Iron Chef and Food Allergies

Iron Chef Challenge

Food allergy mom Susan McArthur has challenged the Iron Chefs: Create a meal free of the top 8 allergens (plus corn!). That's a tall order even for those of us who have been dealing with multiple food allergies for many years! Susan's daughter Samantha, an aspiring chef herself, deals with a rare (although the rates are raising alarmingly) incurable white blood cell disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). She receives nourishment through a feeding tube.

Samantha and her mom have started an online petition to bring awareness to EoE. They are looking for 1000 signatures in the hope that the Iron Chefs will accept the challenge. At last count they had 955 signatures. Will you add your name to the petition? Get the details and help Samantha make her dream come true.

Allergy Gene Identified

Researchers at CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) have identified the gene that could be responsible for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

This is big news because the gene, TSLP, has already been linked to other allergic diseases, like asthma and eczema. It's just another piece of the puzzle as scientists try to understand the relationships between allergic diseases in an effort to treat and cure these common disorders.

You will need to subscribe to Nature Genetics in order to read the full article, but here is a snapshot, written in the India edition of Zee News.