Thank you to Lindley Wiesner for designing our spring comic! Lindley Wiesner is an illustrator and surface designer. She loves to create charming and colorful illustrations inspired by her childhood, family, her love of animals and seasonal holidays. She illustrated two

children’s books: “Eli and the Bug Catcher” &

“Paw Prints of Love: A Rhed and Thatcher Beach Adventure”

@lindleywiesner_illustrations

Spring is here MOCHA Family!

As the seasons change and we welcome the warmth of spring, we’re also embracing new opportunities to support, educate, and empower families navigating food allergies. In this edition of the MOCHA newsletter, we’re sharing exciting updates on advocacy efforts, practical tips for managing allergies during spring break, and resources from our incredible community.

Food allergy awareness and equity remain at the heart of what we do, and we’re grateful for the voices, experiences, and support of families like yours. Together, we continue to create a safer, more inclusive world for all children.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. We hope you enjoy this issue and find valuable resources to support your family and community!

Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside this issue:

• Community Spotlights: Hear from our interns and advocates making waves in the food allergy community. Their stories inspire and remind us of the power of shared experiences.
• Resource Round-Up: Discover new tools, guides, and initiatives from across the food allergy community to support your journey.
• Stay tuned for upcoming webinars with food allergy organizations, and follow MOCHA on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates!

Stay Safe!

Denise, Anne, and the MOCHA Interns💜

Denise & Anne Celebrate 28 Years of Friendship!

We created MOCHA to be a “one-stop” shop. A place that you can find information, a place where you can email or text your questions. A place where you can find support whether it’s good, bad or ugly. We are here for ALL OF IT.

Our quarterly E-News is here to serve you. Have suggestions? We’re always looking to improve our newsletter and website — share your ideas with us!

Save the Date for OctoberFARE!

FARE’s OctoberFARE gathering will take place October 30–November 1, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, in Washington, D.C. This event combines the annual Food Allergy Summit with FARE Neighborhoods Day and Clinical Development Day, adding layers of local engagement that are new to this year, and will feature a special Teal Pumpkin Project celebration on Halloween! Details to come, including registration and hotel information.

Breaking Down Silos to Create a Pathway to Research Success

FARE’s inaugural Mind Meld Innovation Summit will take place May 13–14, in Massachusetts, convening leading scientists and immunology researchers—experts in the atopic march, cancer, and HIV—to advance scientific breakthroughs in the field of food allergy. This invitation-only event will assemble immunology’s brightest minds and encourage knowledge exchange to break down scientific silos and create an ecosystem that accelerates innovation.

Now accepting applications for the 2025 TAG team!

FARE's Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is our voice for the teen and young adult food allergy community.TAG members are between the ages of 11 and 22, and are individuals who want to make a difference for people managing food allergies.

Food Allergy Management in Schools (FAMS): Expert Recommendations for K–12

Slide decks in both English & Spanish provides a brief overview of the FAMS Expert Recommendations and will help you to put the suggestions quickly and successfully into practice. 

Duke Dining has received a FAREcheck Gold Rating

For its allergen-friendly dining venue It’s Thyme. FAREcheck Gold is the highest level of recognition given by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). To achieve a FARECheck Gold, operations must ensure that at least 90% of its workforce has undergone food allergy safety training.

Give Your Teen a Head Start in Public Health & Medicine – Apply for the CFAAR Ambassadors Program!

The CFAAR Ambassadors Program is a weeklong experience that provides high school students with an in-depth introduction to public health research and allows them to explore various career paths in medicine, advocacy, policy, data science and health communications. 

The CFAAR team had an excellent time attending the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) & World Allergy Organization (WAO) 2025 Joint Congress in San Diego, CA. Our team presented a total of 16 abstract posters discussing Early Peanut Introduction, Safety Measures for Students with Food Allergy in College, Precautionary Allergen Labels, and more.

2025 CFAAR

FOOD ALLERGY SUMMIT

Be a Voice for Change in Food Allergy Policy!

Join us at the CFAAR Food Allergy Summit and be part of the movement shaping policies that protect families with food allergies. The Policy Track is dedicated to advancing critical food allergy policies in 2025, with a focus on:

• ✅ Precautionary Allergen Labeling (PAL): Advocating for clearer, standardized allergen warnings.
• ✅ Medicaid, Food as Medicine, & WIC: Expanding access to early introduction and allergy-friendly foods.
• ✅ Daycare, School, & College Policies: Strengthening safety measures, stock epinephrine programs, and allergy training in educational settings.

Whether you're a parent, advocate, policymaker, healthcare professional, or educator, your voice matters in driving real change.

