FAILSAFE
#54
Newsletter of the Food Intolerance Network
October - December 2007
|
The Food Intolerance Network supports people worldwide using a low-chemical elimination diet free of additives, low in salicylates, amines and flavour enhancers (FAILSAFE) for health, behaviour and learning problems. |
To see this FAILSAFE Newsletter in colour on the web: http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/newsletters/FAILsaf54.html
Also available as a downloadable PDF file www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/newsletters/FAILsaf54.pdf
The FAILSAFE Newsletter is available free by email. Just send your email
address to failsafe_newsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
THIS MONTH
Food and the
Australian federal election
International Registry
of Food Additive Reactions (IRFAR)
Research:
School trial a huge success.
The devil in the milk
In brief: Additives in medication
New
additive in
Depression
and food
In-store
fragrances
Correction
on Nurofen
Artificial
butter flavour
Now targeting… artificial
colours (102,110, 129 and 133) in Arnott’s Tim Tams and preservative 282
(calcium propionate) in Tip Top muffins and crumpets.
Readers' stories: [575] - [599]
Product updates: detailed help and information.
Questions: detailed help and information.
Cooks Corner: BBQ chicken escalopes, Carob
custard cups, Gooey Caramel Slice 
Hello everyone
‘We’re winning the war!’ wrote one failsafer after the
publication of a multimillion dollar
– Sue
Dengate
Food and the
Australian federal election
The Greens want junk food advertising banned during
children's television hours, Labor seems to have retreated from a previous call
to ban junk food advertising, and the Coalition position according to the Prime
Minister is that parents are responsible for their children's diets and
governments should not interfere. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2004/s1133814.htm;
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/31/2077742.htm?site=elections/federal/2007
No party has a written position on food additives at
this stage. The Federal Conference of the National Party passed a motion in August
2007 working towards a ban on food additives not permitted overseas, tightening
the 5% loophole and seeking mandatory warnings about additives not permitted
for young children. Senator Kerry Nettle, Green's spokesperson on health and up
for re-election to the Senate, said in November 2007 that food additives shown
to be harmful to children's health, behaviour and learning should be removed
from the food supply.
International
Registry of Food Additive Reactions (IRFAR)
We are reorganising our database to form a food additive
reactions register similar to the US-based National Weight Control Registry,
see www.nwcr.ws. To join, please write to suedengate@ozemail.com.au who will
email you a form. If you have written before, let us know so we can update your
details. At this time we are particularly interested in reactions to annatto
160b, synthetic antioxidants such as BHA 320, and sorbates.
|
Research |
In September this year, new research confirmed
what parents have been saying for 30 years – that some children are affected by
food additives. Led by Professor Jim Stevenson from the University of
Southampton, the study showed that artificial colours and preservative sodium
benzoate in the diet could cause increased hyperactivity and loss of
concentration in children whether they had extreme hyperactivity (ADHD) or not.
Following the release of the multi-million dollar government-funded study,
lawyers warned that regardless of whether food additives are acceptable
according to food regulators, there may be product liability if there is any
long-term harm from the use of a harmful food additive. According to lead
author Professor Jim Stevenson from
As a result of the study, all of the
leading
Full study - http://www.precaution.org/lib/food_additives_and_hyperactivity.070906.pdf
Lawyers - http://www.foodlegal.com.au/db/sep07_1/fsanz_responses_to_food_additives
Psychological threat - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7004862.stm
Confectionery giants - http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=79751
Food Intolerance Network media releases – www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info\Breaking
news.htm
School trial a huge
success
Our third additive-free school trial took
place at
The devil in the
milk
Professor Keith Woodford at
Diet not working as
well as you'd hoped?
