Checklist of common mistakes
Updated February 2007
All of
these mistakes have been made by readers. Each one was enough the stop the diet
from working, but difficult to identify because effects build up slowly. If the
diet isnt working, read the list below. You can also ask your dietitian or email support group to check every item for
you.
See also Tips for extra-sensitive amine responders, Tips for extra-sensitive salicylate responders
MISTAKES
Accidental or deliberate mistakes one or two serves of hot chips,
takeaways, Vegemite or any other mistakes per week can be enough to prevent
improvement
Child sneaking food at school supportive schools can ban lunch
swapping - one desperate family tried the diet unsuccessfully three times
before they discovered their daughter had been eating coloured lollies at
school nearly every day some children do better on home detention for three
weeks while doing the diet, which is how Superintendent Peter Bennett achieved
success with juvenile offenders in the UK you can start your diet during
school holidays
SALICYLATES
Too many salicylates beware the advice an apple a day
can't hurt you - some extra sensitive people cannot tolerate any fruit some
people even have problems with low salicylate items such as shallots, leeks,
golden syrup or brown sugar no one ever notices an immediate reaction to
salicylates in foods but you won't get the improvement you want - or you will
see an improvement but after a while the effects will build up and you'll be
back where you started - stick to low salicylates during your supervised elimination
diet worrying about nutrition is counterproductive in the first three weeks
as your most urgent need is to get rid of cravings for food chemicals
Pear juice is not failsafe because commercial
pear juice contains the peel and is therefore moderate in salicylates pears
canned in juice instead of syrup are not
permitted pears (fresh, tinned, pureed, jam and ketchup) are limited to two
pears or equivalent per day, less for some people pears must be ripe, soft
and peeled
Flavours artificial and natural flavours,
fruit flavours and even vanilla can cause problems. If your child is not
improving, avoid flavours, vanillin or vanilla in commercial products
such as lemonade, marshmallows, jelly beans and Rice Bubble Treats (LCMs), vanilla flavoured yoghurt, custard, soymilk,
caramels, biscuits, carob and lollies. Home cooking is safer but avoid vanilla in that too.
Toothpaste mint flavoured or herbal
toothpastes such as fennel are not failsafe because herbs contain salicylates
coloured toothpaste - even pale pink - is not ok there have been numerous
problems caused by strong mint flavours, particularly with young children who
will suck the toothbrush or eat the toothpaste - see Product Updates for
alternatives or use a wet toothbrush instead dont expect to see a big
reaction - one little boy improved beautifully for two weeks on the diet, then
slowly started to get worse and by week 3 he was back to pre-diet behaviour
because his family had switched to strong mint flavoured toothpaste at the end
of the second week.
Cold-pressed oils cold pressed canola, sunflower and
safflower oils can contain small amounts of salicylates that can build up
slowly to cause symptoms cold
pressed ricebran oil although not listed for your
supervised elimination diet seems to be well tolerated by some failsafers but
there has been a report of a slow build up of symptoms from a family who are
known to react to wholegrains (see wholegrains below).
Chicken with seasoning or stuffing
it is not okay to
eat the meat and avoid the skin of BBQ or roast chicken with seasoning or
stuffing beware of stuffed fresh chickens in supermarkets
Carob beware of added flavours in carob
products, and milk powder if you are sensitive to dairy foods failsafers have
reported problems with carob powder that has a bitter taste.
Raw sugar, dark brown sugar white, soft brown, icing and caster
sugars are failsafe raw sugar, honey and dark brown sugar coloured with
molasses contain salicylates avoid commercial products which contain raw
sugar (soymilk, cereals).
Corn or maize kernels, sweetcorn, cornmeal, polenta,
corn chips and popcorn contain salicylates cornflour and
refined maize flour (called cornstarch in the USA) is refined white starch
from corn low in salicylates, although it may contain residual sulphites that
can affect the extra sensitive flour made from wholegrain corn or maize(for tortillas) contains salicylates if gluten free, check
that the corn starch is not made from wheat.