Comer Children’s School Nurse Education Day is scheduled for August 8, 2025, and is free for all school nurses, staff, educators and administrators across the country.

The Zoom conference will feature updates on conditions commonly treated in the school setting.

Sign Up for Registration Alerts! Be the first to know when registration opens for the 6th Annual Comer Children's School Nurse Continuing Education Day!

We are incredibly grateful to the Sunshine Charitable Foundation for their generous sponsorship of Comer Children’s School Nurse Education Day. Their support helps ensure that school nurses have the knowledge and resources they need to care for children with food allergies and other medical conditions. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many children and the dedicated professionals who support them!

Comer Children’s will expand care offerings to Hinsdale, Illinois early this summer.

Comer Children’s is continuing to investigate advanced diagnostic and treatment methods for allergic disease including oral food challenges supported with non-invasive monitoring and novel minimally invasive tests for food allergy. If you are interested in learning more, please join our research registry at https://redcap.uchicago.edu/surveys/?s=9RNYA7TPYE

Do you or your child have an allergy to peanut or egg?

Researchers at UChicago are studying how to improve food allergy testing.

All ages are eligible to join!

Participation includes:

• A single study visit (about 1 hour)
• A blood draw
• $30 compensation + parking voucher

Interested?

Contact Toni Ramirez at:

📞 (773) 770-5217 (text/call)

✉️ Toni.Ramirez@bsd.uchicago.edu

Dr. Steve Handoyo is leading the UChicago Medicine Section of Allergy and Immunology in exploring the real-world benefits and impediments to oral immunotherapy. If interested in completing a brief questionnaire about your OIT experience, contact tramirez@uchicago.edu.

Ongoing NIH Funded studies:

• CAUSE consortium: Dr. Kumar continues to lead the CAUSE consortium studies at Lurie. The NIH grant to Lurie Children’s is part of the NIAID funding to establish a nationwide clinical research network called Childhood Asthma in Urban Settings (CAUSE). Lurie Children’s is one of seven centers to participate. The CAUSE network extends and expands NIAID’s long-standing efforts to better understand and reduce the disproportionate burden of asthma among children living in low-income urban environments. Lurie Children’s has contributed to this research for the past 30 years.
• SIRA study: Additionally Dr. Kumar, MD received $3 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a site-specific clinical trial entitled the Soy Isoflavones For Inner City Infants At Risk For Asthma (SIRA) Study. This study will evaluate whether whether a soy supplement in infancy can prevent asthma in children with a high-risk genetic variation present in 60% of the population. This will be one of the earliest precision medicine approaches to asthma prevention. This trial aims to determine if we can decrease allergic airway inflammation in babies at risk of asthma and possibly prevent recurrent wheezing.
• Mechanisms of Food Allergy Grant: Mechanisms of Food Allergy Grant: Dr. Kumar is also evaluating along with Dr. Cook-Mills in a NIAID funded R01 grant whether the disruption of skin barrier and acute phase responses are able to predict the development of food allergy in infants at risk of peanut allergy.
• In addition to the ongoing studies in the mechanisms of Food Allergy grant, Dr. Kumar, along with Dr. Lang and Dr. Lippner, continue to collaborate with investigators within the Lurie Children’s institution, as well as Northwestern on mechanistic studies of this same population to better understand factors for the development of peanut allergy in infancy. Infants ages 4-12 months with either eczema, egg allergy, or both, are recruited from a specific early infancy clinic and evaluated to determine if they have peanut allergy, peanut tolerance, or peanut sensitization (meaning their allergy testing indicates they may have an allergy, but they in fact can safely ingest peanut.) This study has yielded novel findings about which genes and biologic pathways may be important in this at-risk population. Findings from this study have been presented in several poster presentations at national meetings, including a featured poster by Killian Buechler and Dr. Lippner at the most recent AAAAI meeting. Dr. Lang has published a manuscript on the innate immune pathways that may be involved in early food allergy development. Dr. Lippner is preparing another manuscript specifically focused on immune pathways that may be important for food allergy development in male sex versus female sex populations.

