Issues in food allergy and intolerance, coeliac disease, gut disorders, eczema, 'free from' and all allergies and sensitivities
Rule #1. Any food has the potential to cause an allergy, and therefore on one level, any food can be reasonably described as being an allergen. But when it comes to EU food labelling laws, 14 foods / food groups…
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Air purifiers for allergies are a huge subject of debate for those with environmental and chemical allergies, partly because air cleaners and treatment systems are usually expensive and those with allergies need to give careful consideration before they purchase. Considerations include noise…
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You may have noticed that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have launched a campaign, in partnership with both Allergy UK and The Anaphylaxis Campaign, called Easy to ASK (#EasytoASK — Ask about allergens, Speak Up, Keep Safe), aimed at encouraging and…
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Earlier this spring, around May 2018, Barley Cup announced that it would no longer manufacture its barley, rye and chicory-based beverages as gluten free and would drop its Coeliac UK certification. Previously, in October 2017, US-based independent gluten-free testers Gluten Free…
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I’m often asked for recommendations for allergy-safe or hypoallergenic cosmetics. Many refer to ‘allergen free’ skincare but in practice little can be truly allergen free, given that almost all ingredients used in toiletries can — at least in theory, if…
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Alcohol free or low alcohol beers which are gluten free are becoming easier to find — although the vast majority seem to be brewed from cereals containing gluten and then deglutenised / gluten removed. Here is a list of those…
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The subject of allergy-friendly face paint for kids regularly arises on social media, specifically nut free face paint, so here are the safe options that that I know about. Usual warnings apply: always double check with manufacturers (as suppliers and…
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In ‘free from’ world, we are well accustomed to product recalls being issued for food and drink — but perhaps less so for non-food products. The EU also has measures in place to withdraw other potentially dangerous products from the…
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Mrs Crimble’s make gluten-free treats — but they don’t only make gluten-free treats. Three of their products are not suitable for coeliacs: Dutch Apple Cake, Stem Ginger Cake and Dutch Fruit Loaf. Some, if not all, of these may occasionally…
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Following my recent round-up of salicylate-free cosmetics, a reader asked about salicylate-free toothpastes. Mint / menthol is high in salicylates, meaning there aren’t many, but here is a list of those I’ve found. Oranurse Their Unflavored Toothpaste was originally designed…
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