Avoiding Milk Blog

Spotted at my local grocery store ANOTHER set of fire logs made from nut shells.

Pine Mountain Fire Logs contain nut shells, the box they come packaged in, do indicate that the logs are made in part from nut shells. The Pine Mountain Fire company's web site does not make this fact clear.

A few weeks ago I spotted at my local grocery store:
President's Choice Fire Logs Made From Nuts

Back in 2011 I reported on:
Fire Logs Made From Tree Nuts again made by President's Choice

Chemurgy and Allergens Blog:
Fire Logs made From Nut Shells

Another artificial fire log made from nut shells, again made from Presidents Choice.

Back in 2011 I reported on Presidents Choice Fire Logs Made From Nut Shells here, the product disappeared, off shelves for a few years. This holiday season Presidents Choice has AGAIN started making fire logs with nut shells. This time the fact that these products contain nut shells, are a lot less obvious, to people looking at the packaging.

"These fire logs are made from recycled biomass product such as wood sawdust and ground tree nut shells" is written on the side of the box.

The logs come in both single logs and multi packs.

See Also:
Is PC Really Allergy Friendly

Chemurgy Post:
Fire Logs Made From Nut Shells

Avoiding Milk Protein:
List of Non-Food Products Made From Nuts

Fake edible Blood found at the local Dollar Store, called Blood Syrup

May Contain Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soya, Wheat, Milk and Eggs.

At least the ingredients listing plainly says corn syrup.

Most fake blood contains corn, either hidden or plainly listed.

Fake Blood Made From Corn

Makeup can contain many allergens.

Halloween decorations can contain latex, and many other allergens.

Chemurgy:
Halloween Coconut Dangers

Thinking of Painting Your Pumpkin Teal:
Paint Made From Milk
Paint Made From Eggs
Paint Made From Nuts


Avoiding Milk Protein.com:
More Information From My Site Avoiding Milk Protein:

Household, and Industrial Products Made From Soy

Household, and Industrial Products Made From Gluten and Wheat

Household, and Industrial Products Made From Coconut

Household, and Industrial Products Made From Fish and Seafood

Household, and Industrial Products Made From Bananas

Household, and Industrial Products Made From Milk

Household, and Industrial Products Made From Egg

Household, and Industrial Products Made From Corn

My Father once claimed I would eventually find a product that was completely allergen free, but the joke would be on me because the box would be completely empty.

I pointed out that the box would not be allergen free, because the tape to hold the box together would contain corn. More non food items that contain corn here.

Little Did he know I would make such an effort to uncover hidden allergens in non food products in my Chemurgy and Allergens Blog.

For The Dads:
Moustache Products That Contain Nut Oils

Nut Products For BBQs

Home Improvement Products Made From Nuts

Home Improvement Products made From Milk


Image From Allergy Signs (Free Allergy Images)

You have done your research when to introduce nuts, you probably decided to wait until past babyhood, most likely into childhood to introduce this allergen.

This is a complex issue with conflicting studies when to introduce peanuts and tree nuts with your child. This issue can be more emotional, and complex when an immediate family member such as a sibling has a nut allergy.

Most likely you have read conflicting information if allergic siblings first contact with an allergen should be done as a challange test by an allergist, or even if allergy tests should be done before introducing nuts to allergic siblings. False positive tests can create unnessisary worry for families, most families want allergic siblings safe, with past reactions of an older sibling in mind.

If you have a baby or young child with a nut allergy you may feel overwhelmed by products for babies and young children that contain nuts that have nothing to do with eating.

One of my more popular posts Stages of Acceptance of Food Allergies

From my Chemurgy and Allergens Blog:
Breastfeeding Nipple Creams With Nut Oils
Birthing Items Made From Nuts
Stretch Mark Products Made From Nuts
Cradle Cap Products With Nut Oils
Stuffed Toys Made With Nuts
Wooden Toys Treated With Nut Oils

Flours made from nuts, rolling pins coated with nut oils, make keeping a nut free pantry or kitchen add an extra level of caution. Flours made from nuts are often marketed for gluten free customers, and many gluten free people enjoy them, but the nut allergic should be aware.