ADDITIVES
Annatto 160b natural yellow colour in many dairy foods such as yoghurt
and icecream (especially if labeled 'lite', 'creamy'
or 'wholesome)', as well cheese slices, frozen or crumbed products, biscuits,
breakfast cereals, croissants and a wide variety of other processed foods - since
it usually causes a next day reaction, people don't realise when it affects
them.
BREAD
Vinegar is not failsafe and must be avoided,
even in small amounts in products such as bread
Whey powder can be cultured with natural propionate
(282) preservatives avoid whey powder in bread and other bakery products
whey powder is okay in non-bakery products such as icecream and yoghurt
WHOLEFOODS
You may need to exclude more foods
people with severe
symptoms or extra sensitivity may need to avoid some of the following dairy
foods wheat or gluten soy eggs citric acid cashew nuts
canola oil (sunflower is safer) potatoes rice gelatine (see below) even
Nuttelex can cause problems some
people report that more than one cup of decaf coffee a day is too much if not
improving and you don't know why, consult your dietitian
and don't eat these foods every day.
Dairy foods and substitutes families are often reluctant to give
up dairy foods but whatever you love the most is most likely to affect you if
not improving consider your options some people do well on A2 milk (www.A2Australia.com.au) but some
people are affected by it including children with behaviour problems some
people are affected by soymilks ricemilks are
probably the safest but children or adults with nut or soy allergies may be
affected by chickpea flour added for extra protein
Wholegrains many children with behaviour
problems and others are affected by wholegrains in e.g. Weetbix,
Vitabrits, Weeties, Allbran, wholemeal bread limit (eg 2 Weetbix
every second day) or if no improvement, avoid alternative sources of fibre
include psyllium hulls and guar or xanthan gums used
in gluten free baking.
Too much fibre in foods such as whole grain
products, raw rolled oats, dried beans, uncooked cabbage and other vegetables
can cause cause bloating, stomach aches and diarrhea especially in people with irritable bowel symptoms
or when introduced suddenly in large amounts.
Gluten free malt contains gluten so check labels
on puffed rice cereals, soymilks etc assume cornflour in confectionary,
baking powder and other products is wheaten cornflour unless otherwise
specified avoid contamination e.g. from family members toast crumbs in the
Nuttelex when eating out avoid gravies, sauces and anything with thickener
spelt flour is not gluten free although some people with gluten intolerance can
tolerate it
PRODUCTS AND LABELLING
Product changes occur frequently read labels especially
with a packaging change vegetable oils, soymilk, lemonade, pastry, margarine,
butters, cream cheese, cooking oils and rice crackers are some of the most
changeable read about changes in Product Updates on www.fedup.com.au
or in the newsletters (email: failsafe_newsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com with
subscribe in the subject line).
Changes in previously safe brands these updates are correct at the
time of writing Darryl Lea white jelly beans are limited to 4 per day but best
completely avoided in anyone who hasnt improved 7UP now contains benzoate preservative (211)
and is not safe some Schweppes lemonade or other brands might be
preservative-free but avoid them altogether if you are not improving otherwise
the limit is less than one small glass a week Peters Lemonade Icypoles with a new stronger flavour are now not okay for
many Vitasoy have phased out their use of unlisted
BHA(320) but their previously failsafe soymilk uses dried cane juice may
contain salicylates Vitasoy ricemilks
are now failsafe Sanitarium
So Good soymilk range removed unlabelled TBHQ (319) and seem to be safe, So
Good regular soymilk with added flavour appears to be well tolerated so far avoid
all McCains frozen potato products due to unlisted
antioxidant BHA (320) some plain ricecrackers
contain nucleotide flavour enhancers, read the label Sakata plain rice
crackers should be failsafe but we have received many complaints, approach all ricecrackers with caution and avoid for anyone who has not
improved Smiths range of plain chips
- now with sunola oil - seem to be affecting
failsafers, its best to avoid such commercial products with a child who is not
improving Philadelphia cream cheese now contains sorbate
preservatives in all tub products but not blocks ingredients can change at
any time, always read labels and be suspicious if there is a change of
packaging
Illegally unlisted additives it is not enough to read labels - ask
about all unpackaged and restaurant foods one survey found 58% of samples of
mince (ground beef) in NSW contained illegal sulphites, now supposed to be
improved due to better monitoring - if you don't trust your butcher, test your
mince with our sulphite test strips (see sulphite test kits on the front page
of the website) or make your own mince unlisted additives can occur in any
product if you think a product is affecting you, avoid it and reintroduce, if
convinced, contact us, we frequently find illegal ingredients labels, report
your suspicions to us and avoid suspect commercial products we were caught
for months by an illegally unlisted additive in blended butter
Contamination such as added flavours can occur on
production lines of e.g. plain chips. Discard any product with a flavour that
tastes wrong.
