As a school nurse, I will say that food allergies are real. However, some parents do go overboard. There is truth in both statements. And yes, I understand the fear, especially when you send your food allergic child out of your home (control) for the first time. I believe in education, and yes an allergen free classroom, and allergy free table in the lunchroom. However, it is not an allergy free world. People with food allergies need to learn to advocate for themselves and make good food choices. Some parents DEMAND an allergy free school. Sorry, folks, but there is no such entity. Awareness and education is the key. Not a false sense of security. Furthermore, as I did not hear the broadcase, I have one question, and would like an evidenced based answer - how many deaths occur each year from food allergies? hmmmmm

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SUPPORT GROUP FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THIER FAMILIES OF ADULTS WITH ANAPHYLAXIS. MY SON IS ANAPHYLACTIC TO NUTS AND HAS EXPERIENCED EXTREMEME ABUSE AS A CHILD AND ADULT FROM PERSONS INCLUDING FAMLIY REGARDING HIS ANAPHYLASIS. THIS ALSO INCLUDES INCIDENTS IN FACILITIES AS WELL.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE WEB-SITES THAT GEAR THEMSELVES TO ADVOCACY AND IF THERE ARE ONES THAT POINT TO EHTHICAL STANDARDS FOR SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS AND SUCH.

THANK YOU KINDLY,

JEANETTE

I was sceptical of "peanut-free" schools and such until I learned the hard way about food allergies, by having now 2 children with multiple food allergies. Until one is faced with the problem, it is easy to imagine it is hype. The fact that food allergies are something that was rare in preceeding generations and even in my childhood, and they are now growing at an amazing rate, along with all kinds of once-rare disorders, especially in children, should make us take a hard look at what we are changing in our air, water, soil, and food supply, especially toxins that bio-accumulate and are passed in increasing concentrations from parents to children, and which build up in ever-higher concentrations in the flesh of food animals, particularly when animal fat is part of their feed.
It's no joke, and more and more people are finding that out on a personal level, once it's their own child with food allergies, especially severe ones.

After looking through some of the comments left on this board, one can tell that the pro-FAAN folks have gotten all their undies in a bunch and started some sort of writing campaign.

The majority of you are freaking out of control parents. You take a hive or two and make it into a life-threatening disease that makes you and your kid into victims. When my dad was a kid he had hives from eating peanuts, but you know what? He kept eating them, and, eventually, he outgrew his allergy. His parents did not overreact and force not only him, but all of his peers, from eating a healthy and abundant food!

FOR THE PARENTS OF THE FRIENDS OF CHILDREN LIKE MINE...

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR CHILD WOULD FEEL IF HE TOOK NUTS OR PB OR EGGS TO SCHOOL AND CAUSED THE DEATH OF HIS BEST FRIEND.

THINK ABOUT IT... IT COULD HAPPEN.

WE ALWAYS KEPT MY SON AWAY FROM NUTS AS HIS FATHER IS DEATHLY ALLERGIC AND THEY BOTH HAVE ASTHMA. MY SON HAS HAD ONE ANAPHYLAXIS REACTION AND IT WAS TO EGGS. HE WAS UNRECOGNISABLE. MY MOM WHO IS AN ER NURSE SAID "SARAH, I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL" WHEN SHE SAW HIM. I HAD TO TELL HER THAT WE HAD ALREADY GONE AND COME HOME. IT WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL. HIS ENTIRE BODY WAS RED, INCLUDING THE WHITES OF HIS EYES. HE WAS SWOLLEN AS FAR AS HIS SKIN WOULD STRETCH AND THE POCKETS UNDER HIS EYES WERE PUFFIER THAN HIS CHEEKS. HE LOOKED LIKE THE ELEPHANT MAN. HE HAD NOT EATEN EGGS. HE HAD ONLY TOUCHED THEM. HE WOULD ALSO GET HIVES AFTER SITTING IN MY FATHERS CHAIR. MY FATHER NO LONGER EATS PB ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THE TABLE AND CLEANS UP VERY WELL. MY SON WAS TESTED FOR BOTH NUT AND EGG ALLERGIES AND MY THOUGHTS WERE CONFIRMED. YET THE ONLY ALLERGY TAKEN SERIOUSLY AT SCHOOL IS HIS NUT ALLERGY!!! THE ONLY REAL SAFETY NET IS TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILD. MY SON HAS BEEN READING FOOD LABELS FROM THE AGE OF FOUR.

How sad it is to hear an uninformed woman like Ms. Broussard spout out her rhetoric on food allergies. Ms. Broussard, try coming to my home sometime and caring for one of my 3 severely food-allergic children, 2 of whom have had multiple anaphylactic reactions. When you've done that, then you can say what you want. It is thanks to fine doctors like Hugh Sampson and Scott Sicherer that my children are alive today.

I listened to both the original interview with Ms. Broussard and Dr. Sampson's response. All I can say is that if you have a child who has had an anaphylactic reaction to a food, you would thank Dr. Sampson, FAAN and FAI. Clearly in every area of life there are people who take things too far, but that does not negate the real threat of anaphylaxis. As far as comparing deaths from anaphylaxis to lightening strikes, there is not a whole lot we can do to prevent lightening strikes (don't hold a metal golf club on a hill in a thunderstorm), but there are specific steps that we can take to try to prevent needless deaths from anaphylaxis.

I do have personal experience in this area, and I thank Dr. Sampson and all of those dedicated professionals who help to keep my child safe.

In our society we always have to try to balance the needs of the individual with those of society. If there are a few things that we can do to keep a few children with severe food allergies safe, then shouldn't we try to do that? What argument would Ms. Broussard make if she had witnessed her child experience anaphylaxis, I wonder? I am guessing that her position would be vastly different.

Who does she think she is?! She talks about this like she is an expert and involved in the testing process. What are her qualifications? This is very irresponsible. "One bit of the wrong thing" can cause a serious problem. My daughter can have a severe reaction to trace amounts of egg. And when I say trace I mean you can't see it!

Is this woman for real! She must have a pretty big ego. She thinks way to highly of herself and her ability to discuss a topic that she clearly has very little knowledge about!

I am so furious I have spent 17 minuetes listening to this uneducated women discuss how parents today are overreacting when it comes to there kids food allergies. She apparently does not have a child who has had a near death experience. Until she experiences having to rush your child to the doctors office for a shot of epi to save there life I do not want to hear I am overreacting to protecting my child the best way I can by keeping her away from substances that could kill her. Yes there is a rise in food allergies today and there needs to be more research on this but until then we parents are doing the best thing for our kids. And for those parents out there that are upset that they can not take homemade cupcakes or cakes to there kids schools-I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR IT-you would do the same thing for your kid if in the same situation.

My child experienced hives around her mouth three times in her first couple of years just by eating one bite of a nut food. We kept her away from peanuts/tree nuts. I almost watched her die at three from anaphylactic shock after she found and ingested a Recess peanut butter cup. Now the epipen and living with this life threatening allergy is just part of our lives.
Let me assure you ..none of this is imagined or exagerated. The threat of severe allergies is unfortunately a reality in an increasing number of children.

i wouldn't wish what i go through on a daily basis on ms broussard, in assessing reactions to growing allergies. mine began developing in my mid-late 30's in conjunction with an anaphylactic shock response to latex. i am now allergic to all tree fruits, not melons, berries or citrus, and most recently it appears i am developing a sesame allergy. all make my throat close, some give hives, mouth swelling, etc. i never know what prepared foods will make me react or land me in the hospital. i never had alergies as a kid.

however, if ms broussard experienced one iota of having to ask how food is prepared at friend's house, restaurant, read every label in the store, and stil attempt to guess what might be meant by natural flavors or spices in ingredients lists to avoid surprise reactions, she might change her tune. fortunately, i've only used my epipen 2x. hell of a way to spend a life, esp for a former foodie.

nevermind avoiding latex in environments. i can't breath in many stores, where they sell tires, bikes, paints, etc, or stock balloons to entertain kids during shopping trips. my kids' birthday parties? seriously less fun. rubber balls, kooshes, etc to play with? my kids are deprived....bandaids? masking tape? the list is endless.....

That is her opinion thank good shes not the teacher of my child. Hopefully a childs death is never caused by her calisness sbout this disease.

I am a board certified pediatric and adult allergy specialist. Ms. Broussard is, simply stated, "certifiably nuts". There may be no cause for concern regarding her statements as she may just be Anne Coulter writing under a psuedonym- she appears to be as pathetically mis-informed and mis-directed. Get your facts from a medical sepecialist trained in this field. Let Ms. Broussard help direct others in areas of her natural talents, such as relationship success.

Shame on you public radio for having such an ignorant, ill-informed guest who pretends to be an expert. She is NOT an medical expert, and you fell for it, hook, line and sinker. Yes, most kids outgrow milk and egg allergies (although a new study from Johns Hopkins says that they are taking longer to outgrow, and less outgrow them and these allergies are a nastier allergy than 20 years ago, does Ms. Broussard have that information?)

BUT Peanut/tree nut allergies are typically lifelong and account for most near-fatal and fatal food reactions (after that shellfish/seafood). These are FACTS, not hysteria.

Peanut allergies are unpredictable which make them so scary, and which is why total avoidance is the only answer. ALL peanut/tree nut allergies have the ability to be severe even if only mild reactions have occurred in the past. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!

Yes, I know you're going to have Dr. Sampson on this week, he is wonderful BUT the damage has been done, as you've let Ms. Broussard get on her soapbox to spew information that is just plain wrong. I've seen what trace amounts of peanut butter can do to a child, as my 2-year-old vomited, got hives on her neck and welts on her chest, and her mouth and lips swelled. It is downright scary and not to be trivialized. We live just outside of Boston, if the food allergies are blown out of proportion how is it possible that my hometown and the town we currently live in BOTH lost kids to food allergies?

This is to response to Rachel in NY on 1/2
that said one childs allergy becomes everyone's problem that is riduculous. Obviously,your child does not have an allergy to something and you should thank your lucky stars. Everyday we send our children to schooly and hope they come home because you do not know what they might ingest or smell and have a reaction. Maybe I am naive and hope that every parent has compassion for every child who has an issue whether it be a food allergy or physical issue or even mental or any disability to make that they are safe and well looked after because I would do that for any child, they are so innocent and they didn't ask for this, this is how they were born and there is nothing they can do. So shame on you Rachel from NY. As the old saying goes "Ignornace is Bliss"!!

Ms Boussard before you speak check your research. My 2 1/2 year olds was diagnosis with food allergies at 7 months old. You try living with the worry of each and every bite of food could cause a more and more sever reaction.

He is Severly allergic to Milk, Peanuts, Wheat and Eggs. of his four alleriges if he eats Milk Eggs or Peanuts he could go into Anaphlaysis. These numbers are bases on his blood test not some. STUPID STATISTIC.

YOU LIVE THROUGH AN ANAPHALAXIC REACATION. LUCKLIY MY SON DID LIVE AFTER A REACTION TO EGGS.

It's bad enough we have to deal with parent's in school who are ignornant and insensitive about Anaphylaxis. Publishing an article like hers can kill a child. I don't know how she can sleep at night. Google the NY support group Protect Allergic Kids. Read Emily's and Sabrina's story.

As the mother of a child with severe, life-threatening allergies to peanuts and tree nuts I find it appalling that this so-called expert is allowed to participate in a public forum with so little regard for the truth. Ms. Broussard's logic is faulty. By her reasoning, the fact that some people may believe that they have cancer and then find out they don't, means that cancer doesn't exist. I'm also completely puzzled as to why would anyone try to trash an organization like FAAN that only wants to help allergic children. Get your facts straight, Ms. Broussard and stop trying to be destructive. But I do thank you for helping to illustrate that the FAAN and their advocacy efforts are needed more than ever. Education is the best defense against ignorance like yours.

It is irresponsible for you to give someone access to the airwaves to tell bald-faced lie to promote an agenda. In not challenging Ms. Broussard on her misstatements of fact you have done just that. A simple Internet search reveals that the CDC states that approximately 150 people per year die from food allergy reactions, not the 12 which Ms. Broussard cites. (see http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/healthtopics/index.htm). Additionally, she makes misleading (which could also be characterized as lies but it is perhaps a judgment call) when shedescribes the study she attacks as looking at a "very small rural comnunity in Minnesota." I realize that Ms. Broussard may be geographically challenged, but I think it more likely that she was intentionally misleading when she chose to mischaracterize the world-famous community of Rochester, Minnesota (population of about 125,000 in 2007 and home of the Mayo Clinic) as a "very small rural community." Given her standard of truthfulness (NOT !) on these basic points (discovered wihtin 3 minutes of listening to your show) I think the balance of what she has to say to be equally suspect and if so, extremely dangerous to those who suffer from food allergies. You should have done a basic fact check before providing her access.

Ms Broussard is entitled to her opinions, even though they are ridiculous. It is just unfortunate Mr Lopate didn't inform himself on severe food allergies in preparation for the interview. Asking her questions that implied she was some kind of expert was a big blunder.

It is a lack of public acceptance of food allergies that creates a climate where teens don't inform their friends and don't carry their Epi pens. The Canadian girl with the deadly asthma episode might have been saved by her Epi pen, if her friends had know how to help her.

How lovely for Ms. Broussard that she got her 15 minutes of fame. Her credentials as a writer/editor do not support her ability to express opinions on food allergy in a medically accurate way any more than my credentials would permit me to discuss rocket science.This is another example of the media using food allergy for entertainment in an attempt to trivialize the condition of food allergy. It is irresponsible for Mr.Lopate to joke about "sneak some potato chips and see if they fall to the floor," in reference to detect if a person has outgrown their food allergies. I wonder how funny Mr. Lopate would think his jokes are if he acctually interviewed a parent who lost a child to anaphylaxis? FAAN is a wonderful organization full of dedicated professionals who continue to help and educate people with food allergies.

Um ah....Seriously??? When did she become an "expert" in this field?? I think someone is trying to push her "Failed Relationships" career a little farther by being an extremist with non factual data. Stick to what you know Ms. Broussard!

Ms Broussard,

As a parent of a child with a severe life threatneing peanut/nut allergy, I am dismayed at your comments and ignorance. These allergies are very REAL and deadly! Who cares about statiscs..the fact that these allergens can kill is what matters. For us parents that put so much time and energy into awareness, you are of a disservice to the safety of our children with your uneducated comments. People like you are the kind that belittle our childrens right to live safely. Perhaps you should interview families that live this daily fight, it would be more helpful, and maybe in future be educated on what you are actually speaking about. The only thing that is nutty about this segment is your inconsiderate attitude about this very real, serious life threatening problem. I am disgusted! If you had your child die, maybe it would change your opinions about allergies. People with your kind of attitude only make us who advocate for our children work even harder!