For more information see Gluten Ffree flours, many made from nuts

Almond Flour
Hazelnut Flour/ Meal
Bob's Almond Flour/ Meal
Honeyville Almond Flour
Byrd Mill Peanut Flour
Jamestown sweet Potato Flour
JK Gourmet Almond Flour
Local Harvest Walnut Flour
Protein Plus Peanut Flour
The Nut House Hazelnut Flour
Southern Grace Farms Peanut Flour
Wellwood Walnut Flour


Coatting rolling pins, wooden bowls and cutting boards with nut oils may also be a problem see Industial and Household Items made from nuts for more information.


Soundview Mill Works Cutting Board Coated with tung oil, a natural nut oil.
Laminated Rolling PinRolling pin was finished with coats of a special walnut oil.
Timber Treasures Finished with a food safe, nut meat oil.
Sainsburry Rolling Pins Coated in natural nut oil.

Allergens such as milk, eggs nuts and other allergens can be in alcohol drinks. My concern is not only for adults with food allergies, but for the parent who has a small drink with their spouse after dinner, then kisses their child good night. Always drink responsibly. List of drinks that contain nuts link

From Allergy Bureau
"Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies in relation to permanent exemptions from allergen labelling

The Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies of the European Food Safety Agency has recently released opinions on the likelihood of individuals suffering allergic reactions in relation to a number of processed foods. The Panel considered it “unlikely” that cereals, nuts or whey used in distilled spirits would lead to severe allergic responses. A similar conclusion was reached for vegetable oils-derived phytosterols and phytosterol esters from soybean and for natural tochopherols from soybean.

It was considered “not very likely” that wheat based maltodextrins or wheat of barley starch based glucose syrups would cause severe allergic responses. None of these products were determined to be of concern to coaliacs, provided the concentration of gluten considered by Codex Alimentarius for foods rendered gluten-free is not exceeded. It was also considered “not very likely” that isinglass would trigger an allergic response when used as a clarifying agent in beer.

The panel considered that milk and milk products used in winemaking may trigger allergic responses.

The panel was not able to draw conclusions in relation to fish gelatine and isinglass used in winemaking, or mustard seed oil due to the paucity of data."


From FAAN Whats in Your Drink
"Food allergens such as tree nuts and milk are found in many cocktails. Wheat is prevalent in many beers. Aside from being vigilant about the ingredients in beverages, adults managing food allergies must also take care to use caution with alcoholic beverages to ensure that their judgment is not negatively affected and that their ability to make decisions, recognize a reaction, and administer
medication is not impaired. Alcohol can influence how quickly a food allergen is absorbed into the body, resulting in symptoms occurring at a faster pace."

From Whats in Your Beer
Background:
"After a campaign for clear and accurate product labelling that lasted almost 20 years, the federal government announced new labelling rules for food and beverage makers in July, 2008. For the first time, wine, beer and spirit companies would have to list ingredients that are considered the most common allergens like milk, nuts, fish and wheat as well as gluten and sulphites. But just as these
important, potentially life-saving new rules were about to be approved, public opposition from a single powerful lobby group - the beer industry - has put them at risk Every other food and beverage product already has, or will have product labels providing important information for consumers. But this one industry wants special treatment by receiving an exemption from the new rules.
That is not fair!"


From Amateur Wine Makers of Ontario
"The array of clarifying agents available include; Activated carbon, Bentonite (wine grade), Casein and caseinates, Diatomaceous earth, Egg albumen, Gelatin (low bloom), Isinglas, Kieselsols, Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and Sparkalloid. Commercial combinations of some of these are also available.

Fining agents work on the principle that all of the particles responsible for the clouding or haze in a wine or beer have an electrical charge. As an example gelatin has a positive charge meaning that it can attract negatively charged materials. In binding to the negatively charged materials the combined weight increases resulting in settling to occur. In practice it’s usually necessary to have finings agents of different charges added sequentially to the wine in order remove the materials of various charges contained in the wine."

Cleaning water with nut shells.

Walnut Shell Filter HYDROFLOW™ is a nut shell filtration systems product, that cleans water using walnuts.

Peanut Shells Can Clean Water is a story from India the peanut shella that are used for cleaning waste water.

