Flying with kids isn’t easy. Add on a food allergy and you have a whole other set of problems. And that’s exactly why one mom filed a game-changing complaint with the federal Department of Transportation.

In 2016 a gate agent for American Airlines refused Nicole Mackenzie’s pre-boarding request. According to the New York Times, the mom of a seven-year-old with life-threatening nut and seed allergies, wanted time to properly clean her child’s seating area. When Mackenzie wasn’t allowed to pre-board, she filed a formal complaint with the D.O.T.

photo: Anugrah Lohiya via Pexels 

Nearly three years later the D.O.T. regulators found that American Airlines had violated the Air Carrier Access Act. But luckily for anyone with a life-threatening food allergy, the airline has already made some pretty significant changes!

Following a D.O.T. complaint by food allergy advocacy group FARE in 2017, American Airlines changed its previous pre-boarding policy. As of Dec. 12, 2018 American Airlines began allowing passengers with peanut and tree nut allergies (or the adults traveling with them) to pre-board. Like Mackenzie wanted to do, parents are now free to wipe down seats and tray tables prior to the child getting on the plane. FARE’s CEO, Lisa Gable, told Allergic Living, “Anytime a company takes steps to address the needs of people with food allergies, we are pleased.”

If you’re wondering why pre-boarding policies are so important, consider what life is like for a child with serious food allergies. Leftover peanut, tree nut or other allergen residue can put the child into anaphylaxis. This potentially fatal condition is scary enough as is. But tens of thousands of feet into the air—the reaction may become unmanageable.

Thanks to American Airlines’ pre-boarding policy (other airlines such as Delta and JetBlue also have similar policies), parents can take some comfort in getting the chance to reduce potential contamination before the child ever reaches their seat.

—Erica Loop

 

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary melon recall following a Salmonella Carrau outbreak. The recall includes Caito Foods fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and mixed fruit. Representatives from Caito Foods did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.

Along with already-purchased cut melon, the recall also includes products that are possibly still on store shelves. So whether you bought your melon days ago or are heading to the store, read on for the need-to-know details.

Recall Product Description: Caito Foods Cut Melon

The recall includes cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and mixed fruit produced by Caito Foodsin the company’s Indianapolis facility. The affected melon products are packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers sold by or in Caito Foods Distribution, Gordon Food Services, Kroger, SpartanNash Distribution, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Amazon/Whole Foods stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Why the Melon Was Recalled

The recall was issued following state department of public health investigations into unexplained Salmonella-related illnesses. The u.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FDA have linked 93 illnesses to this outbreak.

Salmonella infection can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting in otherwise healthy adults. Young children, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system may experience more severe symptoms. In some cases this type of bacterial infection can prove fatal or lead to arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

How to Tell If Your Melon Is Part of the Recall

Check the packaging carefully. For a full list of descriptions, UPC codes, brands, plant identifier codes and use by dates, visit the FDA’s website here.

What Parents Can Do

If you have recalled melon, don’t eat it. Throw the melon away immediately. Contact Caito Foods at 844-467-7278 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT and Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Pexels via Pixabay

 

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Check your medicine cabinets: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a children’s cough syrup recall for DG/health Naturals baby Cough Syrup + Mucus. Kingston Pharma, LLC (the manufacturers of the cough syrup) did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.

Audit testing revealed the presence of Bacillus cereus/Bacillus circulans, bacteria that could cause gastrointestinal illness. Read on to learn more about this recall.

photos: Courtesy of U.S. FDA

Recall Product Description: DG/health Naturals baby Cough Syrup

The current recall includes DG/health Naturals baby Cough Syrup + Mucus bottles sold in Dollar General Stores across the country. The 2-fluid ounce bottles have the expiration date Nov. 20 (marked as 11/20) and the lot number Lot KL180157  on the back of the label as well as on the bottom of the carton.

Why It Was Recalled

The recall was issued after the presence of Bacillus cereus/ Bacillus circulans was found during routine testing. Bacillus cereus/Bacillus circulans can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Infants, young children and anyone with a weakened immune system is at risk for developing a severe, and possibly fatal, GI illness from this bacteria.

How to Tell if Your Baby Cough Syrup Is Part of the Recall

If you have this medicine, check the lot number (Lot KL180157) and expiration date (11/20). The affected products are also identified by the UPC code 8 54954 00250 0.

