Here are the websites we have relied on heavily over the years for guidance about food allergies. Many of them provide services that we do not provide. Many of them have doctors as consultants, who have insight into the nature of food allergies that we cannot possibly provide. Please use these resources in addition to our website so that you compile the best answers for yourself and your family.

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network ("FAAN")
Reasons we like this site:
It has a medical advisory board which reviews its publications for accuracy. The goal of FAAN is to educate the public about all aspects of food allergies. The website is loaded with Q&A's and information to help you understand and manage your food allergies. You can sign up for e-mails alerts pertaining to food recalls due to the presence of undeclared food allergens. It has a separate page for each of the Top 8 Food Allergens so you can quickly advance to the allergen for helpful information. It has a page with information about airplane travel and how to best protect yourself when you travel. It has an easy-to-use link to help you create a "Chef's Card" that explains your food allergies to restaurant employees and chefs.

Our recommendation about where to begin once you've clicked on the FAAN link above: Education – About Food Allergy

Food Allergy Initiative
Reasons we like this site:
It was founded by parents and grandparents with the hope of finding a cure for food allergies. It works closely with a medical advisory board, just like FAAN does. It has a separate page for each of the Top 8 Food Allergens plus seeds that provides helpful information for managing each of these allergies. It has an easy-to-use link to help you create a "Restaurant Card" (in 9 languages) that explains your food allergies to restaurant employees and chefs.

Our recommendation about where to begin once you've clicked on the Food Allergy Initiative link above: About Food Allergies

FDA Links About Food Labels
As we discussed in our Checklist for the Newly Diagnosed, the FDA updated its food allergy labeling requirements for food manufacturers in 2004 (effective as of Jan. 1, 2006). The above link provides an excellent summary of what the FDA now requires food labels to disclose. It is written in consumer-friendly language.

We believe the above link is required reading for anyone living with food allergies. Between the link above and our Checklist Item #7, you might have all the information you need on the topic of labeling. However, if you want to go directly to the source, click here to read the actual text of FALCPA (the legal language of this amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act).

Epinephrine Auto-Injector Providers
EpiPen
TwinJect

We discuss epinephrine, the EpiPen , and the TwinJect in our Checklist Item #4. Besides demonstrating their products, both websites, especially the EpiPen website, provide helpful tips on living with food allergies and information about anaphylaxis – the most severe type of allergic reaction.

MedicAlert
We discuss the many benefits of membership in MedicAlert in our Checklist Item #5.

Working with Your Child's School
We discuss the importance of communicating with your child's school and having a plan in place for both prevention of exposure to allergens and emergency treatment should a reaction occur in our Checklist Item #2. Below are some the resources we found helpful when working with our child's school:

Food Allergies for Dummies – 504 Plan for Schools

School and Camp Guidance from FAAN

School Guidance from Food Allergy Initiative

Camp Guidance from Food Allergy Initiative