Banana Peels Tested Way to Clean Water News story in US, testing nut shells and bananas to clean water.

Corn Waste Article talks about using corn as a way to clean water.

It is unknown how much nut protein is left in the water after these products are done cleaning the water. Using allergens in industrial products can be dangerous, I would think nut allergic individuals should not be working on, or with these projects. Should nut allergic adults, ask if their job requires them to work with nut shells?

Churmergy is the study of chemistry using crops and crop by products in industrial products. Churmurgy is used to make fire logs from peanut shells, make plastic out of corn or sweaters from milk. More products made from nuts.

Just some link love to some of the neewer nut free blogs I have found lately!

Just A little Peanut Join us for our food allergy treatment jouney

Allergy Mum Australian Mum, Coping together

Carla Burke Author, writer, Mom


Peanut is a four letter word Mama who has a kiddo with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and soy

The Nutty Truth Sharring my nutty knowledge with others.

Life with out milk, eggs and peanuts Stay at home Mom of two incredible girls with combined allergies

Walking in Peanut Free Shoes Take a walk with me as I share my life and experiences on this blog

Peanut's Allergy's Blog Trying to raise awareness for Anaphlaxis and peanut allergy

No Nuts For My Peanut Join me on my quest of creating a peanut free life for my son

See also
Gluten Free Blogs Vegan Blogs

picture credit

UPDATE: some of the links in this post are boken however Johnson Florists still lists peanuts and coconut fiber made into flower pots.



Tengzhou Shengbaoshi Bio-Technology Co. has produced biodegradable garden pots made from maize straw [corn] peanut shells, rice hull bamboo.

They are made in china but being marketed through various international trade sites like: Alibaba and Made in China

Interestingly the international trade sites have more allergy information than the company's website itself. Some of the products simply say plant fibers but do not say what kind of plant fibers, others are clearly marked peanut fibers. They also contain corn, rice and bamboo powder.

It was not all that long ago I posted about fire logs made from tree nuts. For some time Duraflame fire logs have had nuts in them, but I was surprised when I found President's Choice logs made from nut shells.

An Avoiding Milk Facebook friend, also said Our Complements brand of fire logs are made with nuts. We often discuss odd places We find allergies on Karen Avoiding Milk Facebook, if you want to join in, or read more.

All biodegradable products contain milk or plant protein, most often corn. Biodegradable products like plastics, paper products can be made from milk, corn, wheat and more. The label does not have to say what allergens are in these non food products. Cross contamination has happened, eating a corn free meal from environmentally friendly plate made from corn for example.


More strange things that have nuts in them

I saw a new product from President's Choice made inpart from tree nuts

PC fire logs burns up to four hours made from recycled biomass product such as wood, sawdust, ground tree nut shells and blended wax burns cleaner than wood comes in set of 6
UPDATE This product is no longer being made, however other brands of firelogs made with nut shells are still on the market.

More products made from nuts



See Also:
Is PC Really Allergy Friendly
More Things that Have Nuts in Them
Fire logs Made From Nuts (more brands of fire logs)

Do we need nuts on planes? Should we ban them? Different groups within the allergy community disagree on this issue.

ANAPHYLAXIS AND FOOD ALLERGY ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA (AFAA) has 20 recommendations that their board of directors initially created in dialogue with Northwest/Delta airlines when they began to serve peanut snacks. While they wait for the U.S. DOT to review comments, they are arranging meetings with MN Congressional Representatives and Senators to keep the issue on their radar in advance of any opportunity to influence policy by regulation or legislation.


Elizabeth Goldenberg of Onespot Allergy started a petition For banning nuts, that people can still sign Banning Peanuts From Airlines (click to sign petition) it is an urgent call to action to support the proposed ban of peanuts on airlines.

ANAPHYLAXIS AND FOOD ALLERGY ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA (AFAA):

The Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of Minnesota (AFAA) created a survey regarding flying with food allergies: more than 2,034 people took the survey (whose results are also being sent to you electronically). Some notable statistics:

More than 43% were reluctant to “fly on a flight that serves or sells peanut snacks”
More than 39% refused to “fly on a flight that serves or sells peanut snacks”
More than 10% cancelled flights “because of peanut or treenut snacks on board airplanes”

More seriously, 234 respondents reported allergic reactions from exposure on an airplane. The cause of the reactions and allergens are described in the survey results.

