Gluten-free, soy-free, peanut-free: These are just a few
of the descriptions those afflicted by food allergies love to
hear, which is why Apollo Beach resident Jamie Stern decided
to create Allergies and Me, an online business comprised
of foods which will provide allergy relief.

Launched in July, Stern's Website contains not only
every staple food imaginable, from breads, cereals, condiments
and pastas to desserts, beverages, pizzas and
soups, it also incorporates hygienic items that range from
soaps and shampoo to sunblocks and lotions, having some
1,000 items to peruse, starting from just over a dollar.

Specific foods are cataloged according to the allergy they
cause - such as egg-free, dairy-free, tree nut-free and more,
while others are categorized to help those with specific diets
- this includes salt-free and cholesterol-free pages for those
residents diagnosed with high cholesterol or who are wanting
to avoid such a diagnosis; vegetarian; vegan; kosher
and more.

Those battling cumbersome allergies can also
look to the site to find the latest news and featured articles
regarding food allergies and the products that could cause
them.

Recipes are posted via the Website for residents'
convenience as well. Lastly, residents in search of a more
personal experience can blog amongst those also facing
food allergies.

Stern made the decision to start the business after seeing
the effects of food allergies first-hand, as her close
friends have a son named Jack who suffers from multiple
food allergies that can prove fatal. "We have seen what an
impact this has had on his life, as well as his parents," she
says. "There are more than 12 million people in North
America who suffer from food allergies, and that number is
growing."

"It is difficult enough to find 'Allergy Friendly' foods in a large urban area like Tampa, can you imagine how difficult it must be in more rural towns?"

Having worked within the commercial insurance industry,
Stern says, "After many years working for others, I felt I
wanted to build a business that was not only challenging,
but brought value to others in a more direct way."
That she has.

Besides helping residents combat their
food allergies, Stern also gives back to the nonprofits Kids
with Food Allergies (KFA), The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis
Network (FAAN) and Celiac Sprue Association (CSA)
through time and donations. On Saturday, November 14,
the Walk for Food Allergy- Moving for a Cure will be held in
Tampa, an event that Stern will be the co-chair of, benefiting
FAAN. To learn more about it, visit
http://www.FoodAllergyWalk.org/Tampa_FL.

With the most desired products being gluten-free and
non-dairy based, Stern mentions, "The company's mission
is to help consumers locate hard-to-find foods that are safe
for them. Our product offerings include food manufacturers
that go through great lengths to insure consumers know all
their ingredients and how the food is processed in their facilities.
These are specialty-food products, and many of these
companies were started by people with food allergies or
food intolerance issues themselves."

Responding to why so many children are afflicted by
food allergies nowadays, Stern concludes, saying, "There
are many theories today. Thankfully, we have a lot of
research ongoing to learn more about the causes. As of
now, there is no cure, only avoidance."

To check out what Allergies & Me has to offer, visit http://www.Allergiesandme.com.