Product
updates
Products change constantly. These updates
apply to the shopping lists in any of the Fed Up books and the Failsafe
Cookbook. We try to make sure the products below are failsafe but there will
always be butchers’ assistants who add natural ingredients (onion salt, paprika
for colour) trying to make the product “better”. It is worth checking
ingredients before you buy or if you see a reaction.
**** WARNING**** Products can have different ingredients depending on the
wrapper, e.g. Pampas frozen puff pastry in sheets is preservative-free but
rolls contain preservatives, Schweppes lemonade in bottles is preservative-free
but cans contain preservatives.
Mention here is not an endorsement of any
particular food or company, nor, obviously, is there any fee paid or collected.
It’s here to help you.
You are welcome to contribute to this page
- please email me on suedengate@ozemail.com.au
and let me know if you want your name to appear as well. My mailing address is
PO Box 718 WOOLGOOLGA NSW 2456
|
Current updates as at February 2010 A2 yoghurt from Freedom
Food and Jalna should be available in March or April (UHT A2 milk is also
available) – thanks to Donna - note that yoghurt is listed as moderate in
amines in the new RPA Handbook 2009, so not suitable for your strict
elimination diet. Absolute Fruitz Freeze Dried
Pear Slices are peeled sliced freeze dried Williams pears, available from
health food stores, other outlets and the website. Good for lunchboxes. http://absolutefruitz.com/# - thanks to
Melissa Update: sadly, Mrs Mays Pear Fruit Chips have been discontinued Mountain bread is way cheaper
ordered online http://www.mountainbread.com.au/cgi-bin/index.pl?menu_id=245 – thanks to Val Butcher in East
Ringwood, Vic Deans Butcher Shop 78
Railway avenue East Ringwood in Vic will make sausages to your own recipe -
normally only makes then on a Wednesday - can be ordered over the phone: 9870
6003, and are OK to be picked up on the Thursday. Will also make preservative
free sausage meat for sausage rolls. –
thanks to Donna Butcher in Raymond
Terrace, NSW Stevo's Riverside Meats, Sundaes without Topping Both McDonalds and
Hungry Jacks soft serve Sundaes without topping are now free of annatto
(160b) and therefore appear to be suitable for failsafers who can tolerate
dairy foods (except for Hungry Jacks in WA which still contain annatto). Use
a plastic cup instead of the cone which contains artificial colour Sunset
Yellow (110). Our campaign The Great Macca's Experiment concerning the effects
of annatto in Macca’s soft serve is now abandoned although you can still try
Vaalia French vanilla yoghurt as an annatto challenge. http://mcdonalds.com.au/sites/mcdonalds.com.au/files/images/Ingredient-Listing-17-November-2009.pdf AND http://www.hungryjacks.com.au/menu_soft_serve_cone
Supernatural Rock Candy: Tasmanian company
Sweet-AS has released a Supernatural rock candy (it has no baddies and was
made just for failsafers). See contact information on www.sweet-as.com.au They will send them where ever you like (check
ingredients are suitable for you before ordering). – thanks to Jackie ‘Pure’ non-dairy soya
spread (in the CORRECTION: the following item in
the last newsletter refers only to the snackpack ***Product
Warning***You'll Love Coles Pears in Syrup (snackpack) are NOT failsafe due
to concentrated pear juice. According to Coles they need to refer to it as
syrup because they have added sugar to thicken the juice. – thanks to Robin
and Anne For nappy rash, chapped
lips (1) Lansinoh 100% ultra pure lanoline no preservatives or other
additives is available in pharmacies in the baby section (it’s actually
called nipple cream); recommended by members of the failsafe eczema group for
nappy rash, sore dry lips, dry red skin behind knees http://www1.au.shopping.com/-hemroids+creams+lanolin
2) Darifree calcium
fortified potato drink is suitable for people who have to avoid dairy products.
Available as a tin of powder, see http://www.biomedcafe.com.au/index.php?process=shop/productView.php&itemId=20013
Products for lactose
intolerance Lactose intolerance or lactase deficiency is an inability to digest
lactose – milk sugar – due to low levels of an enzyme called lactase. Lactase
levels vary and can be temporarily reduced by gastroenteritis. Symptoms can
range from mild abdominal discomfort, bloating and flatulence to abdominal
cramps and diarrhoea and usually occur soon after ingesting certain dairy
products especially milk and yoghurt. Long term lactose intolerance is rare
in Caucasians though common in others and NOT to be confused with dairy
intolerance. Further reading: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Lactose_intolerance
Products:
as at November 2009 Christmas lolly orders: The Little Lolly Shop www.littlelollyshop.com has some
new products for a failsafe Christmas and is taking orders: Starpops (plain,
no flavour), Starpops (Red Whirlipop recipe, cochineal 1/2 usual amount,
natural rosewater which may contain salicylates), Candy Canes (one size only,
plain, mild citric, Rosie recipe (beet powder, natural rosewater which may
contain salicylates), South Poles (same as above), White Choc Frogs, Soy
Carob Buds, Milk Carob Buds, White Buds; and for the extra sensitive Failsafe
plain boiled lollies (no citric) and Failsafe plain lollipop (no citric). Update: Pascall’s White
Marshmallows: In
supermarkets, Pascall's marshmallows are usually only sold as a packet of
vanilla AND raspberry flavoured marshies (not failsafe) or you have to buy
the giant vanilla ones. You can buy the packets containing just vanilla
marshies (in normal size, not giant) in petrol stations and video stores. -
thanks to Lauren Failsafe sausages NSW are available at AJ Bush &
Sons butcher outlets at the following locations: Bankstown, Baulkham Hills,
Bondi Junction, Campbelltown, Castle Hill, Dapto, Figtree, Gladesville,
Gordon, Hurstville, Miranda, Penrith, Roselands, North Ryde, Rouse Hill, Shellharbour,
Wagga Wagga x 2, Warrawong, Wetherill Park and Winston Hills. All of
them will do failsafe sausages to order and some of them may have failsafe
sausages in stock: http://www.ajbush.com.au/retail/retail-location.html Naturally Gluten-Free
Bread Classic (ingredients:
Water, Tapioca, Corn (Non GM), Quinoa (Organic), Yeast, Sea Salt, Guar
Gum(412)’ is failsafe as RPA now recommend quinoa (and millet and amaranth)
on gluten-free diets. “Corn” appears to be a typo as similar loaves list
cornflour. For those with allergies it “may contain traces of sesame”. The
best commercial gluten free bread I’ve tasted (other than our own recipe, see
below). Definitely needs to be toasted or zapped in the microwave for 20
seconds (the freshening effect will last all day). www.naturallyglutenfree.com.au. Baker’s Delight pizza
bases are not
failsafe due to herbs but one failsafer reports “My local store said they
would be happy to make some plain ones for me (on order)”. Ingredients are:
Wheat flour, Water, Iodised salt, Yeast, Vegetable oil (soya bean), Garlic,
Herbs, Emulsifier (481), Flour treatment agents (516, 300), Soy Flour, Enzyme
(amylase), Antioxidant (E307), Antifoam (900), Vitamins (thiamine and Folic
acid) - thanks to Vera Silly Yaks gluten free
bread and pizza bases www.sillyyak.com.au
Ingredients; Rice Flour, potato starch, soy flour, tapioca starch, soy
lecithin, canola oil, GDL (575), xanthan gum (415), guar gum (412), salt,
water added. The canola oil contains safe antioxidants (vitamin E), the
potato starch is sulphite-free, and the tapioca starch contains only residual
sulphites (less than 10 ppm). “I don't
tolerate any gf breads so I am excited that I can tolerate this one. I am
really sensitive to sulphites - I usually get tight chested pretty much
straight away but sometimes it can be delayed, where I can wake in the night
coughing and then my throat starts to feel like it is closing up - and
haven't noticed a problem in that regard. I especially love the pizza
bases... they are divine.” Thanks to Teresa
New Products: The Pastry
Pantry Gluten-Free Pastries (stocked at Coles) www.thepastrypantry.com. ·
Savoury Shortcrust Pastry is failsafe, Ingredients: Gluten-free flour
(lentil, rice, amaranth), canola oil, whole egg, starch (maize, tapioca), sugar,
vegetable gum (415), water added, raising agent (500) ·
Rich Chocolate Pastry (is OK for people who are non amine responders),
Ingredients: Gluten-free flour (rice, besan), vegetable fat, whole egg,
starch (maize, tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetable gum (415), water added,
vanilla essence ·
Sweet Shortcrust Pastry and Rough Puff Pastry are NOT failsafe due to
vegetable fat which is probably copha (coconut fat contains salicylates and
amines) but is usually OK if eaten occasionally. - thanks to Anne and Michelle Feedback about Rice Bran
Oil (and bran in general). “I feel that it does make me cranky and give me sore joints. The
sore joints are slow onset. We are now switching to Sunshine Canola Oil and I
have also stopped having boiled millet and millet flour. It's back to white
rice and organic white rice flour. My mood and joints seem a little better” -
thanks to John. Failsafe painkillers: most brands of paracetamol tablets
or capsules contain potassium sorbate (preservative 202) and syrups contain
artificial colours or flavours. The following brands are free of nasty
additives. ·
Panadol Mini Caps: consist of 500 mg white preservative-free powder in
artificially coloured gelatine capsules. Use the powder and throw away the
capsule. ·
Herron Capseals: consist of 500 mg white preservative-free powder in
artificially coloured gelatine capsules. Use the powder and throw away the
capsule. ·
Herron Tabsules: white capsule shaped tablet Extra strong painkillers ·
Paracetamol + codeine without sorbates or other additives,
Apo-Paracetamol/Codeine 500/30 manufactured by Apotex Ltd (minimise use as
codeine is addictive) For
babies & children, ask for our Paracetamol for Babies recipe. Aspirin
it is definitely NOT suitable for people with salicylate sensitivity because
aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a salicylate challenge! Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such
as Nurofen, Advil and Voltaren should also be avoided, likewise natural
herbal pain relievers including lotions. Worm tablets: there are no fully failsafe
medications for worms. However, Combantrin tablets seem to be well tolerated.
If worms are suspected, treat the entire family including pets. For other
medications: ask for our Medications Information sheet (suedengate@ozemail.com.au). ***Product Warning***
Ego QV Kids Wash,
although described as “colour free” on their website, this product contains
tiny beads of 3 colours including Ultramarine Blue (CI 77007) listed as a
possible concern regarding neurotoxicity since a 1988 animal study showed
brain and nervous system effects at high doses. (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ingredient.php?ingred06=706769)
One failsafer with sensitive skin really likes it, another has reported the
following adverse reactions: “I bought the QV Kids Wash for my girls 5 and 3
and also used it myself and all three of us reacted to it in some way. For
the 5 year old who is extremely sensitive to artificial colours she of course
reacted behaviourally. I have since bought the QV normal wash and so far
haven't noticed any reaction. The only thing I can think of is the tiny
little coloured beads in the Kids wash. I was wondering if anyone else may
have experienced this”. - thanks to Melanie ***Product
Warning***You'll Love Coles Pears in Syrup are NOT failsafe due to concentrated pear juice.