It would be nice if writers like Meredith were to question how it is that we have this growing epidemic, really investigate the causes, in the hopes of preventing more allergies and finding a cure.

With regards to food restrictions placed on non-allergic people:

I now feel thee same way about the foods my kids are allergic to as I feel about the Confederate flag. It may be your right to have it, but why would you want to do that when it causes other people physical and mental harm.

I disagree with the comment: "most kids grow out of food allergies." My child is most likely not going to outgrow a deadly food allergy and i'd like to know the percentage of people who do if that statement is to be correct. I'd also like this writer to live with someone with a severe food allergy for at least one week to discover how tricky it can be just to practice avoidance. Also, FAAN is an amazing support group!

I believe the lack of research in this segment and profound lack of understanding of the potentially fatal consequences revealed by Ms. Broussard and the Leonard Lopate show are very disappointing to me, an allergist and a former listener.

Why in heaven's name would Harper's and Leonard Lopate put such an ignorant person in the press and on the air without talking to experts and verifying the information she is spouting when there is abundant research on the topic? Leonard, you're in NYC, for crying out loud, where there's a board certified allergist on every corner. You couldn't be bothered to pick up the phone and talk to someone before putting this "vermouth allergic" person on your show?

The Harpers article and Leonard Lopate show have done a great disservice to food allergic patients and families everywhere and should apologize for their poor research. As evidenced by the preceding posts, this issue affects many lives and should not be treated in such a cavalier manner.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised to learn that there really are people out there so self-absorbed and desperate for attention that they will willingly endanger the lives of others to promote themselves. I believe that Ms. Broussard is such a person. The surprise is that first Harper's, then NPR actually gave this woman a forum. I have already seen one blogger who was expressing relief at not having to really care about people suffering with food allergies. People are compassion-weary; there are a lot of difficult problems in the world. But while food allergies are dangerous, they are very manageable, but ONLY with an informed and cooperative community. Shame on Harper's and NPR. Ms.Broussard, educate thyself.

I have a 6 year old son who is allergic to peanuts. He was diagnosed at 18 mos., so he doesn't know life any differently. I thought we were managing just fine until his Kindergarten teacher told me that she thought he was developing OCD. He eats lunch in his classroom with many other children who are eating peanut butter sandwiches. They don't sit at his table, but are interacting with him in a very physical way for the remainder of the afternoon. He just doesn't trust that they are washing their hands thoroughly or wiping their mouths, for that matter. As a result, he doesn't want to use crayons from the group bin, lay on the rest mat with everyone else at rest time or have anyone whisper in his ear. For the first two weeks he came home and took a shower immediately after school. We have gotten this behavior somewhat under control, but worry that we have made him neurotic. We can only control his home environment and realize that he has to coexist with people who eat nuts. It is much easier this year in his public school because no snacks are allowed to be brought into school for class celebrations (due to chhildhood obesity as well as food allergies). I am doing everything I can to protect him from the physical ramifications, but it is the emotional toll that really has me concerned at this point.

This is a dangerous interview, and should have had someone qualified available simultaneously to fill in her "uh, I don't know" responses to the interviewers intelligent questions and to correct her errs. FAAN, that she mentioned in a negative manner, has a medical advisory board of qualified medical professionals who are far more likely to know what they're talking about than she does. And until you hold your child who is about to stop breathing and you see them breathe again after the proper medication, I guess anaphylactic shock may seem mythical to you too. It's not a myth, and I learned that the hard way. I'd also like to say that before letting this woman's opinion of FAAN affect yours, visit www.foodallergy.org for yourself to decide what they're all about. I've found the organization to be a wonderful resource to a difficult condition. As the rise in the number of food allergy kids grows, so should social awareness, but not if it reflects this woman's unqualified opinions. What is more nuts, talking as if you're qualified when you're not, or finding out the real answers to life-threatening questions?

I have two children with life threatening food allergies. My children swell from head to toe, have difficulty breathing, get hives the size of large welts and projectile vomit when an accidental exposure of their allergens are ingested. My son vomits when he smells peanut butter. I really think it is not to much to ask the children who are fortunate enough not to live with food allergies to wash their hands and wipe their face to avoid another child from getting sick. I truly am so fortunate to have a community of caring people who have helped our family manage and allow our children not to be fearful. I hope Meredith Brousserd will revisit this subject in more depth and educate herself regarding food allergies.

No one would more like to deny the reality of food allergies than me, the mom of an allergic child. But to do so would put my child's life in jeopardy. As parents of allergic children we depend on the cooperation of our communities to keep our children safe and alive. This undermines every attempt we make to have people understand the seriousness of this issue. Tragic.

Glad to see that everyone agrees that more research is needed. It is widely thought that anaphylaxis and anaphylaxis related deaths are under reported and under diagnosed (Lieberman et al. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2007;98:519-523). Let the NIH know this is an important issue.
IL alone has 10 food allergy support groups.
Julie Campbell, President
Illinois Food Allergy Education Association

Sadly for all of us in the LIFE-THREATENING food allergy community, here is another stupid, uneducated person given a platform. Bring on the informed rebutals and help save lives (including my son's life).

This woman should not speak in public! How many times did she say "Um" ???

Glad to see so many people endorse an increase in funding for food allergy research from the NIH. Call Wayne Crum, budget dept. at National Insitutes ofHealth to tell him what you think about $8 million allocated for food allergy research. He doesn't know people are concerned that $8 mil. is small. 301-435-8585. IL alone has 10 food allergy support groups.
Julie Campbell
Illinois Food Allergy Education Association

My mouth gets itchy when I eat eggplant. This is not anaphylaxis. My son can die if he eats a cashew. His entire body transforms into an unrecognizable, bizarre-looking mountain of welts that are intensely, painfully itchy; his stomach and head hurt; his breathing becomes laboured. That is anaphylaxis. He is allergic to many tree nuts, and also to peanuts. Reducing risk is what keeps him from being a hospital statistic or the subject of a coroner's report. It requires daily vigilance, care and joint effort for him to live his robust, athletic, social and happy teen-aged life. Ms. Broussard is woefully uninformed and deeply callous in her disregard for the real challenges people with food allergies face.

To: Ms. "BrouHaHa" Broussard

When a food allergic family asks for help...they truly need your help and accommodation. We want our children to be normal and experience the carefree lives of their peers. We ache for that experience, but it is not going to happen. We are silent about the conditon until necessity calls for us to be vocal. This speaking out is typically not something any of us finds easy. It takes alot of courage....so don't shoot us down.

The food allergic children's peers are so much more responsive to the needs of the food allergic child than adults. I have in general turned away from adults in advocating for my anaphylactic child...I turn to her peers.

Food allergic children grow up feeling isolated and outside the group experience, but they don't suffer for this experience. They adjust and do very well.

On a good note...these kids grow up to be good communicators, empathetic, problem solvers, independent thinkers and leaders...they also have been primed to not "follow" the group leaving them less likely to drink or use drugs because they are trained to be resistant to peer influence when it comes to what they choose to put in their mouth.

Ms. B.'s main argument is that we are looking for attention. The last thing we want (unlike Ms. "BROUHAHA" Broussard) is attention.

We wish our kids could blend in and be normal...but we don't have that option. We don't look for attention. We need it.

Kathy L is right. Both Harpers and NPR owe countless apologies.

Mr. Lopate, please contact your colleagues at Harpers and be sure they tune in to the segment with Dr. Sampson.

And for our children, who live with this condition every day, for thousands of meals, snacks, holidays, and parties - they are faced with so many challenges. They fight the balance between trust and fear, between participation and avoidance, between freedom and restriction. They get asked hundreds of dumb questions, from well intentioned and not so well intentioned people 'how serious is it, what's the big deal, you don't know what you're missing, oh, you're that peanut/milk/egg kid'. You owe them an apology more than any of the others. I'm looking forward to your response.

Continuing post...

Dr. Hugh Sampson has been an amazing, generous, humble medical professional who has dedicated countless hours of his life to helping children like mine. You owe him an apology.

Parents like me are not hysterical, though one might understand how we could be. I have watched how a bite of something that should be good for my child has come close to ending his life, and it is terrifying. We did our best to calm him after back to back reactions made him phobic. He would be one of those children whose quality of life was impacted, despite our best efforts to the contrary. It is hard to reassure someone that 'it's okay to eat this' when they have gone through such an ordeal. You owe us an apology.

For the family of the girl who died from an asthma attack, initially reported as the 'kiss of death' by the press, you owe them an apology. That peripheral info you tossed in about pot - why would you do that? For a family in pain, to besmirch their child with such an offhanded insinuation? It says much about your character or where you are at this stage in life.

I don't get it. Can someone explain to me the point of this show, and the article? The author agrees that food allergies are real and food allergic reactions can cause death.

So what is the issue? Statistics? Record keeping? Media sensationalizing? Seriously, what is the value add of this?

My son is not a CDC statistic, happily. In 14 years with multiple food allergies, we have had to use the epipen 3 times. When he was 11, we had 2 ER visits with food allergic reactions, one to egg, the other to dairy. The quick use of epinephrine in both cases was credited with him not becoming a statistic. But he can be included in the 2004 ER visits if that will satisfy your record keeping research.

Clearly, Meredith has an agenda. What it is isn't clear, but with one swoop of her pen, she smears FAAN, Hugh Sampson, FAI, and the families of those with food allergies. To what end?

FAAN has been a lifeline for families like mine. They have been there for us when we first got the overwhelming diagnosis of food allergies (after 2 ER visits with our toddler). Anne Munoz Furlong took many calls from me, and patiently held my hand, kept me calm, and gave me hope. You owe her and FAAN an apology.

I am so glad to read comments calling on the NIH to increase food allergy research funding. Want to take action: call Wayne Crum, budget office, at National Institutes of Health to tell him what you think about $8 million allocated for food allergy research. He doesn't know people are concerned that $8 mil. is small. 301-435-8585.
Also, Illinois has 10 food allergy support groups. That's a lot of children who are suffering.

Julie Campbell
Illinois Food Allergy Education Association

I would like to know what purpose this interview has served. If NPR wanted to educate public about food allergies, they should have invited a medical expert not a journalist, who by the way should take a course in public speaking. As a mother of a child with severe allergy to peanuts,tree nuts etc., I do not wish on Mrs. Broussard to go through what we need to go through to make sure our child stays safe in the outside world. There is still a lot of people like Mrs.Broussard who do not take food allergies seriously, and that makes me worried. Most of the exposures to allergens are accidental and occur outside of the house.

Here is a better link

http://www.allergykids.com/News/Stories/EmilyParentsStory.pdf

For anyone who thinks that the risk of food related allergies is overblown please go to this link. It is EMILY'S STORY, it is very moving.

http://www.allergykids.com/index.php?id=12

I can't believe that Meredith Broussard is an actual journalist. My son is severly allergic to peanuts, and has other allergies to eggs/tree nuts/fish/shellfish. Is it such an inconvienence for people out there to have a label on our food products that say 'this product has been processed with products that contain peanuts or nuts'? I think that EVERY food product out there should have a more specific label, because a lot of companies out there can 'get by' by completing their allergen washings on their product lines. It is a life and death matter for my son, and I am not willing to take the chance. I bet Meredith would think differently if she had a child with a life-threatening allergy, maybe she would be supportive instead of counter-productive for those organizations that are trying to educate the public. I thought journalism was about being open-minded, not narrow-minded and ignorant.

There are so many things I want to explain but here are two:

- I now feel the same way about the foods my kids are allergic to as I feel about the Confederate flag: it may be your right to have it, but why would you want to do that when it causes other people such harm (emotional or physical).

- Food allergies are incredibly varied. Having one or some doesn't make you an expert on someone else's. (Note cavalier, allergic writer and commentator)

For everyone who's outraged by this erroneous and irresponsible story, please leave a comment on the EXCELLENT rebuttal by an actual medical professional at:
http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3900/19063/nuts-doctor/

My son (11,allergic to dairy,egg,peanut,treenut,sesame,mustard,shellfish,some fish) saw an email that referenced your food allergy article. He asked to read the article...the following is his response.
I have his original handwritten copy if anyone would like a scanned copy.

Dear Ms. Broussard,
In the latest issue in Harpers, you wrote that food allergies is exaggerated. You are wrong. Food allergies is a huge deal. People can DIE from having a food allergy reaction, including me. And the part you said FAAN is a marketing scheme, you're wrong again Miss! They help people with food allergies. They really help us!!!!
What I really am worried about is that people will take you seriously! What happens if a chef at a restauraunt (sic) took you seriously and served someone food that they are allergic too (sic) and they die. WHOOPEE! I am eleven years old and I have been raising awareness about Food allergies as long as I can remember. You RUINED IT! Thanks again! I had an allergic reaction once and I had to use an epipen so I know how it feels. I love to eat and it is scary when you are eating happily and you suddenly can't breathe. Thanks one more time for taking me so many steps back in my effort to raise awareness.
Sincerely,
*******

Dr. Michael Pistiner, a fellow in Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, have also provided a reply to the disinformation in Broussard's article: http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3900/19063/nuts-doctor/

I listened to this interview with Ms. Broussard and felt her information was very shallow. She made erroneous and biased comments and inferences. She spoke of allergists she spoke to, but not names. She obviously did not speak to people who actually had allergic reactions and food allergies. She stated that the food allergy labels are "confusing" how can anyone look at the label and read in bold the allergens compared to the old way where you had to read the entire ingredient list and know that whey and casin were dairy products? Ridiculous!!!!

From where did she get the information that "most" people grow out of peanut allergies? Shame on Ms. Broussard for not delving deeper into this issue and just taking basic facts to write an article. A student writing a book report could have done a better job.

I believe that you have failed your listeners with irresponsible reporting.

I do not have a problem so much with what Ms. Broussard said, because everyone is entitled to their own opinions based on whatever data they choose to research. The problem here is the fact that it was not clearly stated what her credentials are and that she is not in the health care profession. Her claim to fame is a book entitled, "The Dictionary of Failed Relationships: 26 Tales of Love Gone Wrong". Seriously? How can you give time on such a serious subject to someone who is clearly not qualified to inform the public about food allergies?

Clearly Mr. Lopate did not do any of his research on the subject matter. His laughter when asking how you know if "a kid has out grown" a food allergy and the description shows his ignorance. Not to mention that it would be horribly insensitive and offensive to those who suffer from food allergies. I think that Mr. Lopate should be held accountable for misleading the general public not only in the in the way he conducted his interview but also how he researched the subject matter. He did not challenge Ms. Broussard's information; rather he gave her an open platform for a personal “lip smacking rant”. There was no credibility in this segment.

