Reaction to peanut dust on dedicated line

I have never had a reaction from a product on a dedicated line, but I might be able to help you with broadening your choices of foods. Some companies that put *produced on a dedicated line* actually take added precautions to prevent peanut dust from contaminating those foods. Peanuts/nuts are kept in a separate area, and they use reverse flow filters etc.

If that would be enough for your *comfort zone* call specific companies and ask direct questions about what precautions they take.

I would also be interested to know if anyone has reacted to products from a dedicated line.

In a subsequent letter from Kelloggs, they wrote me that the Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats my son ate were on a dedicated line for only that product. He had a reaction five minutes after he ate a bowl of this cereal, one which he had eaten many times in the past several years. He had nothing else for breakfast, except for the milk which came out of the same jug he had used the day before for glasses of milk. Our house is peanut free, so the probability that the milk container became cross-contaminated in our house is virtually nil.

Well, Ryan's mom's story will most likely negate anything I can say, and I am truly sorry to hear of Ryan's reaction. But, in terms of wanting to broaden your comfort zone: I think I have one of the broader comfort zones amongst the regular posters on this site. I allow my daughter to eat most products that do not have any warning statement on the label. I rarely contact manufacturers. She is 7 1/2 and has never reacted from cross contamination. We even eat at restaurants and ice cream parlors (hard scoop, even [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] ) Her cap rast score for peanuts is between class 5 and 6, and her tree nut score (walnut) was not far behind. So, she's pretty allergic. The potential for risk is always there no matter how careful any of us are. I also see a pretty high potential for emotional and psychological risk for our kids because they do need to be so restricted with what they eat, and think about it all the time. I am trying to keep a healthy balance. I don't mean to sound cavalier; we always have the meds and I honestly do try to be sensible and responsible. But, just as we get in cars and wear our seatbelts and hope for the best, this is the attitude with which I have come to approach the food allergies. So far it has worked out great for us. Good luck! Miriam

[This message has been edited by California Mom (edited July 11, 2002).]

Wish we could broaden our comfort zone. Our son is almost 4 and has a chance to outgrown his tree nuts since all of his CAP RAST have gone down this July (!!) and now 4 of them are negative (almond, cashew, hazelnut and macadamia) and the highest one is brazil nut which has gone down from 7.8 to 3.7 this year. so we have a very tight comfort zone in order to increase his chance of outgrowing it, God willing. I also think that a reaction could hurt his emotional and psychological well being as well. I want to teach him to only eat food from home because he is not at an age where he can make decisions for himself as to what is safe and what is not. When he gets older, if we know that he will not outgrow it, then we will broaden our comfort zone as others have in order to make things easier. Right now, we make everything from scratch at home, including ice cream sandwiches and you name it. He is also allergic to dairy and egg but is set up for an egg challenge soon because his cap rast went down to 0.4. Great thread!

Hi! I have had a reaction (mild) from eating Hershey's Jots from a candy store. (For those of you who do not know what they are-they are the non-peanut form of M&M's. BUT, one day when I ate them, I had some itching in my mouth and thought it was just maybe the sugar in them that made me feel that way. I now realize that I've had several reactions like that when I ate them, and some other things too.

Because of that, and reading the labels, I personally am afraid to eat ANYTHING that says may contain on it. For me the risk simply is too high, but it gets frustrating b/c EVERYTHING has a may contain label, and I feel like I can't enjoy things anymore.

But I know, as I was telling my boss today, that I could literally die from a reaction, and since I am not ready to die yet, I don't want to worry that I might have a reaction. (Not to mentioni I don't have health insurance right now either, so I don't really want an enormous ER bill either!)I did read on the restaurant board that some people won't go to Dairy Queen anymore or McD's, but I actually don't worry there. Before they put the signs up, I ate there and had NO reactions. But, I NEVER get a breeze or any of that mixed stuff. ONLY a cone or once and a while a sundae.

M&M's and other "may contains" are definite "no no's" for us, too. I truly meant it when I said I am not cavalier. I just try to weigh the risks and benefits and so far we're doing great. Leah does miss out on quite a lot due to her allegies - but we try to minimize those situations and make sure that they seem justified. I do agree with "always avoid anaphylaxis" that an allergic reaction is also traumatic for a child, of course. I've gotten a lot more relaxed and comfortable managing this allergy as time has gone on, and Leah has had more "reaction free" years under her belt. I feel that we are handling a difficult situation in the best way possible for Leah.

California Mom - Is Leah contact and/or airborne sensitive?

I envy your "relaxed" state of mind. As time passes and my experience with this allergy grows, I am also entering a better space, but I have light years to travel before I can get to where you are. My son just turned 5. He is a trooper and is learning to handle this part of his life quite well. It is quite a challenge though. Thanks for the comforting perspective.

double post, sorry.

[This message has been edited by kstreeter (edited July 12, 2002).]