One tiny mistake can make a huge difference. For
fine-tuning, see the Checklist of common
mistakes. Readers tell us this list is very useful.
|
In brief |
Additives in medication: manufacturers of prescription medications
are not required to list all the ingredients in their products. For a complete
list of what's in your medications, see the Australian Prescription Products
(APP) Guide online. This guide contains 2000 free Consumer Medicine Information
listings (CMIs) updated monthly, http://www.appgonline.com.au/browse.asp?t=cmi. For custom made additive-free medications,
ask a Compounding Pharmacist (search the online Yellow Pages for Compounding).
New additive in
Depression and food: http://youtube.com/watch?v=SJLLZcZXWB0
In-store fragrances: From luxury jewellers to fashion
chains to coffee shops, retailers are pumping fragrances into their stores to
lure customers inside.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-nose-knows-and-increasingly-it-buys/2007/08/12/1186857348311.html?sssdmh=dm16.273579;
www.ecomist.com.au. One failsafer
commented: ‘I am horrified and outraged - already I can’t safely let my boys
use the public toilets when we go anywhere, due to scent sprayers’. Is anyone
prepared to appear on TV talking about the effect of such fragrances on them or
their children? – contact suedengate@ozemail.com.au.
Correction on Nurofen: in story [561], we suggested that
Nurofen (ibuprofen) was a salicylate-containing medication. Technically Nurofen
doesn’t contain salicylates, however, most salicylate sensitive patients have
cross sensitivity to it and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as
naproxen and diclofenac. Jenkins C and others, Systematic review of prevalence
of aspirin induced asthma and its implications for clinical practice, BMJ.
2004;328(7437):434. I would like to hear from anyone else who has seen a
behavioural reaction to Nurofen. (suedengate@ozemail.com.au).
Some manufacturers are rushing to
remove artificial butter flavour from microwaveable popcorn since the finding that popcorn
workers lung, an incurable and sometimes fatal lung condition, can also affect
consumers, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/us/05popcorn.html.
|
Now
targeting… artificial colours
(102,110, 129 and 133) in Arnott’s Tim Tams and preservative 282 (calcium
propionate) in Tip Top muffins and crumpets |
Many thanks to all those in failsafe groups who signed
the recent petition against additives in school canteens. In this issue we are
again joining forces with Julie Eady and the WA-based additive action group
Additive Alert.
(1)
artificial colours (102,110, 129 and 133) in Arnott’s Tim Tams. You
can contact Arnott’s through Contact Us on their website www.arnotts.com.au with the message
something like: “I am concerned about the use of artificial colours because of
their effects on children’s behaviour and learning ability. I would like
artificial colours 102,110, 129 and 133 to be removed from Tim Tams. Thank
you.” Julie suggests that you can use the following answers to get the form to
work: packet size (200gm), use by date(
(2)
preservative 282 (calcium propionate) in Tip Top muffins and crumpets:
“Thank you for removing preservative 282 (calcium propionate) from your sliced
bread range. I am concerned about the use of this preservative in other bakery
products because of its effects on children’s behaviour and learning ability. I
would like to see this additive removed from Tip Top muffins and crumpets.
Thank you.” www.tiptop.com.au.
|
Readers' stories |
[599] Anita’s speech: a 10-year-old tells her school
about food intolerance (November 2007) WINNER OF THE COURAGE AWARD
Near the end of 2006
I was getting sick and tired of all the kids at my old school ripping me off
and teasing me for being on a ‘diet’. In October I had a school project to do,
something that we were passionate about. I asked my teacher if I could talk
about the diet. So I spoke in front of 380 children, parents and teachers at
“Parents,
Teachers and Classmates, in June 2005 mum put myself and my
brother on a diet as I was very hated and always getting into trouble and even
being called ‘Hekyl and Jekyll’ by our school counsellor. No matter how hard I
tried, I could not seem to behave better. At first we hated the ‘diet’ because
we couldn't have our ‘normal’ food and we did not like being teased…(see http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/stories/story8.htm)
[596] From ‘severe inattentive ADD’ to ‘normal’ due to
diet (November
2007)
In 2006 my quiet
7 year old daughter was diagnosed by her paediatrician as having severe
inattentive ADD. He offered Ritalin to help the symptoms. I was not comfortable
giving her this …(see http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/stories/story8.htm)
[595] Filling our house with laughter (November 2007)
My husband and I
watched a news program on the children at
[594] Amazing changes in difficult two-year-old (November 2007)
I was recently on
a forum, having a whinge about my 2.5 year old son, and how terribly difficult
he is. I was asking advice on ADD and ADHD. A lady on the forum offered to lend
me your books ‘Fed up’ ‘Fed up with ADHD’ and the cookbook. I took her up on
this offer so as not to appear rude, but have to admit to thinking ‘It's not
going to help me’. I started reading ‘Fed up with ADHD’ first. Well, you could
have substituted your daughter's name for my son, your name for mine and so on.
