Enterprising Parents Offer Allergy Solutions

Yesterday, a post on Food Allergy Awareness Week mentioned the top concerns of parents of children with food allergies. Today, take a look at how a couple of enterprising parents have found solutions for those concerns, and gone into business to bring their answers to others.

Elaine Robbins started her business, Gak's Snacks, because "I wanted kids with multiple food allergies like my son to be able to join in social events involving food, but we couldn't find baked goods that didn't contain eggs and dairy, and that weren't made in a facility with peanuts or tree nuts." She started baking her own, and now sells them online along with cookbooks and ingredients. "When I see kids with and without food allergies all getting the same Gak's Snacks cookies in the school lunch line, so that allergies are not an issue, I feel the success," she says. Read more about Gak's Snacks, or try Robbins' oatmeal cookie recipe for yourself.

Donna Rendell's daughter is allergic to eggs and nuts, and although she hadn't had a reaction severe enough yet to need an Epipen, "we have had several close calls where Stella had been given foods by well-meaning friends and relatives and the traces of egg white and nuts caused her to vomit, have lip swelling and rashes." Her solution: T-shirts that announce allergies boldly and help to make sure that food restrictions are respected. "With Stella wearing her T-shirt and badges when we go on outings where food will be present, we seem to have been able to avoid any mishaps. ... Stella knows to tell people about her allergies, but it's always a possibility that her teachers, parents of friends etc. won't be as diligent as we are." To help other parents dealing with that fear, Rendell offers T-shirts, stickers, badges and bracelets online through her business, Star Allergy Alerts. "It is so humbling to receive feedback from parents about how much my products have helped in their day-to-day lives," she says. "I receive letters, E-mails and phone calls all the time thanking me for giving them and their child a little freedom."

Do you have an allergy-based business of your own, or one to recommend? Mention it in the comments.