Ongoing Key clinical trials:

• AL60 hypoallergenic formula for cow's milk allergy - Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is currently enrolling volunteers for a clinical trial to certify that an extensively broken-down milk protein based infant formula is hypoallergenic (designed to reduce or minimize the possibility of an allergic reaction). We are recruiting kids ages 3 months to 12 year with a cow’s milk allergy that are NOT ingesting any form of cow’s milk for this study. You can try a new formula and all study-related visits & the study formula are provided at no cost. Compensation to help offset travel & parking costs will be provided! Participation in the clinical trial is voluntary.
• The LIBERTY ASTHMA TREKIDS study is recruiting children ages 2 to 6 years of age with asthma that is considered severe asthma or asthma that is uncontrolled with current medications. This goal of this study is to understand if a medication called dupilumab can be effecting in children ages 2-6 years with asthma. Dupilumab is already approved to treat several other medical conditions, including asthma in older kids and adults. Compensation to help offset travel & parking costs will be provided. Participation in the clinical trial is voluntary.
• ALK/Abello Peanut SLIT (sublingual immunotherapy) trial: Part 3 of this ongoing trial will assess if a peanut SLIT tablet improves peanut allergy symptoms. There will be two different active maintenance dose groups as well as a placebo group to test the effectiveness of this new therapy. Children (ages 4 and older), teenagers, and adults with peanut allergy are eligible to participate in this study as long as they have a history of a reaction to a peanut containing food, and positive skin or blood tests beyond a set level (5 mm wheal or 0.7 greater than 0.7 kUA/L).
• Sanofi TREKIDS: This study is a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized (2:1) trial enrolling children aged 2 to <6 years old with uncontrolled asthma and/or recurrent severe asthmatic wheeze despite standard of care therapy with ICS, to receive Dupilumab, a biologic treatment for asthma. Participants who complete the randomized 52-week treatment period will be offered the opportunity to participate in the 1-year open-label extension study with dupilumab. All will complete a 12-week post-treatment observational period when they complete treatment.

Ongoing studies closed to enrollment:

•  VITESSE Peanut Patch: A 12-Month, Double-blinded, 2:1 randomized study to assess the efficacy and safety of daily DBV712 250 μg to induce desensitization to peanut in peanut-allergic children aged 4-7 years. Subjects will apply either DBV712 250 μg or placebo daily for a period of 12 months. At Month 12, a post-treatment DBPCFC will be performed. Subjects that complete the double-blind study have the option to enter the Open-Label study extension for access to the peanut patch for three years.
• adored – Allergic Disease Onset Prevention Study: Double-blinded, 1:1 randomized design using once daily oral administration of STMC-103H or Placebo for 336 days followed by a 336-day observation period (off treatment) to assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of STMC-103H in neonate and infant subjects at risk for development of allergic disease. Randomization is stratified by mode of delivery (vaginal or Cesarean section) and by method of feeding (formula or breast feeding) at enrollment. Early administration of beneficial bacteria that promote immune tolerance represents a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, asthma and environmental & food allergies. STMC-103H is a live biotherapeutic product (LBP) containing a consortium of intestinal bacteria that may impact the incidence of allergic sensitization and disease in neonates and infants at risk for developing allergy and asthma.

Unfunded Studies:

• A number of fellows are working with Dr. Lang on initial studies including understanding siparities in care between English and Spanish speaking patients for food allergy, the effect of dupilumab on clinical food allergy outcomes, and better understanding atypical FPIES.
• Oral Food challenge and Oral immunotherapy Unit: The Oral Food Challenge/Oral Immunotherapy (OFC/OIT) Clinic which continues to advance novel food allergy treatments. This program is directed by Dr. Abigail Lang MD, MSCI, and Dr. Melanie Makhija MD, MSc. In addition to Palforzia, an FDA-approved treatment for peanut allergy, the OIT program now offers off-label OIT for both peanut and egg for patients as young as 9 months of age. With dedicated time and resources, the OFC/OIT Unit is also able to perform higher-risk challenges as well as dose eliciting challenges which allow patients and families to understand how much of their food allergen may cause a reaction and alleviate some anxiety about accidental exposures. Our 100th patient has just graduated from the OIT program and reached maintenance dosing! Since introduction of the off-label protocols, the waitlist for the program has grown significantly with approximately 300 interested patients.
• Home Food introduction Program: Dr. Nimmagadda has spearheaded a home food introduction program which supports families do not feel comfortable with home introduction on their own when their allergist feels that home introduction is appropriate. This allows real time monitoring of the introduction at home, and increases availability of the oral food challenge slots for patients.