I nearly cried…(see http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/stories/story8.htm).
[593] Additive-free improvements in Generalised
Anxiety Disorder with panic attacks (November 2007)
My daughter who
is 16 has Generalised Anxiety Disorder, with panic attacks. So I have tried to
keep her on a mostly additive free diet. It has been a bit tricky, but so long
as I have something ready for her after school, she doesn't care what she eats.
I haven't tried to restrict her when she's out with friends, but she takes her
lunch to school and only eats the bad stuff probably on the weekend. After
getting serious about cutting out additives I suddenly noticed one night that our
house had become a lot calmer. I guess it wasn't overnight (didn't really
expect it to be) but I all of a sudden realised that things were travelling
very smoothly. So I definitely believe that cutting out additives have made a
big difference to her whole personality, and produced a calmer household all
round. [Update one month later, this family is now reducing salicylates]. – be
email
[592] Grandparents notice temperament change after 28
years of marriage
(November 2007)
My husband and I
are doing the diet to support our grandsons. As a spin off, my headaches which I
blamed on shift work and lack of sleep have disappeared except two times when
we didn't have the boys and ate Chinese or Thai, both times I woke through the
night with a raging headache. My husband who has been short tempered through
our 28 years of marriage, has had a change in temperament/ behaviour, for the
better. - by email, NSW
[591] Help from compounding pharmacists (November 2007)
Additive-free antibiotics from compounding pharmacist
: Our 3 month old breastfed baby has to take
oral antibiotics so I explained to our local pharmacist that I wanted no added
colours, preservatives or flavours. He had no idea what was in antibiotics
other than the active ingredient, conceded that I knew more about it than he
did, and gave me a contact for a compounding pharmacist. They made me up a
liquid that is just the antibiotic suspended in water, with nothing else added
and made it concentrated so that I could give her less at one time. It tastes
bitter but she takes it squirted into her mouth with a syringe with no
problems. – by email
Additive-free supplements from compounding pharmacist
: When my son needed an iron supplement with
Vitamin C, I spoke to our compounding chemist - a very useful person, I think
everyone with dietary issues should have one! He went through everything and
came up with three alternatives - two were the supplements listed on your web
site, the third was to put his skills to work and make up a special mixture in
the necessary dose for my child. I think I need to get a tattoo on my eyelids
that says ‘if child requires medicine - speak to Compounding Chemist’. [Search
the Yellow Pages online under Compounding, there are 66 Australia-wide]. – by
email
[590]: 635: Possible Ribo Rash in a 74-year-old (November 2007)
Three months ago,
my father aged 74 who has never reacted to anything - plant, animal or food -
had a major reaction of a welt like rash on the trunk especially in the groin
area and under arms. It was enough to go to the doctor who simply dismissed
this as hives and prescribed steroid tables with no real explanation of what
had happened. His wife thought there must be a connection as it was half an
hour after eating a packet pizza containing 635 that they hadn't eaten before.