According to Coles they need to refer to it as syrup because they have added
sugar to thicken the juice. ***Product
Warning***Ozefranks “Low-Salicylate Sour Apple Jam” is probably NOT failsafe
(According to RPA there are NO low salicyate apples, and cooking certainly
doesn’t reduce salicylate content). As with any salicylate containing food,
do not expect to see an immediate reaction - you need to keep a food and
symptom diary and watch for a very slow build up of symptoms. Failafe Pizza bases: Coles "Pizza Vita Premium
Thin & Crispy" (wheat flour, water, vegetable oil, yeast, salt,
flour treatment agent (920), citric acid - they have twice confirmed that the
vegetable oil does not have antioxidants
thanks Kathleen & Jo (FinM) eatingsafe.com no longer has information
available. See link http://www.eatingsafe.com/ - thanks to
Jenny Note
that the information above will be incorporated into the categories below on
a quarterly basis. Scroll down below this box for a table of bookmarks
organized by food category. |
·
A useful simple shopping list
typed out from Fed Up by a grateful mother – thanks Sheree – see www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/information/Failsafe_Shopping_List.pdf
·
A useful weekly shopping list blank
with list of additives to avoid and cutaway section on the bottom for meals
this week - see www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info\extras\FoodAdditivesshoppinglist1.pdf - thanks to Matthew.
·
Nasty additives cards can be purchased
(laminated, fluorescent green, or celloglazed) in business card shapes, handy
to fit into the wallet or business card holder from The Discount Vitamin
Centre, 02 8850 6066, Shop 407, Level 4, Castle Towers, Castle Hill NSW
2154, and In Harmony Health Foods, Phone Number 02 968 8679, Shop 59
Stockland Mall, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153.
General comments
Please do not use this information as a means of starting
failsafe eating until you have read any one of Sue Dengate's books or seen a
dietitian.
For the NZ shopping list, contact "Robin
Fisher" robinfisher@xtra.co.nz.
See short UK list.
For USA readers, see a short list of foods
recommended by
Antioxidant warning: any product containing any form of
vegetable oil may contain unlisted antioxidants. While antioxidants 304-306
(tocopherols) are failsafe, 310-312 (gallates) or 319-321 (TBHQ, BHA, BHT) are
not! Often the only way to find out which antioxidants are used in fats and
oils is to phone the supplier, and even then, they can give you the wrong
answer. I know this is outrageous! We are lobbying FSANZ to have the 5%
labelling loophole closed with respect to antioxidants. The more consumers who
phone hotlines on this issue, the more awareness there will be of this issue.
Antidote (1) Soda bicarb hint: “Some of us have
been making our own capsules using clear gelatine and filling them with bicarb
- good for kids who refuse the bath or the cordial !! “
Antidote (2) Eno sparkling antacid powder, regular
(ingredients: sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, citric acid – read the
label carefully, ingredients can vary) is failsafe and pleasant tasting.
Because of the combination of acid and base, it would not be as effective as
soda bicarb alone, so you would need to take more to achieve the same effect,
according to our food technologist. The only catch with this is a higher sodium
intake.
(Nov 07) Antidote (3) Sodibic capsules each
containing sodium bicarbonate 840mg are marketed as a convenient purse size
urinary alkaliser/antacid. Failsafers say they are a portable way to take soda
bicarb as a food intolerance antidote - thanks to Anne.
Biscuits
(crackers and cookies)
Toiletries
and pharmaceuticals
Vegetables
Parsley has been upgraded to moderate in salicylates.
Use only for colour, not for flavour.
Green peas have been upgraded to moderate in
glutamates.
Potato products such as oven fry frozen chips, fries,
hash browns and wedges will almost certainly contain unlisted antioxidants (see
antioxidant warning above). The entire McCains range including Healthy Choice
now contains unlisted BHA (320), likewise
***
WARNING*** Arnott’s French Fries - a failsafer reports: I
allowed my son to have the Arnott's French Fries which claim to be additive
free. Well, he was very hyper the next day. Other failsafers have had similar
problems and the Hotline gives conflicting reports so they must contain
antioxidants.- Karen H
Frozen chips Woolworths Homebrand straight-cut chips and Woolworth
Select French Fries are failsafe (potatoes, sunflower oil, citric acid as
antioxidant, processing aids are sodium pyrophosphate (E450i) and antifoam).
Unlike the McCains range, there are no unlisted synthetic antioxidants.
Success
with pears in syrup! We are pleased to announce that,
thanks to lobbying by Food Intolerance Network members, Woolworths will be
bringing back pears in syrup once their current stocks are exhausted. Thanks to
members and Woolworths. Coles have also advised that they will continue to
stock pears in syrup, from
Mrs
Mays Pear Fruit Chips are tree ripened, cored and peeled
before freeze drying. Recommended by a number of failsafers. Thanks to Leanne
and Anne
** Product warning: Coles Diced Pear
Cups previously failsafe now
contain pear juice so are now not suitable for failsafers – thanks to Tanya **Product Warning: ’You'll Love Coles’
Pears Snack Pack now contains has concentrated Pear Juice instead of syrup so
is no longer failsafe. - thanks to Jen
from FinM
NEW:
UFC canned mango slices in syrup are suitable for people who can tolerate moderate salicylates
Heinz and Gerber baby pear puree are not failsafe
because they contain pear peel. BabyNat organic baby pear is failsafe but hard
to obtain (more details from the failsafebaby group, "Jenny De Carli"
jdecarli@optusnet.com.au). Avoid
Nashi pears.
Great Lakes tinned Pear Halves in Light Syrup from
Pears
in syrup: Coles have
just introduced their own brand of pears in syrup. Thanks to Jennifer Berthold
Cheap canned pears, tinned halves or quarters in
syrup, are available from the SPC Ardmona Factory Sales in Mooroopna, near
Dried whole preservative-free bananas are ideal for
lunchboxes and snacks, but only if you have passed your amine challenge.
Available from Carobana along with additive-free honeycomb, carob coated
honeycomb, honeycomb chips (suitable for mixing with icecream), carob coated
whole dried bananas, carob coated banana pieces and raw cashew nut brittle, on
the highway north of Coffs Harbour or by
mail order from www.carobana.com.au.
Dried pears from Bega
Dried Foods,
Dried pears:
Dried mangoes (moderate in salicylates): www.kakadudriedfruits.com.au has
a range of dried fruits – none of which contain any preservatives or additives
of any kind.
Dried
fruit from Woolworths: Lion of Sahara Crispy Fruit is freeze dried mango
(contains salicylates) and banana (contains amines) free from sulphites and
other preservatives in the dried fruit section of Woolworths, BUT make sure
that you get the freeze-dried product, as their ordinary product contains
sulphites! The dried bananas are good
for amine challenge or people who have passed their amine challenge. If you
would like to see this company doing dried pears with no added flavour, email sara@fmpmarketing.com.au
Totally Pure Fruits freeze-dried
pears from health food stores or phone Bio-Dynamic Marketing 03 5966 7370
Kiwifruit: NZ failsafers report that the new yellow
kiwifruit ‘kiwifruit gold’ seem to be milder and lower (but not low) in
salicylates than the familiar green variety - thanks to Robin Fisher.
Peaches: the low chill peaches grown around
***WARNING***
Maggi Noodles The actual noodles in Maggi 2-minute noodles used
to be OK, but now contain synthetic antioxidant 319 TBHQ, so not even these are
failsafe.
Fresh
pasta may contain sulphites.
Fantastic
Long Life Noodles (Wide or Thin) and Fantastic Dried Noodles - Thin, are only
made from Wheat Flour and Salt but the Instant Fantastic Noodles (just like 2
minute noodles) are not failsafe because of an unlisted non-failsafe
antioxidant (319). Fantastic rice noodles are failsafe. Rice – avoid flavoured
rice such as jasmine and basmati (salicylates). Rice flour – see gluten free
flours.
Doongara
rice cooks in 12 minutes and has a considerably lower Glycemic Index than other
brands, meaning it is filling for longer and assists with weight loss. An
unflavoured, unperfumed white rice, it also appears to be low in salicylates.
NEW: Banjo’s bread now has a wide range of failsafe alternatives after
consultation with FIN http://www.banjos.com.au/.
** Product warning: Bakers Delight
non-bread products: We
recommend the plain breads at Bakers Delight but no other products. A failsafer
writes: ‘Since Bakers Delight bread is additive-free, naively though we also
thought this would have been so with some other products. I am particularly
disappointed with the use of the 6
Avoid
propionate preservatives (280-283), vinegar, whey powder in bread, antioxidants
in oil (see warning at top of page), honey, fruit, most seeds and other nonfailsafe
ingredients
The
removal of 282 from Tip Top and Mighty Soft breads is a step in the right
direction because large numbers of children will no longer be forced to eat
calcium propionate every day. However, vinegar will be used instead which means that these brands are still not
failsafe (although in an emergency they will be more acceptable) and we still
recommend Brumbys and Bakers Delight failsafe breads.
Brumbys and Bakers
Delight plain breads are failsafe. Franchisees are supposed to use failsafe oils
and most are OK but if you are having problems it is worth checking for
antioxidants in the oil. Poppy-seeds are failsafe, other seeds such as sesame,
nigella and sunflower are not. There are numerous small bakeries which pride
themselves on being preservative-free – look locally and ask to see their oil
containers. Preservative-free breads such as Helgas and Noble Rise which are
preserved with vinegar are not failsafe. Mountain Bread wraps (wheat flour,
salt, water) are failsafe and available in many supermarkets. Country Life
Bakery, Demeter products and Jakk’s Bagels are failsafe. Bread in large
supermarkets can be mislabeled. If in doubt, avoid it.
Iced finger buns – at Brumby’s, order
white fondant icing with no coconut or topping. Bakers Delight Finger Buns are
free from Additives 320, 310 & 160b – ingredients are Wheat Flour, Water,
Sugar, Vegetable Oil: (Soya Bean), Yeast, Salt, Flavour, Emulsifiers (481),
Flour Treatment Agents (516, 300), Soy Flour, Enzyme (Amylase), Vitamins: [Thiamine,
Folic Acid], Antioxidant (E307), Antifoam (900).
**Product
Warning: Tortillas ‘Beware, most brands of
Tortillas (in the Mexican food section of supermarket) have 282 in them’ – thanks to Vanessa
***WARNING Pizza bases – McCains Healthy
Choice contains unlisted BHA(320) as probably others do, see antioxidant
warning above.
In
Breadcrumbs: All commercial breadcrumbs and crumbed
products contain preservative 282. Orgran All purpose Wheat free gluten-free
Crumbs are made from 100% toasted rice and are preservative 282-free.
Bakery
in Strathalbyn, SA: Pestkas use the Laucke flour mix, so the plain
breads are failsafe. Thanks to Helen Sweet
(Sep 07) GOOD NEWS Laucke’s Easy Bakers Gluten Free
mixes: as soon as Laucke’s discovered their gluten-free bread mixes
contained a non-failsafe oil, they sourced an alternative oil containing
natural antioxidant (306). This will be in products with a Best Before date
from June 2008. Note that the oil containing 320 was never used in Laucke’s wheat-based
products (they don’t contain any vegetable oil). Readers say the Laucke’s gf
bread is excellent. Thanks to Tanya and
Lodzia
(Sep 07) ***WARNING Some
Country Life rye breads now list vinegar and are no longer failsafe.
Read all labels. Thanks to D’anah and Michael
(Nov 07) Gluten-free bakery in
(Nov 2007) ***Warning***
possible unlisted BHA in Gluten-Free Bread: a failsafer has written
that Country Life Rice Bread contains antioxidant (320), unlisted under the 5%
labelling loophole. This is not yet confirmed.