Ongoing NIH Funded studies:

• Aceves Laboratory Collaboration: The Wechsler Laboratory received NIH funding as part of a collaborative R01 with the laboratory of Seema Aceves as UCSD. The grant is entitled: TWEAK/TNFSF12 and LIGHT/TNFSF14 interactions in allergic esophagitis remodeling. The Wechsler laboratory will obtain esophageal biopsies from patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis and perform single cell sequencing to understand fibroblast phenotypes relative to scarring severity detected by EndoFLIP. 
• Berin Laboratory Collaboration: The Wechsler Laboratory continues an ongoing collaboration with the Berin Laboratory related to two NIH grants: 1) Immune Basis of FPIES & 2) Heterogeneity of T cell phenotype and function in food allergy. Through this collaboration, the Wechsler Laboratory Research team obtains small intestinal biopsies from patients undergoing endoscopy.
• Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Researchers (CEGIR): The Wechsler Laboratory continues as a site for the CEGIR consortium and is enrolling patients with non-EoE Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders including Eosinophilic Gastritis, Eosinophilic Duodenitis, and Eosinophilic Colitis

Clinical Trials: 

• The Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders Program has been accepted as an enrolling site for a Phase IV trial to assess EoE patients who have started Dupixent. We are currently working to launch the study and open enrollment. 

Research Highlights: 

• The Wechsler and CURED Laboratory Research Team recently was awarded the Grand-Watkins Award at the NASPGHAN annual meeting for a project: Dose (and Time) Dependent Effect of Sevoflurane on the Esophageal Contractile Response by Functional Lumen Imaging Probe Panometry.” This project identified a strong inhibition of the esophageal contractile response by sevoflurane and was a collaboration with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  
• The Wechsler and CURED Laboratory Research Team recently was awarded the Clemens von Pirquet Award ACAAI annual meeting for a project: Transcriptomic responses to dietary elimination in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) across adult and pediatric population.” This project identified a age-specific and diet elimination response-specific gene signatures in EoE. This project was a collaboration with Nirmala Gonsalves, MD at Northwestern. 
• The Wechsler and CURED Laboratory Research team presented and oral abstract at AAAAI regarding the change in EndoFLIP distensibility (diameter) over time with different therapies. Importantly, dupilumab showed superior improvement over other therapy.
• The Wechsler and CURED Research Laboratory team had several abstracts accepted at Digestive Diseases Week in 2025 including an oral presentation regarding age and treatment-specific RNA markers in EoE. More to come!

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders Program:

• TNE: The EGID program continues to offer trans-nasal endoscopy with increasing interest in the past year. This non-sedated procedure offers an alternative to sedated endoscopy to assess inflammation. The EGID program is in the process of obtaining the EVOENDO system and develop monthly TNE blocks 
• FLIP: The EGID program has been performing Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (FLIP) since 2020 and has recently obtained two endoFLIP 300 machines which offer the most state-of-the-art capacity. The EGID program has established a safe, rapid protocol to assess for narrowing using FLIP in EoE patients and perform dilation. Narrowing can be present regardless of inflammation and is important to assess in any patients with dysphagia symptoms. The EGID program has 3 endoscopists that are capable of performing this procedure and is working to bring this procedure to the Northbrook surgery center. 
• Telehealth: The EGID program continues to offer video telehealth visits at every EGID clinic, which occurs on Wednesdays starting at 6:30AM. All providers are available for video telehealth visits, which offer a great opportunity for patients who prefer this option.

Get ready for an unforgettable day in NYC on April 30! Our Food Allergy Fund Summit is packed with inspiring speakers, groundbreaking research, and exciting opportunities to make a real impact.

We’ll be diving into the latest advancements in research, exploring diet diversity, the microbiome, and the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future—think AI, CRISPR, and more!

It’s not too late to register. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with experts and advocates driving change in the fight against food allergies.

Join the Kyah Rayne Foundation for a heartfelt evening as they come together to celebrate their supporters, donors, family, and friends who make the work of the foundation possible!

Location: The Waterfront

7181 E Camelback Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

In the Waterfront Clubhouse

Date and Time: May 8th, 2025 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM (MST)

Enjoy light refreshments, inspiring stories, and the company of those dedicated to making a difference in food allergy awareness, education, and advocacy.

Contact at info@kyahraynefoundation.org or (480) 520-KYAH

May 20, 2025, 1:00PM - 3:45PM

Topics include:

• Food allergies and other adverse food reactions
• What’s the latest in cow’s milk allergy guidelines?
• Food allergy and the gut microbiota in pediatric patients
• Resources for Clinicians

The Pediatric Food Allergy Workshop awards 2.25 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration's CPEU's Prior Approval Program. 

Camp TAG (The Allergy Gang)

2025 Is Camp TAG's 15th Year!

Camp TAG provides a safe place for children with food allergies, eosinophilic disorders, FPIES, Celiac disease, atopic dermatitis (eczema), asthma, and/or mast cell disorders, and their non-allergic siblings to have fun – with no worries about allergic reactions – and meet other children who share similar experiences.

