Food Allergies Stir a Mother to Action

New York Times ^ | 1/9/2008 | KIM SEVERSON

[Born Conservative]

ROBYN O’BRIEN likes to joke that at least she hasn’t started checking the rearview mirror to see if she’s being followed.

But some days, her imagination gets away from her and she wonders if it’s only a matter of time before Big Food tries to stop her from exposing what she sees as a profit-driven global conspiracy whose collateral damage is an alarming increase in childhood food allergies.

Ms. O’Brien has presented her views, albeit in a less radical wrapper, on CNN, CBS and in frequent print interviews. Frontier Airlines and Wild Oats stores distribute the allergy-awareness gear she designed.

Her story is one of several in a new book, “Healthy Child, Healthy World” (Dutton, March 2008), whose contributors include doctors, parents and celebrities like Meryl Streep.

Sitting at the table in her suburban kitchen, with her four young children tumbling in and out, Ms. O’Brien, 36, seems an unlikely candidate to be food’s Erin Brockovich (who, by the way, has taken Ms. O’Brien under her wing).

She grew up in a staunchly Republican family in Houston where lunch at the country club frequented by George and Barbara Bush followed Sunday church services. She was an honors student, earned a master’s degree in business and, like her husband, Jeff, made a living as a financial analyst.

Ms. O’Brien was also the kind of mom who rolled her eyes when the kid with a peanut allergy showed up at the birthday party. Then, about two years ago, she fed her youngest child scrambled eggs. The baby’s face quickly swelled into a grotesque mask. “What did you spray on her?” she screamed at her other children. Little Tory had a severe food allergy, and Ms. O’Brien’s journey had begun.

[frogjerk]

Let me guess...BUSH'S FAULT!

Ms. O’Brien, 36, seems an unlikely candidate to be food’s Erin Brockovich (who, by the way, has taken Ms. O’Brien under her wing)

You mean the Erin Brockovich of trial lawyer fame?

[najida]

Yeah, but peanut allergies are so bad that you can die from eating a cookie made in the same factory that a peanut butter cookie was made. Basically, I tell those in doubt, make it from scratch yourself if you can, and eat nothing processed.

[RedCell]

Not to minimize your intolerance to gluten, I believe there’s a big difference between being intolerant and being allergic.

My son, we discovered when he was just about 2, was allergic to dairy products. His face swelled up big-time when he had a soft serve at a baseball game. After having him checked out by an allergist, it was confirmed on the dairy (eggs, milk, butter, etc.).

We found out again, the hard way, that he was allergic to nuts when he was around 3 (don’t know why he wasn’t tested for this the first time) when he sampled a little bit of a walnut and his lip swelled up like a golf ball. Thank God he didn’t swallow it. Tested again - tree nut allergy.

He’s 8 now and has outgrown his allergies (again, thank God). We learned a lot about reading labels and using lots of soy products. But it could have been worse.

My next-door-neighbor has a son that has a severe allergy to peanuts (the worst kind I can think of because it gets everywhere and is in a lot of things or made in the same place where they’re used as ingredients). He’s got it so bad that if someone cooks something with peanuts (oil or whatever) and it gets in the air he has a very bad reaction to the point where he could get into a very bad situation.

So the mother has been very vocal and active in bringing changes to the school. Some people don’t like it very much and have the perspective you do about inflicting limits. I can see both sides (please understand I’m not disrespecting your viewpoint) but I wanted to throw out there that although those with allergies may be in the minorities, the way some are affected is life-threatening. Big ‘ol can of worms for sure.

It’s just really weird that it *seems* that there are a lot more allergies these days then when I was younger.

[GotMojo]

This “Big food” stuff is silly. Heck, John Kerry was part of ‘Big Condiments” and he escaped scrutiny during 04 election.....

[CDHart]

At it again, I see.

Carolyn

[frogjerk]

Ms. O’Brien, 36, seems an unlikely candidate to be food’s Erin Brockovich (who, by the way, has taken Ms. O’Brien under her wing)

That's unfortunate but your observation doesn't really add any data to change my observations and hunch.

[cyclotic]

Thanks for your personal limits. That is really the way to deal with this stuff. I have an uncle who is legitimately gluten intolerant. Both of my brothers kids have supposed allergies to just about everything. It’s gotten to be a joke with family events with these long lists of everything they can’t eat and pre-vetted menu’s. One of them just bring whatever his kids can eat, the other expects everyone to bend.

It got so bad this year that I had to ask for my mom to make her signature pie with a regular crust instead of the crap she uses for everyone else.

That said, i’ve always had some allergies and have always taken the personal responsibility to control what I eat or pay the consequences.

[CDHart]

She may actually have a point. The increase in incidence of cancer has been attributed to the chemicals and fillers, etc., in our food. Remember the tainted dog food? Tainted people food is probably happening too.

Carolyn

[ShadowAce]

Growing up, my brother had food allergies (ANY artificial colors and flavors). We solved that issue by growing all our food. There were times on our dinner table that the only thing store-bought was the salt.

[najida]

I agree that the allergies are not only more frequent now but far far more severe.

Honestly, I’m not sure what the cause is, but now, instead of thinking “Hives and itching” when someone says allergy, I think “anaphylactic shock”. And I write menus accordingly.

[bert]

defective baby

[frogjerk]

It’s just really weird that it *seems* that there are a lot more allergies these days then when I was younger.

Almost everyone I speak to says the same thing. Very strange.

[peggybac]

Give me a break. Beginning in 7th grade, and out of the blue, I became allergic to celery and carrots, and years later, rye bread. I can’t even hold celery in my hands without my palms itching and becoming a tad swollen. All my life I’ve been conscious of any foods with these 2 veggies: salads, soups, sandwiches, etc., and am advised to carry a syringe and adrenaline around with me at all times. There’s no rhyme or reason for my allergies - I didn’t have them and then I did. I could possibly be rid of them now, but I don’t dare test it. Allergies have been around forever and always will be.

[ovrtaxt]

My son has a soy allergy, and I have a slight one myself. It no day at the beach!

Soy is in almost everything. Processed, packaged American food is pretty much total crap, and authentic, unadulterated food is sometimes really hard to find- at a reasonable price anyway.

[najida]

OK,
Yours is an observation and a hunch,
mine is observation (here) as well as work experience and professional journals.

PS,
I love Indian Food too ;)

[SkyPilot]

Scary

[Tax-chick]

I stopped reading after “Meryl Streep.”

[Hegemony Cricket]

"...dihydrogen monoxide. 100% of the people who ingest this chemical die."

No doubt. You combine that with the high levels of nitrogen in the air we are breathing - up to almost 80% where I am right now - and it's a wonder any of us are still alive...

[najida]

Honestly,
that’s the easiest way to go....
Plain veges and fruits, no breading on the meats...organic if possible etc. The simpler the food to start with the better. Major PITA, but it appears to work.

[najida]

Erm
you posted “Mothers having kids at 45 and 50”
How does that extrapolate in to “36”?