In closing I would like to remind you of your (NPR's)Statement of Purpose, specifically concerning credibility.

NO ONE UNDERSTAND what really means to have an allergy reaction until they have a child or a love one with this condition.

Here's an article with an unbiased doctor's comments specifically about Meredith Broussard's article. Hopefully this will clear up some of her mess:
http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/3900/19063/nuts-doctor/

Her comment about milk and nuts in the schools is evidence of her lack of understanding. Milk is typically an allergy limited to consumption-whereas- peanuts can cause an allergic reaction via, inhalation, contact and ingestion. Thus the reason for "peanut free' tables. Products made in nut producing areas can cause an allergic reaction dependent on the
sensitivity of the individual and the amount of peanut/nut residue. To date research shows that peanut allergies will not be outgrown and can fluctuate in sensitivity based on exposure.

And after her post this morning, I'm done giving this crackpot any more attention. I'll make sure I listen to Dr. Sampson's interview for some RELIABLE information, and I'm sending in a donation to FAAN. Right now, I'm going to give my peanut allergic kid a big hug. :-)

Meredith is clearly an egomaniac. She has a new blog post where she mentions that her segment on NPR is the most e-mailed of the week.
http://www.failedrelationships.com/blog/blog.html

Naturally, she doesn't say WHY it's the most e-mailed. As is obvious to anyone who is reading comments, that's because we're all outraged at her ignorance and irresponsibility.

And she still has comments turned off -- she can dish it out, but not take it.

First 10 sec. of this interview and this lady's already proven herself to be uneducated on the subject! You do NOT have to EAT something in order to react to it when you're food allergic. Someone who's allergic to eggs may not even be able to tolerate being present while eggs are being cooked for instance. I'm sure I'll have more to say on this but had to pause the interview for this quick blog. I'm infuriated w/this Meredith person after reading her article. If you ask me (or even if you don't, she's the one gone damn nuts!!!) Unfortunately, food allergies are VERY real to some of us.

PLEASE always err on the side of caution when dealing with food allergies!! Just because some children have had mild reactions in the past does not mean that they will not have a severe reaction in the future. I have seen this firsthand with my two children. If we were dealing with a diabetic, would we say that a little sugar couldn't hurt him or her? To those who say that their lives are being inconvenienced by others with food allergies, I say: "Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in the shoes of my children, who can't put anything in their mouths without asking me first. Walk a mile in the shoes of my daughter, who has to bring her own food to EVERY birthday party, EVERY school party, EVERY friend's house, and EVERY restaurant. Take a trip to the ER, and know what it feels like to not be able to breathe and vomit uncontrollably. Then perhaps you can complain that the issue is "overblown" "inconveniencing" you. Please start feeling some compassion!

Obviously this woman has not really done her homework. I can't wait to hear the follow up interview. It's too bad people like this are still minimizing food allergies. True food allergies are very serious, and can do major damage just from touch. I have seen it, lived it, and know more about food allergies than I would like to know. I also know, that unfortunately this kind of 'unawareness' is very dangerous for children who need mature informed adults to help them in potential anaphalactic emergency.

I don't see much over-reaction to the issue. I have two severely allergic children, and I am glad that most people are aware of how dangerous it is. I am afraid that Ms. Broussard may be giving the eye-rollers more fuel, to the detriment of children with life-threatening allergies and to their parents who, after all, are just trying to keep them safe. I am very displeased by the tone of her article because it seems disrespectful of the justified fear I have for my kids every day.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I'm finding more and more references popping up from general-interest blogs and sites to the effect that, "Hey, I KNEW all that food allergy stuff was just a bunch of self-centered paranoia." Thanks, NPR and Harper's -- your inaccurate and incomplete reporting have just made it harder for everyone with food allergies to live a safe, normal life.

The CDC Web site explains why its death certificate data may not reflect the actual number of deaths caused by food allergies because of doctors' reporting errors. CDC implies there may be many more food allergy deaths than are reported because doctors are unfamiliar with its coding system -- the ICD (International Classification of Diseases)

www.cdc.gov/nchs/ppt/hpdata2010/focusareas/fa10.ppt

Read the "notes" at the bottom of the pages.
Here's part of what CDC says:
"...The ICD-9 did not have codes for food-induced anaphylaxis. Deaths have been coded using the ICD-10 since 1999, and the suspected under-reporting may be associated with unfamiliarity of medical practitioners and others who fill out the death certificates with the use of the ICD-10 classification system and the availability of the new codes.

The ICD-10 has a code that is used for anaphylactic shock, unspecified. In 1999, 168 deaths were coded to this code. This means that physicians who fill out the death certificates are not being specific enough for us to determine the real underlying cause of death and the food allergy codes are not being sufficiently used. Physicians are not formally trained in filling out death certificates (they usually learn from a colleague)...."

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;119/3/638

http://www.jacionline.org/article/PIIS0091674906038140/fulltext

Life-threatening food allergies are real. My son lives with one every day. He has experienced their danger first hand. He is 3 and a half years old. Why is going to any effort whether big or small, at school or camp or family gatherings, too much trouble for you to save the life of a child? Every life is precious, especially the lives of children.

The fact that people would trivialize something that could endanger the life of a child or suggest that any measure to save their life is “extreme” speaks volumes about our society. It disgusts me that my son has to grow up in a world full of people like that. I am always so grateful and thank God for the wonderful and caring people He sends our way, who find my son worth going the extra mile for, whether it be washing their hands a few extra times or not eating peanut products while around him.

So thank you. Thank you to all of you who care enough about the life a child to go to “extreme” measures. Thank you for allowing my son to participate in activities that could otherwise expose him to a food that would kill him. Thank you from one mother who loves her son. Thank you so very, very much. And don’t every think that what you do doesn’t impact the people around you.

This report has unfortunately been a huge misrepresentation of life threatening food allergies. Ms. Broussard is simply expressing her opinion. Asthma attacks can be a symptom or result of a life threatening food allergy. I wonder if Ms. Broussard has a life threatening food allergy????

All of would like to believe that we are strong, intellegent people. I believe, however, that we greatly underestimate the power of words and the effect it has on our own opinions. I can only hope and pray that Meredith's uneducated and incorrect opinions don't influence the wrong person into making a deadly error. My daughter was diagnosed with a moderate allergy to all nuts six months ago. I rely on the merits of the other parents to read and take seriously all food labels and allergy warnings. One day, as the other children in her first grade class were enjoying another student's birthday (my daughter consumes only her own "safe" snacks) and eating a commercially prepared brownie, my daughter had a reaction at school. There were no nuts in the brownie itself, but the brownies were manufactured in a facility where other products were processed with nuts. I understand that this seems like an extreme story, but my daughter has only been diagnosed as moderately allergic to all nuts. This is not an uncommon scenario. No one has the ability to predict exactly what will happen, hence the need to take extreme precaution. I do believe that fear (not hysteria) is a healthy response. I also am hoping and praying that the parents of the students in my daughters classroom have not been exposed to that dangerous and irresponsible article. I don't want those that I rely upon to keep my daughter safe persuaded into making a choice that would prove deadly for my beautiful child.

I am an over-anxious mother.My son is allergic to dairy-he sits at a non-dairy table in the school cafeteria.We try to increase the awareness and educate our family, friends, & neighbors,and yet a schoolmate thought it would be fun to throw a carton of milk on my son to see what would happen.Thankfully he was stopped before anything happened.He will react severely to contact exposure,so don't tell me peanut allergies are more serious.He has had 4 serious reactions-accidental ingestions despite my micromanaging every thing he eats. Not until your precious 5 year old asks you "Mommy, am I going to die?" while 911 paramedics attend to him will anyone who does not live with this understand the fear we live with.Restaurants, birthday parties, picnics, family reunions-the most terrifying situations for our us.A vacation in the mountains of Colorado turned horrifying when we realized we were 2 hours from the closest hospital and 2 epipens would give us maybe 30 minutes to get there.Trips out of the country-out of the question.I have enough difficulty dealing with rolling of the eyes from waitresses in this country...I cannot imagine dealing with it in another language.Please do not underestimate the seriousness of this issue.I work every day to educate people around my son-to understand the extreme seriousness food allergies, and NPR destroyed our efforts in a brief interview.It truly makes our lives so much more difficult when this is not taken seriously.

In my opinion, the extend of the epidemic is irrelevant. We have already decided as a country and as a culture that the special needs of a few warrant the consideration of all. In an effort to be brief, I'll just introduce my case by mentioning... Isn't this why every parking lot in the country has handicap spaces, even when they sit empty most of the time?

The full discourse can be found here:
http://www.checkmytag.com/2008/01/everyones-gone-nuts-about-food.html

It's hard to digest what you can't digest. Food a common agent, life giver or taker. I'm a done to basics kind of person. My life sure was going to be complicated by a food allergy. First born ,peanuts, Second born milk, eggs, peanuts and wheat. Nothing not even peanut allergies prepares you for 3 staples being my new mine field. But indiffrent people was something gross beyond belief. This is not a politically correct issue. A deal breaker. Articles as such can be so hurtful to body and soul. Change people, change . Thank you for any efforts you make to be kind to us.

Oh please! Do I understand you correctly? I should listen to your 'expert' advice about food allergies instead of listening to Dr. Sampson or FAAN?

You sound like an vengeful mother who has been told her child can't bring peanut sandwiches to preschool.

I'm 58 years old - with a peanut allergy. I will gladly deal with your vermouth allergy if you try living with my peanut allergy for a week or two.

I Know why Meridith B. has this attitude as one who has multiple food allergies, because I have a 15 year old daughter who has multiple food and environmental allergies and the same attitude. She has even experienced the throat swelling, causing diffuculty breathing and the feeling of impending doom and face and eye swelling, hives,etc. Her allergist has told her that her reactions were the result of combined environmental and food allergens. She now takes immunotherapy shots weekly. But I worry as her food allergens grow, what will happen if she eats too much of them combined (there is no shot for that and the allergy meds. do not always prevent the reaction). I also know an adult teacher who has the same attitude. She said she eats her food allergens until she develops a severe reaction to them and then she stops eating them. Our pediatrician said that this attitude was very dangerous.

Their needs to be defined lines between the different types of allergies and how to deal with each type, so that we are neither exagerating our response or responding neglegent to valid dangers. More research may need to be done in order to do this and compiling detailed personal data from a broader group of sufferers, like those of us who subscribe to this an other allergy websites and newsletters, might help accomplish this. Like a questionaire and then establishing comparisons.

P.S.: I welcome any e-mails to give me more info. on allergies.

I never would have believed such respected media outlets as NPR and Harper's would give a voice to this woman's sensationalized, one-sided view of food allergies. Allowing someone with no medical credentials to spout off without also including comments from an actual medical professional is dangerously irresponsible. Her own food allergies make her an expert? I've given birth to two children so I suppose that qualifies me as an expert on obstetrics, and the evil conspiracy I noticed while hooked up to my epidural!

I'm the mother of a peanut-allergic son, and my efforts to keep him safe have just been set back by your flippant treatment of a serious issue.

I really feel that this Meredith Broussard either has no children w/ food allergies or no children at all. Or maybe she is just ticked because an FA mom told her not to bring peanut butter cookies to school. Who is this lady anyway? Look, people: Food allergies are real and some, yes, some people blow them out of proportion. However, they do exist and they do cause deaths. Get over it! Raise your children your way and I'll raise my children my way. The parents of Food allergy children are just trying to protect thier kids! What is wrong with that? You all would do that same for your kids (or you should)

This lady is OUTRAGEOUS and so are some of the comments above! PURE IGNORANCE and selfishness! Dealing with a kid with food allergies is awful for kids. There is NOT enough awareness. People look at me and wonder if I am nuts myself. The reality is true and anyday I could get a call that my daughter has ingested something by accident that she is allergic to. My daughter has 20 food allergies. She is otherwise, healthy, happy and she's had them since she was 6 months old. We don't know if she will ever outgrow them.

I never try to make anyone adapt to my daughter (I bring food where we go etc...) but it is other parents jobs to educate children on how to keep their friends safe. Teaching your kids to wash hands and that some kids are unique makes for a well rounded, educated child. You never know how it is until YOU have a child with allergies or illness. I bet you would then want the camps to be peanut free!

Put yourself in someone else's shoes!

To Rachel who comments "one childs allergies becomes everone's problem, thats ridiculous"
You are absolutely right it does become everyone's problem....however we need less people like you that make a life threatening problem in a child, an apparent time consuming task in your selfish day!

This was AWFUL. I do sad for her since she really embarassed herself with her inaccurate information. There are not enough words to describe how wrong and awful this interview was.

My comment is for the first Rachel, since another Rachel has now posted who obviously understands the issue.

Rachel, You should be ashamed. You obviously don't have a child with food allergies that has experienced anaphylasix. I hadn't either until our 3rd child did at 9 months, much to our shock and amazement. No matter how "ridiculous" you think it is, you wouldn't have a choice but to change your lifestyle to make sure your kid stays alive. Try not being able to eat at almost all restaurants, try not being able to drop off at church nursery or with other care givers until older b/c they might put someone else's food in their mouth. Try having to cook and freeze for each trip or trying to figure out how to go on an extended vacation b/c you won't have a kitchen to cook that child's food.

It might be difficult for you to change a few habits, not bake for your kid's class or have to make sandwiches other than PB&J for school, but instead of complaining maybe you could just count yourself blessed that that's all you have to do to help keep someone's child alive. What a burden you have - think you can handle it?

As a journalism professor with an anaphylactic child and 15 years of my own research, I say Broussard (Harpers) is reckless with her facts and NPR and Harpers are reckless with their presentations of a hot story. Thankfully, I am not reckless with my money and will therefore not support NPR or Harpers and suggest others don't contribute money either until they get their stories straight.

Most of us can only imagine what it must have been like to grow up 10 or more years ago with a restricted diet such as the one Mrs. Broussard had as a child.

"When I was 4, or 6, or something in that range, my mom put me on a really restricted diet to try to deal with the allergies and some other health issues. The short version: no sugar, no white flour, no peanut butter, no artificial coloring of any kind, no chocolate, no fish, no shellfish, no dairy. It was hellacious... "

Perhaps she is resentful of her childhood, especially if she later learned that she never really had any allergies in the first place and was avoiding these foods unnecessarily.

Even with the tools we have today, many people try to diagnose allergies without going to a certified doctor. One message the media can help send, if you think you have an allergy, see an allergist. You may just have a sensitivity, an intolerance, or you may have a life threatening allergy and need a prescription for epinephrine.

