Metro at Kennedy Commons in Scarborough, Ontario

This is at a Metro located at Kennedy Commons in Scarborough. This is at the end of the isle on wheels. While I was taking a few photos of the setup the cart seen in this image actually hit it and about 13 or so of the walnuts went tumbling to the ground. What become of those nuts I do not know, however I am certain that these being in a closed bin would be a much better set up.

Walmart in Newmarket, Ontario

Hard to believe that they have some nuts in closed bins, while some not in closed bins. Hopefully all that will change!

Its a family affair...

After my sons first reaction I became a protective parent. I started watching everything. I got my son a cute little MedicAlert band. Taught him to say "No nuts", became active in research on food allergies, subscribed to Health Canada's food recalls (here) and made appointments with allergist to become as informed as I could be. Our first allergist appointment was pointless. The allergist simply tested for walnuts. (If your making a specialist appointment for answers - dont be the last appointment of the day) As if we didnt already know it was walnuts, but what about all the other nuts? If we listened to that allergist when he said "It is probably an isolated walnut allergy as it is more common in children of european decent", my son would have probably never been taken to see Dr. David Hummel. Dr. Hummel was amazing, he gave us the time of day, tested in depth for Tree Nuts and Peanuts, discussed with us what we should do, steps to take. He was amazed with all the steps I had already taken. Both my husband and I had already practiced with a "trainer epi-pen" which we ordered from this link, we
de-nutted our house, informed friends and family, became trained in the scientific names of the allergens to watch out for, and began watching for cross-contamination. I was obviously more aware of the steps, despite trying to get everyone on board. Everyone thought I was crazy or being extreme. Honestly, I felt like grabbing my kids and running from my unsupportive family. I screamed when my Mother-in-Law purchased buns from an open bin, you would think this would be safe, but buns come from a bakery, a bakery in a grocery store is not allergen free. The risk of cross-contamination is very high, think of carrot cake, carrot cake is often made with crushed walnuts... think of those buns being baked in the same area... No one could persuade me to think it is safe to have in a house with a child that has severe anaphalaxis to walnuts. That was before discoverning my sons allergy was not specific to walnuts. We discovered during allergy testing with Dr. Hummel on November 15th that he has a positive allergy to Cashews, Walnuts, Pine nuts, Pistachios, Pecan, Hazelnuts, Brazil Nuts, Almonds and a "tree nut mix". This is slightly more rare than just a single family nut allergy. Each tree nut comes from a "family". Generally said, if you are allergic to walnuts, you will also be allergic to pecans, same with pistachio to cashews, beechnuts to chestnuts...

Walnut: walnut, pecan	Birch: hazelnut, filbert, hickory nut
Mango: pistachio, cashews	Plum: almond
Legythis: brazil	Macadamia
Beech: beechnut, chestnut

It was in between all my research and my appointment with Dr. Hummel that I discovered that this will be a life long allergy for my son. On Food Allergy Gourmet it states: a tree nut allergy is rarely outgrown. Most people remain allergic for their entire lives. It is also possible to develop a tree nut allergy later in life. From Food Allergies About they say: over 90% percent of children diagnosed with tree nut allergies will have them for life. This is why I consider living with tree nuts allergies to be like a disability. It is not something that will just go away, it has no cure.



Some interesting facts I have found. I know this is about food allergies in Canada but I have yet to find the same interesting facts and figures for Canada.

Allergy to peanuts and tree nuts in the general population is, respectively, 0.6 percent and 0.4 percent, with the rate in children under age 18 (0.8 percent and 0.2 percent) slightly different from adults (0.6 percent and 0.5 percent respectively). These two foods are the leading causes of fatal and near fatal food-allergic reactions.

In spite of attempts to avoid allergenic foods, accidental exposures are the major causes of allergic reactions to foods. Over a period of two years, approximately 50 percent of subjects in the United States with food allergy have an allergic reaction to accidental exposure.

In the United States, there are approximately 30,000 episodes of food-induced anaphylaxis, associated with 100 to 200 deaths; most deaths occur in adolescents and young adults.

Food allergy is the most frequent single cause of emergency room visits for anaphylaxis and accounts for 34 to 52 percent of these visits.

A fear unlike any other

I don't need to tell you that living with life threatening allergies is equal to living with a disability. You can generally do enough research to discover that. For my family, when my son was diagnosed with a serious life threatening tree nut allergy, it was life changing. As a mother, nothing matters more in this world than to ensure the health and safety of your child. Typcally, a mother will take every necessary precaution known. After my son was hospitalized for his first anaphalactic reaction to tree nuts, I vowed to him and myself, I would make this better, make it safer. This is my job, my duty, my right! My son is not physically or mentally disbled. He is a bright 23 month old boy. He talks more than most kids his age; but he lives with a deadly nut allergy. A simple exposure could kill my son, and other children like him. If I dont react fast enough - it could be the end. This will NOT happen. Im still somewhat in a daze that this is happening to us. I never ever thought one of my kids would be allergic to nuts; but we make do. I would do anything for my kids, and lets face it... Children dont come with a warranty, or return policy.
As a result I am always on edge, always reading labells; following food recalls. I know that the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) recalls more food items because of hidden allergens than for listeria and e-coli combined. I know the steps required should my son be exposed (1. Don't hesitate, give epi-pen 2) call 9-1-1). The problem here is, how do I as a mother prevent every exposure? How do I ensure the risk is minimal?  Read labells, tell friends and family about his allergy, and watch everything he eats. That is all fine and dandy; of course I do those things. What about foods that don't require labells? Your fruits and vegetable don't carry labells. It is assumed you pick up an apple - well then that's an apple. They don't have labells...  Well you cant assume nothing! The legal system has protected stores. When you purchase an item from the store, this is called "an invitation to treat". The store holds minimal liability towards you. I'm sure if they did something such as an intentional tort, fell below the duty of care , they could be held liable, but they really are not. Major chains would have your money burnt out so fast by having you tied up in litigation for years...
My surprise came one day when I entered Loblaws, to find two cantaloupes in a bin of walnuts. I took a photo of it, as I take photos of all the nut displays... but this time I went to the manager. Walnuts are a +4 allergen for my son. I asked the manager what would be done with the cantaloupes. I was very bluntly told they would go back with the others where they belong. See - here is the problem. Those cantaloupes very well could end up in my house. To know that items like this are not washed before being put back, or better yet, thrown out really concerns me. My invitation to treat could very well be more then I bargained for. You would expect a certain duty of care to follow, an allergy/sensitivity procedure in place. Especially considering a family like mine spends an average of $200 a week in grocery stores. But this is not even my first concern...

My major concern is the open bin policy that is in place. In my local store there are walnuts beside my bananas; in an open basket. What if someone knocks that over? What if the walnuts flow into the bananas. A first sign of an allergic reaction is generally hives. Hives is a contact reaction to an allergen. So now my son is helping me get some bananas, DING... Point of contact. The hives begin, he rubs his eyes, maybe puts his hands in his mouth... His hands that have the allergen on them. Being an innocent child he has just spread the protein of the allergen to his mouth. His tongue will swell, his airways will close... and me, I wont know what just happened.

My mission is to have it mandatory that nut items be placed in a closed bin.  This will prevent general spilling on to the floor, contact with other perishable food items, and the placement of various items in the bin. This will prevent the serious risk posed to children and adults living with life threatening allergies. This is not a hard thing to implement as Bulk Barn already has this in place. Cross-contamination is a fear like no other for my family and the families of the 1.2 million Canadians that live with food allergies. This is what can cause a delay in treatment, because the actually cause of the anaphylaxis is unknown.