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Easter and Allergies

© Colleen Kaemmerer

Easter, like other holidays, may present a few concerns for allergy sufferers. The traditional Easter egg is an obvious example. What are some other things that those with allergies and sensitivities need to consider?

Some churches, including many Catholic parishes, use incense -- either on a regular basis, or just on special occasions. (How much effect it has may also depend on the size of the church and where you're sitting, as well.) I have been reading various church bulletins and web sites; many offer "incense-free" services. If you are highly sensitive, this may be something to approach your pastor about. One parish even advised members to use perfume and after shave with caution, pointing out that many people have adverse reactions.

What about that Easter candy staple - chocolate? Two interesting sites that I found (but have not purchased from) are:

The Chocolate Emporium http://www.choclat.com/ sells parve specialty chocolates, which are dairy-free. They also sell confections which have no gluten, corn, or soy as well. Unfortunately, their holiday ordering deadline was March 29.

The Vermont Nut-Free Chocolate Company has a nut-free facility. Their website address is: http://www.vermontnutfree.com

An Australian allergy/anaphylaxis site, FACTS, offers a nut-free chocolate recipe. http://www.allergyfacts.org.au/easter.ht...

Another option is to look for parve (Kosher) chocolate locally. However, several dairy-free sites recommend always checking with the manufacturer even with the parve label to make sure that the product is indeed 100% dairy-free. If you or a family member need to avoid chocolate entirely, carob candy from the health food store is another choice.

If sensitivities to different ingredients, such as artifical food colors and preservatives, are not a problem, you may be able to choose other treats. The Jell-O™ Website offers a wide variety of Easter recipes.

There are other things to put in Easter baskets. Stuffed animals, crayons, little cars, books, hair clips, and sunglasses are just a few possible items. Also, Easter egg hunts can be done with plastic eggs which contain coins or stickers.

I hope that these hints have been helpful. If you would like to start a discussion, please use the link below.

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