**Product
warning: Oats for coeliacs – international studies
suggest that oats can be tolerated as part of a gluten free diet by the
majority of coeliacs as long as the oats are not contaminated by wheat, barley
or rye. However, some coeliacs may be
affected by contamination-free oats. According to the Coeliac Society in
Bellamy’s
organic baby rice cereal and Bellamy’s organic baby oatmeal are failsafe. Avoid
avoid other brands of baby rice cereal (or at least read the ingredients list
first).
(Jun
07) Low gluten oats: Freedom Foods Contamination-free Quick Oats
Porridge - “produced on farms where contamination-free oats is the only
cereal produced”, seeds are tested for contamination; machinery and silos are
not used for other cereals; manufacturing is carried out at facilities that
only handle oats; machinery and storage areas are cleaned down before use from
previous oat manufacturing; tested with a test that will detect gluten
contamination down to 5 parts per million. Available in Coles supermarkets -
thanks to Lone. These oats are likely to be OK for all but for the most
sensitive. Coeliacs might want to consult their doctor, see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17327936&query_hl=7&itool=pubmed_docsum.
See next item too.
Gluten-free
oats in the
Avoid
brown sugar which contains molasses. Light brown sugar is failsafe.
Maple
syrup must be pure maple syrup.
Golden
syrup should be CSR not Lyle’s.
Pear
Jam
- Birgit’s Pear Jam is no longer available.
- The Small Food Caterers in
- OzzyFrank does Pear Jam (50% pear with White
Sugar) and Pear Fruit Leather through an ebay store address: http://stores.ebay.com.au/OzzyFranks-Emporium-of-Delights.
Pears are ripe and peeled. At the time of writing, other products may not
be suitable for the elimination diet, check ingredients carefully. see warnings http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/information/updates.htm#sweeteners)
– thanks to Heather.
- In
Brown sugar
and golden syrup – a number of failsafers have reported that
brown sugar and golden syrup can cause problems. Unless the diet is working
well for you, we recommend sticking to white sugar and pure maple syrup except
for special occasions. Thanks to Olivia
***Warning:
Xylitol non sugar sweetener – caution is
recommended for those with gut symptoms. Like other sugar alcohols (eg
sorbitol) it can cause bloating and windiness in some people, thanks to
dietitian Liz Beavis and see our factsheet http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Factsugarfree.htm.
Fluff
is a mostly failsafe marshmallow spread in the Spreads section of Coles
supermarkets, ingredients: glucose syrup, sugar, dried egg white and artificial
flavour (vanillin) – limited for people who react to sulphites (glucose syrup)
and salicylates (vanillin).
Xylitol
- A failsafer reports: ‘Just to let you know my son is tolerating the Xylitol
fine. I use it instead of sugar to make the magic cordial. It's expensive
though...’ PP
Birgit's Pear Jam – is no longer
available, thanks to Birgit in
Birgit's Pear Ketchup – is no longer
available, thanks to Birgit in
The
Small Food Caterers in
Pear jam and chutney Ozzyfrank does Pear Jam
(50% pear with White Sugar) and Pear Fruit Leather through an ebay store
address: http://stores.ebay.com.au/OzzyFranks-Emporium-of-Delights.
Pears are ripe and peeled. At the time of writing, other products are not
suitable for your strict elimination diet and they are not what we would call
failsafe. We recommend caution. The pear chutney contains coriander. In jams or
fruit leathers that contain golden delicious apples, salicylates are
concentrated by the jam-making or drying process, so these products are not
moderate they will be high or very high in salicylates. Remember that salicylate-containing
products can seem OK when you first eat them, but the effect of salicylates can
build up slowly over months until you realise the diet isn’t working as well as
it did originally.
Freedom Foods soy butter: No longer available.
Gelatine: Sulphite-free
substitute for gelatine: agar agar – thanks
to Llewellyn Wall
Maple butter and maple
sugar http://www.usafoods.com.au/
, available from supermarkets in
Pampas
Butter Puff Pastry is failsafe. The latest advice is that Pampas Pastry with
Canola is now failsafe (no 281 and 202 but always read the label). Pampas
Spring Roll pastry is failsafe. Pampas Puff Pastry currently contains
citric acid 330, Vitamin E 306 and betacarotene 160a which are all failsafe.
The Filo pastry is not OK because is
contains 223 sodium metabisulphite.
Avoid
commercial crumpets, pancakes and pikelets with colours and preservatives.
Home
Brand Vanilla Cake mix Safeway/Woolworths - the vegetable
shortening contains 307 and the rest of the ingredients are Failsafe too (but
Coles Home Brand has different ingredients) – thanks to Miriam.
Woolworths
Bakery Croissant Mini 10pk (bought at Mirrabooka Square Shopping Centre WA) are failsafe: Wheat
Flour, Water, Butter (milk fat, water, milk solids, colour (160A), Yeast Wheat,
Gluten, Sugar, Soy Flour, Emulsifiers (472E, 481), Mineral Salt (170), Food
Acid (270,260,300), Firming Agent (616), Enzyme, Vitamin (Thiamine) “I’m so
used to baked goods not being failsafe that I thought it was amazing to see
this one” – thanks to Larissa
(Sep 07) Nemar Natural 100's & 1000's, all
natural colours, tastes like sugar; thanks to Kathleen from Additive Education
(Nov 07)
Designer Physique have an excellent but somewhat expensive range of gluten-free cookie and muffin mixes based
on de-bittered chickpea flour. They say that they make the only GF/DF/Egg
free/ LOW GI products made with primarily chickpea flour vs white starches and
'empty' non nutritious flours. Chickpeas are high fibre and a great way to get
kids to eat a legume in a 'cookie' or muffin. 07 5520 5547 www.designerphysique.com.au
(Nov 07)
Fiona Carter now has her own product range including many failsafe at www.biomedcafe.com.au including a Xmas
special on some of their muffin/cookie
mixes which make them very cheap.
Biscuits
(crackers and cookies)
Correction:
Arnott’s Shredded Wheatmeal biscuits
contain milk powder and are not
dairy-free as mentioned in the shopping list in my books. My apologies.
Arnott's
customer information service tells us that the oil used in their biscuits is
palm oil with 50 ppm tocopherols (306-309 tocopherols - failsafe). This is good
news. When I checked several years ago, all Arnott's biscuits contained
unlabelled BHA and some children were reacting to it. This means that Saltines,
Saladas, Saos and plain sweet biscuits such as Milk Arrowroot and Milk Coffee
are failsafe. Biscuits with flavours, such as Nice or Morning Coffee are not
failsafe (my mistake).
For
other brands, you will have to phone the manufacturer (see antioxidant warning
at top of page)
Sakata
Plain Rice Crackers are failsafe, others are usually not because of unlisted
antioxidants (see antioxidant warning at top of page).
***WARNING*** Nabsico mini
Ritz
contain BHA (320) as well as good antioxidants 304 and 406 – not failsafe.
Thanks to Tania St Cannon.
***Warning*** Ritz
Original biscuits and Ritz Sticks now contain 319 as the antioxidant due to a change of
manufacturing plant. You can contact the manufacturers to complain http://www.kraft.com.au/nabisco/
thanks to Jenny Ravlic (Jenny runs failsafe shopping tours with Kathleen
Daalmeyer in
**WARNING** Plain Sakata
rice crackers are technically failsafe, but many of the failsafe groups
reported that a few sakatas are OK on rare occasions, but any more and
reactions occur, no-one knows why because the ingredients all look safe.
Pure
Harvest rice cakes - Pure Harvest assure us that the vegetable oil used in
these rice cakes is refined sunflower oil with no antioxidants. – Louise R.
Contact cassandra.rouget@pureharvest.com.au for further enquiries.
You’ll
Love Coles Checkers Crackers appear to be failsafe, although there is always a
question mark over ‘vegetable fat’ unspecified
– feedback is welcome.
Meat
should be eaten the day it is bought or frozen for no longer than 4 weeks.
Leftover cooked meat should be frozen, not refrigerated. Avoid or minimize your
intake of meat which has been cryovacced (vacuum packed or gas filled) as this
allows a build up of amines – you can’t tell by the label so will have to ask
your supermarket or butcher. (See Amines
factsheet). Preservative free sausages from your butcher are not failsafe –
they will almost certainly contain spices or flavour enhancers. You need to
order special failsafe sausages, see Sausage - A Recipe for Your Butcher in the
Failsafe Cookbook and Failsafe booklet, and below organised by Australian
state.
Note that all meat in supermarkets
like Coles and Woolworths is now cryovacced and you have to ask your local
butcher about fresh meat. The safest meat for amine responders is often
chemical free or organic chickens.
Sausage
casings are permitted to contain sulphite preservatives at the same level as
sausages. Since sausage casings are such a small component of a sausage, and
being on the outside of the sausage are subjected to the highest heat which
will drive off sulphites, it is likely that, these pose little risk to failsafers.
However, some of the most sensitive failsafers may react to them.
Failsafe
sausages and organic meats in Sydney Sam the Butcher switched to organic when he
himself developed an allergy to the preservatives used in meats. His 4th shop
in
Failsafe
sausages in Penrith NSW Bush's Meat in Centro Nepean
Shopping Centre Station Street Penrith now stock both chicken and beef failsafe
sausages (new listing – always check the recipe for yourself). The butcher said
there have been a few people asking about these. They get a delivery once a
week on a Friday and they always have plenty in stock. - Debra
Butcher
in Rockhampton, QLD Fresh meat - Norm Milner Butcher,
Butcher
in Warrnambool, VIC Norfolk butchers,
Butcher
in Greensborough (Melbourne, VIC) won’t make failsafe sausages
anymore! – thanks Miriam.
Coffs
Harbour Palm Centre, NSW own their own farm and bring in their
own lamb and beef, all is freshly slaughtered (not cryovacced). – thanks to Alison
Farmers
Meats Wingham NSW (online, delivery area is roughly
Gold Coast to Katoomba,
Lenard's stores have been asked not
to make preservative-free sausages for customers on food safety grounds but
they have been encouraged to suggest that the customer use plain minced breast
meat that can be made into patties or skinless sausages. –
thanks to Sue A. Note that preservative-free sausages must be eaten fresh
or frozen immediately.
Honestbeef (Beef direct from the producer at a fair price) will ship to the eastern
seaboard of
Nitrate-free
hams and bacon are not OK for your strict elimination diet or
for people who react to amines because all products derived from pig -
including roast pork - are high in amines. However, they are suitable for
people who have passed their amine challenge.
Strictly Organic (based near
the F3 highway outside
** Product warning: Cleavers "The Organic Meat
Company" based in
Preservative-free ham and bacon
– salt is used as the preservative, as is traditional: Eumundi Smokehouse
Sydney, 402 New Canterbury Rd, Dulwich Hill, 9569 0205, available in health food
stores.
