I wonder if the allergy is to the faux almond flavoring (generally from an apricot or peach pit if I remember correctly). 

That would be my first guess, too.

Or to a forage plant protein which is present in milk only some of the time, depending upon what the animal has been fed.

I wonder if the allergy is to the faux almond flavoring (generally from an apricot or peach pit if I remember correctly). 

I know it might sound weird but this is coming from a woman who reacts to hypoallergenic make-up (well for most people anyway LOL)

Your best bet may be to still try milk from an uncontaminated source - I would try your local supermarket brands as many just process milk (and probably do so for multiple local supermarkets).  In their case, they generally farm out the specialty soy, almond and coconut milk to other manufacturers.

If you have a Walmart supercenter - they are great at answering questions honestly.

Quote from: rebekahc on May 02, 2013, 03:21:25 PM
Or maybe you're allergic to milk?  That seems more likely than reacting to artificial flavorings (most likely strawberry milk is artificial, too).  Milk allergy could account for your coffee shop reaction as well...

ETA:  Milk allergy might explain several of the mystery reactions you've posted about, too.

Well, I tested negative to milk last year when I was originally diagnosed with FA. Of course, I guess it's possible I've developed another allergy. But I don't have reactions to anything else like cheeses.

I should point out that these are not big reactions, but they are annoying because they tend to trigger systemic angioedema, which has been an ongoing battle for me for the last few years, even before I knew what it was. It's just all the more frustrating because of the relief I felt when it improved drastically after FA diagnosis. I've been on several courses of prednisone, which is the only thing that helps, but obviously the more I can limit my use of that, the better.

I've not really had any mystery reactions--eventually a tree nut related trigger has always been unearthed. Except that last summer, after the anaphylaxis that lead to diagnosis, when I was (as several people here warned) hyper-reactive.

As for the artificial flavorings, I had a reaction last year to a coffee drink that was stirred with a cross-contaminated spoon. It turned out it had been used to stir the drink made just before mine, which was a "turtle" latte. Those syrups are not supposed to have any real nut products, and they read safe, but after a sip or two, driving in my car before I was a block away I was dizzy and coughing and my mouth started to itch and my nose started to run. I have had many, many lattes from this place before and since, and that was the only time anything like that happened. I now make sure they NEVER stir my drinks and they know about my allergy now. So I'm a little leery of even artificial "almond" or anything else.

Swaygirl

If not the milk, tell us more about the cereal you had.

Or maybe you're allergic to milk?  That seems more likely than reacting to artificial flavorings (most likely strawberry milk is artificial, too).  Milk allergy could account for your coffee shop reaction as well...

ETA:  Milk allergy might explain several of the mystery reactions you've posted about, too.

Quote from: Jessica on May 02, 2013, 10:30:11 AM
We use a lot of Prairie Farms so I emailed them and here's their reply:
Thank you for writing.

Almond milk has an non allergy flavoring added to the milk.  There is no possible cross contamination.

That's very interesting, because I also emailed them but they never replied. On the label for the almond-flavored milk, it says "natural and artificial flavors." Don't know what that entails, but I do know that I have reacted to trace cross-contamination (at a coffee shop) with a flavoring that is supposed to be artificial. I guess if it's close enough, my immune system can be tricked into thinking it's an allergen. I don't know what that's about, but I know it's happened and I know the Prairie Farms milk I just bought caused some sort of reaction. I suppose for myself I will still avoid just to be safe. Of course, I have a ridiculously low tolerance, so it's probably safe for others. (And also, I've got the strawberry thing going on--see my original post--so it could be that.)

Thanks for the info! I will call the number on your email and see what answer I get.

Swaygirl

We use a lot of Prairie Farms so I emailed them and here's their reply:
Thank you for writing.

Almond milk has an non allergy flavoring added to the milk.  There is no possible cross contamination.


Sherri Boehm
Prairie Farms Dairy
1100 Broadway
Carlinville, IL  62626
217-854-1221
217-854-8468 Fax

Quote from: YouKnowWho on May 01, 2013, 08:07:31 PM
Another thought is buying milk on the black market - LOL 

We cannot buy unpasteurized milk in GA unless it's for pets.  Have been to the farm, they drink it, the farm is clean = works for us.  Well it did until the delivery times changed.  He had whole milk and whipping cream.

This is exactly what I said to DH! I'm ready to drive to the country and get some straight from the source.  A few bacteria can't scare me.

Swaygirl

Quote from: YouKnowWho on May 01, 2013, 08:05:24 PM
Any chance another store brand would do - I know many of them just do milk and the almond/coconut/soy are packaged elsewhere (per Publix and Kroger).

I thought that store brands were generally considered a risky choice, since you don't really know the source and manufacturing info is hard to come by. Are these two store brands safe? Unfortunately we don't have Kroger or Publix here, but I might poke harder at other store brands if this is a good option. Up to now, I've hit a brick wall with the few I've tried to get info from, and my understanding was that most, if not all, have shared facilities with other dairies/stores. I'll have to try some local store brands. What can it hurt? Thanks for the info!

Swaygirl

Another thought is buying milk on the black market - LOL 

We cannot buy unpasteurized milk in GA unless it's for pets.  Have been to the farm, they drink it, the farm is clean = works for us.  Well it did until the delivery times changed.  He had whole milk and whipping cream.

Any chance another store brand would do - I know many of them just do milk and the almond/coconut/soy are packaged elsewhere (per Publix and Kroger).

I am about to give up hope of ever finding a milk that's safe for TNA. I had used various brands of organic milk for years, but after diagnosis last year, it became obvious that milk was a problem for me. I felt kind of stupid that it had never occurred to me to even check on milk until I saw a thread here regarding Horizon and others. Duh! Almond milk! So, the hunt for a safe milk...

Had thought I'd try Prairie Farms because they have their own bottling facilities. Bought a small container of it, meaning to call, but well, life got in the way and I forgot to call but I did check out their website, and they didn't produce anything that seemed really problematic. Then I had a bowl of cereal and right away did not feel good (pain, real pain, in stomach within a minute or two of the first spoonful, followed by itchy lips, cough, lightheadedness. Didn't develop into a major reaction, but it was enough to realize I hadn't checked it out. So I go on their website to find a phone number or email address, and lo and behold I discover they've added a new product: vanilla and almond flavored milk! Awesome. 

So, does anybody know of a safe brand? Who'd have thought this would be the hardest thing to find?

Oh, and even if it's safe for TNA, it probably won't be safe for me anyway, because: STRAWBERRY MILK! Talk about a palm-to-the-forehead moment. Somehow, I keep forgetting I am allergic to strawberries too. (As dumb as that sounds--how do you forget your own LTFA?) But, you know, tree nuts just loom large as an allergy, and strawberry sort of seems secondary. Which is ridiculous, since I was eating strawberries (along with cake that had almond flavoring in it) when I first anaphylaxed. No real way to know which caused it, but dr assumes TN and I guess I have too, since other major reactions have all involved TN.

So...guessing milk is just out for me. Fine, I can live with that. But the worst part? DH just helpfully pointed out, "Guess that means no half and half in your coffee either, right?" Ahhhh. You can take away my food, fine. But mess with my coffee? That is not acceptable.

Ok, guess I am feeling just a teensy bit whiny, but FOOD ALLERGIES SUCK.  Sorry, just had to get that out there. I feel better now...

Swaygirl
Allergic to almonds, walnuts, AND strawberries (and not too happy about it right now!)