Allergic Living Magazine Examines Controversial Debate Over Milk Allergy in Schools

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sending a child to school with a life-threatening food allergy is always worrisome, but when it's an allergy to milk and dairy products, the anxiety level can be through the roof.

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The reason? To start with, the high risk of exposure. Dairy is in everything, from milk to yogurt, chips, crackers and the cupcakes another student's mother offers to a class.

But there's much more to the issue, as Allergic Living magazine finds in its in-depth examination of the challenges of educating kids with dairy allergy in its new Spring edition – released this week.

Milk is simply one of the most revered foods in the North American diet. From the "good for you" image of milk as a calcium source to festivities centered on pizza and ice cream, the mere suggestion of an event without dairy can result in dramatic backlash from the parents of other students.

As well, a true allergy to dairy can cause serious, even fatal reactions, but frequently this is not understood. As one mother with a child with a dairy allergy tells the magazine: "You want every allergen to be taken seriously, but if it isn't a peanut or a nut allergy, it's not getting respect."

Allergic Living hears from parents who go to extraordinary lengths – baking hundreds of allergy-safe cupcakes for a school event or even pulling a milk-allergic child out of school because of repeated reactions to dairy.

But as much as there is challenge, the magazine also finds stories of success; parents who are able to sit down with principals and teachers to develop workable allergy policies, and not bans. This article details the most effective strategies and practices that all schools and allergy parents need to know. These are the tools that can keep a growing population of kids safe – in their own schools.

Also in the Spring issue: The 10 big pollen questions; a teen with celiac disease takes on Mt. Kilimanjaro; and delicious allergy-safe recipes – from sublime soups to the perfect spring chicken and our gluten-free strawberry tart.

Allergic Living is the national magazine for those living with allergies, asthma and celiac disease. It is available by subscription and on newsstand at Whole Foods Markets in most of the U.S. (visit: http://allergicliving.com/where-to-buy) and Chapters stores in Canada.

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Contact:
Gwen Smith
Editor-in-chief
Allergic Living magazine
1-888-771-7747
Email 
www.allergicliving.com

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SOURCE Allergic Living