Food Allergy Pros

02/03/2026

I’ve worked in food‑allergy education for more than 15 years, and one message stands above all others: always carry epinephrine, and don’t hesitate to use it during an allergic reaction. It remains the most critical tool for anyone living with—or caring for someone with—food allergies.

I’m very enthusiastic about my work with the team at Belay to support MedLocker®, a secure, wall‑mounted unit for emergency medications such as epinephrine, albuterol, and opioid antagonists. Its tamper‑proof smart technology tracks medication use and alerts the appropriate personnel when items are removed. Belay also provides comprehensive services including medication procurement, accredited training, and inventory management, helping schools, university campuses, camps, restaurants, arenas, and other organizations strengthen their emergency preparedness.

Here's my contribution to their current newsletter - on the importance of epinephrine accessibility:

I train school staff, camp counselors, and university administrators across the country, and I always ask the same question: “If a child is having an allergic reaction, what do you do first?” Too often, someone says: “Call the parents.” Wrong. Here’s the protocol that saves lives, and it.....

02/02/2026

The announcement that Palforzia will be discontinued by July 2026 is an important reminder for our field: no single therapy can meet the needs of every food‑allergic patient.

Palforzia was a milestone — the first FDA‑approved oral immunotherapy product — and the company says its withdrawal is driven by business strategy, not safety or efficacy. But its exit highlights a deeper truth: we cannot rely on one treatment pathway.

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) can be life‑changing for some families and provide real relief and less worry for some patients, yet it remains a highly demanding option. It requires strict daily dosing, several hours of limited activity after each dose, and careful management of co-factors like illness and exercise. It also carries the risk of adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis and the potential development of ingestion-related conditions such as EoE or FPIES. For many families, this level of rigidity simply isn’t feasible or the side effects of the therapy just too intolerable.

This is why a diverse therapeutic landscape matters. Families need choices — FDA‑approved products, sublingual and epicutaneous immunotherapies, biologics, to accompany their daily prevention strategies and strong anaphylaxis preparedness. Clinicians need tools that are practical to deliver. Affordability for patients and robust insurance coverage must, of course, be paramount. And the system must be resilient enough that when one option leaves the market, patients aren’t left with fewer paths to safety.

I have devoted my consulting practice, www.foodallergypros.com to working with companies and organizations whose missions align behind a simple objective - invest in therapies to provide long term cures for food allergy and provide robust resources to keep patients safe in the meantime.

The work continues: expanding access, broadening options, and ensuring every patient has a treatment approach that fits their needs.

https://snacksafely.com/2026/01/from-fda-landmark-to-market-exit-the-complex-journey-of-palforzia/

The first FDA-approved OIT drug is taking a bow before the final curtain call.

01/27/2026

New data from UCLA Health, published in JACI: Global, reveals a notable trend: emergency department visits for food‑induced allergic reactions in infants have risen steadily over the past decade, with a more than fourfold increase since 2013. Infants seen after the release of national early‑introduction guidelines (2022–2024) were more than twice as likely to present with a food‑induced reaction compared with infants in the pre‑guideline years.

For those of us working across the food allergy ecosystem, these findings matter.

The science behind early allergen introduction is transformative. It has reshaped prevention strategies, informed national policy, and galvanized collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry. Organizations like the National Peanut Board whose grant making in this area I have had the privilege of supporting—have played a critical role in advancing this research and helping bring evidence‑based practices into the mainstream.

But this study highlights a gap we must address together.

As early introduction becomes more widely adopted, families—especially those with high‑risk infants—need clearer, more actionable guidance on how to introduce allergenic foods safely. In some cases, anaphylaxis preparedness must be considered part of the protocol. Rising ER visits don’t undermine the value of early introduction; they underscore the need for better implementation support.

For industry partners, this is a call to action.
There is meaningful opportunity to:

• Strengthen consumer education and product guidance
• Support research that clarifies real‑world implementation challenges
• Collaborate with clinicians and advocacy leaders to ensure families have the tools and confidence they need
• Innovate around safety, accessibility, and informed use of early‑introduction products

The momentum behind early introduction is strong—and justified. Now we have the chance to help close the gap between scientific promise and practical, safe adoption.

This is where industry leadership can make a profound difference.

Infant Food Allergy ER Visits Rise Following National Guidelines

01/26/2026

The FDA’s upcoming public meeting on food allergy thresholds is a pivotal moment for our community — and for the future of allergen labeling in the United States.

The agency is exploring whether scientifically established thresholds could guide when manufacturers must use precautionary allergen statements like “may contain.” For years, inconsistent and overly broad precautionary labels have limited safe choices for millions of families. A thoughtful threshold approach has the potential to bring greater clarity, reduce unnecessary warnings, and expand access to foods people can trust.

But as anyone in this field knows, reactivity isn’t a fixed number. An individual’s sensitivity can shift based on a range of real‑world factors — illness, hormonal changes, physical exertion, elevated body temperature, stress, and more. What’s tolerable for someone on one day may not be tolerable on another. As the FDA evaluates threshold-setting, it’s essential that these human variables are part of the conversation. Safety must be defined not only by data, but by the lived realities of people managing food allergies every day.