What Parents Can Do

Do not use this product. Return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer at 1-844-724-7347 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Public Domain Pictures via Pixabay

 

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People Who Work in These Industries Are More Likely to Have an Affair

Photo: Pixabay

The specter of on-the-clock cheating (or cheating after-hours with a co-worker or client) exists prevalently in pop culture (Mad Men, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Fatal Attraction…. The list goes on and on and on).

And while cheaters can certainly pop up in a wide range of professions, data shows that 13 fields have a higher percentage of self-confessed adulterers in their numbers than others.

Ashley Madison, the infamous dating site that specializes in setting members up for extra-marital affairs, polled the career status of its membership base and generated a report on the careers most likely to attract wandering spouses, which was published by Business Insider. While Ashley Madison did observe differences between the careers of male members and female members, 13 careers emerged as particularly prominent among this cheat-happy population.

13. Politics

Only 1 percent of Ashley Madison’s female members work in politics. And (much to our surprise) less than 1 percent of male members admit to a career in the political sphere.

12. Arts & Entertainment

Women in the arts (actors, musicians, writers, producers, directors, etc) represent 4 percent of Ashley Madisonians and a slightly-lower number of members (3 percent) are men working in the same arena.

11. Agriculture

Men involved in farming and related fields account for 3 percent of Ashley Madison members, while women in the field don’t represent a notable percentage of Ashley Madison participants.

10. Legal

Women in the legal field—whether lawyers, paralegals, judges or aides—comprise 4 percent of Ashley Madison members. Meanwhile, 4 percent of male members also cop to working in law.

9. Marketing & Communications

Marketing professionals require strong interpersonal skills and talent for socializing—and some may take these talents to the extreme, based on Ashley Madison membership numbers. 4 percent of female members and 6 percent of male members work in the communications field.

8. Social Work

According to Ashley Madison’s findings, 2 percent of male members work in the social work field and 9 percent of female members do the same.

7. Retail & Hospitality

An industry famous for promoting socialization and outgoing interactions, retail & hospitality claims 9 percent of Ashley Madison’s female members and 8 percent of its male members.

6. Finance

The image of the slick, aggressively non-monogamous Wall Street tycoon is a common one throughout movie and TV history and Ashley Madison reveals some potential truth to the stereotype: 8 percent of male members and 9 percent of female members work in finance.

5. Education

Men working in education—whether as teachers, professors, administrators or visiting lecturers—account for 4 percent of Ashley Madison members…but that number skyrockets when looking at the number of female educators who signed up for the site (12 percent).

4. Entrepreneurship

Those who choose to strike out on their own and start businesses also may, in some cases, be prone to imaginative concepts of fidelity; for both male and female Ashley Madison members, entrepreneurship proved the fourth most popular career choice.

3. Information Technology

Women working in I.T. support represent 8 percent of Ashley Madison members, while their male counterparts make up 12 percent.

2. Medical

As it turns out, Grey’s Anatomy may be onto something. 23 percent of female Ashley Madison members work in the medical field as doctors or nurses, while 5 percent of male members do the same.

1. Trades

Professions like construction, plumbing and welding feature more flexible and unpredictable schedules than traditional 9-to-5 positions, which, according to communications director Isabella Mise of Ashley Madison, [makes it easier for people] to fly under the radar when it comes to sneaking around with an affair partner. 4 percent of female Ashley Madison members work trade jobs, while that number rises to a full 29 percent in the male-membership pool.

—Taylor Tobin, for Fairygodboss

This post originally appeared on Fairygodboss.
Fairygodboss Georgene Huang & Romy Newman, Founders
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

As the largest career community for women, Fairygodboss provides millions of women with career connections, community advice and the hard-to-find intel about how companies treat women.

On Jan. 24, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Adminitration issued a notice that fresh peaches, plums and nectarines have been recalled from Walmart, Costco, Aldi and several other grocers. The cartons of fruit have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Representatives from Jac. Vandenburg Inc. of Yonkers, New York (the fruit supplier) did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.

The recall includes 1,727 cartons of peaches, 1,207 cartons of nectarines and 365 cartons of plums in 18 states. Here’s what you need to know.

Photo: Valerie Hinojosa via Flickr.

Recall Description: Fresh Peaches, Nectarines & Plums

The current recall affects fresh peaches, nectarines and plums sold at Walmart, Costco, Aldi, Fairway Market, Hannaford and Market Basket stores in Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia.

For a full list of which items were sold at specific grocers, visit the FDA’s website here.

Why the Fruit Was Recalled

The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the packing house, which found certain products contained the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes. Currently, there have been no reports of illnesses in connection with this recall.