Mrs. Broussard, I'm sorry to hear about the hellacious childhood you had. I'm sure your mother was doing the best she knew how. If she had the type of support we have today (like FAAN), things could have been better for you. And with more funding, we can learn more about allergies and how to better help everyone.

I am someone who tunes in to public radio because I trust the source and know that the stories are well researched and will provide me with new knowledge. This story has succeeded in changing my beliefs. I am appalled that someone who has no medical credentials, misinterpreted scientifically rigorous studies and wrote an article for a lay publication would be considered an expert on food allergies. At the very least I would have expected the interviewer to challenge her. As researcher and a parent whose child has outgrown anaphylactic allergies this interview scared me as it further perpetuated many myths that are out there. Yes, when younger my child could have died from eating peanuts or almonds, yes he was scared of dying from eating them, but that fear was a real one and we got him the psychological help he needed to cope with the reality of his life. Do most children grow out of food allergies, the answer to that depends on the type and severity of the allergy, do we count ourselves as fortunate that our son outgrew his? Yes. Although I am thrilled that you will have an interview with an expert who has spent his life researching and treating individuals with food allergies, I implore you to more carefully check the accuracy of the information presented by your guests, to do some research so that you can challenge them and never present only one side of the story, to me that is just bad journalism.

I am an adult woman who has been diagnosed with over twenty food allergies within the past five years. I have also had several other health complications arise due to the food allergies. My entire life has been completely flipped upside down and I have spent the past few years trying to educate myself and others on food allergies.I have been in the hospital over 50 times with anaphylactic reactions. Which means I could have DIED.

Seeing "legitimate" media outlets promoting such blatantly incorrect information is more than a little disheartening. People that suffer from other life threatening diseases & conditions are granted sympathy and compassion. I did not ask for food allergies any more than someone else asked for cancer. It is my hope that one day food allergies will be taken seriously and people will understand that sufferers are just that, sufferers. We are not whiners, complainers, or over-exaggerators. Unfortunately, if people continue to listen to "journalists" like Meredith Broussard, we will continue to be mocked. I hope that NPR and Harpers takes this as an opportunity to review the criteria with which they select "medical experts". Then,maybe one day, we will not have to waste our time writing on blogs like this.

Responding to Rachel: food allergies are everyone's "problem" and responsibility. Is it okay not to have handicapped bathrooms? Is it okay not to have special ed for learning disabled children? Is it okay to bring guns to school? It is not okay to poison and kill my peanut-allergic child. And it shouldn't be okay to you.

Interesting. I am a mother of 2, one with severe food allergies and the other without. My oldest daughter is allergic to nuts, dairy, eggs, and seafood. She is allergic to raw milk as well as ultra pasturized. Even so called "vegetarian cheeses" out there will cause the severest of reactions as they contain the dairy protein caisen. I get so angry when I hear people trivialize my daughters food allergies. Bear in mind, these allergies do not produce a hive or two, these foods can kill her if injested and the smallest exposure to these produce the life threateninig swelling of the eyes, tongue and throat. I have been told by ignorant people that I'd eaten the wrong foods when I was pregnant, I fed her solid food too early...I did neither, by the way. I choose organic and whole foods and always have. I breast fed my children. My oldest daughters food allergies were apparent as a infant. I was required to go on a very strict diet and she was unable to even try most solid food until she was 1 year old because of her allergies. I am so tired of the ignorance and assumptions so prevalant regarding this very real issue. It hurts to hear people trivialize. My daughter is 7 years old, and has a voice that need to be heard.

My son is allergic to Peanuts. It is not just a problem that I have to deal with. He does. When society deems "everybody has to deal with their little problem" that that is the issue. People need to stop being so selfishly closed minded. My son could die. It is the same as if someone put poison into his food. My in-laws are funeral directors and this is more of a problem, especially with young people who listen to this "might as well come in a haz mat suit" crap and feel bad and take the chance and DIE. Not get sick, DIE. Almost all of the cases they see are young adults or small children and it is almost always they were pressured into taking the chance. With severe allergies it is a matter of life and death. So to those who are mad because they feel that they can't pack their kid a PB sandwich with out a haz-mat suit, well would you like to serve your kid some poison cake with your poisoned mind? Until everyone takes the time to understand that life is hard, and today it might be that kid in the class, and a few years later it is your child's spouse, then their children. You never know what will happen to who, so take the time to learn, or at least respect others around you.

I grew up living with allergies, I do not have kids with allergies, and I know the effects first hand when food allergies and anphylaxis are not taken seriously.

Back in the day...no one really knew about food allergies, causing me to feel completely like a burden, alienated and ashamed of my allergies. There has been a shift in the spectrum to now society is becoming aware. For Meredith to view this as a conspiracy rather then what it really is, parents wanting their children to feel empowered over their allergies, rather then ashamed....well Meredith, maybe the ol' tap has run dry in the journalism field.

Drip......................Drop.

What is most interesting in this discussion where adults are put out by requests by school administrators in the interest of making the classroom environment safe for every child there, including those children with allergies to food ingredients.....the children themselves are so willing to accommodate and be helpful to a peer within their "community" which is the school and classroom. Shame on the adults, but thankfully we can look to the next generation, which increasingly will include a large population of adults (when all these children are grown up) with life threatening reactions to food proteint....the next generation will respond better than their parents, who by then will be aged and invisible....because that is how our culture handles ageing....we discount them...but that is another subject. Soon those who are so mean spirited and judgemental towards children who deserve as much as any child in our society....an environment conducive to learning....not one where their life threatening reactions are not accommodated...very soon you will be the grandparents of children with this condition given the exponential growth in these sensitivities...and/or simiply too old to matter to anyone....and your kids will benefit from the instruction given to them in public and private schools where the teachers and administrators are teaching them the number one skill of a leader....compassion and accommodation.

My son has a life threatening allergy to dairy, which I have watched him struggle to breath twice in his short life of 4 years, until a shot of epi and hospitalization. To those who think this is an inconvience to them or their child, thank God that you do no have to go through this. One day, you may be in our position and wish that everyone around you cared enough not to want your child to die. I've actually lost contact with family members due to their same ignorant opinions. It's a sad world when food takes priority over life.

Upon reading some of this woman's latest blog entries it is apparent to me that she is simply an ego maniac looking for attention. Her consistent intimation that Dr. Sampson is self serving and worse, part of some conspiracy is bizarre.
Quite frankly Ms. Broussard if you don't take YOUR allergies or your allergic history seriously that's on you, and anyone knows that the info on breast feeding is just a recommendation, my son is living proof that there is no REAL preventative measure, however as a Mother I would do ANYTHING to attempt to protect my child guaranteed outcome or not. My greatest wish and hope is that my son does grow out of his allergies, first I have to keep him alive. And avoiding foods that cause his reactions is tantamount to strapping him into his car seat properly, even though I don't have car accidents everyday I still do it, because yes in any crisis you could die.
Further more your flippant opinion is dangerous and mean spirited, may you never regret what you've said given your genetics!
(I am commenting on this page as her blog comments have been disabled)

Thank you, Dr. Sampson, for agreeing to be interviewed and to set the record straight. January 31 can't come soon enough. Facts outweigh misinformation every time.

To say that a medical expert's opinion will "balance" the "perspective" originally presented is a misstatement. Correct it is more like it.

I'm curious, is any research required by NPR on the part of the interviewer prior to doing an interview on any topic?

For that matter, is any fact-checking required in order for Harper's to publish an article?

The facts are out there, and not that hard to find.

My son had an anaphylactic reaction just from sitting in a grocery cart at a hardware store 3 weeks ago. He can't touch, inhale or eat any dairy/milk containing food.

He has a milk free classroom and a milk free table at his school.

Thank God for Benadryl and Epipens....they keep saving my son's life.

Mrs. Broussard, NPR and Harper's Bazaar are very irresponsible.

I know many, many parents of food allergic children. Their stories are very similar to ours. We had our child tested for food allergies AFTER his face swelled up completely and he began wheezing from one sip of milk based formula...not because we were just from a culture of 'anxious parenting'.

Many people are anaphylactic to milk. You hear about peanuts all of the time because there is a huge rise in peanut allergies and many times the reactions are severe. There have been many deaths from milk/dairy allergy too.

My sister and I used to work for an airline. She used to talk about all of the 'crazies' that didn't want peanuts on the airplanes. After watching my son react just from sitting next to a kid eating cheetos, she can't believe that she used to say that about these parents. She gets it now.

Mrs. Broussard is lucky. She probably hasn't had to rush a child to the ER..praying the whole way there that her kid will make it.

Okay....now Meredith Broussard has posted two new enteries on her failed relationships blog about food allergies! Her comments feature is still turned off to no surprise. You can e-mail her at mer@failedrelationships.com The link to her blog is: http://www.failedrelationships.com/blog/blog.html

In one of her latest pieces, she comments on Dr. Hugh Sampson and his upcoming interview. Seriously...she needs to stop spouting.

People who are not affected by life threatening food allergies do not understand the seriousness surrounding them. I have a son with life threatening food allergies. I don't feel I am over cautious by asking for one food item to be removed from learning environments so my son can particapate safely without being at risk. Children have died from reactions to foods they are allergic to. This is a real epidemic. Get your facts straight before you express your opionions please.

Caution to anyone who would listen to this woman over the MANY doctors and scientists who write about food allergies. I'd like to know her background in understanding what is statistically significant and actual food allergy research results. Most kids do not grow out of a peanut allergy! In fact, only 20 percent will grow out of it. And shame on WNYC for not having some counter information from a professional.

That woman is nuts. No one can understand the fallout of having a food allergic child unless you live with one. My two oldest are not food allergic and my 2yo is! Explain that one. He reacts to 5 of the big 8. Our life has turned upside down for him to keep him safe. How dare Ms. B be so trivial about a child's life. Thank heavens my baby does not react with anaphylaxis. His lips and tongue did swell up once and that was scary enough.

Thank goodness there are sane people/organizations out there who want to help our cause, I just wish Harper's and NPR were two of them.

I can't even believe what is going on here...how can anyone think for one second about not protecting their child. This is exactly what Broussard wanted because she needs to make money apparently her "failed relationships" wasn't paying the bills so she has to pick a bone with an organization that is so helpful and so impressive. We don't know what we would have done without FAAN. When your child is severely allergic to multiple foods, then you have the right to speak....until then....SHUT IT!

I have been a nut allergy sufferer my whole life - I'm 37 now - and personally, anyone who trivializes the possibility that I could die from this allergy is - understatement ahead - severely undereducated.

I travel internationally for business and I have had to learn how to say "I am allergic to all nuts. Does this dish contain nuts?" in several languages. I carry my Epi-Pen and hope I never have to use it in these situations. Ms. Broussard, I hope for your sake that you or your children never develop a life-threatening allergy. Then you'll have to eat your words, and hopefully you won't be allergic to those.

I am among the growing ranks of people who are ashamed of two previously-reputable media outlets who have legitimized the uninformed, unresearched, and mean-spirited comments of Mrs. Broussard. While I have little doubt that the reason she wrote this was to simply draw attention to herself, I would have thought that Harper's and NPR would have performed their due diligence to fact check the article and screen their guest.

I could post a story about what it's like to jam an Epi-Pen into my daughter's thigh and hope that it works. But, that's not something that will sway Mrs. Broussard and others who feel it's their duty to undermine the hard work performed by parents and medical professionals in their attempt to keep allergic people as safe as possible.

Having Dr. Sampson on to refute Mrs. Broussard is a nice idea, but the damage has been done. Harper's and NPR have already sullied their reputations by allowing Mrs. Broussard to present her own version of the truth. You can't unring a bell, as the old saying goes.

I suppose Broussard would say that my wife and I were being melodramatic on the two occasions when we had to inject our three-year-old daughter with epinepherine and take her to the ER after she had severe allergic reactions to food. I guess it could have been FAAN's propaganda that made us react that way to our daughter's acute swelling and inability to breathe. Maybe we were just being paranoid.

Alternatively -- and this is what I really think -- my food allergic daughter might not be alive today if my wife and I did not have the tools to give her the care she required in those situations. Because we were able to provide that care, our daughter survived. She is a healthy, happy, intelligent little girl who just happens to have life-threatening allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, eggs, and shellfish.

I will not repeat the observations of others about Broussard's reckless opinions or NPR's and Harpers' willingness to serve as her forum. However, I can't ignore Broussard's shocking conspiracy theory involving FAAN. We have benefited tremendously from having FAAN as a resource. In fact, I give partial credit to FAAN for the fact that our daughter survived her reactions, because FAAN helped to arm us with the ability to recognize and react to her distress, which was very, very real.

Support FAAN. Food allergies are not a myth.

I was appalled when I listened to your program. Obviously Ms. Broussard has never had to run to the doctor with her child in her arms because he had a sip of milk and his throat closed so severely that he almost died. Well I did. And she hasn't had a teenage son who has been to the ER numerous times fighting for his life because someone didn't take his allergy seriously and gave him something with a small amount of dairy in it. My friend did.
I see that the author's only claims to fame were two books "The Dictionary of Failed Relationships" and "The Encyclopedia of Exes" and some blog. Boy, that sure makes her a medical expert!! I can't believe NPR would give her air space.
I just noticed that Dr. Sampson will be appearing and am hoping he brings an informed view to your show. He IS a medical expert and has saved countless lives with the education and medical expertise he delivers, not a charlatan who's espousing false information and I guess is trying to make a name for herself and get away from being a relationship author. Stick to what you know...failed relationships

Many of Ms. Broussard's comments were erroneous. For instance, she claims that one has "to eat something to get hives." That is completely false. My one year old touched a spoon that had peanut butter on it and almost instantaneously, developed hives all over his body. It really is disappointing to hear her minimize the risk of deaths from allergies. If we weren't so vigilant about avoiding nuts (and yes it is helpful when preschools avoid nuts when my son might stop breathing if he touches his mouth after touching nuts) and carrying an Epi-pen EVERYWHERE HE GOES, he could easily die. It is quite a scary thing to live with.

To Ms. Boussard:
Go ahead and tell the families of these people that they were over reacting.
http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/Forum18/HTML/000426.html

I'm the parent of a child with severe multiple food allergies. It's my job to keep him safe. I don't think I can ever over react. And I don't need an organization or a drug company to tell how severe his allergies are. I've seen it with my own eyes.
I do believe in the first ammendment, but I also believe in responsible journalism.

Like many others, I live with a food allergic child. I am frustrated with the lack of knowledge of why her condition exists, how it can be healed, and what can be done to help others like her.