Neil's Organic's nitrate-free bacon
- a north Qld failsafer has said they’re available from Mighty-Nice Meats
butcher in Earlville shopping centre,
The Meat-ting Place in
southeast Qld is the only Certified Organic retailer and processor of meats in
Qld and offers a home delivery service of their organic meats. For people who
have passed their amine challenge, there is nitrate-free organic ham and bacon
containing only sea salt and organic beetroot for colouring. www.organicmeatdirect.com.au,
Stewart Burns 07 3378 9895
Preservative-free
ham and bacon – salt is used as the preservative - obviously
these are not OK for the strict elimination diet or for people who react to
amines: Eumundi Smokehouse Sydney,
*** WARNING*** Birdseye
L’il Fishies - due to consumer demand, Birdseye introduced an additive-free
range of six products in
Mercury
in fish: pregnant women, women planning pregnancy and young children to limit
their intake of shark (flake), broadbill, marlin and swordfish to no more than
one serve per fortnight with no other fish to be consumed during that
fortnight. For orange roughy (also sold as sea perch) and catfish, the advice
is to consume no more than one serve per week, with no other fish being
consumed during that week. If amines are OK for you: canned tuna generally has
lower levels of mercury than other tuna because the tuna used for canning are
smaller species that are generally caught when less than 1 year old. It is
considered safe for all population groups to consume a snack can of tuna (95
grams) everyday, assuming no other fish is eaten. More at www.foodstandards.gov.au
NSW
Bushs Meats at Rouse Hill Town Centre stock FAILSAFE sausages both beef and chicken and are endeavouring to get
rissoles and chicken schnitzels from Jo at A Cut Above at Beecroft. He is also intending on making marinades and
stocks in the next month or so.- thanks
to Nicolle
Butcher in Miranda
Butcher in Tumut
- Kevin, at
Butcher In Gordon (
Butcher in
Failsafe sausages from Sam the Butcher's 3 outlets in
Butcher in
Hornsby NSW: Tender
Value Meats,12 Florence St Hornsby N.S.W Ph 9987 4028 sells organic chicken
whole or in pieces and has a few failsafe customers so will make up sausages
for you using whatever ingredients you can have. “My son’s favourite is the
chicken, pear and golden syrup. It has been fantastic to have someone so
supportive and willing to go out of their way to help and my son doesn’t feel
as though he is missing out on everything”. – thanks to Mia Park
Butchers at
Beecroft and Thornleigh (A Cut Above Fine Foods) are making delicious failsafe
beef and chicken sausages which I can highly recommend. Thanks to Jennifer Berthold (Jennifer has her own failsafe
blogsite http://www.scrapratdesigns.netfirms.com/blog/failsafe_blog.htm
The
butcher at The
Pavilion,
Quants Butcher at
Lindfield NSW makes
sausages on Tuesday and will do failsafe ones first so they aren't contaminated
(beef and leek, and chicken and garlic) –
thanks to
Lombardo's Butchers,
Failsafe sausages in Tweed Heads NSW Panarama meats,
Panarama Plaza, Scienic Drive, Tweed Heads West, 2485, (07)55999392
Butchers in
Wagga Wagga NSW Knights Meats on the
corner of Kincaid and Fitzmaurice St, Wagga will make failsafe sausages. Thanks
to Alison
ACT
Butcher in Belconnen Canberra: Eco meats, Shop 41 Belconnen Markets Lathlain St Belconnen ACT 2617
ph: (02) 6251 9018. All their sausages have only cornflour, no other additives,
and they can do varying flavours for you. Their sausage mince is also
preservative free just make sure you preorder it to ensure it doesn’t have any
herbed varieties in it. – thanks to Sarah
QLD
Butcher in Brisbane update
- Rode Meats, Chermside West (QLD) now make and sell failsafe sausages fresh
(not frozen), as they make them 4 times a week. The butcher told me that they
sell over 40kg per week! They are now $9.95/kg. The chicken sausages need to be
ordered specially and purchased in minimum lots of about 4kg. Thanks so much
for all of your work. – thanks to Jane
Butcher in
Failsafe sausages: Butcher in Brisbane Pinelands Quality Meats
at Sunnybank (Prop Les Croucher & Chard Smith), Shop 31,
Centro Pinelands Shopping Centre, Cnr Beenleigh & Pinelands Rd, Sunnybank,
Ph 07 3345 2027, Fax 07 3345 2022 for preservative free meats (including
chicken) and happy to make up fresh "failsafe" sausages. Or you can
buy readymade frozen failsafe sausages in lots of 6-8. These frozen sausages
will occasionally have been frozen for up to 8 weeks. RPA guidelines say to
freeze meat on the day it is purchased and eat within 4 weeks. It is important
to stick to RPA guidelines during the strict elimination diet but once you are
established on the diet, eating meat that has been frozen for 8 weeks
occasionally is probably OK for most people except the most sensitive amine
responders. Les is happy to make up fresh sausages for you if you order in
advance - thanks to Leanne and Brenda
Rode Meats, Bi-Lo Shopping Centre,
Failsafe sausages Nimmo’s Meats,
Failsafe sausages on Sunshine
Coast -
Chancellor Park Butchery, Chancellor Park Shopping Village at Cnr University Dr
and Scholars Way, Sippy Downs on the beautiful Sunshine Coast Qld 4556.
Butcher in
Townsville: makes
beef and chicken gluten free/ preservative free sausages using the ingredients
in your failsafe sausages: A Mays Inn Meats,
Organic
meats including nitrate-free bacon and ham in
(Jun 07) Butcher Gympie, Qld The butcher in the Centro
Complex, Bruce Highway, Gympie makes preservative free (not failsafe) chicken and
beef sausages and patties, as well as gluten-free ones. “I have now purchased
them twice and found I don’t suffer the horrific headaches and fever that comes
with normal sausages. - Thanks to Sue
VIC
Chris at Lockie Brothers Butcher,
(Nov 07)
Failsafe Sausages in
Butcher in Flemington Melbourne VIC:
‘Our butcher has been making up failsafe sausages for us for the past couple of
years now and is now happy to make them up for other people as well, provided
they are frozen immediately. Normally we give him the dry ingredients for
10kilos and he makes them up within a few days: Newmarket Quality Meats
(Flemington),
TAS
Butcher in
East and
Butcher in Devonport TAS:
‘Bob Morris Butchers, in
SA
For group sausage orders, email
subscribe in the subject line to finAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Michael is now at Shillabeer
Meat Store, 217 Regency Road,
Very
Failsafe friendly sausages: Margaret Street Meats,
Affordable
Organics
on
(Jun 07) Barossa Fine
Foods (Central
Market,
WA
Paul &
Chris, Love me tender Butchery,
Failsafe sausages Buckingham
Meat Market, Shop 16 Bunbury City Plaza, Bunbury 6230. ph: 08 9721 3388. They
make "special sausages" as per failsafe recipe and they sell
preservative free mince and hormone free chicken.
Failsafe sausages in Dalkeith WA, Adrian
Shelley, Dalkeith Village Butcher, Shop 7, 81 Waratah Ave,
Dalkeith WA. Telephone and fax: 08 9386 2535. The butcher will make biodynamic
meat into sausages in 5kg batches. He usually makes beef sausages containing
meat, organic rice flour, salt, pepper and spice mix (ingredients unknown ???)
but was happy to substitute my spices or vegies. He now sells more of these
sausages than so-called normal ones. The price is $10.99 per kg.
Butcher in
NT
Fannie Bay
Gourmet Meats, Shop 3A
Eggs
are only as good as what is fed to the chickens that produce them. Omega three eggs come from chickens fed large
quantities of linseed oil, and some failsafers are affected.
Every
year in the
A2
milk is failsafe and possibly safer
than regular (A1) milk for people with food intolerance. www.a2australia.com.au Reports of
improvements related to A2 milk continue to come in, like this one, ‘We've
switched to the A2 milk. I noticed the difference in Ryan when we didn't bother
to get it one week (because it's so expensive) - Ryan was cranky and irritable
and both boys woke up with phlegm on the chest’. But it's not for everyone.
Another family has reported that A2 doesn't suit them and the children are
better on ricemilk. A2 is available in an ever-widening range of locations.
More
A2 products Freedom Foods are considering making A2 cream,
ice-cream, yoghurt and cheese. Their
website has a survey running for them to determine which would be the most desired
product to introduce first. You can win money by participating in the survey.
I've emailed them telling them that I would buy all of the A2 products they
produce. Perhaps other failsafers might like to contact them also and let them
know their interest. If they know there
is a big demand for it, they may hurry up and start production. Website address
is www.a2australia.com.au – thanks
to Tam
yoghurt – if the diet is not
working for you, avoid yoghurts – they can contain annatto, aspartame,
flavours, amines and natural benzoates. Choose fresh, mild flavoured natural
colour-free yoghurts such as Vaalia natural; or colour-free, aspartame
(951)-free vanilla flavoured yoghurts but limit your intake because vanilla is
limited. Yoplait Petit Miam simply vanilla yoghurt (ingredients: milk, cream,
milk solids nonfat, sugar, vegetable gum (pectin locust bean), natural flavour,
milk, mineral complex, citric food acid, live yoghurt cultures, rennet, vitamin
D) is OK if you can manage dairy products. Salicylate responders need to limit
vanilla intake, so avoid it if the diet isn’t working, see Checklist of Common
Mistakes - thanks to Julie M.
Sheep’s
milk yoghurt - Grampians Pure sheep milk yoghurt from
**** WARNING**** possible unlisted annatto 160b colouring in Nestle peach vanilla yoghurt. From a
failsafer whose son is sensitive to 160b but not salicylates: “ Got a phone
call from NESTLE on Friday saying sorry about not having 160b on the packaging
[of the Nestle peach vanilla yoghurt] and they reckon they are aware and fixing
it immediately!!” – thanks to Marg
***Warning*** Vanilla
fruche now contains
annatto 160b so is no longer failsafe, thanks to Lesley.
butter – use pure butter (ingredients:
cream, water, salt). For easy spread butter use Mainland Butter Soft. Avoid
butter with vegetable oils (sorbates 200-203, unlisted antioxidants, flavour
enhancers). Devondale Lite contains flavour enhancer 635.
In
margarine – avoid all margarines
except Nuttelex (see below) because of the addition of sorbates (200-203) and
other additives. Liddells make a lactose free butter and sunflower oil dairy
blend that doesn’t contain antioxidants or preservative.
icecream – Sara Lee Honeycomb
and Butterscotch is a new failsafe icecream.
So
Good Vanilla Bliss (Soy ‘Ice Cream’)
is now failsafe as annatto (160b) colour has been removed. This low fat frozen
dessert is popular even with people who don’t need to eat soy – thanks to Heidi and Liz
Home
Ice Cream comes to your street
- Just Lite vanilla flavoured low fat ice cream in
a cup, 1.6% fat, HIC Product Code: 32
- All Natural 2 litre tub vanilla ice cream, 5.7%
fat, HIC product code: 5
- Vanilla Ice Cream Cups, 6.8% fat, HIC Product Code:
61
- All Natural gluten free Caramel Sundae, caramel
ice cream with a caramel ripple in a cup, 9.8% fat, HIC Product Code: 62
- White Hearts vanilla ice cream with white
chocolate on a stick, 17.7% fat, HIC Product Code: 98
- All Natural Chocolate Milk Ice Confection on a
stick, gluten free, 4.3% fat, NOT
FOR AMINE RESPONDERS, (caution, similar products such as Minis may
contain artificial colour 155), HIC Product Code: 18
- Vanilla Choc vanilla ice cream with choc coating
on a stick, 16% fat, NOT FOR AMINE
RESPONDERS, HIC Product Code: 1
**Product
Warning: ‘Natural vanilla flavour’ may contain
preservative 211 (sodium benzoate) under the five per cent labelling loophole.
Not all vanilla flavours contain this additive. You can phone the manufacturer
and ask. RPA recommends no more than two drops per day of vanilla flavour due
to salicylates. Chemically there's no difference between vanilla and vanillin
(artificial vanilla).The main problem the size of the dose – because vanillin
is cheaper it is often used in larger amounts. When diet isn’t working, it is
best to avoid commercial vanilla flavoured products.
