Published: May 09, 2008 11:14 pm      

Commissioners urge food allergy research

EBENSBURG — A Ferndale mother of two children who are allergic to nuts received the Cambria County commissioners’ support Friday in urging increased federal funding for research on food allergies.

Sheri Conant said that although only two of her seven children – Moriah, 11, and Karissa, 9 – have been diagnosed with the allergies, she doesn’t allow any of her offspring to eat nuts because of concern they would suffer the same reaction.

The commissioners urged Congress and Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, including Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, to increase the research funding.

Commissioner Bill Harris, reading the resolution, said the U.S. spends less than $10 million a year for allergy research while other health problems receive much higher allocations. Those outlays include $1.2 billion for diabetes and $107 million for attention deficit disorder, he said.

Moriah Conant said her parents first suspected she had food allergies when she was 2 and ate a cookie with nuts.

“I instantly had a rash around my mouth,” she said.

“About a month later, I had pumpkin muffins that contained ground-up walnuts. Within an hour, I was vomiting.”

Moriah said that when she was 6 and was being treated by a specialist, she tested positive for pecans, walnuts “and other nuts I have never had.”

She said she always must read food labels because many products, including baked goods, contain nuts.

Although the other Conant children avoided nuts because of Moriah’s allergies, it was discovered by accident that Karissa had the same problem.

When Karissa was about 4 years old, she ate cranberry salad when the family was at a dinner. Within an hour, she complained of an itchy tongue, her lips were swollen and hurting, and her face was covered with a rash.

Both girls have to carry medication in case they accidentally eat nuts and go into shock, Moriah said.

Harris, after learning that an average school has 10 children with severe food allergies, said the medical problem is a concern.

His office was asked by Allergy Moms, a group of mothers of children with food allergies, to seek the commissioners’ support for increased funding.

Conant, although not a member of the group, agreed to lobby the commissioners on the funding issue.