year they are featuring chocolate rabits too that are peanut, tree nut, egg, and dairy free.

Amanda's Own:  "The home of great tasting chocolate that is completely dairy-free, tree nut-free, peanut free, egg-free and gluten-free!".  They have a wide assortment of foil wrapped seasonal shapes, full bars and of course, the coveted bunnies.

Below are more sources (that I haven't ordered from, but that might work for you).

Ms. Roben's, Food Allergy Solutions
Natural Candy Store
No Nuttin'
Soy Free Sales
Vermont Nut Free