Easter is right around the corner and we want to make sure that you are fully aware of what your children will eat this weekend. We have made a list of 15 affordable Easter treats that exclude some of the most common allergens so you can have a fun and safe Easter weekend!

 

1. Amanda’s Own Confections: Jelly Beans

• This product is dairy-free, nut-free, peanut-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, egg-free, sesame-free, mustard-free, shellfish-free and crustacean-free. NOT vegan.
• Price: ranges from $7.25 – $8.25

 

2. Chocolate Emporium: Chocolate bunnies

• This product is dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan and parve.
• Price: $4.85 each

 

3. Double Bubble: Egg shaped gumballs

• This product is nut-free gluten-free, shellfish-free, egg-free and kosher.
• Price: $1.00

 

4. Evolved: Chocolate bars

• This product is gluten-free, dairy-free, cane sugar-free, soy-free and vegan. Check website for more flavors and ingredient listings.
• Price: $4.99

 

5. free2b Foods: Chocolate butter cups

• This product is gluten-free, egg-free, fish-free, peanut-free, shellfish-free, soy-free, tree nut-free and wheat-free. Check website for more flavors and ingredient listings.
• Price: $2.50

 

6. No Whey Foods: Chocolate lollipops

• This product is dairy-free, milk-free, lactose-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, egg-free, soy-free, wheat-free, gluten-free and vegan.
• Price: $3.95 each

 

7. Spangler: Dumdum fruity bunny pops

• This product is dairy-free, gluten-free, tree nut-free, peanut-free, egg-free, soy-free, and fat-free.
• Price: $2.99

 

8. Jelly Belly Candy Company: Sunkist fruit gems

• This product is fat-free, peanut-free, gluten-free, kosher and vegan.
• Price: $7.59

 

9. Tootsie Roll: Easter Midgees

• This product is egg-free, tree nut-free, coconut-free, sesame-free, gluten free, wheat-free, shellfish-free and kosher.
• Price: $9.99

 

10. Vermont Nut Free Chocolates: Marshmallow on a stick

• This product is peanut-free, tree nut-free, coconut-free, sesame-free, fish-free, shellfish-free and kosher.
• Price: $3.95 each

 

11. YumEarth: Licorice

• This product is peanut-free, gluten-free, tree nut-free, milk-free, egg-free, fish-free, shellfish-free, soy-free and vegan. Check website for more flavors and ingredient listings.

 

12. Enjoy Life Foods: Chocolate Minis

• This product is wheat-free, dairy-free, soy-free, sulfate-free, lupin-free, fish-free, crustaceans-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, casein-free, egg-free, sesame-free, mustard-free and shellfish-free. Check website for more flavors and ingredient listings.
• Price: $4.99

 

13. Skip’s Candies: Marsh Pops

• This product is peanut-free, tree nut-free, and coconut-free.
• Price: $3.25

 

14. Bo & Ty: Gummy worms

• This product is nut-free and gluten-free.
• Price: $6.14

 

15. Smarties (American): anything!

• All of their product is gluten-free, milk-free, egg-free, fish-free, shellfish-free, tree nut-free, peanut-free, wheat-free, soy-free and vegan.
• Price: starting at $2.89

 

We hope that you stay safe this weekend and enjoy all of the sweets and always remember to look at ingredients label before you consume your candy.

 

If you believe that your child has food allergies, please call AllergySA to schedule an appointment with one of our providers at 210-616-0882.

 

Happy Easter!

Congratulations to Claire for being our first peanut allergy patient to reach the maintenance phase of Palforzia®.

Palforzia® is the first and only standardized oral immunotherapy treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to minimize the incidence and severity of an allergic reaction from accidental exposure to peanuts.

Early this year, AllergySA was the first to introduce Palforzia® to the San Antonio area and is now the second in the nation to have a patient reach the maintenance phase. The treatment involves an up-dosing phase first administered in an allergist’s office every 2 weeks for about 6 months. Once up-dosing has been completed, the patient will continue taking the maintenance dose at home daily.

To start treatment, the patient needs to be between the ages of 4 and 17 with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy. In the event of accidental peanut exposure, Palforzia® can help reduce the risk of a severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis.

Palforzia® is covered by all major insurances including Medicaid. To find out if Palforzia® is right for your family, schedule an appointment with AllergySA at 210-616-0882.

It is back to school season and with that comes big responsibilities getting your student ready for the year ahead. For those with food allergies, preparing for the fall season means going the extra mile to have a safe and healthy school year. To do this, knowing exactly what foods your child is allergic to is a must and having an emergency plan is a necessity. Before the school year starts, it is crucial to have a one-on-one conversation with your child’s teacher (and school nurse if possible) regarding all food allergies and reactions your child may have. Teachers can help prevent a food allergy reaction in the classroom by following these tips:
− Keep food outside of the classroom. If this is not possible, all food should be handled with caution to assure safety.
− Have an allergy-free lunch table so that students with food allergies can feel comfortable while being in the same room with different types of foods.
− Encourage hand washing by all students and staff before and after handling or consuming any type of food.

It is also important for your child’s teacher to understand the symptoms of a food allergy reaction. Reviewing these signs will help the teacher recognize when a reaction occurs and the severity.

Mild to moderate symptoms of a food allergy may include one or more of the following:
− Redness of the skin, particularly around the mouth or eyes
− Hives (reddish, swollen, itchy areas around the mouth)
− Itchy mouth or ear canal
− Nausea or vomiting
− Diarrhea
− Stomach pain
− Nasal congestion or a runny nose
− Sneezing
− Dry Cough
− Odd taste in mouth

Severe symptoms may include one or more of the following:
− Swelling of the lips, tongue, and/or throat that blocks breathing
− Trouble swallowing
− Shortness of breath
− Drop in blood pressure
− Loss of consciousness
− Chest pain
− Turning blue
− Sense of impending doom

Having a Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan on file will help school staff know exactly what steps to take depending on the severity of the reaction. Mild to moderate symptoms are often treated with antihistamines and monitoring that symptom severity is not increasing.
Severe symptoms may be a sign of the life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. This type of reaction requires immediate treatment with an epinephrine injection and urgent medical attention. It is important that your child has a food allergy plan and EpiPen available at school, and that your child’s teacher knows how to use one in the event anaphylaxis occurs.
The only way to know if your child has a food allergy is to visit a board-certified allergist. Proper diagnosis of a food allergy or food intolerance is the first step to managing this condition. Schedule an appointment this summer with one of AllergySA’s experienced medical staff by calling 210-616-0882 and allow us to assist you in detecting any allergies your child may be suffering from.