allergen-free peanuts?

Wow, this sounds like a bizarre fantasy or even an urban legend. Dare we hope that it's true?

N.C. A&T food scientist develops process for allergen-free peanuts
(via the Allergizer blog)

I can't even process how amazing this would be if it's real and safe for human consumption.

Wateroos Review

The Wateroos folks sent me some free samples to try out on the kids, in exchange for a review on this blog.

I like the concept: flavoured water in a tetrapack box. It's got no sugar, but just enough flavour to appeal to kids. It would also travel well; I could leave it in the car for weeks or months without worrying about bacteria growing in it, since it's sealed. And of course, it contains nothing that Andrew's allergic to, which is always a delight and a relief.

What did the kids think? Well, Andrew liked the packaging, but barely finished half a box. Geoff also took a sip, but didn't finish his box either. I'll have to try it again when they're a little thirstier, or pack them along to the park next time, because the kids are always thirsty and hungry when they're playing. (I get the best meals into them when we're outside.)

Of course, the packaging -- for WATER! -- makes me feel incredibly guilty. I read an article about the marketing of water last week: "Message in a Bottle," which really made me think about our consumption choices. See also the No Impact Man blog for an example of one guy who's living as green as he can in New York City. On the other hand, the kids go through tetrapacks of juice when we're out, and that's the same amount of packaging.

(Also see more Wateroos reviews in the blogosphere. These guys are doing a TON of promotion!)

I'm also going to have this blog's first contest. If you want to win a couple of tetrapacks of Wateroos, leave me a comment on this post or email me at allergicmom (at) gmail (dot) com with your email address, and I'll have the kids draw a random winner. Deadline for entries: one week from today, which would be July 23.

Dangerous kid's cartoon: That's So Raven

From bridges4kids Open Letter to Disney:

There's a scary episode of That's So Raven, which totally delivers misinformation about allergies and could be extremely dangerous for any kids watching it. Here's a snippet. Follow the link for the full letter to Disney.

The show was a spoof of Iron Chef with two teams cooking. “Raven” was on one team with her father. The required ingredients included mushrooms and you learned in the show that Raven was allergic to mushrooms. Her father saw the mushroom ingredients and cautioned her not to touch them and set them aside. The opposing team as a “funny joke” for the sitcom, INTENTIONALLY THREW MUSHROOMS INTO HER FOOD. She ate some and the allergic reaction was grotesquely spoofed, showing her face and hands swelling but she is able to breathe and talk and make a joke hoping that her behind was not getting bigger too, ha ha. (In an accurate depiction of a systemic reaction, she would be vomiting, struggling to breathe as her lungs and throat closed, and losing consciousness as she slipped into anaphylactic shock, possibly followed by death, even if emergency treatment were administered). She downplays her reaction and says its “no big deal” and “will go away in five minutes” (totally inaccurate). Her father tries to take her to the doctor but she refuses to go and is made out to be a HERO for toughing it out without treatment.

There have been great kids shows about allergies, but this isn't one of them. Slap on the wrist for Disney.