So protect children with food allergy

Precautions for the protection of children with severe food allergy

04/04/2015

Food allergies are a particular problem in children, not least because the little ones are difficult to determine if food for them contain hazardous ingredients. The German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB) gives tips on how to minimize the risk of allergic reactions.

If adults already have difficulty in determining possible alergy triggers in food, children are simply overwhelmed at this point. In his magazine „Allergy concretely“ recommends the DAAB therefore a special labeling of the food at home, according to the message of the news agency „dpa“. For example, foods could be provided with a green dot by parents, while unsafe ones could be marked with a red dot. Such simple markings are also easy to understand for children, visitors or babysitters.

Keep food separate
If children suffer from a food allergy, even taking the smallest amounts of nuts, milk or eggs can trigger a severe allergic reaction. Therefore, the DAAB advises on some precautionary measures in the household. In addition to the clear labeling of food, for example, a separate storage of allergen-containing and allergen-free food should be made, reports the „dpa“ citing the DAAB. If these are right next to each other, there is a risk of likelihood of confusion. For example, the DAAB recommends parents of children with severe lactose intolerance not to place soy milk alongside cow's milk.

Banish allergenic foods from the household?
Ideally, according to the DAAB, special shelves or a separate cupboard are reserved for safe food. However, there is also the possibility of banishing allergenic foods completely out of the household if parents want to save on pasting and sorting food. This reduces the risk of accidental ingestion. However, the child is less trained in handling the food because the artificial situation requires no special attention. In public, this can quickly lead to problems if the child is not prepared to be dangerous to certain foods.

Avoid contamination by cutlery and dishes
According to the experts, however, the fact that there are no allergenic foods in the household also has the advantage that the transmission of very small quantities of allergenic foods, for example via cutlery or contaminated hands, into allergen-free meals can be ruled out. Otherwise, according to the DAAB, parents must exercise extra care to avoid contamination. Allergen-free food should only come into contact with clean cutlery, which requires a cleaning of the pots, pans, cutlery and dishes with hot water and detergent, according to the DAAB. Rinsing with water is not enough here.

Separate preparation of the food
The preparation of allergenhaltiger and allergen-free food according to the DAAB is also separated. First, the allergen-free variant of a dish is prepared and then the normal meal. In this way it can be avoided that allergy-causing substances enter the allergen-free food with the cooking accessories. If the meals are prepared at the same time, the DAAB advises against using the same utensils, a threat of contamination here too, which may be accompanied by severe allergic reactions. (Fp)