Update: Dairy
Organic
icecream from Ross Fitzell, Icecream by ross, PO Box 62 Austinmer NSW 2515,
0422 816501, icecream@businessblokes.com.au
- only the Maple Syrup is fully failsafe. Other possible flavours contain
vanilla which is not failsafe: Gelato Old Fashioned Vanilla Icecream, Creamy
Illawarra Vanilla Icecream, Vanilla Bean Gelato, Double Chocolate (amines),
Gelato Rich Butterscotch Icecream, and Soy Vanilla.
Organic
icecream in Coles: Pure Chill is the least of all the evils as far as icecreams are concerned,
just the simple ingredients you would use if making it at home and all organic.
Available from Coles http://www.foodaustraliadist.com.au/
(contains dairy and egg) – thanks to Diane
NEW:
cheese – only fresh white
cheeses are allowed (cream cheese, ricotta, farm, mascarpone, cottage cheese
with no preservatives).
Cream
cheese For those who miss the tubs since Kraft added
preservative to them, 250g Home Brand tubs of cream cheese have no
preservative.
Cheese slices (for those who can
tolerate amines and dairy: Coles Farmland slices and Woolworths tasty cheese
slices are additive-free but most of the other brands contain annatto 160b – thanks to Marg
**** WARNING**** Philly cheese - Kraft have recently added preservative 200
to their spreadable philly cream cheese in tubs (blocks are still
preservative-free). If failsafers want
to object they can fill out an online feedback form at www.kraft.com.au/philadelphia/contact.cfm
- thanks to Jacqui
soymilk – **Caution**SO GOOD Soymilk with ‘fresh new taste’ now contains added ‘natural
flavour’ so we asked for reader feedback:
updated Sept 2009 Most failsafers find they can tolerate this product but
one failsafer wrote: “I was able to isolate my reaction to this product as I still
had some of the earlier formulation and when I used that the symptoms eased or
disappeared”. Thanks to Merryn. See Table of soy and rice
milks.
soy products – avoid tamari, tempeh,
soy sauce
Ricemilk – Pure Harvest ricemilk
is failsafe. Vitasoy BHA-free ricemilks. Vitasoy regular ricemilk is BHA free if the best by date is
Nuttelex margarine – has a new recipe,
it’s still failsafe and now also soyfree.
Soy cream cheese – Kingland (but hard to
find)
frozen soy dessert – Fruccio Vanilla
(limited because of the vanilla), Caramel and Vanilla (ditto), Dutch chocolate
(only for non-amine responders)
***Warning*** Home
icecream dairyfree product NO MOO is *not* failsafe because it contains unlisted
gallates (310) in the vegetable shortening.
Soy icecream. Fruccio soy icecream (without
annatto 160b) has been deleted and will no longer be sold in
In
NZ, failsafe Sunfield safflower oil is now available in supermarkets. Always
check labels for antioxidants – they should be listed on these products.
Rice Bran Oil has been traditionally
used in Asian countries such as
Flaxseed oil
is the best of the omega supplements for failsafers but contains small amounts
of salicylates and amines. We welcome reader feedback. “We recently introduced
***WARNING**** avoid IGA
homebrand canola oil which contains nasty antioxidants 319 and 320.
**** WARNING**** possible unlisted synthetic antioxidants TBHQ 319 and BHA 320
in NZ Family Choice canola oil – Do not buy this product until further notice -
thanks to Brendan
(Nov 07) ***Warning*** Crisco sunflower oil in large
packs such as 15L contains synthetic antioxidant (320, BHA) but is
BHA-free in smaller containers. Check all labels. Catering packs of products
such as oil and pastries used in restaurants are more likely to contain
additives.
lemonade: 7UP is now preserved
and no longer failsafe. Some Schweppes lemonade is still preservative-free
(read the label, avoid sodium benzoate 211). Also the new Cottee’s new
lemonade. Note that these are not fully failsafe because the natural flavour is
lemon juice so they are limited to one small glass per week.
alcohol: gin, vodka and
whisky
are failsafe. Saki appears to be low in salicylates and sulphite free but high
in amines. Wines made from grapes are very high in salicylates, amines and
glutamates, but the persimmon wine below appears to be failsafe.
Waterfall Way persimmon
wine
has been very popular. Plastic reusable stoppers mean that no sulphites come
with the corks. Our testing shows no detectable sulphites at all (<10ppm).
Failsafers say: ‘it’s not like grape wine, but it’s nice to have a bottle of
wine on the table – whisky’s not the same’; ‘it doesn’t make me feel awful the
next morning, like wine normally does’; ‘great to make a stirfry more tasty’;
‘I like it diluted with soda water’. Persimmon Wine is in limited supply at the moment. David has
released a Potato Vodka (40% alcohol) and is conducting further trials to
commercialise a Potato Wine - a possibility for Christmas! Check out www.waterfallwaywinery.com.au
for products and further information. fruitwine@netxp.com.au,
ph/fax (02) 66571373.
Preservative-free (not
failsafe) wine - a failsafer reports: there is a little winery in Cowangerup in
southern WA, called Settler Settlers Ridge run by Kaye & Wayne Knobbs www.settlersridge.com.au – Simone.
Preservative-free wines,
both red and white available from Happs, www.happs.com.au.
Not suitable for salicylate and amine responders, but excellent if you are avoiding
sulphites.
LedaSwan
Organic Winery near
For
sulphite sensitive wine drinkers:
Hardy’s now make a range of preservative-free (not failsafe) wines that are
available in most bottle shops for around $15 bottle. 'They taste great and no
headaches! I won’t drink anything else after trying this wine.' Thanks to
Jacqui Vanderzee
Preservative-free
wines For an online retailer selling about 40 brands of no
added preservative wines (although of course they still contain salicylates and
amines to which many react): http://www.organicwine.com.au/WineList.aspx?NID=29&att=4
(Jun
07) Sake Rice Wine: A reader writes
“in spite of my numerous intolerances (gluten, lactose, salicylates, amines,
soy, MSG, sulphites, benzoates, annatto, sorbitol), I seem to be fine with
Sake. I have been regularly challenging myself with it since Christmas ... I am
very happy with 'Go-Shu', which is brewed in
(Sep
07) The Natural Beverage Company Apple
Naturally Flavoured Soft Drink contains ‘No artificial colours, no
artificial flavours, no preservatives’, more than seven teaspoons of sugar per
glass, malt extract to make it look like apple juice and only 1% apple. Like
other sugary soft drinks, it is only for an occasional treat, but with such a
tiny amount of apple, it is possible that this drink could be better tolerated
by failsafers than preservative free lemonade. Feedback welcome: suedengate@ozemail.com.au.
No
longer available: Natural confectionery
company natural soft drinks - which were additive-free but not OK for
salicylate intolerant people - have been taken off the market. ‘They were great
for parties for my son, and the odd treat - but now there doesn’t seem to be
any other failsafe alternative (apart from home made lemonade). It’s a shame
that products like fanta can stay on the market with their chemical cocktail
but natural ones just don’t sell as much.-
thank to Julie
**WARNING**
Continuing reactions to chips: we have had many reports
like this one – “my daughter has a physical reaction to foods including puffy
lips and tongue. She appeared to have reacted after eating the apparently-safe
Arnotts French Fries, and definitely reacted after eating Kettle Original
chips.” These items are considered failsafe and we have asked the manufacturer
who claim the label is accurate. All we can think is that there is
cross-contamination on the line with other flavours, possibly 635 flavour
enhancer.
Potato crisps/chips. UPDATE
Potato chips
(crisps) feedback “Just want to comment on the potato
chips issue. I am sulfite, dairy, wheat and oat intolerant. I find Kettle sea
salt chips are fine. I have no noticeable reaction to them. Smiths original
crisps make my face itchy and tingly and give me a headache” – thanks to Sascha
Aldi's brand of slow cooked kettle
style chips (200g pack) appear to be failsafe (Sept 2007) – thanks to Fofe. Colvan’s chips
have been deleted but Arnott’s say that the oil in Arnott’s plain chips is
exactly the same oil as used in Colvan chips, ie palm oil with 304 and 306.
Thanks to Jenny from Additive Education. Note that all chips including Kettle
are now produced on contaminated production lines and we have received many
reports of reactions from extra sensitive failsafers since this happened. NEW: Aldi Blackstone brand kettle-style
chips are failsafe. Thanks to Fofe from the failsafebasic group who
writes: ‘just wanted to let you know that You'll Love Coles brand plain chips
must contain something as my son went troppo when I challenged them a couple of
weeks ago. He is highly sensitive to antioxidants but it's hard to tell if it
was that or just contamination I guess The Aldi Blackstone brand kettle-style chips are the only ones he does
not react to. [Reactions to various brands of plain chips are regularly
reported. The 5% labelling loophole does not apply to vegetable oil in chips
that have a higher than 5% oil content, so any antioxidants in the oil should
be listed on the label. Line contamination from other flavours can happen; and
some people suspect they react to palm oil.]
NEW: You'll Love Coles brand Potato chips are failsafe – there are no hidden
antioxidants in the oil – thanks to
Sandra
Frozen chips Logan Farm Guilt-Free
Fries in crinkle cut and straight versions are failsafe. All McCains frozen
potato products contain unlisted BHA and are not failsafe.
***WARNING*** McDonalds
French fries again contain BHA 320, but they are not suitable for doing the
antioxidant challenge because many children react to the beef flavour.
Chic
Nuts Roasted Chickpeas (garlic flavour) are failsafe and available in
supermarkets.
**Product
Warning: LCMs (Kelloggs Rice Bubble treats
formerly recommended by RPA) now contain antioxidant 320 – not failsafe - thanks to Anne
The
new Natural Confectionery Co 'Bear Hugs' sweets appear to be failsafe
for those who can tolerate a few amines. The ingredient list is: Wheat glucose
syrup, cane sugar, water wheat starch, gelatine, natural cocoa powder (3%),
salt, glazing agent (vegetable oil, carnauba wax and/or beeswax). They are
quite yummy and taste like
Wizz
Fizz – all new natural sherberts, may be suitable for
failsafers, depending on flavour. Thanks to Kathleen Daalmeyer. Feedback
please.
Little
Lolly Shop Alison at the www.littlelollyshop.com wants to
let everyone know that, although she was flooded out in the first
***WARNING***
Willow Confectionery This company has been sold and may
not now be allergen free. We no longer recommend these products. Thanks to
Lyndall
Smarties: NOT FOR AMINE RESPONDERS -
From the beginning of 2009, new all-natural-coloured Smarties are available -
read the label first to make sure you are getting the new ones, you don’t want
colours 102, 110, 122, 124, 129. At present some have a mixture of natural and
artificial so read every line. Smarties don’t contain added flavours so are
suitable for failsafers unless they are sensitive to amines in the
chocolate. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/classic-junk-food-gets-a-health-makeover/2008/12/19/1229189886151.html.
NEW: Dominion Sweets natural Marshmallows at ALDI - Ingredients: Sugar,
Glucose Syrup (from Wheat), Water, Maize Starch, Gelatine, Natural Vanilla
Flavour, Natural colour (beet red), Natural Raspberry Flavour. Obviously you
eat the white (vanilla) ones and avoid the red (raspberry and therefore
salicylates) ones. We have received
numerous reports of reactions – enough to ruin the diet – from people eating
white marshmallows from the Pascall’s artificially colour mixed pink and white
packets but these seem to be OK – thanks
to Kathleen
NEW:
You’ll Love Coles 12 Waffle Cones are failsafe and don’t even contain added flavour!