A similar incident then happened about a week later, after eating [a ‘healthy’
prepared frozen dinner also containing 635] for the first time. Now they avoid
such packaged food and he has not experienced it since, although he has often
eaten in restaurants with no ill effects. – by email from NSW
See http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/stories/story8.htm
for
[589] 635: Possible Ribo Rash in a 19-year-old (November 2007)
[588] 635: Long distance hiker and ribo rash (November 2007)
[587] 635: Ribo Rash from 30-year-old traditional
recipe using a packet soup base (November 2007)
[586] 631: Racing heart beat after flavour enhancer
631 (November 2007)
[584] 160b: ‘Croup cough’ from annatto (see also Annatto factsheet) (November 2007)
My four-year-old
son has peanut, egg and dairy allergies and is anaphylactic so as you can
imagine I spend hours reading labels. We have been buying So-Good products for
about two years and generally he is fine. Recently he has been having the
creamy vanilla for dessert and having what I thought was a croup cough. I soon
realised the nights he didn't have it there was no "croup cough".
After several calls to Sanitarium and speaking with the dietician, I have
worked out that it must be the annatto E160b causing a reaction. – by email
[583] 160b: Head banging and annatto (see also Annatto factsheet) (November 2007)
Just thought I would
let you know, after your recent talk in Maitland I went back to work and told a
friend about annatto 160b as her two-year-old daughter had been splitting her
head open head banging. My friend has kept her daughter off the annatto for a
week now and her daughter has stopped head banging. She still gets in the
position when she is throwing a tantrum but doesn't bang her head. Amazing!
This is only additive she has removed! – by email, NSW
[582] ‘Sensitive ears’ in an 18-month-old (November 2007)
My maternal
health nurse suggested that I contact you about my 18-month-old son’s sensitive
ears. They were tested when he was young and were fine. He has started speaking
a few words and seems to comprehend things you ask him to do, but when he is
around noise he cries his eyes out and needs to be taken away, simple things
like singing happy birthday in a group, a group clapping, and sporting venues
will bring it on. He also puts his fingers in his ears and blocks them every
now and again as if they are annoying him. He eats a lot of organic veg and
fruit. [two months later …] I bought your cookbook and started cutting down on
tomatoes, dried fruits and fresh fruit, and I have noticed a huge change. We
even took him to the soccer in
[581] Three responses on behavioural effects of Down Syndrome
(September 2007)
"A great improvement in my son who has Down Syndrome", Diet, sneaky poos and Down Syndrome, “Low
salicylate diet for DS”…(see http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/stories/story8.htm)
[580] Tics disappeared on day 10 (September 2007)
Our son was diagnosed with
Tourette's at the age of six. He had substantial tics, but no behavioural
problems. I decided to apply the complete elimination diet (not an easy
process.) By day 7, I was quite despondent with no obvious improvements and
then miraculously, by day 10, his tics had disappeared. He had been
experiencing severe eye, mouth and head jerking tics for over 2 years. I
haven't yet narrowed the tics to any specific reaction. Thanks for your amazing
website - it definitely saved our boy from a very troubling syndrome. - by
email
See http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/stories/story8.htm
for
[579] 319,320: Tic disorder related to antioxidants 319-320 (TBHQ and
BHA) (September 2007)
[578] Tics related to salicylates in summer fruits (September 2007)
[577] Motor tics related to amines (chocolate) and additives (lollies)
(September 2007)
[576] Vocal tics related to non-failsafe 'treats' (September 2007)
[597] One liners (November 2007)
We were pressured
to put our child on medication at the age of five, and it had a negative effect
on him. We then began to rethink our options and decided to go totally
failsafe, within days we had what could be considered a normal child (from
Failsafe newsletter #54 talking point).
Thank you for
writing your fantastic recipe book. We have been using it for a while and have
recently gotten "Friendly Foods" as well and as good as it is for a
lot of stuff, I'm SO grateful for the simple, family friendly recipes in your
book – by email.
