Fine allergy friendly chocolate
We neck our beer in this country. We slurp our tea. We quaff our wine. And we chomp our chocolate. And yet in so doing we miss so much of the complexity of flavour that might be clamouring for attention…
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The Metal Allergy Guide
I’m delighted to announce the release of my eleventh book, The Metal Allergy Guide: Successfully managing allergies to nickel, cobalt, chromium and other metals. It’s a project I’ve been working on, on and off, for several years, but I’m glad…
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Saturday Chickens
18th September 2021, Saturday Kitchen Live, BBC1. An edited exchange: SKL presenter Matt Tebbutt: “There’s a little bit of toast here … but Sharleen you avoid this, don’t you?“ SKL guest, musician Sharleen Spiteri: “Yeah … I love bread ……
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Covid and hair dye allergy
Occasional reports have been surfacing during the Covid pandemic of an increased incidence of allergic responses to hair dye products, and the issue arose again this week, widely reported in the mainstream media, including by the BBC. I have written…
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Free from finds at Lunch 2021
The exhibition industry has taken such a battering during the Covid crisis that to see it slowly regain its feet is as much a relief as it is a pleasure. Lunch!, which takes place annually in September at ExCel, London,…
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On novel vegan proteins, Oatly vs dairy, free-from — and co-operation
Vegan protein innovation is progressing, and with it the promotion of veganism as the solution to end at least some of the environmental and health woes that have befallen us. But where do food allergies come in this sometimes controversial…
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Food allergens in cosmetics — time for regulation change?
Milk is not an ingredient you expect to find in a bath bomb, and for 13-year-old Emelia, what was a planned bath time treat, turned into a severe milk-allergy reaction and hospitalisation. She has bravely shared her milky bath-bomb nightmare…
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Enzymes for FODMAPs
Digestive enzyme supplements could help you to better tolerate FODMAPs in the diet, which might otherwise trigger symptoms if you have IBS. Most people know about lactase supplements to help reduce the lactose content of milk or to help digest…
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Free From Christmas Chocolate
A small round-up of allergy-friendly Christmas chocolate, originally published several years ago, but just updated for 2021. As always, double check ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings before you buy and once you’ve bought. Asda A selection of chocolate in…
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What is free from food?
I’ve been wondering for some time whether food industry and consumers need a clear definition of what ‘free from food’ actually is. Increasingly, allergy and coeliac consumers are finding products in supermarket sections or aisles signposted ‘free from’ which they…
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