Antioxidants in oils are often unlisted - due to mistakes
or the 5% labeling loophole - in any product that
contains vegetable oils or margarine, for example biscuits, snack foods, breads,
pizza bases, frozen potato products and fudge check the shopping list for
safe products for unlisted products, check to see if the oil is less than 5%
of the product if the 5% labeling loophole applies,
the only way to find out whether oil contains nasty antioxidants is to phone
the manufacturer and ask are there antioxidants in this oil natural
antioxidants 300-309 are safe synthetic antioxidants 310-312 (gallates) and 319-321 (TBHQ, BHA, BHT) are nasty if no
improvement, avoid any commercial product containing any kind of vegetable oil,
vegetable shortening, vegetable fat, beef fat or tallow unless you are
absolutely certain they are OK
Changes in products with antioxidants
in oils can occur
without warning and there will be nothing on the label to indicate the change. At
the time of writing, McCains frozen chips, pizza
bases, etc contain unlisted BHA (320) but Woolworths Homebrand
straight cut, Woolworths Select French Fries and Logan Farm frozen chips are
okay in biscuits, Arnotts biscuits previously
contained unlisted 320 but are now okay, but with other brands you do not know unless
you phone the manufacturer in soymilks, unlisted antioxidants come and go,
see Product Updates home cooking oil in Australia is generally pure with a
few exceptions, read the label commercial oils usually contain nasty
antioxidants so assume that any hot chips and other fried takeaway foods
contain these additives bread can contain these nasty additives, unlisted
(Bakers Delight and Brumbys do not use them)
reactions are likely to build up slowly over several days or more
Antioxidants in New Zealand oils nearly all supermarket oils, commercial oils,
margarines and products such as bread, biscuits and fudge contain nasty antioxidants
in NZ ask our Christchurch contact for the NZ shopping list and be suspicious
of any that dont have listed antioxidants (see Product Updates regarding current
labeling problems with NZ oils)
Unlisted sulphites sulphites are widely used in unlabelled
foods such as sausages, prawns, and potato products such as hot chips (but not
crisps) because potatoes are often soaked in a sulphites solution after peeling
to prevent browning, but none of these foods are failsafe.
AMINES
Amines in meat eat meat as fresh as possible,
see p. 000 fresh meat that has been hung by your butcher for a week or two is
acceptable supermarket meats are now vacuum packed for up to three months,
avoid if possible.
Amines in fermented products wine, beer, soy sauce, tempeh, miso, chocolate, cheese, sauerkraut, and even strong
yoghurt and sourdough bread despite seemingly failsafe ingredients (eg flour,
water, salt), yeast free bread can be made by a long rising process which
encourages fermentation and can be a problem for the extra sensitive bakers'
yeast is failsafe and yeasted bread can be safer than yeastfree
bread for this reason
Fetta cheese is not failsafe this was a
mistake in Fed Up - bland fresh white cheeses such as preservative free
cottage, ricotta and cream cheeses and
mascarpone are failsafe, sharp fermented white cheeses are not.
Cashew paste must be made from raw cashews.
Commercial cashew paste from lightly roasted cashews is not okay, make your own
(see recipe, the option with maple syrup is particularly good).