I was happy to
see our school tuckshops changing their menu but disappointed they only looked
at fat content and not additives. Our tuckshop sells an icy drink which is
loaded with preservatives and artificial colours. No wonder there are so many
children going to the Behaviour Support Room. – by email, Qld.
We have just
spent 3 weeks on the elimination diet.
We are amazed at the positive change in all of us, (a hyperactive,
asthmatic, eczema-stricken three year old boy; a 40 year old dad who has
suffered from chronic asthma all his life; and a 34 year old mum who thought
she felt pretty healthy ... until the last three weeks, where I have felt
better than ever). – Julie.
I am 32 and have
been feeling ill for a while. Without realising it I had been filling myself
with additives in soft drinks and packet snacks. Now after two weeks
additive-free I am feeling great, lots of energy, no muscle aches, no
headaches! – by email.
Through the
elimination diet I have learned I am sensitive to salicylates, amines (very) and
milk. I never expected milk. When I dropped mil, my nose opened up. When I
challenged it, my nose got stopped up again. – by email,
I recently went
to eat some store bought coleslaw from the supermarket and had a look at the
ingredients: colours 102, 110 and preservatives 211, 202, boy was I
shocked! I want people to realise how
easy it can be to read the back of a packet. Taking the no additive challenge
does not cost a cent more, if anything it is cheaper in your weekly shopping. –
Angie.
We have been
trying our best to avoid all the nasties on your list and our son has finally
begun to say words sometimes linking 3 or 4 together (he is 3 and a half!) and
he is an angel to live with - I never thought he would talk, so it is a true
miracle and we are sticking to our new diet! – by email, ACT.
We saw the school
program on Today Tonight and my eight-year-old son looked at me every time one
of his symptoms (asthma, bed wetting, sneaky poos, cradle cap, irritability,
poor concentration) was listed. I thought I was a pretty healthy provider of
food as I do a lot of home cooking but it is scary to see what is in some of
your everyday foods. – by email, SA
|
Product updates |
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.
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
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
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.
Eatingsafe
website with food labels you can read at home makes shopping easier: www.eatingsafe.com
- thanks to
Antidotes:
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.
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
Gluten-free
bakery in
Nemar
natural Hundreds & Thousands available to Coles,
Woolworth's & IGA, but you might have to request them - thanks to Tanya
Failsafe
Sausages in
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
***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.
***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.
***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
***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.
***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.’
|
Your questions |
Q. I came across "1422 -
thickener" in a packet of frozen meals. What is this please and is it a no
no? We really enjoy your informative site.
A. Thickeners
are only a problem for coeliacs and others who are very sensitive to gluten.
Also called modified starches, thickeners 1400-1450 may contain trace amounts
of gluten if they have been derived from wheat. If gluten is in the product, it
will be listed on the label.
Q. I would like your opinion
on whether fresh coriander is failsafe or not. Also interested in seeing if
there is a difference between fresh coriander and ground seed?
A. Technically,
fresh coriander is moderate in salicylates. It contains 0.20 mg per 100 mg
(compared to fresh parsley leaves with 0.08 and Red Delicious apple with 0.19,
according to the Swain et al 1985 analyses). An occasional small amount is
probably okay for most salicylate sensitive people, but I recommend caution if
using it in a product you eat every day. It is so easy for salicylates to build
up when you are not looking. Ground coriander seed was not tested but you would
expect it to be much higher in salicylates.
Q. My son’s aggression has
been increasing. He has been eating a lot of the new all natural jelly cups,
strawberry flavour (ingredients: sugar, thickener (401), food acids (355,331),
mineral salt (341), flavour, colour (120).) What do you think, is this jelly
failsafe?
A. Those
jelly cups are fine for families who are simply going additive-free but they
are not failsafe because of the strawberry flavour which contains natural
chemicals called salicylates. Salicylates can cause the same problems as
additives if consumed in large doses or by sensitive people. Note that colour
(120, cochineal) doesn’t cause behaviour problems but because it is made from
insects it should be used with caution by children with a family history of
food allergy (also not kosher).