Join us for a webinar featuring Jade Tam-Williams, MD, FAAP. During this 60-minute webinar, Dr. Tam-Williams will share information on eosinophilic asthma and allergy triggers. She will discuss identifying and avoiding common triggers, how environmental changes can reduce exposure to triggers, and other factors that contribute to inflammation.

2025 for FASI’s 2025 Symposium

This year’s symposium, “Neurobiology & Immunology of Food-Related Behaviors and Eating Disorders,” will dive into the intricate crosstalk between the immune and nervous systems, investigating how these networks influence food intake, aversions, and disorders.

Overnight Camp- Summer 2025!

Camp Blue Spruce is dedicated to providing an authentic and fun overnight camp experience for children with food allergies. By creating an environment free from the top-9 food allergens plus all gluten with qualified medical staff on site, campers feel safe and are released from the worry and anxiety they face daily while navigating their allergies. Even the camper’s parents can be worry free!

Eos Connection 2025

Eos Connection 2025, APFED’s annual patient education conference for eosinophil-associated diseases! This year’s conference will be Thursday, June 26 – Saturday, June 28, in Raleigh-Durham, NC.

Xolair & Food Allergies: OIT Comparison & Can You Stop It, Introduce Food?

At the AAAAI '25 meeting, Xolair for food allergies was a hot topic.

• Novel data: Stopping Xolair and introducing allergens. READ

• Xolair vs. OIT comparison study favored the shots. But allergists caution, the OIT protocol was "aggressive". READ

• Full findings on Xolair vs. OIT. READ

Understanding the Barriers and Benefits of Oral Immunotherapy for Children with Life-Threatening Food Allergies

Dr. Rachel Reznik and Dr. Courtney Miller from the Department of Communication and Media at Elmhurst University



RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF OIT

PURPOSE: This study will explore the experiences of parents whose children are undergoing OIT to treat a food allergy, including factors that influenced your decision to have your child undergo OIT as well as the benefits of, and any difficulties with, the treatment. Participants in the study will be invited to participate in a one-on-one interview over Zoom.

ELIGIBILITY: Parents or guardians of children who are participating in OIT are welcome to participate in this study.

BENEFITS: Participants will be compensated with a $30 voucher for Amazon for participating in an interview.

CONTACT: If you would like to participate in this study or have any questions about it, please click this link.

Simin Zhang and Andrew Winslow Receive Prestigious Allergy Awards

Two assistant professors in the Division of Allergy and Immunology have received prestigious awards from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).

• Simin Zhang, MD, was chosen for the 2025 AAAAI Foundation Faculty Development Award, a two-year grant focused on her research titled “Effect of Complement Proteins on Mast Cells and Fibroblasts in Eosinophilic Esophagitis.”
• Andrew Winslow, MD, was selected for the 2025 AAAAI Drug Hypersensitivity Research Grant, which will provide one year of funding for his project titled “Validation of a Novel Patient-Led Penicillin Allergy Delabeling Program Utilizing a Mobile-Enabled Virtual Platform.”

Click this link for more information about the Division of Allergy and Immunology.

For more news of the Rothenberg CURED Lab, join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Press Release: Latitude Food Allergy Care Announces Findings of Large- Scale Study Led by Weill Cornell Medicine Validating Safety and Effectiveness of Oral Immunotherapy (OIT for Food allergies in Clinical Practice)

Poster presented at AAAAI Annual Meeting demonstrates 91% clinical success with OIT

Latitude Food Allergy Care, the leading network of food allergy clinics in the United States, recently presented findings of a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine of over 1,000 patients using oral immunotherapy (OIT) to treat food allergies at the 2025 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in San Diego. Highlights of the real-world outcomes included:

• 91% of patients reached maintenance for at least one food.
• The reaction frequency was 5% of all doses administered.

This data continues to support the safety and effectiveness of treatment, which has already changed the lives of thousands of food allergy patients and their families. 

If you’d like to learn more about OIT as a treatment option, Latitude offers a free weekly Zoom session for all food allergy families. Join the Ask About OIT office hours with a Patient Care Coordinator, Fridays on Zoom, at 9:30–10:30 AM PT/12:30–1:30 PM ET

And BIG news for food allergy families on the West Coast. Latitude is growing and opening a new clinic this summer in Los Angeles. To learn more about their Los Angeles clinic, visit https://go.latitudefoodallergycare.com/la-early-access/

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

This special segment explored advancements in the understanding, diagnosis, and management of EoE, shedding light on the experiences of those living with this complex condition. Through this initiative, APFED aimed to raise awareness, encourage viewers to recognize symptoms in themselves or loved ones, and inspire meaningful conversations with healthcare providers.