The biggest eye-opener through all of this revolves around compassion: some have it, and some don't. While I feel for Ms. Broussard's reaction to all that protein in her martini, I do wish she'd see what it's like to try to feed a child without dairy or any other allergen.

No, I didn't ask for this role. No, I don't want sympathy. But, I do ask for that bit of compassion in understanding that I want my child to live a happy, healthy life. Is that too much?

To WNYC: Thank you for scheduling the follow up. I only wish you had considered Ms. Broussard's credentials and motives before this piece of inflammatory journalism was recorded.

I am the parent of a peanut/treenut allergic child. I have struggled with this for 6 years. I try to allow the most normal life possible. My daughter has a peanut free classroom and lunch table. You might think this is overreacting, but it is what keeps her safe. She has had systemic (not anaphylaxis) reactions when in close contact with those eating peanut products. The doctors say that we can't predict what the next reaction will be. I do live with the fear that I may lose my child to this awful disability.

I think MB's uneducated reporting and comments show how much we need more funding to educate, to better understand this condition and to find a cure.

MB - Please learn the difference between systemic reactions and anaphylaxis.

Where did you find this uneducated woman? A journalist, not anyone even in the medical field, becoming an allergy spokesperson. I think that my son's severe, and yes, life-threatening, allergy to peanuts is a little different than her Martini allergy(although the ignorance that she expressed, sounded as though she had been drinking a few!)

Bring on Dr. Sampson, the real expert on food allergies. There is obviously increasing allergies today. I am in my 40s and never knew anyone's lip to swell, hives all over the body and severe vomiting to happen after injesting half of a peanut butter cookie at a year old. After Benadryl and 2 seperate doses of both Epinephrine and steroids, he finally looked and acted like my son again. As far as only eating it, his next reaction came from touch only. It was not "Anaphylactic", but swelling and hives up the arm.

Shame on Ms. Broussard and this radio program!station. You both owe the allergy world an apology.

I will also say that as a person whose child suffers from peanut allergy, I find it absolutely incredible that someone would think we're going over the top by having more thorough food labeling and by simply having peanut free tables in the school cafeteria.

The fact that my child has had a peanutfree table (and yes--a peanut free classroom)--that has given him a safe environment at school--has allowed him to have the free and appropriate education he has a right to (as every other child in our country has). If it weren't for that, I would have had to homeschool to keep him safe. That means I wouldn't have been able to work to for my local NPR station raising funds for it.

Also, I have developed four life threatening food allergies in the last three years. It's not a fun life to lead. No one would choose it, and it's difficult enough to get through the world with them. Ms. Broussard and Mr. Lopate have just made it more difficult for me--and my son.

Leonard Lopato and the program's producers deserve the lambasting they are getting for not holding this program up to the standard of NPR's Code of Ethics (yes, it applies to member stations). Broussard is not qualified to speak about food allergies--and certainly not on an NPR station (and to all those folks receiving the program's podcast).

I appreciate your having an interview with Hugh Sampson. However, a 12:40 pm timeslot is NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I did not listen to the Broussard interview live; I imagine given it's timing that it had a similar timeslot. However, the onus is on WNYC to correct the misinformation and very likely physical harm that Broussard's interview has had. To do this you need to appeal to the greatest number of people you can, and it is imperative that you move Sampson's interview to a time with greater listenership than 12:40 will afford. It needs to come after the top of the hour news at 12:07.

Secondly, as a mother of a child with severe food allergies, I am outraged, like the other listeners, with the actual content in this story. Ms. Broussard claims that allergic reactions to food are "exaggerated". My daughter will die if she eats a nut. How can you exaggerate death? It is real and it is scary. I assume that if she had ever been to an ER with her own child, as I have, and watched a full medical trauma team race to save that child's life after eating a nut, she would have a slightly different opinion on the matter. And yes, kids with severe food allergies live with fear. Wouldn't you be scared if you had severe food allergies and knew that someone like Ms. Broussard was out there who was dismissive of your allergy and wouldn't take it seriously? She can have whatever ill-informed opinions she wants to, but to use a national media platform to promote her opinions is shameful. Also, she is very critical of FAAN. I am a member of FAAN and very appreciative of the work they do. Just this week, information that they provided in their newsletter on a company that had added nuts to a previously nut-free food helped us avoid a life-threatening situation with our daughter.

So shame on Ms. Broussard for using her voice to hurt the food allergy community, but even more shame on NPR for giving her the platform to do so.

I am outraged by this interview on 2 main fronts.

First, as an avid NPR listener, I am extremely disappointed in NPR for even conducting this interview. Why is NPR, an otherwise trustworthy and distinguished source for news, interviewing this woman about medical issues? Her own bio states that "Her work usually revolves around literature, restaurants, parenting, and pop culture"!!! Why then is NPR asking her medical questions about food allergies as if she has an expert opinion? What in the world qualifies her to answer technical questions about food allergies and to dis-credit the medical research of actual experts? Like other listeners, I was outraged by her ignorance, but I was even more outraged that NPR would pose such questions to her and let her put forth false information as if she were a physician or researcher. She is a journalist with an opinion, and that is all. In this interview she is treated as an expert and is asked to provide facts and statistics. This was VERY poor judgment on the part of NPR. I have lost enormous respect for you.

This careless reporting is a great disservice to kids with proven allergies, possibly endangering the lives of many.

No-one willingly lives with a nut-allergy child unless it's real and serious. I fantasize about being able to lead an allergy-free life and dream of eating outside home without asking about food and cross-contamination, enduring huffy scepticism of waitstaff, friends or family members. I endure hostility and exclusionary practices from people bothered by our "little" problem.

And who would be involved in awareness/prevention issues at FAAN other than knowledgeable parents and doctors? And yes,the makers of the only drug that reverses anaphylactic shock. It's not a conspiracy,just common sense.

Obviously, this article was not intended to be a serious or in-depth report, but thanks Ms. Broussard for alerting me to Nicholas Pawlowski, CHOP allergist who will definitely never be allowed near my nut-allergic child.

I think we have bigger fish to fry in food allergy than one individual article/point of view in a not widely read (outside the East Coast) magazine.

I hope that WNYC/NPR looks at a look at this 2005 study, asks Dr. Sampson and NIAID about, what it's implications are for food allergic individuals, and what follow-up research is being done.

J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Nov 16;53(23):9023-30.
Transgenic expression of bean alpha-amylase inhibitor in peas results in
altered structure and immunogenicity.
Prescott VE, Campbell PM, Moore A, Mattes J, Rothenberg ME, Foster PS,
Higgins TJ, Hogan SP.

SHAME ON HER, SHE IS A VERY UNEDUCATED WOMAN.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOOD ALLERGIES FIRST HAND AND HAD A CLOSE CALL WHEN MY DAUGHTER HAD A SEVERE RESPIRATORY REACTION TO MILK, WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL. WE ALMOST LOST HER AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. HOW DARE SHE COMMENT ON SOMETHING THAT SHE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED.
SHAME ON NPR AND HARPER MAGAZINE AS WELL FOR EVEN ALLOWING THIS WOMAN TO BE HEARD.

Clearly this woman herself is nuts! My daughter was at Scottish Rite hospital in July 2007 with an impaction problem. The Dr. gave her a milk and molasses enema and she broke out in hives. The hives were all over 90% of her body and they were all different sizes and red. She was itching all over and went into respiratory distress. I was 7 months pregnant and my husband and I thought we were going to lose her. This woman obviously has not experienced, first hand what it is like to see a child have a severe allergic reaction. She is completely uneducated and speaks like a three year old and I hope I never meet her because I would like to give her a piece of my mind. Maybe she will encounter a child that goes into anaphalactic shock someday and she will be very sorry that she judged the parents, children and people at FAAN for doing their best to find a reason so many children have to live with this.

One of my children, after eating a piece of bread with sesame seeds, had severe swelling of her lips and cheeks to the point that she was unrecognizable.

My son, within minutes after his first-ever sip of goat's milk, was lying unresponsive on the floor struggling to breathe.

Please take food allergies seriously and interview families who have experienced anaphylaxis. We need the public to be cautious and informed of the very real dangers of some food allergies.

SHAME ON YOU! FOR THOSE PARENTS THAT HAVE LOST A CHILD OR LOVED ONE FROM AN ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION CAUSED BY A FOOD ALLERGY. WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT?
FOR A REAL DEFINITION OF ANAPHYLAXIS CHECK YOUR TABERS DICTIONARY. YOU FAILED TO MENTION A LOCAL REACTION AS OPPOSED TO A SYSTEMIC ONE. AND NO YOU DO NOT NEED TO EAT THE ALLERGY CAUSING AGENT/FOOD. IT CAN SIMPLY COME IN CONTACT W/ A MUCOUS MEMBRANE TO CAUSE A REACTION. AS ONE WHO HAS WITNESSED AN ANAPHYLAXIS REACTION I CAN TELL YOU THAT "THE DANGER IS BEING OVERSTATED" IS A FALSE STATEMENT. VERY FALSE AND YOU OWE A LOT OF PEOPLE AN APOLOGY. THE "HYPE" OVER PEANUT/TREE NUT ALLERGIES IS THERE BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE REACTIONS ARE MUCH MORE SEVERE THEN THOSE OF MILK/DAIRY. HOWEVER, I KNOW OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE ALSO HAD LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO THESE AS WELL. TELL THESE CHILDRENS PARENTS THAT THEIR CHILDS REACTIONS ARE NOT "STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT". AND THAT THEY ARE A PART OF A 'CULTURE OF ANXIOUS PARENTING'. DID YOU EVER CONSIDER THAT THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE ACTUALLY HAD A SEVERE ALLERIC REACTION FEEL AFRAID OF DIEING BECAUSE IT ALMOST HAPPEND TO THEM- MAYBE THEY FELT LIKE THEY COULDN'T BREATH-IMAGINE THAT?
ASK YOURSELF- WOULD YOU RATHER "OVER REACT" AND SAVE A LIFE OR BELITTLE A SITUATION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE HARM, A HOSPITALIZATION, OR EVEN DEATH?
ONCE AGAIN-SHAME ON YOU!

Outrageous that NPR would have a layperson one to discuss the rise in a MEDICAL condition. She does not have a medical degree or even a personal experience on the subject. Perhaps they will invite me on to talk about rocket science - I have no background in that area either.
Many people do not "believe" in the severity of food allergies and they will only believe after much education (organizations such as FAAN provide) or seeing it for themselves. Believe me, they would rather learn from education than experience.
It is very difficult to take a nut allergic child to parties - even family functions where extended family think that they are giving a child a "treat" - a cookie that contains nuts. You know, the well meaning person who tells a 3 year old that they don't have to ask their Mom. That turns into a lovely party experience when the child is convinced it is safe to eat. Parents of anaphylatic food allergy children are not terrifying their children any more than parents who tell their children not to play with electrical outlets. Those who should be scared are the people without Epipens that not not been diagnosed yet.

I am very disappointed in NPR for interviewing a very uneducated, non-medical person to discuss a topic that does affect a huge number of families.

I have a daughter with a tree nut allergy. I don't in anyway expect the world to change for her because of her allergy. We have worked to educate, not put fear in her and at 4 1/2 she is really good about asking before trying foods she's not familiar with.

I worked in the media for 8 years myself and got out of the business because I was getting very tired of radio and TV programs broadcasting stories that are not complete and most often a complete distortion of the truth.

What a shame NPR!

Shame on NPR and shame on Harpers for their tabloid journalism! What has responsible journalism come to? Anyone who writes a blog can come up with a sensationalist topic and it gets media coverage? Just because Ms Broussard has food allergies herself, this is no way makes her an expert! Her smear campaign is nothing short of appalling! Now we have to wait until January 31 for a balanced view... sorry but damage has already been done. Is there any way the interview with Dr Sampson can be done as soon as possible?

The Lopate Show responds:
January 31 was the first available date that we could have Dr. Sampson join us.

Apparently this speaker does not want to hear others opinions. She has disabled her comments on her blog about failed relationships in which her last blog briefly mentions her opinion about food allergies. You can still e-mail her at mer@failedrelationships.com (If that works!) Meredith, if you rip on FAAN as a good resource for families with food allergies, who do we go to if we can't contact you~the expert!

NEITHER minimization nor melodrama HELP individuals with severe food allergies.

Reason and evidence and research are what we need, and those will help those with severe food allergies.

And speaking of research, IF this article bothers you, I suggest you take a look at how little NIH and NIAID spend on food allergy research in a yr.

NOW, there's a REAL STORY. And do some homework on what some of these other diseases prevalences and severity are like, compared to the impact and severity of severe food allergies.

How about West Nile Fever? CDC reported 3,404 cases and 98 fatalities in 2007, which was a significant decrease in cases and fatalities from 2006. And in FY07, West Nile received $40 Million in research funding from NIAID, and $61 M in the projected FY08 budget.

And let's see, there are 12-15 million people with food allergies, and approx. 1.5 million with peanut allergy alone. Food allergy research funding from NIAID in FY07? $9 Million. Projected for 08? $12 Million.

http://www.nih.gov/news/fundingresearchareas.htm

Now, that is something that I THINK is upsetting AND a VERY IMPORTANT STORY.

Sorry, Ms. Broussard, Harper's, and WNYC/NPR.

It frustrates me to no end when someone downplays the seriousness of food allergies especially when it's someone who has a platform that can reach many people (like Harper's or NPR) and even worse, when it's someone who has no medical background!! Who decided a journalist such as Ms. Broussard is the authority on food allergies?!! Sure, she may have food allergies and maybe her's are not life-threatening but people have and do die from them - who cares if the number 150-200 is quoted the same ever year?! The fact is people CAN die. With any chance of that happening, of course any parent with a child with food allergies would be scared. And what may seem extreme to her to keep children safe is what is, for all we know, what is helping to prevent such tradedies from happening more. I don't care how rare anaphylaxis may be - you never know when it will strike - with any chance of that happening, would you want to put your child at risk if you can avoid it?!?! I am sure she would feel differently if she had a child turn bright red and swell all over and screaming or turn blue and gasp for air! God, I hope this article is not read by anyone my children come into contact with regularly.

NPR and Harper's have lost much credibility with this story. Thanks for undoing all the hard work so many of us parents do daily to keep our children safe!! This was irresponsible news and has done much harm.

Maybe NPR stands for "No Proof Required"...

