Egg-Free Epicurean is the brainchild of Amy Jones Anichini - a mom, wife, financial analyst, and food allergy advocate. Visit her Food Allergy Educational Videos on YouTube. Here is the story of her family’s journey and the genesis of her business.
Shortly after moving to San Diego, we learned our youngest daughter was severely allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. At the time of the diagnosis, we had no idea how dramatically our lives would change. We thought all we had to do was avoid eating foods that actually contained peanuts or tree nuts. We quickly learned it’s not that simple.
One of the first things we were told was that plain chocolate candy can have peanut exposure, but what in the world did that mean? Then we realized that every bakery—from the small family-owned neighborhood bakery to the grocery store’s bakery department to the big coffee chains - has peanut and tree nut exposure.
We were very confused; how could a plain old sugar cookie potentially cause our child to have an allergic reaction? Would we have to give up trips to the bakery completely? What about the ice cream store? Could she eat the cake at a friend’s birthday party if it had no nuts?
Shortly after moving to San Diego, we learned our youngest daughter was severely allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. At the time of the diagnosis, we had no idea how dramatically our lives would change. We thought all we had to do was avoid eating foods that actually contained peanuts or tree nuts. We quickly learned it’s not that simple.
One of the first things we were told was that plain chocolate candy can have peanut exposure, but what in the world did that mean? Then we realized that every bakery—from the small family-owned neighborhood bakery to the grocery store’s bakery department to the big coffee chains - has peanut and tree nut exposure.
We were very confused; how could a plain old sugar cookie potentially cause our child to have an allergic reaction? Would we have to give up trips to the bakery completely? What about the ice cream store? Could she eat the cake at a friend’s birthday party if it had no nuts?