APFED was dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by eosinophil-associated diseases through education, advocacy, support, and research. The segment underscored the importance of a collaborative, informed community in driving innovation and improving outcomes for patients.

To learn more about Viewpoint and to watch the segment online, visit viewpointproject.com/features-apfed/

What should I know about the DESTINY study? 

• To be eligible for this study, participants must:
• Be at least 18 years of age or older
• Have a diagnosis of HES
• Have a history of 2 or more flares within the past 12 months
• This study will consist of at least 18 visits (in-clinic or remotely) over a period of up to 56 weeks plus a follow-up phone call 4 weeks after the final visit (additional visits may be necessary for HES flares)
• Participants will receive either the investigational drug (depemokimab) or a placebo during the study while continuing their usual medications
• The health and safety of participants will be monitored throughout the study
• Participant data and information will be kept confidential
• Study participants will receive all study-related procedures and the study drug at no cost

To learn more about the DESTINY study, please visit www.gskdestinystudy.com.

"Mechanisms of Immunotolerance in Food Allergy" will offer an outstanding program featuring esteemed biomedical experts and thought leaders in clinical and basic research. 

April 7-8, 2025

The University of Michigan

Ann Arbor

Burghardt Food Allergy Center

OHSU’s Burghardt Food Allergy Center is the first and only center in the Pacific Northwest that treats food allergies. You’ll find:

• Expert care and support in one place.
• A team approach to complex food allergies.
• Full evaluations to diagnose food allergies and address other possible causes of symptoms.
• Immunotherapy treatments that can give you extra protection.
• Care coordinated with other OHSU specialists:
• Dietitians
• Dermatologists (skin experts) at the Eczema Multidisciplinary Clinic
• Gastroenterologists (digestive system experts) at the Eosinophilic Esophagitis Program

Learn more about the Burghardt Food Allergy Center, which you'll find inside the OHSU Allergy and Clinical Immunology Clinic, Marquam Hill.

After watching their grandson suffer from food allergies, the Burghardts wanted to help.

Spokin popped the questions!

How to find a safe cake, a caterer that can handle your allergies as well as your guests, can weddings be free of allergen, honeymoon plans, and more! 

Spokin vows to help make wedding planning as easy as possible, see 27 safe places to walk down the aisle or be a guest and 18 spots to get your dream cake.

Celebrate Section 504: Share Your Story- Show the Impact! 

Here’s how you can join FAACT in celebrating Section 504

🌟 Share Your Story: Your voice matters! Whether it’s the accommodations that kept your child safe, the services that allowed your loved one to learn alongside their peers, or the support that allowed you to succeed and thrive, your story brings the impact of Section 504 to life. Write or record your experiences with 504 plans and OCR protections.

Let leaders know how these rights have impacted your family and why they must be preserved.

Regardless of where you live, the closure of the U.S. Department of Education impacts us all. This decision is far from finalized, as it requires at least 60 percent approval from Congress to move forward. Our friends at COPAA have created a form that helps you easily contact your members of Congress.

Spread the Word:

Celebrate the success of Section 504 while letting others know how important it is! Share this campaign with your friends, family, and community. Post on social media and use #Celebrate504, #FAACTadvocacy, #DisabilityRights to make your voice heard and inspire others to join in.

May Contain Anxiety:

Managing the Overwhelm of Parenting Children Managing Food Allergies

Published by the prestigious John Hopkins University Press, this compassionate guide teaches parents of children with food allergies how to mindfully manage anxiety and balance allergy safety with living fully.

Having already been peer-reviewed by top allergists and psychologists in the field, parents and healthcare practitioners alike are excited for it to hit bookshelves!!

Available September 2025!

From The Daily Northwestern: Students advocate for food allergy awareness and education through CAFAE

Janelle Mella, Development and Recruitment Editor

"During her freshman year, now-Weinberg senior Julia Auerbach was at Bob’s Pizza in Evanston when she witnessed someone go into anaphylactic shock. Her friends didn’t know how to use an EpiPen, so Auerbach used her own to help. “That was a moment where my jaw was to the floor, just looking around seeing almost the inability of my peers to act in what I thought was a pretty commonplace scenario,” Auerbach said."

International Red Sneakers Day is May 20th!

KFA is a go-to source for food recalls due to allergies. They update regularly on their site!

Supporting Stock Epinephrine in Schools

About 1 in 17 children in the U.S. has food allergies – a number equal to about 1 in every school classroom. 

Many children also have their first food allergy reaction in school. Because their food allergies are unknown, they aren’t carrying epinephrine, the first-line treatment for serious allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis. 

