Reading Food Labels

This is a big part of my life. Reading EVERY SINGLE FOOD LABEL, doing research on what different words mean in food labeling, and doing research for Non-edible products that have food products in them because if the item is not meant to be ingested (like sunscreen) they don't have to list all the food products on the label. Companies also change what's in their foods from time to time, depending on the economy. So we have to read the label EVERY time we buy the product, even if we just bought some last week and it was safe. They might have added an allergen to it.....


Did you know that there are more than 10 words for MILK, or milk products, when it comes to food labeling?? Some of them are, casein, diacetyl, lactalbumin, lactoferrin, lactose, and tagatose.  John is dangerously allergic to milk so I need to know how to recognize when there is milk or a milk based product in anything that might come into contact with him. This includes lotions, soaps, tooth paste, even medication!
Flu shots have milk and egg in them. I didn't know that. Certain antibiotics also have food products in them.
Lucky for me I know a wonderful group of ladies that I am proud to call my friends that have been at this a lot longer than me and have done most of the hard work of finding out what medications are (or have the highest probability) of being safe for John.

One product that, I think, is universally safe for EoE kids is sugar. One of the biggest things I swore I would do when I have kids is MAJORLY limit how much sugary and artificial crap they ingested. Only to find out that those things might be the only safe things my son can eat for a long time. A birthday cake made out of sugar cubes? YES! Eating sugar packets and ice chips at dinner with the family when we go out? Absolutely!! Home made sugar lollipops (because dumdums have corn syrup in them) made with artificial flavorings and colors so my son can experience flavors of foods he's allergic to? You bet!
Whatever it takes to make sure my son is safe, happy, and healthy.

I thought I'd end today with a picture that my husband took.