About AllergyKids
The goal of AllergyKids is to support and inspire parents and caregivers in their efforts to protect the health of their children with food allergies, asthma, ADHD or autism.
Today, one out of every three American children now has allergies, asthma, ADHD or autism, with 20 million children now affected by one of these conditions.
As the first independently funded food allergy organization, AllergyKids highlights previously undisclosed research addressing the recent introduction and engineering of allergens, proteins, food additives and dyes into our food supply. This research is documented in
The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It (published by Random House in May 2009) to national acclaim from Erin Brockovich, Dr. Oz, Dr. Sears, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and others.
Since the introduction of chemicals into our children's food twenty years ago, the new childhood epidemics of allergies, asthma, autism and ADHD have increased dramatically:
- 400% increase in allergies,
- 300% increase in asthma,
- 400% increase in ADHD
- and an increase of between 1,500 and 6,000% in the number of children with autism-spectrum disorders.
At AllergyKids, our concern is that industry funding ties between the agri-chemical companies and pediatric allergists who have served on the FDA "generally recognized as safe" panels and testified to the safety of MSG, aspartame, glutamate and genetically engineered proteins, may prevent full disclosure of leading global research highlighting a ban of these ingredients in Europe, Australia, the UK and other developed countries in an effort to protect children.
AllergyKids' Medical Advisory Team:
At AllergyKids, we believe in full disclosure when it comes to funding ties and financial relationships between industry, organizations and doctors, as research highlights the influential role that financial relationships play in the outcomes of medical research.
The AllergyKids' Medical Advisory Team includes:
Dr. Bob Sears: "Dr. Sears" is one of the most trusted names in pediatrics. Dr. Bob Sears, along with his remarkable family, co-authored The Baby Book, The Pregnancy Book, and How to Raise the Healthiest Kid on the Block. His refreshingly candid advice on the dangers that chemical additives in children's foods present to their health and well-being (as seen in our June 2007 Newsletter) is a gift for which we are extremely grateful.
Dr. Kenneth Bock: If you have ever been concerned about allergies, asthma, ADHD or autism, then you recognize the critical role that the research of Dr. Kenneth Bock plays in the life of our children. As a pediatric neurotoxicologist, his work on "the 4-A’s" highlights the important role that diet can play in tackling these autoimmune disorders, and the risks that recently introduced neurotoxins in foods may present to the health of our children as seen in our August 2007 Newsletter. His recent appearance on the CBS Early Show demonstrates his intelligence and compassion.
Dr. Roy Steinbock: An M.D., F.A.A.P., board certified family pediatrician, Dr. Roy engages parents and families in his integrative approach to treating children in which he "focuses on the root cause of the problem with an aim to support his patients natural ability for healing."
Former Advisor, Dr. David Ludwig: The integrity of Dr. Ludwig’s research earned him a place of honor at the AllergyKids’ table (not to mention that he insists that no junk be served!). Though he no longer serves on the advisory team, we often cite the work of Dr. Ludwig as his research and that of his team at Harvard University highlights the influential role that that industry funding plays in skewing scientific results. Dr. Ludwig's work focuses on the risks that junk food present to the health our children, as seen in the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, Time Magazine and Ending the Food Fight.
Robyn O’Brien: Founder, Director of Research
Robyn earned a Fulbright Fellowship, an MBA and served as an equity analyst before founding AllergyKids on Mothers’ Day 2006 after her fourth child was diagnosed with food allergies. She was named by SHAPE Magazine as one of 2009’s “Women To Shape the World”, along with Michelle Obama, and has been called “food’s Erin Brockovich” by countless news organizations, including the New York Times. Robyn has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and CNN, as well as People, Living Without and in other media, highlighting the role that chemicals in our food supply are having on our health. Her first book, published by Random House (May 2009) The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It, and due out in paperback in May 2010, exposes the role that federal policy and financial incentives play in the toxicity of the US food supply and has been recognized by Ted Turner, Erin Brockovich, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Dr. Oz and others. Robyn was born and raised in Texas, prior to moving to Boulder, Colorado with her husband and four children. Additional resources, articles and information are available at www.robynobrien.com
Seleyn DeYarus: Executive Director
Seleyn is the former Development Director for The Organic Center (TOC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering scientific research behind the health benefits of reducing our exposure to chemicals and synthetic ingredients now found in our food supply, where she was responsible for fundraising, the development of educational materials, consumer guides and videos and outreach. Seleyn is also Managing Partner of Compass Natural LLC, a full-service marketing, communications, event planning and production, and PR agency. She is a former environmental consultant for international business strategist Booz Allen Hamilton and served in the White House under the Reagan administration in the President’s Speech Writers Research office, where she was personally hired by President Reagan. She is a member of both the Denver and Boulder Chamber of Commerce. She has a B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she served as President of the Student Government Association. She is a photographer, loves gardening and enjoys hiking in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
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We are honored to have been interviewed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to have appeared on CNN, and to have garnered the support of Erin Brockovich and parents around the world.
We appreciate your support of AllergyKids, as it enables us to continue to operate as an independent organization, bringing you and your family the most comprehensive research available.
The content of the AllergyKids' site, newsletter and FOOD POLITICS blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice, please contact your physician or other qualified healthcare professional. The content of the AllergyKids' site, newsletter and FOOD POLITICS blog is not intended to constitute legal advice or substitute for obtaining legal advice from your own counsel.
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