NEW:
Altimate foods mini-cones contain no
hidden antioxidants and are therefore failsafe – thanks to Anne
**
Product warning: Betta natural cup cones are NOT failsafe due to annatto (160b)
NEW:
The
Little Lolly Shop has Christmas Starpops, Failsafe gluten-free Candy Canes in
two sizes, as well as “South Poles” (colour-free), Lollipops and bags of pillow
shaped Rock Candy: http://littlelollyshop.com/
NEW:
Bickfords Milkshake Mix - Vanilla Malt (ingredients: Sugar, water, flavours acidity
regulator (citric acid), vegetable gum (466), colour caramel (150D) – note that
we recommend avoiding any commercial products containing ‘flavours’ if the diet
isn’t working. – thanks to Tracey
NEW:
Brownes Vanilla Malt Supa Shake (ingredients: skim milk, milk, sugar, glucose syrup, whey powder, barley
malt powder, vegetable gums (407, 412, 466), flavour) – note that we recommend
avoiding any commercial products containing ‘flavours’ if the diet isn’t
working.
****
WARNING White Rabbit
sweets from
How
to avoid melamine in Chinese products:
for at least six months avoid all products that could contain milk (e.g. milk
powder, Coffee Mate, infant formula, chocolate, confectionery) made in China,
as indicated by a barcode starting with any number between 690 and 695
inclusive (00-13 is USA & Canada, 50 is UK, 93 is Australia). Products that
have been withdrawn in
****
WARNING ‘Natural’ food
- homemade banana and mango smoothies can be suitable for failsafers who
tolerate limited moderate amounts of amines or salicylates. However, we checked
the ingredients of a mango smoothie at a ‘natural’ food court outlet and found
it contained two artificial colours and sodium benzoate 211. If you can’t see
bananas or mangoes going into drinks, ask before you buy. If they won’t tell
you, let us know.
***Warning***Darryl Lea
white jelly beans now contain bubblegum
instead of lemon flavour, definitely not failsafe.
Jane at Hullabaloo Food
www.hullabaloofood.com has great
lollies, not all products are failsafe.
Icecream
cones, even if colour and preservative free, usually contain unlisted
antioxidants (see antioxidant warning at top of section).
Werthers
original butter candy and new chewy toffees are nearly failsafe (but are
limited because of flavour – salicylates in vanillin - and also if dairy
products are a problem).
Chocolate: For non-amine responders:
Kinnerton flavour-free chocolate is available from Big W, and flavour-free
chocolate-coated honeycomb is available from Crazy Clarke’s in
Nestle
Choc bits, the dark one only, contains dairy and amines of course.
Nestle
Baking Cocoa has no added flavours, for people who don’t react to amines. The
only ingredient listed is cocoa - thanks to Diana M
The
Pascalls vanilla white marshmallows package change has been accompanied by a
recipe change. Cornflour has been dropped and invert syrup has been added, and
the ‘flavours’ have changed to ‘flavour’ – still a trade secret. These sweets
should be eaten in limited quantities because of the flavour. Are the big ones
worse than the small ones? Some people think so – but it could be because
reactions are related to the size of the dose - thanks to Kathleen D.
Sunbeam
home Fairy Floss (cotton candy) makers have been strongly recommended. One
tablespoon of sugar and ten minutes entertainment provides the kids with a
failsafe treat. Great value for $59.00. Thanks to Andra Somerville and Sheryl
Sibley.
The
colours in The Natural Confectionery Co (Binka's) Natural Snakes and other
confectionery are all natural and do not include annatto. These products are not failsafe because of fruit flavours
and moderate salicylates in the natural colours. However, many failsafe
families report that these sweets are ideal for party bags and occasional
treats. Although definitely not to be used during the elimination diet or for
children who have not improved, they are a lot better than the alternatives for
school canteen managers who feel children need colours.
White
Rabbit lollies from
Chinese supermarkets, imported by Vihenthi Co P/L of
***Warning*** Gran’s fudge now includes antioxidant (320) and
preservative 202 in the margarine, not failsafe. Thanks to Cathy
(Jun 07) Peters Lemonade Icypoles, some
feedback: “these have at some stage been taken over by Nestle. My daughter
could not tolerate them at all before but now can tolerate 1-2 a week,
generally without a problem, unless she is already over her sals level for
other reasons. – thanks to Kathleen Daalmeyer from the
(Jun 07) Annies all fruit bar: for people who
are only avoiding additives, these are preservative-free but NOT failsafe
(chock full of salicylates and amines). In the fruit/veg section of Woolworths,
all natural, no additives, made from pure fruit (dehydrated fruit pulp) one bar
equals a 1/4 kg fresh fruit – thanks to Lesley.
(Sep 07) ADDITIVE FREE ONLY jelly (contain
salicylates and amines): Coles brand naturally coloured and flavoured jelly
crystals (not failsafe), Thanks to Jenny from Additive Education
(Nov 07)
Jane at Hullabaloo www.hullabaloofood.com: Acid
rock (sweets): Yes, it is true that rapid boiling drives of the sulphur
dioxide 220 in glucose syrup. http://www.hullabaloofood.com/store/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=4 - thanks to Leah
(Nov 07) ***Warning*** Sara
Lee Chocolate Bavarian and many other products with biscuit bases
now contain synthetic antioxidant TBHQ (319), now no longer OK for failsafers
who can tolerate amines.
Gluten free baking mix or
flours
Rice
flour: due to the Australian drought, McKenzies Rice flour with an expiry date
of Jan 05 was made from Thai rice which has a different texture and contains
some Jasmine rice (salicylates). McKenzies assure us that their rice flour is
not contaminated with salicylates in jasmine rice. Lotus Organic potato flour
and Lotus Arrowroot that are supposedly sulphite free - Lotus info: 03 9584
2245, email: prodinfo@kadac.com.au Lotus white rice flour which is made from Australian
white rice, available from health food stores in 5kg bags.
Cornflour:
(also called cornstarch or maize starch) is failsafe. Hi-Maize cornflour as in
Lansell cottage gf bread is a refined cornflour processed to make it high in
fibre and is failsafe. Maize flour, wholegrain maize flour and cornmeal such as
polenta is not failsafe. Cornstarches and flours contain sulphite residues from
processing, see below.
Sulphites
in gluten free flours: with the new labelling laws, it has become obvious that
many gluten free flours (cornflour, arrowroot, tapioca, sago and potato flour)
contain sulphites (220-228) which have been associated with the full range of
food intolerance symptoms including asthma, migraine, eczema, children’s
behaviour, irritable bowel and depression. Rice flour, millet flour and
buckwheat flour are sulphite free.
Preservative-free
Arrowroot from The Gluten Free Co, 213 Ruffles Road, Willowvale Qld 4209, 07
5546 7582, g.a.l@bigpond.com (USA website
www.glutenfree.com).
www.olivegreenorganics.com.au
bringing out amaranth and quinoa products (including pastas) in the near
future. Thanks to Ruth B.
Gluten-free
bread: GF Bread will never be as good as wheat bread. It usually tastes much
better toasted but can be useful for a portable meal. You need to check labels
on your local gluten free breads and try them all because quality varies. Most
highly recommended by children is A-maizing bread from Lansell Cottage which is
the closest to white bread and can be made in a breadmaker.
A-maizing
bread: based in
R&R
Bakery Products: another failsafer from
In
Rice
crumbs Orgran and Casalare All purpose Wheat free gluten-free Crumbs are made
from 100% toasted rice and are preservative 282-free.
Potato
magic is failsafe and gluten-free and has a wide range of uses. http://www.potatomagic.com/.
A gluten-free ice-cream
cone
and other interesting failsafe products now available from www.hullabaloofood.com
Japanese soba noodles are made from buckwheat
therefore failsafe and gluten free. Thanks to Louise Baczkow (
Toiletries
and pharmaceuticals
toothpaste: Both brands now
available contains a benzoate preservative, otherwise they get a "serious
furry mould" within 6 months. The amount is very small (about 0.15%) so if
it is not swallowed then you should not get more than you will be getting by
eating, say, some raw celery. We recommend Soul Pattinsons Plain toothpaste (at
their pharmacies in
shampoo/conditioner: low perfume, for
example, Melrose Everyday Rainwater soft shampoo base from health food stores,
Dermaveen from pharmacies, “Thought you would like to know that the children
had a reaction to Palmolive Kids shampoo and conditioner in one.(Very mild
smell).Levi could not keep still and had trouble sleeping, and Sarah cried for
2 hours until we gave her a bicarb bath”
– thanks Kylie.
Soap
and skin care Ego QV range from pharmacies are all fragrance
and colour free. The range includes liquid and bar soaps, moisturizers and
shave for men. See http://www.epharmacy.com.au/category.asp?id=535.
Natural
Cosmetics: Inika www.inika.com.au –
thanks to Liz
NEW:
Hair Products: Natural Oil Workers Unscented shampoo and
conditioner in a bright blue bottle from health food stores. It is quite economically
priced compared to other products ($9 for 500mL). I find it works far better
than any other products I have used, you don't get the usual build-up and it
has no smell at all. Ingredient List for the shampoo is: Coconut Oil, Mountain
fresh water, glycerine, sodium chloride, citric acid, natural emulsifier
derived from vegetable castor oil, canpres BNPD a herbal preservative. The
Conditioner is similar.- thanks to Anna
Hair
Products I use Natural Oil Workers Unscented shampoo and
conditioner and have been doing so for some time now. You get it from health
food shops, it is in a bright blue bottle and is quite economically priced
compared to other products ($9 for 500mL). It is based on coconut oil. I find
it works far better than any other products I have used, you don't get the
usual build-up and it has no smell at all. I was a little worried about
reacting to it but haven't had any noticeable problems. Ingredient List for the
shampoo is: Coconut Oil, Mountain fresh water, glycerine, sodium chloride,
citric acid, natural emulsifier derived from vegetable castor oil, canpres BNPD
a herbal preservative. The Conditioner is similar. – thanks to Anna
deodorant: low-perfume roll-on
deodorant, many failsafers recommend rock crystal from pharmacies and health
food stores. Some failsafers report reactions to
Fragrance
free spray on deodorant for men or women Ego 'QV
Naked Fragrance Free Aluminium Free Deodorant Spray' http://www.egopharm.com.au/EgoProducts/QVDeodorant/QVNakedDeodorant.html.
Available from pharmacies all over
medications: Herron paracetamol is
failsafe (avoid Panadol because of benzoate preservatives); in
Pain
medication I notice you mention Panadeine for extra pain relief
but also mention Panadol brand has preservative. I react to Panadol so avoid
all their products. I needed a stronger painkiller last week and went
searching. I found Terry White chemists own brand 'Extra Strong Pain Relief'
which has no gluten, yeast, artificial colouring, preservatives or alcohol.
