The Gazette | Sunday, September 29, 2019 | Section C Your contact: Sections Editor Shari Rampenthal, 608-755-8394, [email protected] A chance to GO NUTS FDA panel recommends approval for new peanut allergy drug By Lisa Schencker He gave her a tiny bit of peanut pro- recommended approval of the tein and monitored her in his office for first drug designed to Chicago Tribune allergic reactions. Gradually, he stepped reduce allergic reactions up the amount she ate, over the course in children with pea- CHICAGO of about 10 months. Today, peanut but- nut allergies. The rec- Lauren Tilmont didn’t believe ter still upsets her stomach, but she can ommendation makes it when her doctor told her a few snack on Snickers bars and munch on it likely that the drug, years ago that he had a treat- peanut M&Ms without a problem. Palforzia, made by Aim- Tilmont called the treatment the mune Therapeutics, will ment that might allow her to most difficult thing she’s ever done, but get FDA approval. eat peanuts, despite a lifelong she no longer fears accidentally touch- The drug is not meant as a cure or a allergy to them. ing a surface that has peanuts on it or path to snacking on peanuts. Rather, it’s “The first thing I told him was, eating at restaurants that use peanut oil. designed to decrease the amount and “It has empowered me,” she said. severity of allergic reactions after acci- ‘You’re crazy. That doesn’t hap- It’s a somewhat controversial treat- pen,’ ” said Tilmont, 25, of Rog- dental exposure to peanuts. But many ment that hasn’t been widely avail- families dealing with peanut allergies ers Park, Illinois. able in the Chicago area or elsewhere, say it could be life-changing, potentially She had been told nearly her despite high demand. But a similar freeing them from the worry that their whole life that peanuts could kill approach may be about to go main- kids could go into anaphylaxis or even stream. her. She lived in fear of them. die because of a simple mistake or over- Earlier this month, a U.S. sight. But Tilmont decided to give her Food and Drug Admin- doctor’s treatment plan a try. istration expert panel Turn to NUTS on Page 9C The drug is not meant as a cure or a path to snacking on peanuts. Rather, it’s designed to decrease the amount and severity of allergic reactions after accidental exposure to peanuts. But many families dealing with peanut allergies say it could be life-changing, potentially freeing them from the worry that their kids could go into anaphylaxis or even die because of a simple mistake or oversight. Hobbies Roads Traveled Health Whether it’s Girl’s letter with cranberries, prompts toy pumpkins Researchers company or science, hope to learn to design, communities more about prototype statewide are what snacking Army women firing up their does to our figurines fall festivals bodies MORE MORE MORE INSIDE 2C u INSIDE 6C u INSIDE 5C u Sunday, September 29, 2019 l 2C The Gazette Studies show More in US cutting sugar, but diets still lacking CHICAGO—Americans’ diets are a little less sweet New and a little crunchier, but there’s still too much sugar, white bread and artery-clogging fat, a study suggests. Overall, the authors estimated there was a mod- est improvement over 16 years on the government’s healthy eating index, from estimated scores of 56 to 58. That’s hardly cause for celebration—100 is the top score. recruits Diets are still too heavy on foods that can contrib- ute to heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other prev- alent U.S. health problems, said co-author Fang Fang Toy company developing line Zhang, a nutrition researcher at Tufts University near Boston. The study was published Tuesday in the Journal of Army women figurines of the American Medical Association. The results are from an analysis of U.S. government health surveys By Darcel Rockett Soldier Show in Schaumburg. from 1999 to 2016 involving nearly 44,000 adults. Chicago Tribune “All of these are very classic “Despite observed improvements,” the authors plastic Army men poses,” Imel sure fans and buyers can tell that wrote, “important dietary challenges” remain. Vivian Lord, 6, won a set of said. “They kind of form the these figures are women. Among them: Getting Americans to cut down on plastic green Army men from an backbone of your plastic Army “If you look at today’s soldiers, snack foods, hot dogs, fatty beef, butter and other arcade while vacationing with and how kids set up their posi- the gear pretty much hides gen- foods containing saturated fats. The study found her family recently. But accord- tions, so I wanted to get the com- der because they’re wearing pro- these unhealthy fats increased from 11.5% to almost ing to her mother, Brittany, at bat action poses and move on tective flak jackets,” he said. “You 12% of daily calories, above the recommended 10% some time while she was playing from there. I feel like I’m cre- can sometimes tell by size and limit. with them, she asked her mom: ating a toy that should have the faces a little bit. But if the And while the biggest change was a small drop in Why aren’t any of these girls? existed a while ago. The figure doesn’t translate to a added sugars, from about 16% to roughly 14%, that’s They found some pink ones number of messages I’ve woman figure, then that’s still too high. The government says less than 10% online, but those too weren’t received from adult women not really scratching the of daily calories should come from added sugars. female. who told me, ‘I itch that people are look- Researchers think fewer sweetened sodas contrib- “The color didn’t fool her, and really wanted ing for. It needs to be uted to the decline, but Zhang noted added sugars she wasn’t going to let it go— these as a kid,’ identifiable and has to are often found in foods that don’t even seem sweet, that’s just her personality,” Brit- that kind of blew connect to the audi- including some yogurts and tomato sauce. tany Lord said. my mind. You kind of ence I’m trying to —Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press “I said, ‘OK, what do you want expect a kid to wonder connect with—which to do? Do you want to write a let- today: Why aren’t there is both kids and also ter?’ So she sat down and wrote any women in this bag adults who wished they a letter this July. We looked up of Army men? But had this when they a couple of places and sent it to know that it goes were kids. I want to Gear up off and waited. I thought it was back that far. That satisfy the need that just a lesson on speaking up. I was a surprise to me.” BMC Toys, based they have. I’m try- didn’t know that we would get a Imel said he is in Scranton, Pa., ing to approach it very Innovative backpack response,” said the mom of two already getting a lot plans to release thoughtfully and pur- from Little Rock, Arkansas. of preorder requests. toy Army women posefully.” But a response came from Jeff His plan is to launch like the above in Vivian’s mother improves on accessibility a crowdfunding cam- Imel, owner of Scranton, Penn- time for the 2020 appreciates the effort. sylvania-based BMC Toys, who paign and begin taking “She’s pretty stoked Christmas season. What new can be done with a backpack? Sure, said Vivian will be able to get her preorders in Novem- about it,” Lord said. you can add a few more pockets here or there, maybe hands on green Army women ber. His goal is to sell “We certainly will be include some better padding on the straps, but the by Christmas 2020. Accord- the green Army women on his one of the first to purchase these basic blueprint is set, ing to Imel, five poses are in the site, at hobby shops and on ama- Army women when they become right? Think again. works: a female captain with a zon.com. Imel said about 1,000 available. She has a lot of friends Designers behind handgun and binoculars, a sol- people have already registered who are saying the same thing.” Mystery Ranch’s new dier standing and firing a rifle, for his newsletter to receive Vivian’s request for green 24-liter Urban Assault another kneeling while firing a updates on the toy Army women. Army women has taught her pack came up with the bazooka, a soldier firing a sniper Imel’s sister helped draft some mom a lot. ingenious idea of creat- rifle while lying on her stomach, sketches of what the female sol- “I’m so proud of her,” Lord ing a three-zipper sys- and a soldier kneeling and firing diers would look like, and he’s said. “It’s a lesson that she’s tem to better access a rifle. A medic and radio opera- done reference work on what learned at a young age that if you what you’ve got stored tor will be created at a later date. women in the military looked speak up and want change, peo- inside. Use two of the A prototype of the captain will like at different points in his- ple will listen.