KFA supports strong epinephrine stocking policies. The best policies: 

• Require schools to stock any form of FDA-approved epinephrine 
• Provide appropriate training for school personnel 
• Address liability protections for people who give the medicine in good faith  
• Provide resources for schools to get epinephrine 

While most states have passed laws allowing schools to stock epinephrine, only 10 states require epinephrine stocking in schools. And only 4 states allow schools to stock other forms of epinephrine, such as epinephrine nasal spray. 

See AAFA’s 2025 State Honor Roll™ of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools for details on where your state stands.  

Then, download our advocacy toolkit (PDF) for information on how to work with your state and local policymakers to pass and apply epinephrine stocking policies in your community’s schools.

Ask Your Doctor About Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopy! 

EvoEndo is excited to announce that Children’s of Alabama has now completed over 150 Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopies (TNE) using the EvoEndo Endoscopy System, becoming the first provider in the region to offer this innovative technology to their patients five and older.

Thanks to Dr. Nick CaJacob and Dr. Diana Montoya, families can now benefit from a patient-friendly option that reduces discomfort and helps patients safely resume daily activities with minimal preparation and recovery.

Press Release

Discover “May Contain: Two Sides” at International Film Festivals – A Must-See for the Food Allergy Community

We are thrilled to share an update on an impactful venture that The Sunshine Foundation, CFAAR and FARE’s support has helped bring to fruition. Join us at upcoming international film festivals to experience “May Contain: Two Sides,” a VR drama that delves deep into the everyday realities faced by those living with food allergies.

Upcoming Screenings and Special Events:

Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, Morgan Hill, California: Do not miss the opportunity to see “Two Sides” on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the Cura Contemporary, 17395 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill, CA. Screenings are scheduled from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, with a VR panel discussion beginning at 12:30 PM to enrich your viewing experience. 

Purchase tickets here: https://pjiff-2025.eventive.org/schedule/vr-films-in-morgan-hill-screening-678e00bd7a3744857ef856a5

New Images Film Festival, Paris, France: We are proud to announce that “May Contain: Two Sides” is an official selection of the NewImages Film Festival Distribution Market, running from April 9-13. This festival highlights the universal struggles and narratives within the food allergy community, promoting a broader understanding and global engagement. We encourage local followers to reach out for more details about how you can be involved.

New Media Film Festival, Los Angeles, California: Please save June 5, 2025, for our Los Angeles screening. Detailed information about the times and venue will be provided as the event date nears.

About the Film: “May Contain: Two Sides” provides a riveting look at the challenges of managing severe food allergies, featuring real-life experiences with the guidance of notable experts such as CFAAR's Dr. Ruchi Gupta. Supported by FARE and filmed by the award-winning 360 cinematographer Barry Pousman, this VR drama stars August Maturo and Ava Kolker from "Girl Meets World." The film unfolds at a birthday party, following Zach as he navigates his severe allergies with heightened anxiety, and Lydia, whose initial misunderstanding leads to a critical situation. This immersive, dual-narrative format offers viewers a unique opportunity to experience the perspectives of both characters, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in addressing this growing public health issue.

We invite you to share this trailer and help us amplify our message within the food allergy community: https://vimeo.com/1019963986/cc77d2abbe.

• FARE Clinical Trial Finder

FARE’s online tool simplifies your search for clinical trials to treat food allergy and some related conditions.

• Clinicaltrials.gov

A service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this website is a registry and database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies.



OWYN

Melon Basil Smoothie

This Melon Basil Smoothie combines juicy melon and fresh basil for a refreshing & light, yet satisfying sip—perfect for any time of day. Plus, it’s packed with plant-based protein to keep you fueled.

KITE HILL ARTISAN ALMOND MILK YOGURT

FREE OF: Dairy, soy, gluten, egg, preservatives, and artificial colorings

BARNEY BUTTER ALMOND BUTTER

FREE OF: Peanut, tree nuts (except almonds), gluten, and dairy 



Liam's

Frozen single-serve meals free of the top allergens in over in over 500 grocery stores & ready to eat in less than 4 minutes!  



GLUTINO ANIMAL CRACKER

FREE OF: Gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and milk

BREAD SRLSY

FREE OF: Top 8 Allergens, Gluten, Potato, Tapioca, and Chickpeas

UDI’S GLUTEN FREE SNICKER DOODLE COOKIES

FREE OF: Gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and GMOs

NIKIGO

The authentic taste of premium soy sauce, with no soy or other legumes.  Made from fresh mushrooms, but without the mushroom-y taste. Rich, complex and smooth, and without the unwanted sweetness of coconut aminos.