According to the pharmacist is also has no flavourings. I used these for a week
without any major trouble so thought it might help for other people to know of
as it is pretty horrible to be worrying about having a major reaction to your
medication when you are already sick! – thanks to Anna
Painkillers:
paracetamol (acetaminophen), codeine, and a mixture of these two are considered to
be failsafe. Some brands such as Panadol may contain unlisted preservatives,
Herron brand does not. A failsafer writes ‘I notice you mention Panadeine for
extra pain relief but also mention Panadol brand has preservative. I react to
Panadol so avoid all their products. I needed a stronger painkiller last week
and went searching. I found Terry White chemists own brand 'Extra Strong Pain
Relief' which has no gluten, yeast, artificial colouring, preservatives or
alcohol. According to the pharmacist it also has no flavourings. I used these
for a week without any major trouble so thought it might help for other people
to know of as it is pretty horrible to be worrying about having a major
reaction to your medication when you are already sick!- thanks to Anna
Medications
& supplements ingredients: Pharmaceutical products such as supplements and
medications do not have to list all ingredients. You can usually find the
complete list of ingredients on the CMIs (Consumer Medicine Information
sheets). CMIs are now available on the internet at a new address: http://www.mydr.com.au/drugs/drugs.asp.
supplements: avoid multivitamins
with colours, flavours, PABA. MVM multivitamins are no longer recommended, use Macro M or Amcal One-A-Day; calcium supplements - Caltrate tablets must be plain
white (see supplements factsheet for more information); Probiotics are
generally failsafe, Natren DFA (Dairy Free Acidophilus) has been recommended by
a longterm sensitive failsafer. ELEVIT
vitamins (no preservatives, no flavour, no gluten but contains lactose are easy
to halve and crush for kids. Some dietitians are now recommending Elevit pregnancy supplements (half dose for children) http://www.elevit.com.au/im-a-new-mum/faqs.asp.
Thanks to Anne Hurman. See also Supplements
Factsheet.
Adult
multivitamins:
- Amcal
One-A-Day multivitamins should be back on the shelves
in April – thanks to Jodie
- Blackmores Slow Release Multi-Vitamin is the
only one in the range with no herbs. It does have one plant product which
acts as a gel (to provide the slow release effect) but this doesn’t seem
to provide any ‘flavours’ and so far have had no problems. – thanks to Liz and Anna.
NEW: at last, an RPA recommended vitamin supplement for children: Orthoplex
Children's Formula, see http://www.b2bworld.com.au/hp/category77_1.htm
Zinc
supplement update: Twin Laboratories
failsafe zinc you recommended - found an alternative supplier iHerb who ship to
**Product
Warning: Fluoride tablets recommended by your
dentist may contain artificial colour sunset yellow (110), unlisted on the
label because pharmaceuticals do not have to list all ingredients. If you ask
the manufacturer they are likely to tell you the colour is CI 15985. This is
another name for colour 110.
moisturiser and lip balm
-
Ingredients: ‘100% Lansinoh - hypoallergenic ultra pure anhydrous lanolin (USP
Modified Lonolin). No preservatives.'
Marketed for breastfeeding mothers for the treatment of sore nipples, it
is also recommended for use on dry or cracked skin, on chapped lips etc.
Available in pharmacies. It is fairly expensive but a failsafer says a 56 gram tube has lasted her for over two
years. - Thanks to Alison White
soap: Redwin Unperfumed
Sorbolene Moisturising Bar with Vitamin E and Glycerine has been recommended by
several failsafers, including one who reacts to Simple soap.
personal care products: Earthsentials
base products www.earthsentials.com
are free from fragrances • Beauty & the Bees products www.beebeauty.com unscented lip balm and
shampoo bar also available at Biome or the Soap Kitchen, see next • Biome
Living www.biome.com.au Shop 4 / 2
Latrobe Tce Paddington Qld, 07 3368 3009 for a range of fragrance free and
environmentally-friendly products including Logona henna Hair Colours • Soap
Kitchen www.soapkitchen.com.au 15
/ 572 King Street Newtown NSW, 02 9516 0018 for a range of fragrance free and
environmentally-friendly products including unflavoured Weleda Salt Toothpaste,
Logona Henna Hair Colours, Redgums soaps, Miessence Aroma Free deodorant •
Golden Glow www.goldenglow.com.au
or 1300 36 36 56 Ecover washing & cleaning range and cheapest Miessence
Aroma Free deodorant – thanks to Kyria. Also www.auroma.com.au
under on-line shop, base products, personal care and home use has additive-free
soaps, dishwashing liquid and bodycare products, but avoid those with
fragrances.
Unperfumed
shave gel: Schick Skin Protect Sensitive Shave Gel
Fragrance Free really is free from fragrance unlike many other Sensitive
products – thanks to Jodie http://www.cincottachemist.com.au/product_detail.php?crk=974685.
Makeup
hints from a failsafe dancer with severe eczema: a
mineral foundation, eye shadow and rouge from www.labreni.com.au, mascara from
www.ereperez.com, and a great red lipstick that doesn't make lips go puffy from
hemp organics www.colorganics.net – thanks
to Cathy
sunblock: preservative free
Megan Gale invisible zinc is available from health food stores, David Jones or
by mail order www.adorebeauty.com.au/adorebeauty/viewitem.asp?idproduct=2491. (Nov 07)
Are nanoparticles in sunblock a problem? Invisible zinc sunblocks are
useful for failsafers because they are additive-free and fragrance-free (e.g.
Megan Gale available from pharmacists and Invisible Zinc products including
Junior from www.invisiblezinc.com).
There is some concern about nanoparticles, decide for yourself: http://blogs.smh.com.au/science/archives/2006/11/whats_in_your_s.html
- thanks to Rebecca
Sunscreen: ’RPAH info says to avoid PABA (p-amino benzoic acid) in sunscreen and
lists the following: Sunsense low irritant & Toddler milk (EGO), Hamiltons, No Frills, Soul Pattinson's
Ultrablock’ – thanks to Mandy
sorbolene alternatives: preservative free skin
moisturizers and eczema creams in response to the question from the wound care
nurse in the last newsletter – thanks to Fay Diffin, Alison Walsh, Jessica from
Sydney, JB, Cathy Bannister, Merry Pepper, Amber Strong and others, several of
whom noted that they rarely needed eczma cream now they use the diet.
*Dermeze
ointment (a moisturiser for dry skin) was developed by
*
Ego brand of skin creams are low allergenic - they are made by dermatologists
in
*
The common additive triethanolamine(TEA) on skin contact may cause irritation,
redness and pain, especially on repeated contact. It is often used in cosmetics
to adjust pH and may cause an allergic reaction. To ensure that sorbolene is
free of this additive ask a local chemist to make a batch of pure sorbolene
with 10% glycerin (for added moisture retention).
*
I have had the most success with QV brand items from the chemist. I use QV Kids
Wash to wash my face (it's the only thing I've ever found which doesn't feel as
though it's burning), and I've found the creams and lotions to be safe. The
oatmeal hair wash is also safe and unperfumed.
*
Make It Yourself Sorbolene is available at website www.personalhealth.com.au This is a kit of ingredients to make your own
fresh and more effective sorbolene cream. It is possible to request
preservative free ingredients. You get a big tub of fresh cream all fresh and
works like a dream on rashes, etc.
*Lipobase
do a preservative free line of skin creams.
**WARNING** Numerous failsafers have
reported reactions to various fish oil supplements: “My six year old son
had an horrific adverse reaction to [a fish oil supplemement with flavouring]
and was waking up through the night on it, in fact, he asked me if he could
stop taking it”. - thanks to a failsafe father, NSW
feminine hygiene
products
: Johnson& Johnson have recently introduced a non-failsafe fragrance into
their Stayfree range of panty liners and pads but say they would welcome
consumer feedback about this. The makers of the Libra range assure us they have
no plans to add fragrance to their products. – thanks to Robin Fisher. Alternatives to disposable pads include the Diva Cup which is
made of silicone and reusable www.divacup.com
and cloth pads from WAHMs www.bestforbaby.com.au.Thanks to Cas
(Sep 07) Duncan's Ointment: all natural ingredients
including zinc oxide for lips, cracked heels, eczema, nappy rash http://www.scorkle.com.au/duncoint.html
- thanks to Michelle
Omo
Sensitive, Lux,
Dishwashing-up
liquids Hard to get
a hold of, but absolutely fantastic, is the Seventh Generation Free and Clear
Dishwashing Liquid (http://www.seventhgeneration.com/Free-and-Clear).
It is the only truly smell-free liquid and it works brilliantly – thanks to
Anna
Dishwasher
powders We recently got a new dishwasher. I made the mistake of
using the free Finish powerball tablet that came with it. It stank the whole
house out for days, I don't know how anyone can use that stuff. I use 'ECO
Store Auto Dishwash Powder' which has a mild citrus smell but is bearable.
There are no harsh chemicals in the powder which I think makes a big
difference. Vinegar makes a great rinse aid but mind and avoid the smell if you
are salicylate intolerant - I find it makes me feel quite ill. – thanks to
Anna. Squeek brand is supposed to be lower in chemicals, has no phosphate and
is Australian owned and made. “When I use Finish we can all smell it right
through the house but we can't smell Squeek at all.” Available from Woolworths
supermarkets, thanks to Debbie.
NEW:
Dishwashing-up liquids: ‘Seventh Generation Free and Clear
Dishwashing Liquid is hard to get a hold of, but absolutely fantastic
(http://www.seventhgeneration.com/Free-and-Clear).
It is the only truly smell-free liquid and it works brilliantly. They have a
whole range of free and clear products, I have not tested anything else but the
washing powder (I still prefer OMO Sensitive and AWARE sensitive). Bi-Lo and
Woolies are both stocking limited ranges of the cleaning and washing products
from Seventh Generation - it would be great if we could get them to stock the
dishwashing liquid’. – thanks to Anna
NEW:
Dishwasher powders: 'ECO Store Auto Dishwash Powder' which has a mild
citrus smell but is bearable. There are no harsh chemicals in the powder which
I think makes a big difference. I tend to just use a squirt of my smell free
dishwashing liquid if I don't want any smell at all. I made the mistake of
using the free Finish powerball tablet that came with our new dishwasher and it
stank the whole house out for days, I don't know how anyone can use that stuff.
Vinegar makes a great rinse aid but mind and avoid the smell if you are
salicylate intolerant - I find it makes me feel quite ill.’ – thanks to Anna
Soapnuts – billed as economical, allergy friendly and environmentally friendly,
these nuts from an Indian tree (sapindus mukorossi) contain saponin, a natural
soap. Just pop 6-8 shells into a cotton bag (provided) and place in your washing
machine. They clean effectively however will not fragrance your laundry. www.soapinanutshell.com.au.
Recommended by a failsafer, thanks to Sue
H.
Failsafe
furniture polish Linseed oil rubbed onto furniture or 1/4 cup
vinegar with a couple of drops of linseed oil – the vinegar pulls out the dirt
from the wood and the oil lubricates the wood so it doesn't dry out. The
vinegar should be white distilled vinegar as others could stain furniture. The
linseed oil should always be food grade as the oil you buy at hardware stores
has synthetic chemicals in it that could stain furniture. Thanks to Debbie.
For
home cleaning, we recommend only soda bicarbonate, low perfume hand dishwashing
liquid, automatic dishwasher powder, vinegar, microfibre cloths and steam mops.
Avoid perfumed cleaners, airfresheners, toilet disinfectants etc, anything in
an aerosol pack, spot cleaners, carpet cleaners, see factsheet on fumes and
perfumes.
Avoid
fragrances: perfumes, perfumed cosmetics, essential oils, massage oils,
aromatherapy, herbal remedies, strong smelling plants and flowers.
