Yes. Families with a history of food allergies love our product because it arrives in a box containing individually sealed, foil-lined packets of pre-measured powder. These packets are designed to be easily poured directly into your baby’s bottle or mixed with solid food without unintentional contact with the powder itself, significantly reducing the chance of cross-contamination and exposure of at-risk family members to the allergens. The allergen proteins are gently introduced one at a time to safely and easily monitor the cause of any potential reaction.
Here are 9 great tips on how to safely introduce allergenic foods when living with others who have a food allergy.
- Pick a safe place in the kitchen that only adults can access, where you store Ready. Set. Food! and anything else that could cause your allergic family member to react.
- Dedicate a bottle, spoon, and bowl for when you use Ready. Set. Food! with your baby. Only use those items when you give Ready. Set. Food! Store them in a safe place in the kitchen when you aren't using them.
- Clean out your sink before giving Ready. Set. Food! That way, you can pour the stick pack into the bottle or bowl over the sink, and easily rinse off any powder that may spill out. Also, when your baby is done with the bottle or bowl, you can wash it in the sink right away, and not get any powder or residue on any other dishes by accident.
- Make sure you can easily clean your baby right after they eat, and have them wear a wipe-off bib whenever you use Ready. Set. Food! Also, have a wet paper towel on hand, so you can wipe your baby's face right after they eat.
- Feed your baby on surfaces that you can easily clean. You could also have them sit on a towel in case there is a spill (but there usually isn't).
- Consider packaging of allergenic foods: It could be easy for a food allergic sibling to access allergenic foods in different packaging formats, such as jars of nut butter and other snacks containing these foods. We designed our Ready. Set. Food! packets with this in mind and because of that, it is extremely difficult for young children to open these packets and can be a much safer option for food allergic family members.
- Think about using Ready. Set. Food! when your family member with a food allergy is out of the house. For example, you could wait until an older child with a food allergy is at school.
- If you think there was a spill, change your baby's clothes right away. Wash those clothes separately.
- Safely feed if the parent/caregiver has a food allergy. If the parent/caregiver who is feeding allergenic foods has a food allergy, they may choose to wear gloves which can be easily thrown out after the feeding. Ready. Set. Food! offers the safest option for these families as it minimizes the risk of cross-contamination and having to prepare allergenic foods in a shared kitchen.