Q I feel very confused about which is the
lesser of two evils - the trans fats in butter (which is listed as 'natural
trans fats' - what does that mean???) or the preservative 202.
A. There
have always been natural trans fats in some foods. We ourselves eat pure butter
(Mainland Buttersoft from NZ) and totally avoid 202. We also avoid synthetic
trans fats. Nuttelex additive-free dairy-free margarine is low in trans fats.
However, we minimise our intake of saturated fats including butter. For
example, when baking I will often choose to make muffins or a cake recipe with
vegetable oil rather than rather than butter or margarine. For vegetable oil,
we use canola oil. It's a monounsaturate with one of the best omega ratios
despite scientific-seeming internet criticism probably started by an opposing
industry. Olive oil is similar but we can't eat it because of salicylates.
Q. I recently asked our
Swedish food safety authorities if they do tests on additives themselves, or do
they rely only on the tests done by the producers of the additives? They
answered that neither they, nor the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), do
any tests at all. The approval of an additive is based solely on tests
performed by the producer of the additive. Isn´t this a bit like asking Phillip
Morris if smoking is safe? – Stefan from
A. It’s
even worse than that – before additives are approved there are no tests at all
regarding their effects on children’s health, behaviour and learning – and
there is no monitoring afterwards. When consumers report adverse effects, they
are advised to carry out their own double blind placebo controlled studies.
Q. I found the following radio story a bit of a worry: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/20/2095831.htm [A leading CSIRO scientist says there is no
reason to fear that future gene technology will threaten food safety. Deputy
chief of plant industry research, Dr TJ Higgins, says consumers have been using
oil from genetically modified cotton for the past 10 years. Most of the fish
and chips that we eat are cooked in the oil from cotton seed, and there are 33
other foods have been approved for consumption. "So there are already many
products that are in the food chain that we have been consuming safely."]
A. We are worried too. Dr Higgins says there are strict
regulations to protect consumer food safety, but as we have already seen,
regulations about food additives haven't done anything to protect our children.
Here's what you can do. This Saturday, vote for your local Green candidate and
vote Green in the Senate. The Greens have a strong policy about GM foods,
including mandatory full labelling. Of course they won't win, but every vote
sends a message and if there are some Greens in the Senate, there is a chance
of controlling what happens with GM foods.
|
Around the groups: getting in touch |
Can
you help?
A woman using diet for interstitial cystitis would
like to talk to similar. Write to suedengate@ozemail.com.au.
A TV Company is looking for families for a TV
food/nutrition series who know their diet is unhealthy but would appreciate
some free advice on how to improve it. They want families, preferably in
Sydney, who don t usually read food labels and have not yet investigated any
health problems that may be being caused by the food they are eating. To find
out more, please call Dominique Pile, Becker Entertainment, Artarmon – 02 8425
1118, dominiquep@beckers.com.au
Talking
point
Previously we asked “Is there a short simple way of explaining
why you are doing the diet that people will understand?” To see a range of
interesting answers, click here.
New talking point: a reader from
Support
There are now over 90 support
contacts in 47 locations in
Kids page:
contributions welcome – regularly updated http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/extras/kidspage.htm.
New and updated factsheets and
discussion sheets:
Tics, tic
disorder, Tourette symptoms - http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Facttics.htm
Failsafe gardening
– updated seasonally
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Factgarden.htm
Behavioural
symptoms of Down Syndrome and diet -
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Symptomdown.htm
Talks
None planned until May 2008.