I'm confused. Exactly who was under the incorrect assumption that as an expert on failed relationships (see Broussard's blog on failedrelationships.com), that also included dysfunctional relationships with food? Did she EpiPen her way back from some suffocating love affair & that's her qualification to speak as representative to food allergy & anaphylaxis? I swear, it just shows how little the public (as evidenced by NPR programmers) knows of this issue, that Broussard would be held up as a legit voice - albeit one with her own pesky food allergy that unfortunately keeps her out of the gin...poor baby. It just sounded like all the other ignorance I hear from neighbors, teachers, even family. Hopefully NPR will try to stem the tide of misinformation...but I'm not holding my breath.

As a parent to a child with severe allergies to milk, eggs, and peanuts, I find this report to be deeply troubling. If the average person understood what it is like to live with this, they would never begrudge washing their hands or making small concessions for those who suffer from food allergies. My daughter is only 2 years old, but I fear this will be even harder to manage and tolerate as she grows up. Please don't let this woman's uneducated opinion influence your respect or consideration for these people with food allergies. I am shocked that this woman was on NPR. It seems there are no longer any reliable or unbiased news sources to be found.

It is with deepest gratitude that I thank you for this broadcast.

How could I have been such a fool?!

How enlightened I am to now know that NPR stands for "Non Professional Radio".

Merci beaucoup.

Shame on NPR and Harper's for encouraging the irresponsible, inflammatory and damaging ravings of Meredith Broussard. This woman wouldn't know a food allergy from flatulence. I suppose next she's going to become an expert on lymphoma and try to convince us that breast cancer is a conspiracy between the American Cancer Society and the makers of mammography equipment. I hope the people at Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network wage a fat, juicy lawsuit against this insipid twit, her publisher and your station.

I had been hearing about this article and interview for the last few weeks - WOW - I am shocked that a "respectable",from what I have read, media outlet would give airtime to a journalist with an opinion and an opinion only on this very serious medical condition. In my view, the NPR took a risk that has damaged your credibility and most likely your fundraising in the future. By airing this inexperienced person's view point as fact, you have caused your listeners to question all future "expert guests". I hope this incident will cause you to reevaluate who and in what capacity you book your guests.

Ms Broussard's ignorant and unfounded attack on the non-profit FAAN is mystifying. That organization was a godsend to me when my twins were diagnosed with severe peanut and tree nut allergies. 7 years later, they are still a valuable resource for my family. Broussard accuses FAAN of making parents paranoid. On the contrary, thanks to FAAN, I don't have to be paranoid because I'm educated.

Shame on NPR and Lopate for allowing a fiction writer to pose as a medical expert.

Post #69, Amy, You took the words out of my mouth. Go Amy!! Go Amy!!

Thank-you for bringing on Dr. Sampson! Could you please ask him to comment on Mrs. Broussard's opening statement that you must "eat" the food to have an allergic reaction. (My daughter has had some serious reactions after accidently touching an allergen and getting it in her eye.)

Mrs. Broussard also implies that when the media reports "One bite could trigger a disaster." that they are exaggerating. She says, "It's the kind of thing we love to tell each other." I'm sure the doctor will agree that she has made a very dangerous statement because, YES, one bite can trigger a disaster!

Dr. Hugh Sampson will be a guest on the show on Thursday, January 31 at 12:40 pm.

We hope that you will listen and contribute your thoughts.

The Leonard Lopate show posted:

"In order to provide another perspective on this important health issue, we are planning an interview with Dr. Hugh Sampson from Mount Sinai's Department of Allergy and Immunology."

I am glad you are planning to interview Dr. Sampson. He deserves the opportunity to respond to Ms. Broussard's accusation of "conspiracy" to exaggerate food allergies.

The information provided by Dr. Sampson will not be merely "another perspective", however. This wording implies that the "perspective" of highly trained, nationally respected scientist and physician is equal to the "perspective" of a writer on this topic. I don't think so!

Ms. Broussard needs to issue a retraction and the real experts need the opportunity to provide the public with the facts.

My husband and I are big fans of NPR, but don't look to us to contribute money in your next fundraising campaign. I'm giving my contributions to FAAN. That's an organization that does good.

My son was diagnosed with food allergies when he was 9 mos old, after three near fatal reactions. Our pediatriciation said "don't feed him milk", so I fed my son a teething bicuit only to see him react once again. The bicuit had milk in it. Who knew? Not me.

The allergist diagnosed my son after listening to his history and doing skin and blood tests which confirmed his milk allergy. He told me to check out FAAN for more information about managing food allergies but I didn't for nearly a year. I cried the day I finally visited their website and saw the wealth of information and support they provide to families like mine.

I don't know what the journalist's beef is with FAAN or the doctors on their advisory panel, but shame on her for putting down one of the only groups and the few doctors who are actually trying to find a way to keep my child safe, a that maybe won't require an epi pen when he accidentally ingests something containing milk.

Food allergies are real. My son has been to the ER for severe reactions at least 4 times in his almost 7 years of life.

I expect better from NPR.

What a bunch of hogwash. Try parenting a child who breaks out in hives with an accidental taste of milk, egg, peanuts or tree nuts. Try rushing your child to the ER because he has accidentally eaten a miniscule amount of peanut butter.

Walk a mile carrying our epi-pen pack and then tell me it's overblown.

Meredith makes my blood boil. She thinks she has first hand experience and maybe she does on a low level, but she knows nothing of severe food allergies.

I found this interview entirely unprofessional and am shocked that it was even put on the air. I can find nothing in Ms. Broussard's background to even remotely suggest that she has any scientific or medical background to analyze the statistics and research on food allergies, but I guess that wouldn't matter anyway because according to her the entirely food allergy research community is part of a vast conspiracy to research food allergies. I was also offended by Mr. Leopate's comment about how you'd know your child had outgrown the allergy if they snuck a piece of potato chip and didn't fall on the floor. Shame on you, Mr. Leopate, for attempting to dismiss a life-threatening medical condition as a joke.

I will never donate to NPR again, and I must say that this incident makes me question the integrity of NPR reporting standards.

I can not believe what I just listened to. I can't believe a radio program would allow someone without a medical backround spew off statistics and theories like that I have a son that is allergic to peanuts and what I have learned is that every case is different. Just because this lady has an allegy to Vermouth (what???) it does not make her an expert on food allegies. I am happy to see you are bringing in a doctor to give his perspective. Maybe you can get some real facts reported.

Thank you. Will you please post the date and time of the interview with Dr. Sampson in advance?

The Lopate Show responds: Yes, as soon as we can.

Thank you all for your comments. In order to provide another perspective on this important health issue, we are planning an interview with Dr. Hugh Sampson from Mount Sinai's Department of Allergy and Immunology.
The segment will be scheduled for later in January, and we hope that you tune in and contribute to that segment.

I found Ms. Broussard's comments without much merit. As a parent of a food allergic/anaphylactic/asthmatic child, we have spent the last 18yrs. trying to convince schools,teachers, friends, relatives, that our daughter's condition is real and potentially lethal. We have the ER records to document this. Regarding research, certainly more is needed and studies do need to be replicated. By any measure, funding from NIH for allergy/asthma is inadequate. A parent's biggest fear is the death of their child. Parent's of children with severe food allergies have to face that fear on a daily basis. It is true that some parent's may overreact to this condition. It is also true that some individual's ( like Ms. Broussard) use denial to minimize a potentially lethal condition. I found her rambling 15 minute "interview" puzzling. What is her motivation for this? I don't see how her comments help keep food allergic children safe. Note to self-never donate to NPR for the rest of your life.

A "journalist" should get all her facts correct before writing an article as damaging as Everyone's Gone Nuts". I have a child with a TRUE food allergy to nuts and peanuts. I have tirelessly worked to educate peers, schools, etc. that my son's allergies are life threatening - not a mere rash or stuffy nose - he will stop breathing - PERIOD. Thankfully, there are more intelligent articles on food allergies out there written by qualified people to counterbalance your worthless journalistic contribution. Get in touch with some real professionals on the subject before you do any further damage or God Forbid - become the reason another child loses their life to food allergies. By the way, I find it interesting you leave no way to be contacted about this joke of an article!
Maureen
Atlanta, GA
Moededoe@aol.com

Joan, comment #24:
Scientists are trying to determine why the incidence of food allergy is skyrocketing. They don’t know yet. If you don’t mind, can we keep my kid alive while they investigate?

If my child had been born in 1894 instead of in 1994, she would have died. Thus, she would not have reproduced the crappy genetics that have given her multiple food allergies and eosinophilic esophagitis. She would have been labeled "sickly", she would have died young, and no one would know why.

Sorry to upset your applecart by having my child live. I can tell you she's a terrific organizer, she loves to play piano, read, and cuddle her cat. She loves earrings, and High School Musical.

She also can't eat wheat, dairy, soy, peanut/treenut, fish/shellfish, peas or beans, or any meat other than poultry.

She's a great kid -- and if you eat peanuts next to her, she stops breathing.

Nathan Walters. Kristina Kastner. Sabrina Shannon. Prasad Gajare. Alex Baptist. Chantelle Yambao. These are just a few of the names of children who have died of anaphylactic food allergy within the past few years. You can see an extensive list at http://kidswithfoodallergies.org/eve/forums?a=tpc&f=2540057262&m=3300046464&r=2350042305#2350042305. I’m sure all their parents apologize for the inconvenience the restrictions their children’s allergies put upon the rest of us.

We honor those who have died from anaphylaxis by caring for, not deriding, those living with it.

Perhaps someone in town would like to as the CAB why this got air-play?

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Vermouth allergy! Who ever heard of that? There is more than one ingredient in vermouth. Was she diagnosed by a legitimate allergist? What kind of tests did they do? Perhaps she drank too many glasses, got sick, and now she is just paranoid.

Here is a statistic that I pulled from familydoctor.org.
"Fact: Although 25 percent of people think they're allergic to certain foods, studies show that about only 8 percent of children and 2 percent of adults have a food allergy."

In other words, there are more than two idiots who think they have an allergy for everyone one person who really does. These other folks might have a sensitivity or intolerance. The best thing they can do for themselves is see a specialist, the best thing they can do for the rest of the world is to not talk about allergies when they don't know the first thing about them!

As a parent of a highly allergic 3 year old I sat listening to this interview wondering why a journalist was giving medical opinions. My son has had three anaphylactic reacions and yes, one bite was all it took before his wheezing started. In one reaction he touched cheese and had to go to the hospital. Until you see an allergic reaction happen you may think it necessary to trivilaize it but for thousands of people our lives are a daily struggle. We need support of schools and day care centers and churches and grocery stores. All Ms. Brossard has done is make our lives more difficult. What I have to do on a daily basis to make sure my son does not die is not an exaggeration. Please stop giving a voice to people whose lack of knowledge and understanding could cause serious harm to others.

I am absolutely appalled that 15 + minutes of airtime were devoted to this drivel. I can only hope that you will devote an equal amount of time to credible medical experts who can balance this nonsense with fact.

With regard to false positives on allergy tests, if Ms. Broussard were the expert that she represents herself to be, she'd know that credible diagnoses are not made on test results alone, but on personal history in combination with testing. I'd say that a positive test result in combination with a child who presents with widespread hives, facial swelling, coughing and wheezing is pretty definitive, wouldn't you? Or is that a figment of my imagination which was whipped into a frenzy by FAAN for their financial benefit?

In discussing the definitive test, an oral challenge, Mr. Lopate's glib comment about not knowing for sure until a child drops prostrate on the ground was disgusting - one step away from Don Imus's famous comment. He owes all of us parents a huge apology. How vile.

Finally, I'd like Ms. Broussard and a fact-checker at NPR to Google some of the following names - Sabrina Shannon, Nathan Walters, Joshua Ramirez, Mariya Spektor, William Gallagher, Thomas Egan, Trent Hankins, Emily Vander Meulen among others. This piece is disrespectful to their families, and an insult to their memories.

Shame on NPR and Harper's.

Views like hers are absolutely based on pure ignorance. Who cares about the statistics! My 7 year old went into shock 3 times from milk. He was lucky to have his meds in time and get treatment from a hospital immediately. Scariest moments of my life. Have you ever read Sabrina's story from Ontario, Canada? I went into shock twice from fish as an adult. My throat closed up. Felt like someone forced broken glass down my throat. The epi pen saved my life! My son has an aid at school because he has reactions even from touch and inhalation (under the 504 plan). I started a support group in Long Island with over 160 Members. It is a non-profit. Google our site: Protect Allergic Kids.

In the Broussard's [i}Harper's{/i] writes that "the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in its most up-to-date figures, recorded only 12 deaths from food allergies in 2004."

The CDC's website says differently (http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/healthtopics/index.htm ):

[i]Food allergies are an abnormal immune response to certain foods that the body reacts to as harmful. Each year food allergies cause 30,000 cases of anaphylaxis, 2,000 hospitalizations, and 150 deaths. The best method for managing food allergies is prevention by avoiding any foods that trigger a reaction.[/i]

I'm disappointed that NPR airs Broussard's unfounded and science-free charges without doing any research, but it's their typical method for political debate, so it doesn't surprise me.

I don't even understand the point of this?? This woman is flippant, under educated, and dangerous to our children and the allergic community at large. She should stick to her fluff pieces and leave science to experts... NPR should be ashamed...
The portrayal of food allergies and families that live with them as overreactive is wrong and dangerous, a more important issue to expose is the lack of info and research. This IS happening food allergies ARE on the rise, rather than condemning those that are working for answers and information why not advocate for more research.
My 15 month old son did NOT ingest the tahini (sesame) that almost killed him, and with paramedics there as witnesses his epi-pen saved his life.

What a travesty that NPR would give voice to such an irresponsible, self-serving non-scientist! Since when is it acceptable to present an "expert" on failed relationships to speak authoritatively about a medical condition? And shame on you, Leonard Lopate, for asking her about appropriate treatments! I'd rather you ask the local green grocer about how to fix a transmission - At least no one's safety would be jeopardized by your journalistic irresponsibility.

Broussard has touched a nerve. The problem is that parents of children with REAL severe food allergies (myslef included - I’ve been to the ER twice with my dairy-allergic son) already have to fight so much negative perception that when people like Broussard reenforce the popular notion that it’s all a bunch of neurotic parents, we have an even harder struggle cutting through the noise.

It comes down to this. Some people are neurotic about food by choice. Parents of food-allergic kids are neurotic about food out of necessity.

It sucks for us that the people who are neurotic about food by choice just make us look even worse.

It sucks even worse when people like Broussard stoke the flames of the backlash against us. Our lives are hard enough as it is.

I just think that people like Broussard should be more sensitive to the people with REAL allergies. Maybe it’s true that there’s some general hysteria about allergies. But this topic should just be handled with a little more compassion. As you can plainly see, the people that have to deal with real allergies get very emotional about this and for good reason.

