FDA Names 9th “Major Food Allergen,” First in 19 Years

We all know someone or have heard of someone with a food allergy. My daughter has a mild allergy to shellfish. She eats it because she likes it, but has to enjoy it in moderation or she get hives. A good friend of mine can't have anything peanut related at all, he'll blow up so much that it looks like he went twelve rounds with Mike Tyson. Not pretty, and really scary.

The FDA says sesame is now a "major food allergen."  It's the ninth food to be added to their list, joining fish and crustacean shellfish, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.  Sesame can be found in sesame oil, a main ingredient in Asian cuisine, and foods like granola, tortilla chips, and bagels.

According to CNN, the Food and Drug Administration has been considering this for a very long time and requested that food manufacturers voluntarily add it to their ingredients a few years ago. They said that, "the change, which went into effect on January 1, comes as a result of the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research Act, or FASTER Act, which was signed into law in April 2021."

FoodSafety.gov states that "the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), identified the eight foods listed above as major food allergens back in 2004. These "accounted for over 90 percent of documented food allergies and serious allergic reactions in the U.S. at the time the law was enacted, and represented the foods most likely to result in severe or life-threatening reactions."

With sesame being added to the list, those who are allergic to it no longer need to contact the manufacturer or guess as to whether or not it's in the product. It will now be listed on the label. It is important to note that items already on shelves in food stores do not need to be removed, according to the law.

I believe that all of us would love to spread kindness as much as possible. We don't perform random acts of kindness for a variety of reasons, maybe we think we don't have time, or perhaps we feel money is the issue (it's not), or some might feel it's "weird." One extremely small way I try to be kind and friendly is when I'm on my daily run I give a quick wave to anyone and everyone I pass or see. I used to sometimes wait until someone else waved before I'd wave back, but at some point, I decided to always be the "wave initiator." Again, this is a very tiny, teeny-weeny thing I like to do, but there are so many other ways to spread joy.

The fine folks at The Guardian have compiled "52 Acts of Kindness: how to spread joy in every week of 2023" to help us make 2023 a better place and more enjoyable for all of us. Some are as simple as helping a dying bee or donating a coat, while others can be more complex, but certainly doable.

Here are some of the "52 Acts of Kindness" on the list, see how many you feel you could accomplish this year...

Maybe you have a special knowledge about a certain subject, try to help at least one person who needs it. Volunteer to help a struggling math student, or take some time to offer some knowledge to a student who is having trouble with their Spanish class.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcLGvYQfugY

There are many people who have and need their dogs, but, for various reasons, are unable to walk them. If they can't walk them, they may not be able to keep them. Maybe you can help.

It only takes a few minutes and it could save a life. This could quite possibly be the easiest thing we could do that has the largest positive impact on others. And there's the free donuts:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHHXv17b0Rc

Instead of simply donating the items in your pantry that you don't use, go to the supermarket and buy a couple of bags of groceries that you would want if you couldn't afford it.

https://franklinfoodbank.org/

This is a win/win! You tell someone how much you love their hair or like their shoes and you both get a good feeling. Everybody loves (and needs) to hear positive things about themselves and it doesn't cost anything.

We actually have one of those. Frania is one of our fantastic account executives here and she not only arranges all of the holiday parties and festivities, she also keeps a candy jar filled for all to enjoy. She also occasionally brings in treats like donuts or snacks for everyone. You don't have to be a Frania, but doing something similar from time to time would certainly be appreciated and could turn someone's bad day around.

If you don't already know how to perform CPR, now could be the time to learn. You would feel an amazing feeling of satisfaction, and you would be ready to help someone in need should the necessity arise.

How easy is this? You go and buy coffee everyday, but have you ever bought a stranger coffee. Simply, pay for it and say it's your good deed for the day. It will make you both feel good and maybe they'll pay it forward.

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