Brochures
Food
Intolerance brochure now in Dutch (thanks Peter), French
(thanks Ariane), Italian (thanks
Helen), Portuguese (thanks Carla) Spanish (thanks Daniela), Nepali (thanks Sunita) and
Printable trifold brochures on food intolerance and
oppositional defiance are available. We'll post two free that you can copy, or
you can buy bulk copies at cost $A0.26 each plus postage. See instructions on
the website for accessing pdf versions. Email confoodnet@ozemail.com.au with
enquiries. We loved this comment from one satisfied failsafer: "Ah, the answer to my prayers. I had no
idea the brochure even existed, but thanks so much for directing me to it. I am
not very Internet savvy, however I found it easy enough. Regarding possible
opposition to failsafeing within the child care setting ... now all I have to
do is hand over a copy of this and let them ask questions! Thanks again. I
highly recommend everyone print this out if you don't already have a copy, it
sure cuts out the "but WHY can't your kid have (insert food here)?"
questions. Great for grandparents too."
|
Cook’s corner |
Hints
* for quick chicken nuggets with a
batter-like texture: slice chicken breast fillets, coat with flour, dip in
beaten egg and shallow fry, thanks to Cameron
* Brussels sprout puree (made with butter
and/or cream, Failsafe Cookbook p. 100) traditionally served on roasts in
* Bombe
BBQ
chicken escalopes
An escalope is a thin slice of meat such
as veal or chicken mostly fried or grilled.
4 large chicken breast fillets
3 tbsp canola oil or similar
1 garlic clove, crushed
chopped chives for garnish
fresh crusty bread rolls
failsafe salad
failsafe salad dressing
Pound the chicken breasts gently with a
meat mallet or rolling pin until they are about 5mm thick (quarter inch) and
have almost doubled in size. Mix oil with the crushed garlic, brush some of the
mixture over both sides of the chicken, season with salt and allow to stand.
Prepare salad with failsafe ingredients or moderate salicylate options such as
butter lettuce and snow peas when tolerated.
Cut rolls in half lengthways and place cut side down on the barbecue for
a few minutes until lightly toasted. Barbecue the chicken over medium-hot coals
for about three minutes on each side until golden on the outside but still
juicy in the centre. Garnish with chopped chives. Serve with rolls and salad.
Carob
custard cups
A delicious failsafe alternative to
chocolate YOGO
3 tbsp carob powder
4 tbsp cornflour
½ cup white sugar
800ml milk, A2 milk, soymilk or ricemilk
Sift the dry ingredients together then mix
with 300ml of the milk. Heat the remaining milk in a saucepan until it boils
rapidly. Tip the carob mix into the hot milk and stir with a whisk, continue
stirring until the mixture thickens (you must use a whisk otherwise lumps will
form). Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Cover and chill overnight. Thanks
to Sherri
Gooey
Caramel Slice
An easy and delicious slice – not healthy,
but hey, it’s Christmas. You can make it gluten-free by using the base on page
00 of the Failsafe Cookbook.
1 packet McVities Hobnobs biscuits
1 can (400g) sweetened condensed milk
1¼ cups Nestle white melts
Break the hobnobs into small crumbs. Add sweetened condensed milk and white melts
(whole is ok). Mix well. Pour into a buttered slice tray app 18cm x
28cm. Bake for 30 mins at 350°C - thanks
to Sherri.
The FAILSAFE
Newsletter: You can have this Newsletter emailed to you for
free about every three months, and also see it in colour with graphics on www.fedup.com.au. Subscribe: failsafe_newsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Frontpage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/failsafe_newsletter
© Sue Dengate (text) PO Box 718
WOOLGOOLGA NSW 2456, Australia but material can be reproduced with acknowledgement. Thanks
to Rachel, Rachel D, Sheryl, Anne, Robin, Catherine, Jenny & Kathleen of
Additive Education and the many others who have contributed stories and the
many others who have written, phoned and contributed to this newsletter.
Further reading: The Simplified
Elimination Diet from dietitians, the
Failsafe Cookbook by Sue Dengate (Random House Australia) and DVD Fed Up with Children’s Behaviour, and
(out of print) Fed Up, Fed Up with
Asthma, Fed Up with ADHD; and Friendly
Food, by Swain and others, (Murdoch Books).