SULPHITES
Sulphites in gluten free flours most failsafers can tolerate the
tiny amounts of sulphites in gluten free flours but failure to improve on diet
or worsening of symptoms including asthma and eczema when gluten free may be
sulphite-related rice, rice flour, rice noodles, plain rice cakes, buckwheat,
millet and organic products do not contain sulphites, see p.000.
Sulphites in gelatine high levels of sulphites (220) are
permitted in gelatine but dissipate due to heat and storage, see p. 000.
CHALLENGES
Challenges can be inconclusive if the dose
isn't big enough it is better to use high salicylates foods than moderate
salicylate foods dont use very high foods such as oranges and tomatoes
because they also contain amines, see p. 000.
MEDICATIONS AND REMEDIES
Do one thing at a time do not try to combine a candida or other diet with failsafe eating - your efforts
are much more likely to be successful if you get failsafe 100% right its
best to avoid optional visits to GPs, specialists, naturopaths, optometrists
and dentists while doing the elimination diet because most medications and
supplements will interfere with the diet obviously you will need to take
essential medication (e.g. asthma, epilepsy) until advised otherwise by your
doctor
Prescription and over-the-counter medications,
herbal remedies, lotions and supplements salicylates in aspirin, other painkillers, anti-inflammatory
drugs and skin remedies such as wart remover are not suitable during a
low-salicylate diet colours, flavours, preservatives and active ingredients
in syrups, capsules or lotions, herbal remedies including Echinacea and
supplements including fish oils can cause you can ask for white tablets or
powdered capsules, mix contents with syrup, jam or icecream, or see the Vitamin
Icypole recipe problems supplements etc can be reintroduced
as challenges after you have achieved success on your supervised elimination
diet.
Childrens vitamins and syrups flavours or preservatives in vitamins or children's syrup
medications such as paracetamol, cold medications, antibiotics, chewable
vitamin tablets, iron supplements don't have to be listed on the label but will
appear on the Consumer Medication Information sheet do a Google search for name
of product and ingredients ingredients listed as 'superarome'
literally mean strong flavour, see more on the Supplements Factsheet.
Eyedrops preservatives and colours from diagnostic
or therapeutic eyedrops and some preserved contact
lens solutions are easily absorbed through the eye and can cause problems.
Dental treatment take your own toothpaste plaque
disclosing tablets contain artificial colours
Worm treatment there are no failsafe worm
tablets, if necessary worm your children before starting the diet
Hormone treatments the contraceptive pill can cause
problems for female failsafers
Absorption through skin salicylates and additives such as
benzoate preservatives in skin creams, wart ointment, arthritis rubs, acne
wipes and paw paw ointment can be absorbed through
the skin and if used every day effects
can build up slowly with children, beware of coloured bubble baths, playdough, facepaint, finger
paints
Inhalation beware of inhaled salicylates
from perfumes, perfumed products (see Product Updates for alternatives), Vicks Vaporub, Deep Heat, strong smelling flowers, leaves and
bark for example citrus or pine trees, cut flowers.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS
Exposure to perfumes, industrial chemicals,
heavy metals and other smells perfume in toiletries, cosmetics,
after shave, washing powders, shampoo, conditioners, aerosols, deodorants, sunblock for all family members and household cleaners (see
Product Updates for alternatives) essential oils, incense and naturally
fragranced products food dyes in playdough (see Playgroup
factsheet), bubble baths, finger paints, preschool paints and glues paints, solvents and other renovating fumes
smells of new or newly cleaned soft furnishings, upholstery, carpets, new mattresse, plastic casings of new computers, fax, etc
shopping malls, hairdressing salons - alternatives include fast cuts or home
hairdressing services, pet shops, cigarette smoke workplace chemicals
chemical smells of new cars, appliances including computers and CD players and
furniture display or second-hand models are safer strong smelling plants
e.g. herb plants, strongly fragrant flowers and trees e.g. eucalypt, camphor
laurel, pine, particularly freshly cut as in a Christmas tree freshly sawn
timber, sawdust and new timber for renovations the smell of wood and smoke
from wood fires lawn clippings and mower fumes the smell of strongly spicy
food - dont cook it for others fumes are generally worse in hot conditions.