And by the way. Vermouth? Please. Try dealing with a severe milk allergy for a 2-year old. It is SUCH a pain in the ass. And it's VERY real.

Broussard - the bottom line is you come off as very callous.

"I don't understand the intentions of Meredith B."

Her intentions are simple: she intends to sell books. She doesn't care if people die as long as she makes a buck.

I understand that there are people in the world like her - more of them every day with our toxic culture. However, I'm appaled that NPR - a source I trusted - let this report air without checking out the facts.

Vote with your pocketbook. If integrity no longer matters to NPR, perhaps money will.

I don't understand the intentions of Meredith B. Is she trying to pick a bone w/ FAAN? Of course FAAN became the place people knowledgeable reporters go to since they have experts they can interview! One would go to the Epilepsy Foundation as a resource if they had questions about Epilepsy, wouldn't they? Did she want people with food allergies to come to her, especially since of her allergy to vermouth? Why would you want children with severe food allergies not to carry Epi-pens just in case? Anxiety level wise~it's like having band-aids or TUMS in my purse. I don't care how many children died statistically. All I care about is protecting my son's life for that "just in case moment" that may or may not happen. It's about being prepared and being safe rather than sorry. Usually, being prepared makes one less anxious.

After reading her blog containing the title failed realtionships(what?), I am baffled why one would make her an expert on food allergies and take her article as fact ~ because she has food allergies herself, like to vermouth? How common is that allergen? Do they have vermouth in foods?

We can not ignore this. We need to use this as a springboard for discussion and raise even more awareness, or apparently anyone can write an article nowadays and become an expert! I hope it is only a publicity stunt, but if that is the case, then I will NEVER buy Harper's or listen to NPR radio again since they use unqualified guests/reporters.

WNYC's mission statement is "Mission Statement
As a flagship station of the American public radio network, WNYC, New York Public Radio's mission is: "To make the mind more curious, the heart more tolerant and the spirit more joyful through excellent radio programming that is deeply rooted in New York." ". I think they failed to hit the mark with this broadcast.
It is wonderful that so many people are commenting on it, but the point is not that this one journalist has an odd outlook. The issue is that she was given so much free air time with no balanced, opposing view.
It is scary that someone can dish out such tripe as fact and some people will believe her. It is a reminder that not everyone (even those with food allergies as she is quick to point out she has)gets it. Please don't do me the favour of "informing others" for me.
My main question is, "WNYC, what were you thinking and how do you justify this broadcast given your mission statement?".

Harpers Magazine is purposely making controversial statements to drum up some pr buzz, because they are an old, irrelevant magazine. Their other desparate, despicable attempts include suggesting that we play an amusing parlor game called Nazi. I'm serious, it's on their home page.
We should just ignore them, their ridiculous ploys for attention are as bad as a toddler spilling soup on purpose.

If you are interested in interviewing a parent who has been to the ER with a child in anaphylaxis, please call me. A theme of the response letters seems to be that we were all skeptics until it happened to us. We may not understand what is going on with the rise in food allergies, but too many people have had the same experience of anaphylaxis that we had.

I am a personable, highly educated, working mother. I have a demanding job as a legislative policy expert. My life is very full and not dominated by an obsession with my child. I don't use antibacterial wipe on every surface, and I let my kid pee in public toilets. In short, I fit no stereotype of the overbearing or overprotective mother. However, I watched my daughter go into anaphlyaxis once, and frankly that was enough. Food is no less deadly to my child than a bullet would be. I hardly think I woudl be subject to attack by half-baked "journalism" if I were to state my goal of keeping my child out of a gunfire zone.

NPR, as a fan of your station for many years, I am simply appalled that this type of interview aired on your show. I live in Singapore and hearing this all across the world not only baffles me, but makes me angry to hear such callous ramblings of a non-medical journalist (who happens to 'suffer' from food allergies herself: vermouth.) For those who have never dealt with food allergies, hearing this piece only makes them trivialize the seriousness of food allergies in our kids. I sincerely hope that NPR, you will conduct a follow-up interview on this topic with someone who has TRULY dealt with TRUE food allergies and publicize just HOW HARD it is to deal with a child's hidden, chronic, life-threatening condition. As parents, we can only hope journalists like Ms. Broussard will find a heart that can make her somewhat compassionate for those who are less fortunate than her.

Your instant expert on food allergies, Meredith Broussard, neglected to mention the recommendations of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology on Anaphylaxis in schools and other child-care settings. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network’s advocacy efforts are not the product of some pharmaceutical conspiracy; they are based on current medical research. Parents who follow these recommendations are not “hysterical” or over-protective; they are responsible parents who are following respected medical advice. Giving Meredith Broussard (who has no medical qualifications whatsoever) the opportunity to voice her opinions as fact is detrimental to the safety of children with life-threatening food allergies. Harper’s Magazine and NPR need to correct the situation immediately by allowing real experts on food allergies to speak on behalf of those they are working to protect.

Rachel:

"One kid's allergies becomes everyone's problem, it's ridiculous."

If that one child were to just go ahead and die from their ridiculous allergy would that make life all better for you.

Hand washing and oral hygiene are a lot to ask. Hope you can wake up another day to bear that amazing burden.

As so many others have urged, please follow up this damaging interview with one in which *qualified*, *informed*, and *experienced* professionals can respond. There are many good points that could have been raised or examined in this interview that were neglected.

I would have been chortling right alongside Ms. Broussard 7 years ago, before my daughter was born and before the 3 life-threatening reactions she experienced. If you interview people living the allergic life you will probably find two camps: the terrified overprotective types, and the casual, shrug the shoulders types, like Ms. Broussard. Ask them how many times they've been to the ER over their allergies, and you will understand what makes the difference.

Just when parents of allergies feel they're taking one step forward,

an uneducated person like this starts talking...

two steps back.

I will say one thing...this has cured me of ANY urge to dial the phone during pledge drives.

I have been a good supporter of NPR over the years, but there is no excuse for this type of irresponsibility. I encourage everyone posting in this thread to vote with their wallets as well.

There's a huge difference between reporting an opinion listeners do not want to hear and reporting one that is wrong and dangerous. I certainly can't give my money to an organization who cannot make that distinction.

I cannot believe that such irresponsible journalism is tolerated at NPR. Public radio has been my safe haven from the quacks on main stream media. This is clearly not "excellent radio programming", but misinformed. I encourage other readers/listeners to contact the station and let your thoughts be known at (212) 669-3333 or email them at listenerservices@wnyc.org

I can only hope that this misinformation does not contribute to the death of a person suffering from any type of allergy. This is a big set back to the correct proliferation of information on allergies in general.

I read Broussard's article. She opens with “Of little concern to most parents or educators only a generation ago, food allergies are now seen as a childhood epidemic.” You can’t negate the existence of a problem on the premise that it wasn’t as serious 30 or 40 years ago. There are a lot of problems in this world that weren't as bad 30-40 years ago, such as cancer, asthma and AIDS. It's a sad fact that the average American ingests a lot more chemically processed and genetically/hormonally altered foods that we did 40 years ago. So is it any wonder that immunological disorders are on the rise? There have also been a lot of advances in the diagnosis of allergies and a raised awareness: A child who was labeled as having a “delicate constitution” in the 60s might just have been sick all the time from being forced to drink all of his/her milk in the cafeteria at school.

Broussard seems to be on of those typical “if I can’t see it, it must not be real” judgmental types: She probably doesn’t believe that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon because she’s never met an astronaut, or that the Holocaust actually happened because she’s never met a concentration camp survivor. And she’s probably never heard the saying “Never criticize someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes”…

NPR, I question your judgement in giving voice to an obviously unqualified spokesperson, clearly an exercise in irresponsibility on your part. One would think that her background in "creative writing" would have given you pause....

The only way you can resurrect your reputation is to host a qualified medical expert on the show who can set the record straight.

In the meantime, I sincerely hope that listeners do not further jeopardize the safety of food allergic children or adults due to the misleading and false information that was provided via your show.

Food allergies are real and they kill.

Thank you to FAAN and to those physicians specializing in food allergies, as well as to those researchers around the world who are working hard to crack the mystery of food allergy in order to find a cure. We appreciate you more than you can ever know.

Ms. Broussard is uninformed and dangerous!!!! I can not even believe Harper's Magazine permitted her idiotic article to be published and that she was given radio air time to speak her dribble. This is irresposible and dangerous to people with life-threatening food allergies. It only takes looking into the face of your own child as you're injecting them with an Epipen, as thier blood pressure is dropping in cardiac distress, to understand how (yes Meredith) just one bite can take your child to the brink of life and death. You pray that you recognized the symptoms in time and that you injected your child before that point of no return that exists in an anaphylactic reaction. Ms. Broussard, get yourself educated with the facts. I am grateful for organizations like FAAN, FAI and allergists who help educate parents about sympton recognition and prompt response with Epinephrine. Had I not been properly educated my son may have died.

As a mother of a three year old who is allergic to peanuts, treenuts, legumes and eggs, I am, like many other parents, infuriated by both Broussard's article and this interview. I strongly believe that she has trivalized the severity of food allergies by her article. If she witnesses a child nearly choking to death from an anaphylaxtic reaction to eggs, as I have on two occassions, she would likely change her tune quickly.

However, her article and her accompanying interview on NPR do point out some major loopholes in our medical field regarding food allergies that should be explored further:

1) If the FAAN statistics are accurate, they should publish or at least cite the source(s) of their statistics. Their website at least doesn't do that.

2)The food allergy tests are old and antiquated. They do not tell us how allergic a child is, and only test for major allergens, not everything.

3) We are far from knowing the root cause of the exponential rise of food allergies in children. FAAN is the biggest advocate and contibutor to finding the root cause and cure, but it seems to me that the drug companies and universities are not interested in studying the cause or finding a cure.

I hope that the one positive from Ms. Broussard's article is for the entire community to examine the above three points to strengthen and educate the public on food allergies.

There ARE milk-free tables. Even milk-free CLASSROOMS, such as my son's, from kindergarten to sixth grade. He entered kindergarten almost 20 years ago and was the first kid with severe food-allergy in our town, but there have been several others since. He had reactions even to airborne milk or touching objects that had been touched by someone who had touched a dairy product. He had lunch at home on pizza day because the smell of pizza permeated the school. On other days, he ate with a friend or two in his milk-free classroom or library.

Classmates had dairy products elsewhere: lunchroom, playground. When they came back in the classroom, they used wash n’ dris to wipe their hands. The school was wonderful about this. So were the kids and parents. Only one boy complained in all those years.

If the school hadn’t done this, we would have had to home-school him and his classmates would have missed out on a great chance to learn empathy. Not a bad trade off: fewer cheese doodles — more empathy.

simply uneducated.

Your comments that FAAN is blowing the rise of food allergies into epidemic proportions is ridiculous. When I was in elementary school I knew of no one with food allergies. In my son's kindergarten class I know of 6 children in his class of 26 kids that have food allergies. I know these parents and the stress they go through sending their child to school. This is not a made up allergy.

Thank you for this insightful interview. Ms. Broussard may be interested in the funding ties behind some of the doctors and organizations mentioned on your show which is highlighted at www.alllergykids.com.

At Allergykids, our recent appearances on the CBS Early Show and CNN also address some of the same issues mentioned on your show.

Updated statistics are available at www.allergykids.com including statistics that are not available at other food allergy organizations funded by the pharmaceutical and junk food industries.

Ms. Broussard, have you ever had to ride with your child in an ambulance after having an allergic reaction? Until you do, or until you receive a degree in medicine, you have no right to comment on this subject.

My child is allergic to over 25 foods. Do most of these reactions cause anaphylaxis? No. Do some of these foods cause anaphylaxis? Absolutely.

You ask why there are no milk free tables at school... does milk stick to ones skin like peanut butter? Think about 100 grade schoolers in a lunch room eating peanut butter sandwiches --the stuff sticks everywhere. My son had his first anaphylactic reaction in a grocery store due to sticky peanut butter. (Yes, my son is one of those who is scared of the grocery store.) There was peanut butter in the cart which he touched and transferred to his mouth.

People who don't understand food allergies have never experienced what one goes through during a reaction. You talk about the number of people who died last year from food allergies. What about the thousands who were saved from their Epipen shot? Didn't hear you discuss that at all...

I'm shocked that NPR would pick up this story without providing some balance by a medical professional or at least a parent or an adult who is really dealing every day with life-threatening allergies.

The statistics for increasing food allergy may be weak but you can interview dozens of allergists from across the country who are seeing more and more children who have food allergies.

If that was "only" due to awareness, then why do these children have more allergies and why are they taking even longer to outgrow their allergies?

Consider hosting one of the parents who have lost a child to food allergies--

Chris Clements--one bite of a piece of chocolate with hazelnut.
Emily Vondermeulen--sandwich cross contaminated with peanut.
Sabrina Shannon--french fries contaminated with dairy
Nathan Walters--peanutbutter cookie on a field trip.

Children and adults die from food allergies.

It is not common but when a reaction starts there is no way to predict its outcome. So these parents and children must stay vigilant.

That's no exaggeration.

You know what I'm so tired of? People who think it's o.k. to bash the parents of children with medical conditions. Even worse are the people who make money off of them writing inflammatory articles.

I realize that it's fun to pick on overprotective parents. Belittling allergies and asthma (and the parents who deal with them) seems to be one of the last prejudices that is allowable in our society. The image of the delicate, nerdy child and overprotective mother still saturates the popular culture.

Thanks for making my life just that much harder with this irresponsible piece.

I listen to NPR all the time and now I will always have to wonder if the guests are really experts on the issues at hand. In this case, Ms. Broussard only told half the story...very sad.

This is simply horrible. How can someone minimize the potentially lethal effects of foods on kids? You are a horrible, horrible station to give this interview. This is a horrible person. We had a child almost die from ingesting dairy. While not all kids are allergic to food, and even if it's overblown, so what!!!!!!! Isn't it better to be safe. Saying that it's in the self-interest of FAAN or whatever it is to promote labeling on products is just stupid. What is wrong with better labeling? Isn't it better to know what is contained in our food that not? The smugness of the interviewer is truly, truly obnoxious. Oh, it's so overblown these allergies. And so what if the rate has been increasing, decreasing, or staying the same. There is a problem and if we don't deal with it, some kids will die. I'd like to know just what the author knows about statistical significance. What's not statistically significant -- the likelihood of having allergies or is it our ability to generalize the results because of the sampling.