Our organization understands that it is impossible for an airline to:
• guarantee a peanut-free flight;
• prevent passengers from bringing peanuts on board the aircraft; or
• guarantee that remnants of peanuts, peanut dust, and peanut oil will not remain on the aircraft floor, seats, tray tables, or in airline food.

We do believe, though, that airlines can greatly reduce the risk of food allergic reactions by not serving bags of peanuts, and by consistently implementing a 3 row buffer zone around passengers with other food allergies.

To reduce the risk of allergic reactions on aircraft, we would like to request these policy changes from the U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration:

Emergency Preparedness

1. autoinjector training for flight crew
2. autoinjectors (brand names: EpiPen, Twinject, Adrenaclick) on aircraft medical carts
Allergen Containment Options
3. upon request, a 3 row buffer zone where allergenic snacks are not served. Allergens specified may be peanut, tree nut, milk, egg, or wheat
4. upon request at time of reservation, peanut-snack free flights**
5. upon request, no peanut-snack sales**
6. peanut-snack free overseas flights**
7. upon request, on-board announcement asking for voluntary passenger compliance
8. designated rows on all aircraft where specified allergens would not be served ("food allergen reduction zone")
9. on-board announcement asking for passenger compliance with food allergen reduction zone
10. the possibility of regularly scheduled peanut-snack free flights

Cleaning Management

11. preboarding so parents/individuals can wipe down seats and trays*
12. through, frequent aircraft cleaning
13. sales or complimentary seat covers, tray covers, and hand wipes

Customer Service

14. posting of carriers’ allergen policies
15. food allergy training for airline staff
16. airline contact person trained to help families arrange appropriate accommodations: airline would remind/recommend to passengers to bring epinephrine and authorization

Public/Passenger Education

17. cross contamination warning label (for 8 major U.S. allergens) on airline food served
18. awareness through various means, such as in-flight magazine articles, about flying or traveling with food allergies (AFAA can provide materials and experts for interviewing)
19. website information providing tips for flying with food allergies (which AFAA and other organizations can provide)
20. active cooperation with medical researchers to determine allergen hazards on aircraft

*per Air Carrier Access Regulations 14 CFR, Part 382.38
**We would also like the airline to consider these accommodations for tree nut allergens




From banning all nuts to accommodation many disagree, there is also a Facebook Group called You Don't Need Nuts to Fly that people can join or comment on.

More travel information also readers may want to read this New York Times Article on the on the cleanliness of airlines.

From Food Allergy Association of Minnesota
Speak up! Show Up!

Come to a Press Conference
About Peanut Snacks
& Allergens on
Airplanes!



Date: Thursday, Sept. 23
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Main Terminal, MEZZANINE Level (above Ticket Lobby, by GOLD parking ramp entrance).


Participation does not require going through TSA security. Arrive early to find parking easily and walk through tunnel or skyway to Mezzanine.



AFAA will give the U.S. Department of Transportation:

2,034 responses from the Allergens on Airplanes Survey
653 comments written by passengers flying with food allergies
Policy Recommendations for the Federal Aviation Administration

My post on their survay here

Elizabeth Goldenberg, President of Onespot Allergy is our guest blogger sharring one of her favorite places to eat with her peanut allergic son, and family in Bayfield, Ontario.

I love spending time in Bayfield, Ontario in the summer. Not only are the beaches beautiful and the shops lovely, but in this town of 600 residents and a two block main street, one cafe's service for people with food allergies stands out. It's Cafe DaVinci, which is located right in the center of main street.

The owners are Carlos Murguia Aguilar and Doug Marr, who over the years have become friends of mine. I first met Carlos when I wandered into the cafe the spring it opened: I was scoping out safe restaurants in anticipation of our cottage week later that summer. Carlos was very gracious, answered my questions, and allowed me to read the labels I needed to read. With our peanut and tree nut allergic son, we're able to eat everything except one salad, the bakery rolls, and the desserts. Because there are some nuts used on site, precautions are taken to work in a clean area and not cross-contaminate our son's food. We've probably eaten there fifty times, and it has always worked out well for us.