Exposure to swimming pool chlorine
chemicals called
chloramines formed by heating chlorine or by reactions of chlorine with
perspiration or urine can cause the same reactions as food chemicals in some
children (asthma, hives, behaviour) the strong chlorine smell in public pools
is chloramines saltwater pools generally contain some chlorine but not as
much as public pools some families find they can minimize the effects of
chloramines by children wearing goggles and showering in fresh water
immediately after swimming, outdoor pools are safer, home pools are generally
better than public pools
STRESS
Too much stress, confrontational parenting or
teaching styles.
Reduce stress by avoiding confrontations,
the 1-2-3 Magic video or book
(from Amazon or www.parentshop.com.au
in Australia) can show how to do this laughter therapy such as watching
family comedies together family walks, bike rides or camping holidays - preferably
with no shops or advertising, e.g. in a national park relaxation tapes or
music instead of radio and TV, play
any music by Mozart for a calming effect encourage positivity
in the family by treating each other with kindness and respect and remember the
good times by going though old photos together for adults, meditation is
considered to be the single most effective stress reduction method.
Non-food factors such as an absent parent, a new
baby, moving, house renovations, illness, changes in medication, a new school, bullying,
criticism, punishment or lack of friends. Children on the diet need a failsafe
house, support, love, praise, exercise and time with parents.
Hints for extra sensitive amine
responders
Amines are more difficult to deal with than
salicylates because amine content depends on the age and handling of the food.
Amines are formed by the breakdown of protein or by fermentation.
Don't buy meat which looks or tastes old - the fresher
the better. Cryovacced meat can be very high in
amines. You will have to ask your supermarket or butcher which meat is cryovacced, and sometimes the answer will be "all of
it".
Buy meat and cook it that day or freeze and use within
4 weeks, preferably less.
When meat is cooked, freeze leftovers and use within a
week. If very sensitive, avoid leftovers.
Buy fish fresh (preferably within 12 hours of capture)
and cook or freeze and use within two weeks or less and be wary of all seafood.
Cooking increases amines (only for amine containing
foods, not for fruit like pears). Quick cooking methods are best - microwaving
or steaming.
Browning increases amines (only in amine containing
foods like meat, not flour products such as cakes and bread) - again,
microwaving or steaming are best.
Use only fresh eggs.
Avoid vinegar (eg in bread
and canned beetroot.)
Avoid all cheeses except bland white bland cheese like
cottage cheese.
Avoid yoghurt or make fresh mild yoghurt for yourself.
Avoid sourdough or yeast-free breads. These use a slow-rising,
fermentation process which creates amines.
Soups and stews containing meats or meat stocks are
not suitable for extra sensitive amine responders.
Hints for extra sensitive
salicylate responders
- thanks to Robin of the discussion group
Salicylates in foods
You may not tolerate all the foods listed as low in salicylates,
particularly in large helpings, as many of them still do contain a low amount
of salicylate. The safest vegetables I have found for myself
are potatoes (mature brown skinned, white fleshed and thickly peeled), cabbage,
swede, iceberg lettuce and celery. Most grains, both brown and white are
fine. Another surprise was maple syrup caused no problems, whereas I react to
brown sugar and golden syrup.
Be aware that the food chemical categories that RPA groups foods into
are designed for an average dietary intake of that food. When you are multiply
food chemical sensitive, you may find yourself eating well in excess of what is
considered an average intake of a particular food.
Every year I find a time (early on in the year) that there are no
sufficiently mature potatoes and they all cause me a salicylate reaction. They
are improved by buying and storing for about 6 weeks. [Stephanie from the
Try to work out if you are gluten, dairy and amine tolerant, even to
some degree as this makes food choices easier.
If you suspect you're not so sensitive to amines, try using dripping or
clarified butter (or butter) instead of oil or Nuttelex.