McLintocks Vanilla Fresh Fridge wipe
& deodoriser: ingredients: ethyl alcohol, water, ethyl vanillin, vanillin - thanks to Jessica
Household cleaners: for dishwashing
powders, Herbon brand of dishwashing powder (from health food stores) is well
tolerated by some exquisitely sensitive kids and Finish is the next best. Enjo
cleaning products just use the cloth and water - no chemicals whatsoever. http://www.enjo.com.au –
thanks to Susie Moen
White
cotton underwear for children with eczema is available from Target stores,
thanks to Llewellyn W.
Certified
organic cotton underwear, bras,
socks and clothing for babies, children and adults - made in
Biodynamic
(Demeter certified) wool bedding, including pillows, quilts, toppers and futons
manufactured in
http://littlelollyshop.com/ the Little
Lolly Shop has Christmas Starpops, Failsafe gluten-free Candy Canes in two
sizes, as well as “South Poles” (colour-free), Lollipops and bags of pillow
shaped Rock Candy:
www.granmas1908cordials.com.au for magic cordial and elderberry cordial
(appears failsafe).
fruitwine@netxp.com.au for failsafe
persimmon wine.
www.carobana.com.au
for carobcoated honeycomb and bananas
www.begadriedfoods.com.au
for dried pears
www.kakadudriedfruits.com.au
for dried mangoes
www.greataussiefood.com.au for
plain toothpaste and some failsafe foods
www.ozemart.com.au has failsafe foods
among others that are not
(Nov 07)
Food delivered for babies and young children by Brisbane-based Little Tummy
Tucker, which specialises in low-allergy, delicious and nutritious food with an
emphasis on quality ingredients.Delivery includes
(Feb08)
Organic and natural foods, some failsafe https://www.goodness.com.au/default.asp
(Mar09) For
additive-free but not fully failsafe (due to salicylates and amines) mail-order
http://www.freefromadditive.com.au
**** WARNING**** McCormick's "Natural Sea Salt" contains 99% sea salt
and 1% Natural cardamon flavouring, so not failsafe due to salicylates - thanks to Jessica
(Jun 07) Psyllium: unflavoured Psyllium husks such as Sunsol (www.sunsol.com.au 1800 625 658) or Meriram
(www.meriram.com.au) available in
supermarkets and health food stores are failsafe. Beware of additives and
salicylates in flavoured pharmacy products: “Metamucil in the Smooth Orange,
Smooth Lemon/Lime and Granular Sunset contains food colouring 110 but it is not
listed as such because it is an American product. It is listed as yellow FCF CI
15985. I was taking the Lemon/Lime flavour for my irritable bowel symptoms
whilst trying to figure out why some of my other food intolerance symptoms
(irritability, insomnia and urticaria) were increasing. Their newest product
FibreCaps contain Red 40 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake - according to our
classification system, these are the harmful colours 129, 133 and 110 respectively”.
- thanks to Liz. As with other seeds there have been reports of IgE mediated
allergies (including rare fatal anaphylaxes) especially in nurses who have a
high exposure to psyllium.
(Nov 07) ***Warning*** natural colours: I
tried the new Queen all Natural Rainbow Food colours in some Magic cordial for
my daughter. She had a reaction within 24 hours (she gets sore genitals
whenever she reacts to something) of trying the yellow colour (E100)
[Colour(100) is curcumin from tumeric, so contains some salicylates.] - thanks
to Sher
(Nov 07) ***Warning*** weight loss plans may contain
additives. A weight loss dieter wrote: ‘It didn't occur to me to
scan the ingredients (which I do in ALL food products before buying) as I
naively thought when it said "healthy and nutritious" that it was
true. It was only when I kept becoming
hugely bloated with griping abdominal pains that I decided to check the
ingredients and found Flavour Enhancer 621 (MSG) and other additives.’
Food
thermos I recently brought a food thermos, which is a short
squat version of a hot liquids thermos, to pack stuff for my kids school
lunches. It's great for winter as I can send chicken pasta, roasts, soups,
stews - all of which have heaps of nutrients and they're happy to eat. called
"Thermos FUNtainer", and they keep food hot for 5 hours, cold for
7. 290ml so not massive but big enough
to fill a kid's tummy plus my kids complain if I pack stuff that takes too long
too eat ie too much or too big, because they want to get out and play at lunch
time. They're $18.99 from Kmart. Thanks to Cherie
Homemade Donuts With
the Ronson home donut maker, failsafe children can have a treat like everyone
else - fresh donuts to share when their friends come to visit. The basic donut
mix is failsafe, and fresh, hot donuts can be dusted with caster sugar instead
of cinnamon. Shop around as prices vary, and don’t forget E-Bay - thanks to
Anne Hurman and other members of finB
Campers Dream icecream balls Great
fun for the whole family and you can make whatever type of failsafe flavor you
like. Fill one side with ice and salt and the tube with milk, sugar and vanilla
or whatever. Pop the lids on to seal it up and roll it round on the floor until
it’s ice cream. Takes about 30 min. Here's the link and they deliver to
- thanks to
Michelle Jurgens
Sunbeam
home Fairy Floss (cotton candy) makers have been
strongly recommended. One tablespoon of sugar and ten minutes entertainment
provides the kids with a failsafe treat. Great value for $59.00. - thanks to Andra Somerville and Sheryl
Sibley.
(Jun 07) Thermomix: For old-fashioned cooking without
additives made quick and easy with technology from Germany, the Thermomix
weighs, chops, grates, grinds, minces, heats, stirs, kneads, mixes, cooks,
bakes and cleans itself. Makes a custard from scratch in 7 minutes; bread,
pizzas, pasta etc. Cyndy O’Meara of Changing Habits says “My biggest wish is
that this machine was around when I had small children”. See
www.thermomix.com.au We would like to
hear from any failsafers who have used it (suedengate@ozemail.com.au). (Sep
07) THERMOMIX FEEDB
Thermomix
feedback. I bought my Thermomix about 6 months ago
and absolutely love it ... and it is certainly making failsafe easier. So far
today I have used it to make pear smoothie for morning tea, process everything
(all at once including eggs) for the veggie hater frittata for lunch (which my
veggie hating 3yr old loved), and for afternoon tea have used it to make the
pikelet mix. Tonight I will mince then cook the meat in it. Fantastic. I leave
it on the benchtop as it is used so often and is so easy. I love your cookbook.
Very easy to use and yummy results. –
thanks to Nichola
D.A.R.E.
(Delicious and Responsible Eating) is a friendly additive-free, gluten-free
café in The Rocks, Sydney. Helpful owner Lee Freeman will
prepare failsafe food with advance warning and we are intending to working on
some failsafe menu items: Shop 22, The Rocks Centre, Playfair Street (just
across from Lowenbrau Keller on the corner with Argyle St) http://www.menulog.com.au/dare
Failsafe foods in the UK
(Sep
07) NEW: UK shopping list at http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/information/shoppinglistUK.htm
- thanks to MaryJane, Lyn, Jan and members
of the FailsafeUK group
Kettle
Chips in the
The
failsafe brand of rice puffs is Waitrose Rice Pops.
Waitrose
is a fairly upmarket, south of
a packaged
flapjack traybakes and slices (contain golden
syrup, though, which is probably Lyle's).
Rachel's organic vanilla and maple syrup flavoured
yoghurts.
Maple
Butter is concentrated maple syrup in spread form, which the boys like on
toast.
-
many thanks to our
Lemonade: Schweppes regular lemonade here is not failsafe due to preservative 202
whereas 7Up in the
Shallots
(as shown on the
A2
Milk: A2 milk is not available in the
Cravendale
milk -
Report from a
Here’s
a brief list of brand-name foods recommended by
Snyder's
Pretzels
Walkers
shortbread
Safeway
Select Very Maple cookies
Some
Ecce breads at Wal-Mart
Veganaise
(has some salicylates)
Barbara's
brand shortbread
Arrowhead
Mills dry cold cereals
Many
Bob's Red Mill products
Heartland
Industries Pure Maple lollypops (a Canadian product)
Earth
Balance dairy-free margarine
Wild
Oats gluten-free chocolate chip cookies (www.wildoats.com) (amines), also
unsulfited papaya spears (contain amines)
Gluten-free
oats in the
Citric acid
is available cheaply online for failsafers in countries where
it is difficult to find: http://www.iherb.com/ProductsList.aspx?c=1&cid=8018718637422832197&gclid=CPiJxZLXiJECFRIUagoddmTUFw
More
information from the failsafe
Send
'subscribe' in the subject line to failsafeUSA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Some Australian-American terms, with thanks to the Failsafe
·
biscuits: crackers or
cookies
·
castor sugar: powdered
sugar, very fine white sugar, e.g. processed plain white sugar in your food
processor
·
cordial: a drink base
similar to Kool-Aid but sold as a liquid
·
cornflour: corn starch
·
cold pressed: expeller
pressed
·
eggs (raw) shouldn’t be
eaten in the
·
esky: cooler
·
fairy floss - cotton
candy
·
fruit and vegetables
choko: chayote,
vegetable pear
marrow: squash
pawpaw (yellow is
failsafe): papaya (often red) or pawpaw
rockmelon: cantaloupe (green version
is honeydew)
shallots: green onions, shallots
sultanas: golden
raisins
swedes: rutabaga, rutabaga, yellow
turnip
·
glucose syrup: White
Karo syrup (corn based)
·
golden syrup (Lyle's
Golden Syrup is becoming more available in
·
grilled: broiled (the
Australian barbeque is the
·
icypoles: popsicles
·
icing: frosting
·
icing sugar:
confectioner’s sugar (sometimes containing added cornstarch in both countries)
·
jam: jelly
·
jelly: jello
·
lamingtons: cubes of
sponge cake, normally dipped in chocolate and coconut
·
lamington tin (swiss
roll tin): similar in size to the American standard 13" x 9" pan
·
mince (as in beef):
ground beef
·
muesli: muesli if
uncooked "raw" oat grain breakfast cereal not sugared and often with
dried fruit, and granola if baked oat grain cereal always sweetened, often with
dried fruit and nuts plus flavorings
·
Nuttelex is a dairy-free
margarine: Shedd's Willow Run dairy-free soybean margarine (if you can tolerate
soy), phone toll free 1800 735 3554.
·
paracetamol (e.g.
Panadol): acetominophen (e.g. Tylenol), often with cornstarch as the filler.
·
Rice Bubbles: Rice
Krispies (contains malt, not gluten-free - Erewhon Gluten Free Crispy Rice
Cereal is a
·
rissoles: beef or lamb
patties
·
sports drinks: thirst
quenchers e.g. Gatorade and Pedialyte
·
soft drinks: soda, soda
pop, pop
·
soda water: club soda
·
scones: biscuits
·
sugar: pure refined
white can sugar. Beet sugar may contain sulphite residues which can affect
extra sensitive individuals. Corn syrup may contain some salicylates. Cane
syrup is moderate in salicylates.
·
sweets, lollies,
confectionery: candies
How
to buy fresh meat in the USA: a reader
tells us that to buy fresh ‘carcass beef’ from Fiesta Mart stores in the
Houston, Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth
areas, you would need to contact the butcher at your store and ask specifically
to have your meat cut from fresh carcass beef. You can ask for the ‘kill date’
to know how fresh the meat is, and you can also find out which day the butcher
receives carcass shipments. ‘Box meat’
can be considered fresh and still be three months old. – thanks
to a failsafer from