Shame on NPR! NPR has indulged Broussard in her reckless attempt to trivialize a significant health issue, discredit those with authority on the subject of food allergies and anaphylaxis, and deride children and families affected by this condition. NPR has betrayed its responsibility to its listeners by airing this segment. Broussard writes about pop culture and romance. She has edited two anthologies of strange and true stories about love gone wrong. Her credentials might qualify her to write dime novels, but not to discuss serious medical issues. She is not qualified to interpret the data she stutters over in this segment, and the opinions she expresses on NPR and in her recent Harpers article are ignorant and insensitive. That Lopate has joined her in mocking a potentially life-threatening medical condition, at the expense of those affected, is truly odious.

NPR, all of your listeners deserve an apology, and they deserve better information. Please accept Dr. Scott Sicherer’s offer to be interviewed on your program to undo the damage done by this segment.

I am terribly appauled and disappointed that a magazine and radio show that prides itself on being reputable would give voice to this woman.
She is a journalist not a physican and obviously no where near an expert on food allergies. I am a mother of an allergic child, her article and opinions are dangerous and irresponsible.

Why would Mrs. Broussard write an article potentially hindering the lives of children? And why would NPR allow her to voice her ridiculous opinion without an expert to challenge her facts?

NPR needs to have another show to balance this issue.

Thank you Mrs. Broussard for making this situation MORE difficult for all of us trying to keep our children safe.

I just wanted to highlight a point from Dr. Spergel's comment.

While there may be more people who are allergic to milk than nuts, the reason there are no milk-free schools or tables is that there are more SEVERE reactions to nuts than milk. Some people can react to nuts that are airborne, which is also why the new food labeling laws are so important.

This is an important cause to fight, and Ms. Broussard has done nothing to improve our safety.

This is a response to Joan.

Joan a person could have a small reaction to an allergen in one instance, and then have a life threatening reaction in another instance to the same allergen. Hence, the need for the epi-pen at all times.

I am a mother of a 7 year old son with life threatening peanut & tree nut allergies. I was appalled by this interview. We have lived with these allergies for 4 years now and have come to learn that most people do not understand them but for someone who has food allergies herself, you think she would. The comments that she made about FAAN as well were ridiculous. I will be emailing Harpers as well to let them my thoughts/feelings. I am trying very hard not to get upset, since Ms. Broussard is not worth it and I promised myself for 2008 that I wouldn't waste energy on people like this year!

My name is Jonathan Spergel. I am a pediatric allergist-immunologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I specialize in food allergy. I am not affiliated with Dr. Sampson or FAAN. Dr. Sampson and FAAN have done excellent work in the area of food allergies and brought much information and progress into the field and their work should be appreciated.

Ms. Broussard's information is 1/2 correct. The facts are:
1) Food allergies are on rise.
2) Food allergies can be serious and life-threatening.
3) There are other published articles on the rate of food anaphylaxis beside Dr. Sampson's articles with similar results.
4) The most common reaction according to Dr. Sampson in school is milk, not peanut, which Ms. Broussard is correct.
5) But, the most common cause of severe reaction is peanut and tree nuts. But, you can get a severe reaction from any food.

I am extraordinarily disappointed in both Harper's and NPR for providing a voice for Ms. Broussard's irresponsible and dangerous statements. She puts food-allergic children at risk by trivializing the scientific community and by making parents of food-allergic children seem like alarmists.

Ms. Broussard may not be able to have her martini but my four-year-old is allergic to 14 foods. It is my job as a parent to make sure that those around him understand the severity of food allergies. My job would be all that much more difficult without the support of the scientific community, FAAN and our Epi-pens, all of which Ms. Broussard finds some reason to dismiss. As a parent of a food-allergic child I am grateful for each of them.

Maybe the true conspiracy is the author's attempt to stir up controversy in order to boost sales of this magazine.... just my $.02.... (I refuse to get riled up over such stupidity...)

I do not understand why NPR allowed this woman to be on the show. I have a child that reacts to 'may contain tree nuts'. In fact, my daughter has multiple life-threatening food allergies. I would love to hear FAAN's response to Ms. Broussard's lip-smacking rant. She talks about false positives, but what about false negatives in allergy testing? What do you hope to gain from all this Ms. Broussard? There is nothing wrong with educating people, but don't pass off assumptions as fact. Your assumptions are NOT fact.

I would like to know how many children are really at risk for severe allergic reaction, and how many are just getting a hive and then forced to sit at the "peanut table". I know these things can be serious in a few cases, but I really doubt that all the cases are that serious. Also, why does no one address the fact that these allergies now seem epidemic among children, whereas in my youth you rarely heard of a food allergy. I knew ONE kid my entire childhood who carried a "bee kit". If all these allergies are as real as people seem to think they are, then you'd think we'd be addressing the environmental, prenatal, genetic, causes for the radical shift in the health of the population. I agree, Ms. Broussard was a weak guest, but I think some of what she points to is totally valid. Fear, Hype, Agenda.

My name is Scott Sicherer. I am a pediatric allergist and researcher (government and private funded) specializing in food allergy. I am co-author on most of the studies that Ms. Broussard "quotes" in her Harpers article where she implies conspiracy and trivializes this significant medical problem. I am also a volunteer medical advisor to FAAN, an organization that she mocks but is, in my view, a non-profit that has clearly increased safety for those who suffer from this medical illness. I mention these points because by Ms. Broussard's reasoning these personal involvements would probably disqualify me from discussing food allergy (e.g., conspiracy to exagerate). Apparently, NPR also sees some odd virtue in having a non-medical expert journalist be a spokesperson for health issues. I have never "posted" to sites like this and I am a bit reluctant to draw any additional attention to Ms. Broussard's hurtful, confused and potentially dangerous comments, but I was obviously compelled to do so...It is easy to play "debate team" with any topic but here it has become irresponsible and, indeed, potentially dangerous. I am glad to see so many listeners have spoken up on their disappointment and made important points that I will not reiterate. I would be pleased to provide actual evidence-based educational information about food allergy on this "show"--but maybe that is too uninteresting for the media? I hope that is not the case.

I second "Mom to Allergic Child" -

The pivotal fact that Ms. Broussard omitted is that the number of children WITH allergies is on an EXPONENTIAL rise - as is the number of children with asthma. It is because of organizations such as FAAN and doctors such as Sampson that there is a greater awareness, and that people with allergies are prepared for reactions, resulting in a declining death rate. These organizations should be applauded, not trashed.

Life is hard enough with a food allergy - especially as a child. Accurate food labeling and allergen-free lunch tables allow children to eat socially with their friends.

Thanks to Amy for pointing out that very interesting article,

It is a sad day for journalism that NPR broadcast this unsubstantiated conspiracy theory without questioning credibility of Ms. Broussard's assertions. For me, NPR remains one of the last bastions of quality journalism amidst the world of TV news, where sensationalism trumps informed journalism.

NPR's report follows along the same trend as TV journalism, where people with only a superficial knowledge of a topic can pose as authorities, and their assertions remain not only unquestioned, but they are asked by interviewers like Lopate to hold forth on topics far past their expertise.

I truly hope NPR will allow equal air-time for someone to respond to Ms. Broussard's claims and set the record straight on food allergy. It is unfair to blindly tarnish the reputations of not-for-profit organizations, like FAAN, that serve those with disabilities.

I am so relieved to read all the emails supporting taking food allergies seriously. My son has a nut allergy that was discovered after he ate a tiny taste of a cashew that landed him in the ER and subsequently has led to Epipen Jr., and benedryl as a staple in the house, school, car, and eventually in the backpack. It is important not to trivialize the necessity to take all food allergies seriously. Kids need to be educated to always ask what is in all food they eat with or without parents there and be aware of their warning signs. It is a difference between life and death. That's it. Since there is no way to become desensitized to food allergies it is foolish not to take the risk seriously and avoid any dangers to our own children and all children (and adults).

If we didn't have organizations like FAAN educating the public about anaphylaxis and allergies, we'd be hearing about many more deaths. Ms. Broussard, please supply the information on how many peoples lives have been saved by their epi pens. You failed to mention this very important piece of information!!

In addition: Why would someone choose to trivialize something that may cause a child death?

Nste, you made some excellent points. The reporter can also speak to the mother whose child died from eating a peanut butter cookie at a birthday party, by the time she arrived at the ER it was too late. Not an urban myth...fact.

Rachel, thank you for adhering to what you call "ridiculous" policies. I can't say I have ever heard a policy where there is teeth brushing involved.... that's a first and a bit too much in my book.

On the other hand, I am guessing that if your child had a severe nut allergy you'd be the first in rallying for the "no peanut" rule. As a parent of a child allergic to nuts, I would rather people play it safe than take the risk of my daughter going into anaphylactic shock. The risk may be small to some but it is HUGE to me.

I developed severe food allergies in my late 20s, and was not aware of it until the first time went to the ER with anaphylaxis. (You can grow INTO allergies, as well as out of them!) I since have had severe reactions to other foods, and must always carry an epipen. I ate every kind of food prior to my first reaction, and also used to think that food allergies were hyped up too much. I think it's really dangerous that you are spreading the word that the danger of food allergies is being exaggerated--it's really no small matter and people need to be aware of it.

Even if the exact statistic of people with food allergies may be incorrect, this reporter seemed too callous to the fact that there are people for whom food allergies are completely serious, deadly conditions. This isn't a conspiracy. This is the truth. In her backlash against worrying parents who may imagine allergies that do not exist (certainly a problem, though a lesser one), this reporter goes too far in condemning groups like the Food Allergy Network. FAN and Dr. Sampson do not represent a well-funded sinister cabal out to scare us. They are trying to save lives. The reporter seemed to criticize them for lobbying for legislation to have better labeling on food packaging. What's wrong with that? For someone with a serious allergy, that label could be a life saver. For the rest of us, its a minor inconvenience.

Just because you may have been inconvenienced by allergy restrictions applied in your child's school or some other setting, do not belittle those who live with the very real threat allergies can present. Growing up in a home with a relative who has a severe allergy, I can an assure you that this is no laughing matter. If you want to talk about being inconvenienced by an allergy, talk to me, talk to my relative.

WNYC needs to put a respected doctor on air to respond to this segment and clear up the misconceptions that this reporter has been spreading.

P.S. One general rule: If there is an atopic (allergic) family history, childhood exposure to allergens tends to promote atopia. Conversely (and this is maddening), if there is little or no atopia in the family, purposeful childhood exposure to allergens tends to DECREASE likelihood of developing allergies. Lovely, ain't it?

As a pediatrician, the truth is somewhere in the middle: There are those of us who have horrible, life-threatening allergies, unfortunately wildly unpredictable in their future severity. And there are also those of us who once had deathly allergies and no longer do. Likewise there are allergies that never existed that develop into true anaphylaxis. (I grew up around horses, then lived in the city, and now start wheezing around barns.) There is no simple answer, but that further frustrates matters. Unfortunately, as with most health-related phenomena, it's more case-by-case than broad generalities (admittedly unhelpful, but true).

Once you've seen a two year old's face blow up, eyes become glassy and fixed, gasping for breath and then unable to breathe -- until being given an emergency injection of epinephrine -- once you're seen that, you'll never again think food allergies are all in your head.

A much better article that gives a more accurate picture of what it's like for people who have anaphylaxis to various food allergens -- is one that came out in the NYTimes magazine June 2001:
The Allergy Prison
by Susan Dominus.
Still available online at the Times website.

My third child (17 months)--not my first two--is food allergic: peanuts; treenuts; soy; wheat; dairy; sesame; eggs; more! I've seen her react countless times to small amounts of this and that which she got her cute, grubby little hands on. This includes an immediate and strongest-yet reaction to peanut butter. It was a frightening experience.

I agree, nevertheless, that parents (myself included) need to relax. The vast majority of my daughter's reactions she doesn't even notice. I, the mom, do. (Hives, for instance.)I'm getting used to carrying around an epi-pen. After all, people used to carry around rifles so they could fire at attacking wild bears! They'd be cocked and loaded all the time. In light of that, I think I can manage to give my kid a shot and get to a nearby hospital--and teach her to do the same.

Here's my criticism of Broussard's commentary: As far as I know, lots of animal studies are being done to "find a cure." These have been done on mice, dogs, and monkeys--none of whom have smoked pot at a party. Yet, they have reacted in spades to all sorts of foods and have had anaphylactic shock. (True, I don't know if it's the problem-breathing kind.) Lots of the data from Sampson, Sicherer and others comes from these studies.

Like usual, I will try and use my common sense and personal experience as my daughter grows. Hopefully--as Broussard too hopes--she will have a fabulous quality of life!

A child with a deadly food allergy needs the help of his/her community. Do you want to be responsible for the death of a child because you didn't know about the severity of his/her peanut allergy?

I agree that overreacting to food allergies is a mistake, but Ms. Broussard seems in over her head... Was the original Minnesota data statistically insignificant, or was it inappropriate to extrapolate from that data? And the fact that people grow out of food allergies does not make them somehow less real. I would like to hear what an unbiased immunologist (i.e., one who doesn't have a dog in this fight) has to say on the matter...

I know people who almost died from nuts -

I get the notices from school and camp and daycare: "ours is a nut-free room/camp/school/whatever. Peanut butter is forbidden. If you eat peanut butter at home please brush your teeth and rinse your mouth and wash your hands and hell, just show up in a hazmat suit."

One kid's allergies becomes everyone's problem, it's ridiculous.

I'm both glad and fearful to hear this segment. I have a 12-year-old who has a severe allergy to milk products. And I mean severe (I could give details but I want to be brief). All his life I've resented the culture of allergy phobia, because I agree, people are overly indulgent of mild symptoms, which muddies the water when I need to have incisive conversations at restaurants and food markets. I am often met with eye-rolling when I bring the subject up, and I do believe this is related to the over-abundance of phobic complainers. So I'm glad to hear this issue discussed, but I'm also worried about a backlash that would put my son at more risk.

My friend is allergic to fruit (all kinds). The area around her mouth would get so red and her lips would be swollen. She's not allergic to Tropicana juices though, which is weird.

My 2-year old niece is allergic to nuts. She had a PB sandwich and got rashes all over her body. She hasn't had any nuts since. She had biscuits that contained nuts before the PB sandwich incident, again, weird.

I don't like this guest - she's not right

Hey please specify which dairy kids are allergic to - probably not raw dairy, probably ultrapasteurized, which is so devoid of content taht you can't even make yogurt from it. I wonder if it can still be called dairy. Our food supply is beyond denatured unless you look for unsprayed, non gmo, additive free...

My sister is allergic to seafood. She found out on her first date while eating fish! Her throat swelled up and she couldn't breath and had to be rushed off in an ambulance. She was told she could die from eating seafood by the doctors.

She is also allergic to bee stings and has to carry around a kit with her.