Quinoa is not as safe as amaranth (from Pat in the discussion group)
Inhaled salicylates
Avoid smelly things as much as possible. Be particularly suspicious of odours you really like or dislike. Trust your nose - if it
smells strong to you, even if others can't smell it, you probably react to it.
Don't wear, and strongly discourage those around you from wearing perfumed
deodorants, perfume, aftershave and other cosmetic products.
Perfumed products are totally pervasive in our society. Many teens
liberally use them. I have had to try and rid the smell of perfume transferred
to our lounge suite, all bedding, my daughter's
clothes and even from the fabric of the car seat.
Be aware of strong smelling plants - herb plants, strongly fragrant
flowers, eucalypts e.g. 'peppermint' gum, pine trees particularly if freshly
cut as in a Christmas tree, macrocarpas - common in
NZ.
The amount of smell given off by plants varies with weather conditions.
Frost can break down the internal structure even if frost tolerant, then as the
day warms the plant gives off a strong smell. A cold inversion layer or cool
damp conditions will trap the odour until wind moves
it. Also heat stress causes some plants to give off more smell.
Increasing temperature increases off-gassing of chemicals in your car or
any new appliances or furniture in your house (probably not strictly
salicylates).
Lawn clippings may cause a reaction.
Get someone else to remove offending plants and trees where realistic.
Employ a gardener as a 'one off'.
Avoid where possible the smell of strongly spicy food. Don't cook it for
others.
Change your cleaning chemicals to bicarb soda
and vinegar. Treat vinegar with caution though as most vinegars
have a salicylate content and a strong smell. I find storing my vinegar in a
labelled pump bottle means that I can control the amount I use to just a very
small amount on a cloth. (Good additional suggestion from Caroline was to
substitute citric acid for vinegar)
Hunt out as close to fragrance free as possible a dish detergent and
dish wash powder. In NZ I have found that Budget brand detergent and Pams dishwash
powder have negligible smell. Clean up any spills of detergent in cupboard as
if there is any fragrance in your liquid it is concentrated when spilt.
Use fragrance free laundry washing powder. Lux
flakes are the best I've found for hand washing (in terms of lack of
fragrance), but do still have some smell.
Don't use commercial upholstery cleaning products. They all have a
strong smell. Try hot water and bicarb soda. Be aware
that even using a commercial carpet cleaner without the chemicals in it will
still leave an odour from the residual chemicals - I
learned that the hard way!
Use unperfumed soap eg.
Simple. Use unperfumed
shampoo. I get away with Derma-veen which has a very
light fragrance.
Use unflavoured toothpaste such as Soul Pattinson
plain toothpaste. I get my Australian friends and family to buy it for me.
Persuade your partner to use the same.
Avoid hairdressing salons, pharmacies (I note on my recent trip to
Australia/Darwin that they weren't the same problem as here in NZ), and other
strongly perfumed places. Can someone else cut your hair? I have found a
hairdresser who is willing to come to my place instead.
Go shopping early. Keep the time short. Can someone else go for you?
Be aware of what wood you burn for heating. Burning pine (especially not
fully seasoned) may be a problem - both the smell of the unburnt
logs and the smell in the smoke.
New furniture and appliances are likely to have a problematic smell. New
pinewood slats of a bed caused a problem in our family, as well as the MDF (customwood) used in the drawers under the bed. If buying a
new household item such as CD player and speakers, consider asking for the
display one, or even better buy second hand. (This not necessarily a salicylate
problem, but you will probably react to these chemicals as well)
Don't let anyone with heavy perfume on (or perhaps any), sleep on your
fabric covered lounge furniture. Best even to ban them from sitting on it!
Tactfully educate your family and friends to use suitable personal products.
Find a fragrance free sunscreen if possible. This seems really difficult
at the moment, though I notice my daughter bought some fragrance free 'cancer society'
sunscreen earlier this year. The sunscreen products advertised as suitable for
babies usually have only very light perfume.
If in doubt, ask! Sue Dengate at sdengate@ozemail.com.au