I love the ambiance in the cafe, with its wooden floors and fixtures, the front and back patios, and the walls covered with original fine art. Doug Marr is an oil painter and Carlos is a fine art photographer. They were the owners of an art gallery in Cape Cod, and they now display their art work proudly both in the cafe and in the art gallery behind the cafe.

My favorite item on the lunch menu is the grilled vegetable panini. They grind wonderful coffee on site, and the blended iced cappuccino is wonderful with it. I just noticed a new item on the breakfast menu, which is warm bread pudding with whipped cream, and I can't wait to try it. The servers are very friendly, and we're always very well treated there.

I suggest dropping by the cafe to discuss your allergy concerns (avoid busy service times) or call ahead. If you decide to go, they're open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you do go, please let Doug and Carlos know that Elizabeth Goldenberg sent you.

Cafe DaVinci, 14 Bayfield Main Street, Bayfield, Ontario, 519 565-4076.


Elizabeth Goldenberg, President
Onespot Allergy
Onespot Blog

I found compost starter containing peanut meal.

We compost using a backyard compost container, I've never used a compost starter, and I know you can compost peanuts, and peanut shells. This compost starter contains peanut meal, a possible concern for the nut allergic.


Super Hot Compost Starter

From their website:

Get a quick start on turning your biodegradable kitchen and yard scraps into a valuable resource using Super Hot Compost Starter. This 100% organic activator consists of a nitrogen blend and hungry micro-organisms. It's a powerful two-part system of energizer (including peanut meal) and activator (microorganisms, alfalfa, cocoa meal, and other ingredients). 8 lbs. activates up to 90 gallon of material.

Biodiesel: An option for Southeast growers
Peanut Bio Fuel!
power your car with peanut oil?
From this article:



Non Food Items That Have Nuts In Them
Chemurgy And Allergens Blog

photo credit

From Maggies Pure land Laundry detergent made from tree nuts, they actually say it is hypoallergenic!


From their website:

Maggie’s Soap NutsTM are the only laundry soap that grows on trees!

Truly effective, 100% natural and safe for your most sensitive skin.
Soap NutsTM are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree.
They contain saponin, a natural cleaner used for thousands of
years to clean clothes, just like the plants used by Native Americans
for washing.

Simply put a few Soap Nuts into the included cotton sack and drop
it in your laundry. Your clothes come out clean, vibrant, and soft.
Replace your laboratory detergents and softeners with the soap
made from Nature by Nature. Your clothes, your skin, your family,
and your planet will thank you.

Update:

Reading More on their website:

I’m allergic to nuts. Can I use Soap Nuts?

Yes! Maggie’s Soap Nuts are actually a dried fruit related to the lychee. People with nut allergies can safely use Soap Nuts!

Heather Fraser speaker and author of The History of the Peanut Allergy Epidemic will be speaking for Ottawa Anaphylaxis Support Group at the Citizen Conference Room, Wednesday, May 12 7:00 - 9:00

Apparently January 25 is National Chocolate covered peanut day!

See more nutty holidays

National Nut Day--October 22
Pecan Day--March 25
National Peanut Month--March 1-31
National Peanut Festival--October 13
National Peanut Butter Lover's Month--November 1-30
National Peanut Butter Lover's Day--March 1
National Pecan Day--April 14
National Pistachio Day--February 26
National Cashew Day--November 23
National Date-Nut Bread Day--December 22
National Date-Nut Bread Day--September 8

These bizzare holidays can creep into a nut allergic's world.

I am reading my package of Dainty Rice
It says:

ALLERGEN INFORMATION: Packaged on the same equipment as products containing nuts and sulphates

I have never seen a nut warning on Dainty Rice before, this time I did get a different style of rice, from them than usual. I always read ingredients in the grocery store then again before the first time I open a package. Nuts are not an allergen in our home, but this struck me as very odd, and a reminder to all always read your labels.

Dainty Rice
Time - Wise
All Natural
Whole Grain Brown