OTTUMWA, IOWA -- For our Facebook Story of the Day for Wednesday, KTVO’s Facebook Fans wanted to know more about food allergies and what kind of options are available for people who have them.
KTVO contacted Heather Ware, the Registered Dietitian at Hy-Vee in Ottumwa. Ware told KTVO that if someone has an allergy, such as a peanut allergy, they should be very careful what they eat.
“When you have an allergy to peanuts, your immune system identifies peanut as an allergen and creates antibodies to guard against the allergen. Then these antibodies attach themselves to the cells within your body and produce different reactions. Those can be anything from hives to swelling to difficulty breathing and of course anaphylactic shock, which can result in death,” said Ware.
Ware also talked about different products her store carries to make sure that people who do have peanut allergies can still enjoy products that typically have peanuts in them.
“For example, look at a sun butter product, it tastes very similar to peanut butter but it is actually made out of sunflower seeds. On the back of the product, you can double check and make sure it doesn't contain peanuts. The product usually says it is processed in a peanut free and tree free facility, so this is a product that you know will be safe with that allergy,” said Ware.
If you have any questions about food allergies and/or what products are available to those who do have them, you can contact Heather Ware at North or South Hy-Vee at (641) 682-4516.
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