THREATENING REACTIONS CALLED ANAPHYLAXIS. BECAUSE OF THIS, FOOD PREPARATION AND MEAL PLANNING ARE CRUCIAL TO KEEPING CHILDREN WITH FOOD ALLERGIES SAFE. BUT THE TASK IS NOT EASY. ALLERGENS LIKE EGGS, SOY AND NUTS OFTEN TURN UP AS INGREDIENTS IN PREPARED FOODS, AND LABELS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN CLEAR. WHILE A NEW FEDERAL LAW NOW REQUIRES MANUFACTURERS TO LIST THE EIGHT MOST COMMON FOOD ALLERGENS, PRODUCT LABELS HAVE TRADITIONALLY OFFERED VAGUE TERMS LIKE 'NATURAL FLAVORS,' WITHOUT NAMING THE SPECIFIC INGREDIENTS. PARENTS SEEM TO WORRY THE MOST, BOLLINGER SAID, WHEN THEIR CHILD'S MEALS ARE NOT UNDER THEIR DIRECT CONTROL - AT SCHOOL, AT OTHER CHILDREN'S HOUSES OR AT RESTAURANTS. OF PARENTS IN HER STUDY, PUBLISHED IN THE ANNALS OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA AND IMMUNOLOGY, 79 PERCENT SAID THEIR CHILD'S FOOD ALLERGY MADE GOING TO A RESTAURANT STRESSFUL: 16 PERCENT AVOIDED DINING OUT ALTOGETHER. AND MORE THAN HALF OF PARENTS SAID THAT FAMILY OUTINGS AND VACATIONS WERE A TOUGH TASK. BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND SLEEPOVERS WERE ALSO A SOURCE OF STRESS, PARENTS SAID - SO MUCH SO THAT ONE-QUARTER WOULD NOT ALLOW THEIR CHILD TO SLEEP AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE. TEN PERCENT OF PARENTS SAID THEY HOME-SCHOOLED THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF FOOD ALLERGY - A SURPRISING RATE, BOLLINGER SAID, SINCE THAT'S NOT PART OF STANDARD ADVICE ON DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM. 'THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN BEING OVERLY PROTECTIVE AND BEING SAFE,' SHE SAID. FAMILIES WHO ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED OR WHO FEEL THEIR KIDS ARE MISSING OUT ON THEIR CHILDHOOD SHOULD TURN TO RESOURCES LIKE FAAN OR PARENTS' SUPPORT GROUPS IN THEIR AREA, ACCORDING TO BOLLINGER. 'FAMILIES NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE,' SHE SAID.