Our Favorite TikTok Accounts Guide features creators to follow who manage food allergies or celiac, with gems like @zozomccormack, living her best Emily in Paris life while managing a tree nut allergy; @sarahandspices the big sister we wish every allergy kid had, showing how to navigate dating, friendships, dinner parties, and more; and of course @philhatesgluten, a great role model who proves that laughter truly is the best medicine!

Cybele's Free to Eat

In the early 2000s, Cybele, a NYC-based writer with a culinary background, faced a transformative challenge when her first child was diagnosed with severe multiple food allergies. Undeterred, she turned this obstacle into an opportunity, dedicating herself to crafting delicious, allergy-friendly recipes free from the Top 8 allergens (Now Top 9).

No Whey! Foods

100% Milk Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Gluten Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Sesame Free, No Artificial Colors and Flavors ! Free of the top common 9 allergens! Vegan and Kosher!

Check out Jake the Milkless Easter Bunny & other top 9 free chocolate

See Spokin's Gluten-Free Chicken Nugget Guide for 38 places to find safe chicken nuggets and tenders. Our guide features places with 100% gluten-free kitchens, dedicated gluten-free fryers, and top 8 free chicken strips! 

Our workshops set out to educate and entertain you, your friends, family, or coworkers, in one of a kind in person or virtual baking experiences, that focus on how a few simple ingredients can bring people together and create delicious memories.

What’s Included?

• We ship dry ingredients to your home (if virtual)
• Each kit contains ingredients for two servings of the recipe
• Let us know if you have specific allergy needs for ingredients

How Much Is it?

• Workshops are $35
• Classes require a minimum of 4 people
• Gift Certificates are available
• Contact us for Corporate or Large Group (8 or more) Pricing

Where to Meet Giti?

• Virtual: We can meet online via Zoom
• On Site: Private workshops from your home kitchen!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

AAFA

Link here!

Allergic Living

Link here!

Allergy Amulet

Link here!

Allergy Awesomeness!

Link here!

Allergy Force

Link here!

APFED 

Link here!

Belay

Link here!

Camp Blue Spruce

Link here!

CFAAR

Link here!

Chia Leah

Link here!

Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Link here!

FAACT

Link here!

FARE

Link here!

Food Allergy Fund

Link here!

Food Allergy Science Initiative

Link here!

Food Equality Initiative

Link here!

FPIES

Survey link here!

Kyah Rayne Foundation

Link here!

Kids with Food Allergies

Link here!

Latitude

Link here!

Stanford

Link here!

Utah Food Allergy Network

Link here!

MOCHA INTERN CAFE

Rhea Sridhara 

Junior at the University of Michigan allergic to tree nuts.

Spring Break Tip: This spring break, I went to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun. I always checked the menu for listed allergens, and let the host know that I had an allergy ahead of time to avoid potential allergens or cross-contamination!

Lindy Winkler 

Senior at Glenbrook North High School allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, beef and pectin.

Spring Break Tip: I went on a cruise this spring break and I found it really important to advocate for your allergies, as they are always happy to accommodate!



Ryan Smith

Senior at WashU allergic to tree nuts.

Spring Break Tip: Pack allergy friendly snacks in advance and don't be afraid to advocate for your safety on the plane!



Make sure to talk with your flight crew prior to takeoff to ensure safety during the flight!

Kethan Bajaj

Senior at Northwestern University allergic to nothing, but my brother has food allergies.

Spring Break Tip: Bring extra epinephrine auto-injectors on trips. Keeping them in different locations can be helpful (backpacks, purses, etc.)!

Matthew Chu

Junior at Chantilly High School allergic to Strawberries, Pineapple, and Cashews.

Spring Break Tip: Before traveling, locate & review allergy menus at local restaurants!

Julia Auerbach

Senior at Northwestern University with Celiac Disease.

Spring Break Tip: This spring break, I've been in France, Portugal, and the UK, and it's been super helpful using allergy apps like, FindMe Gluten Free, Atly, and Spokin to find safe restaurants!

Check out CAFAE! CAFAE is an on-campus club with the mission of improving the lives of students with food allergies and related conditions.

Check it out now at www.cafae.org and join us in creating a safer, more inclusive world for those with food allergies!

RESOURCE CORNER

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Disclaimer: M.O.C.H.A. is not a professional or medical organization. It is a group of parents sharing information and supporting each other. The discussions, meeting minutes, handouts, speakers, agendas, and other products of our support group do not constitute medical and/or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Always discuss individual health questions and medical issues with a qualified personal physician.