While most kids would squeal with excitement at the sight of cookies and cupcakes at a party, Alex and Gavin DeArmey, 5 and 2 years old, are not allowed to partake in the festive treats.
It’s not because their mother, Katrina, is opposed to all things sweet and delicious. Rather, the DeArmey boys are two of the more than 12 million Americans living with food allergies. According to the Center for Disease Control, food allergies result in more than 300,000 ambulatory-care (outpatient) visits a year among children alone.
“My boys had never been to a bakery for fear of cross contamination,” said Katrina; her sons have milk, egg and nut allergies. But when Katrina received a suggestion from her Parents of Kids with Food Allergies Support Group that the family visit Sensitive Sweets in Fountain Valley, Orange County's dedicated gluten-free and nut-free bakery, it was time to change all of that. “The look on their faces when I told the boys they could have anything in the case was priceless.”
It’s families like the DeArmeys that inspired Melanie Hohman to create Sensitive Sweets in Fountain Valley. In fact, Melanie’s youngest son Bradley has severe life-threatening food allergies, as well as eczema and respiratory issues. “It’s heart breaking to watch these kids feel left out while other kids are enjoying cupcakes, birthday cakes and cookies,” said Hohman. “Sensitive Sweets was created out of love and necessity because everyone deserves a treat.”
The bakery specializes in breads, cupcakes, muffins, cookies and birthday cakes that are made without wheat (gluten), milk or dairy (casein), eggs, soy or nuts.
“I don’t know of another bakery in all of Orange County that I would feel comfortable ordering from for my oldest son, who has such severe nut allergies that he cannot even have items baked in the same facility as other items containing nuts,” said Katrina. “It's so nice to order with confidence and know that there's NO chance of cross contamination at Sensitive Sweets.”
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