Speaking from experience – this is one category that has been a source of annoyance for me for a long time. Recently, it seems there has become a new awareness of just how devistating allergies can actually be to those who have them.
I am thinking specifically when talking about new awareness to the peanut and gluten allergies. I cannot fathom the stress that might accompany having a child with a peanut allergy and hoping no child in his school brings in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And while most aren’t as severe as that, I can tell you that just existing without coming in contact with peanuts has got to be mind-boggling. Not only do you have to read ingredient labels, and avoid the obvious, but you also have to be aware of items that may have been cross contaminated in factories that produce non-peanut items.
I have a medium size “list” of allergies, but my food allergies are to both fructose and corn. I guess they go hand in hand really. Fructose is fruit sugar and it’s just about everywhere and in just about everything called fruit (even lemons). High Fructose Corn Syrup is made from corn. With this type of allergy, I really can come close to a peach, or an ear of corn ~ I just can’t eat it. If someone sneaks some into my food ~ I know it pretty quickly. The first thing that happens is my sinuses swell and that’s a pretty obvious outward sign because you will hear me trying to breathe. I then usually go into an asthma attack, the severity of which is determined by the amount I ingested. Sometimes my face swells or I break out in a rash, or just itch all over or get really nasty. I have identified several of the ones that cause “really nasty” and let me just say I absolutely and totally avoid them.