Allergic Living has a strong overview of the meeting and why it matters:
https://www.allergicliving.com/2026/01/26/fda-to-host-virtual-meeting-on-food-allergy-thresholds-and-labels/

Key opportunities for engagement:

• Public meeting begins February 18, with additional listening sessions to follow. Registration links and materials are available through the FDA.
• Questions for the public meeting must be submitted by February 3.

As someone who works with organizations, institutions, and policymakers on food allergy safety and communication, I see this as a critical opportunity to shape a system that is both scientifically grounded and could be, with thoughtful parameters, genuinely protective. I encourage advocates, clinicians, caregivers, and industry partners to participate — your voices will help determine how thresholds are developed, communicated, and ultimately implemented.

The FDA will hold in mid-February a public meeting on a very important topic for the food allergy community: food allergy thresholds. The FDA is exploring such thresholds as tools for standardizing when a manufacturer needs to apply a precautionary allergen warning (e.g. 'may contain') on a food label.

With the wide use of 'may contains', a threshold approach could greatly improve choices for shoppers. However, the food allergy community will want information about how thresholds for top allergens are determined for safety. See this link: https://www.allergicliving.com/2026/01/26/fda-to-host-virtual-meeting-on-food-allergy-thresholds-and-labels/

Info our post includes:
• Details of how to join the public meeting & later listening sessions, starting Feb. 18. Link to materials.
• How to submit questions for public meeting by Feb. 3.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Allergy Research & Education Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Food Allergy Fund The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team, FAACT Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Elijah-Alavi Foundation Gratefulfoodie AllergyStrong Food Allergy Pros

10/05/2025

Last day of . Snaps with Allergy Awesomeness and Caroline Moassessi VP Community Relations FAACT

10/05/2025

A fantastic weekend with friends and colleagues at the The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team, FAACT’s annual allergy conference. Learning, advocating, building.

10/04/2025

Thrilled for my friend The Food Allergy Counselor, Inc. on the launch of her fabulous book “May Contain Anxiety” - highlighting important strategies to manage the stress and angst that comes with a food allergy diagnosis. I’m looking forward to her book launch later this month and hope to see other colleagues and friends! Brava, my friend!

We’re so looking forward to hosting Tamara Hubbard to discuss her new book “May Contain Anxiety: Managing the Overwhelm of Parenting Children with Food Allergies”!

This is a FREE in-store event
on Wednesday, Oct 22nd from 6-7 pm
at Lake Forest Book Store

“Parenting a child with food allergies or other allergic conditions means navigating a labyrinth of emotions, decisions, and challenges. In “May Contain Anxiety,” licensed therapist and allergy parent Tamara Hubbard (MA, LCPC) provides practical guidance tailored to the millions of parents managing this reality.”

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing, and refreshments will be served.

Space is limited, so please call to reserve your spot! 📞

08/26/2025

So grateful to work with this great group of advocates on food labeling.

08/25/2025

Fantastic article by Allergy Force about the pitfalls of current food labeling practices and why MenuTrinfo’s Certified Free From program is the solution!

When you see the 'Certified Free From' seal from MenuTrinfo on foods, you can 100% trust they are free from specific allergens. Learn more:

08/12/2025

Congratulations FOODiversity for this program, funded by the National Peanut Board through the grant program that I am honored to administer. Well done!

Many thanks to Dr. Jennifer Protudjer for virtually presenting "Breaking Down Barriers: Why Parents Struggle with Early Allergen Introduction" to FOODiversity's Early Introduction Parent Program (EIPP) Cohort organizations. We also thank the dedicated Lunch & Learn attendees for your continued commitment to improving health outcomes, and National Peanut Board and TELUS for your generous support of the EIPP program!

If your organization is interested in joining events like this while sharing food allergy prevention strategies in your community, please email mackenzie@foodiversity.org!

Protudjer Allergy Lab

08/12/2025

While this is a step in the right direction, too many food companies make “front of package” claims that their facilities or products are free from allergens and we have to take them at their word. I’ve seen *many* instances when a product bears a “free from” claim on the front of the package only to carry a precautionary label on the back of the package that references the presence of the very same allergen they claim to be absent from the product! The only way to go is independent, third party verification. Consumers should look for the Certified Free From seal from MenuTrinfo and demand that food companies pursue independent certification.

FARE is excited to share that Target has launched an Allergen Friendly Foods page just in time for back to school! This curated selection features products with on-pack statements that they or their facility are free from at least one of the FDA-recognized Top 9 allergens. It’s a welcome step toward making grocery shopping easier for families managing food allergies. Remember to always check every label for the most accurate allergen and ingredient information before purchasing. https://www.target.com/c/allergen-friendly-foods/-/N-xsft1

07/26/2025

When trust is broken by a food allergy tragedy, it changes everything.
In one of our latest blogs, Gayle Rigione, CEO & Co-Founder of Allergy Force, shares the heartbreaking stories behind her fight for safer food labeling—and why Certified Free From® certification matters more than ever. As a food allergy parent and tech innovator, her call to action is clear: change is overdue.

👉 Read the full blog and see why this moment matters:

https://menutrinfo.com/blog/when-trust-is-broken-by-a-food-allergy-tragedy-its-time-for-change/