Allergy and Asthma News » Food Allergies

Food allergy cases among US children on the rise

Chris Emery — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:58:29 +0000

The prevalence of food allergies rose dramatically among US children over the past decade, though it is unclear whether the actual number of cases or just the reporting of food allergy accounted for the rise, a new study found

Self-reported food allergies among children increase by 18% from 1997 to 2007 and visits to outpatient medical facilities for food allergy treatment nearly tripled from 1993 to 2006, according to the paper published online November 16 in the journal Pediatrics.

While the data, which came from several national surveys, indicated that the prevalence of food allergies is on the rise, the authors of the study cautioned that the cause of the rise in reported cases remains a mystery. “It cannot be determined how much of the increases in estimates are truly attributable to increases in clinical disease and how much are attributable to increased awareness by physicians, other healthcare providers, and parents,” they wrote.

Jelly Belly recalls jelly beans containing peanut ingredients

Chris Emery — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:38:50 +0000

Jelly Belly jelly beans recalled due to inappropriate labellling.

Jelly Belly Candy Company is recalling packages of its popular jelly beans due to packaging that failed list peanut butter and peanut flour as ingredients. The items being recalled are are 7.5-counce cylinder style packages of Jelly Belly 49 Flavors, which were shipped to about 200 stores nation wide between September 29 and October 30, 2009.

The product was packaged in a clear 7.5-ounce acetate cylinder with white label on the bottom of the package with lot codes 090925, 090928, 090929 or 091001. UPC code 071567989398, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumers who have a peanut allergy and purchased this product in the last five weeks are urged to return it to Jelly Belly Candy Company, One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, California, 94533. Consumers and retailers with questions about the recall should call the Jelly Belly Hotline at 800-522-3267 Monday-Friday 7 am to 5 pm PST.