How To Tell If Your Peaches, Nectarines or Plums are Recalled

The peaches and nectarines sold as a bulk retail produce item with PLU sticker #4044, 3035, 4378, showing the country of origin of Chile.

The peaches, nectarines and plums sold at ALDI are packaged in a 2-pound bag with the brand Rio Duero, EAN #7804650090281, 7804650090298, 7804650090304.

The nectarines sold at Costco are packaged in a 4-pound plastic clamshell with the brand Rio Duero, EAN#7804650090212.

Visit the FDA’s website for a full list of stores, states and product information.

What Parents Can Do

If you have have purchased fresh peaches, fresh nectarines and fresh plums included in the recall you can return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Jac. Vandenburg Inc. at compliance@jacvandenberg.com with any questions.

––Karly Wood

 

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Packing up the car and hitting the open road can be a perfect opportunity to bond with your family. But, organizing a successful and safe road trip requires a bit of planning ahead. Take along these tips to properly prepare for your time in the car and make your family holiday road trip a happy and safe one.

Is your car safe enough for long trips?

Make sure it is. Schedule a quick maintenance appointment with a qualified mechanic at your local garage to fix anything that looks funky before it’s time to drive. Ensure that your car is in its best condition to prevent any mishaps or breakdowns while on the road. Check your brakes, tire pressure, battery, belts, air conditioner, etc. If you’re planning on driving in a region with a hot climate or in towing a boat or trailer, get a motor oil with a higher viscosity as well.

Stock up on supplies.

Take an inventory of all items in your car just to be sure you have flares, jumper cables, a flashlight, all necessary tools and other emergency supplies you may need while on the road.

Also, make sure that you don’t run out of fuel for both your car and your bellies. Keep everyone and everything fueled by stocking up on drinks, provisions, and fuel. Pack a full fuel can in your trunk just in case you run out of it in the middle of nowhere. Getting stuck on the side of the road in an unknown region won’t just delay your road trip, but it can be dangerous as well.

Pack your items safely.

Make sure you don’t have bags that aren’t properly secured or some other loose items in your car as they can become dangerous if you stop suddenly or become involved in an accident. You shoul put those items that are the heaviest in your car and toward the center. Tie down big bags or other bulky items such as strollers, and keep windows unobstructed. Give your children smaller bags to store electronics, snacks, and other essentials within reach. Don’t forget to check your child safety seats and whether everything is installed properly. If it happens that your family’s pet is making the journey with you, secure them or their traveling kennel as well.

Keep an eye on the sky.

Weather may be different in different regions, so you should make sure that you are ready for any situation. Download an application on your smartphone to stay informed on moving storms. You can also turn the radio if you don’t have a cell phone service. Look up for NOAA radio Oceanic radio station in your state or tune into any other FM news frequency to stay up-to-date with weather alerts. This can help you avoid bad weather or give you enough time to prepare yourself and find an alternate route or a safe location where to wait until the storm passes.

Get some rest.

Make sure you get some rest before you hit the road as driving while tired is equally dangerous like driving while under alcohool influence. Studies show that driving after being awake for long hours causes your brain to function like the brain of someone with blood alcohol content of 0.05% and as the time passes this amount doubles.

Statistics show that every year drowsy drivers cause over a thousand fatal accidents. So, to avoid accidents and keep your family safe on the road, get enough rest before you begin your road trip. Also, make frequent stops during your trip to stretch your legs, refresh yourself or trade off with someone who is refreshed, talk to your kids to stay alert, etc.

Be aware of other drivers on the road.

Just like there are people who drive while tired, there are also those who drive while drunk or while under the influence of some other substance. Car accidents can happen at any moment and it is best that you are properly prepared. Take all necessary documentation with you as well as your insurance card, and ask your lawyer what to do and how to behave if an accident still occurs.

A Marketing professional with parental concerns and information needs.

 

The Kellogg Company has voluntarily recalled around 10,000 cases of theirKellogg’s Eggo Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat Waffles amid fears of listeria. Although there have been no reports of hospitalization or illnesses from customers, the company believes the particular frozen breakfast food is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, which can at times cause fatal infections in young children or the elderly.

According to a news release from Kellogg, “The recall is a result of routine tests that the company conducts which identified the potential for contamination. As soon as the company learned of a potential concern, it moved quickly to identify any foods that might be impacted and resolve the issue.”

The recalled waffles are available in 10-count packs with the “Best if used by” dates of Nov. 21, 2017 and Nov. 22, 2017, which can be found on the side of the package. You can also look for the UPC code (38000 40370) on the label.