Child Soldier Creative Writing

I am holding a weapon to my head. Nearly passing I glance back at how it raised to this to persuade not to settle on an inappropriate decision as I had done previously. That memory among numerous other dull ones stayed as clear as transparent water. Five years ago†¦ Sierra Dianas. Contemplations overflowed my psyche as I gripped the firearm increasingly hard. I confronted an abominable, inevitable choice. A war came upon in my mind, a passing match between my awareness and my dread. As one insensitively wounded the other, the tip of my finger squeezed more enthusiastically against the trigger.Time was ticking. I shut my eyes as I would have liked to separate the vision of a young lady slumped before me, so helpless yet so bold. Her face wasn’t totally obvious yet deciding by her figure she was not any more then 15. She indicated no alarm, exhibiting her appall towards bowing down to the agitators: she remained her stance straight and her head help up high. She looked down ward on us despite the fact that she was the one on the floor. Her face caught total contempt. Her endeavors to oppose were sad as two more seasoned men constrained her down onto the ground.Her arms were tied behind her back so any opportunity of activity towards escape was limited. I bit my battered lip to help myself to remember what I face on the off chance that I defy my master’s arranges once more: anguishing inflexible agony. I squeezed more diligently against the trigger. My vision began to obscure and lose its concentration and my swollen eyelids didn't help. I attempted to kill these gigantic musings attacking my cerebrum, advising me to shoot her and extra myself the torment. I squeezed more earnestly. I attempted to stop naughty musings threatening my mind with illusionary words however no achievement: l squeezed harder.My awareness murmured in my ear yet the evil presence inside my spirit suffocated it unfeelingly in my achy to go home distress. The quiet held bac k to be heard. I squeezed more earnestly. The trigger clicked. A boisterous significant blast penetrated through the air as the projectile terminated aptly. I could hear my rational soundness sneak away, all in about a millisecond. Lament and reputation exploded backward at me as I saw my youth streak by me; I shot her. I could nearly hear her heartbeat channel as she panted for air. Another life squandered. Her blood leaked.My evil presences covered in a pool of dim red and moved in dangerous pride as my lord gave me a grin of commendation yet behind it shrouded the vibe of shared contrite experience. That night I was positioned the head of other kid troopers for my equitable choice or at the end of the day for being sufficiently coldhearted to kill another of my own race; it would work well for them in the war. In a manner I feel as though observing us become beasts mitigates their blame. It made them less forlorn. Indeed, even beasts need organization. You would figure slaughteri ng again would facilitate the torment. Think again.Every time it multiplied, amplified, strengthened, and developed until the pinnacle where it was agonizing: living with these psychological pictures and brain flooding with blood. Each fiber of my body lamented for the dead and me: the coloring. I was anchored to the everlasting circles of sadness incapable to encounter satisfaction. Wherever I went the sun tailed me with a derisive glare reviled me quietly. I nearly dissolved in his overwhelming breaths. He propelled tense fireballs at me overflowing with wrath and dissatisfaction, wishing to choke out me. The sky spit at me in disrespect and shame.The mists requested to give me what number of tears were sobbed for the individuals I have executed. Each downpour drop was a token of my disappointment and cowardness. It fell on my skin, super cold, once more helping me to remember what my heart will undoubtedly turn into. The sound as they constantly hit the flour looked like a fireâ €™s blasting shines. The breeze smacked me over my face again and again. It murmured in my ear. So quit at this point such impactful wounding allegations. It broke into my hovel and overawed my body with needle-like deadness from the shivering chill.The murmurs developed into bothering shouts until I was unable to rest. It pummeled entryways and raised the sand starting from the earliest stage, it to assault me. Stop! I needed it to stop! No more torment. I fell pitifully upon my knees and shouted as loud as possible, asking god for help, for pardoning. ‘Have I gone frantic? ’â â€â I asked the reasonable blue gazing back at me vacantly. I rehashed the expression again and again until my helpless cries and sobs blended the words. I was unable to quit crying. I gripped the dirt between my fingers for some sentiment of control as though to get a handle on hold of myself.The salty tears continued rolling and as they interacted with my torn, frightened skin a shudd er of sharp torment would develop. God didn’t answer. God wasn’t there. Just the fiend. I asked him what I ought to do and the appropriate response was straightforward: quit mindful. Leave myself alone restrained by the malevolence in light of the fact that the great can never be upbeat. He loosened up a hand to me however as I arrived at it for help to get up I all the while shook it as a consent to an arrangement. I sold my spirit. The following morning I woke up with the sentiment of edification. I murdered individuals with no regret, no blame, no lament nothing aside from the sentiment of power.I benefited from it and I inhaled it in with the smell of the dead. It felt better. For a second I felt practically glad in an illusionary manner, as a smoked in the white force like substance, which my lord had let me share with him as an indication of approvement as though inviting me. What exactly, I wasn’t sure. That night I hit the dance floor with a container of liquor in a fire we set to the town. I trod on dead bodies or some even alive however in the long run they would be dead, they couldn’t escape. I assaulted incalculable ladies. Little girls, possibly sisters, perhaps moms, who cares?Not the manikins on the opposite side of the world, that’s without a doubt; drinking their espressos mixing their teas, with their jewel pieces of jewelry worn as a ‘fashion statement’ on the grounds that it takes after the one worn by a big name. Totally negligent. The majority of them unequipped for doing something besides follow strides. We, in any case, would not follow or live in somebody else’s ground breaking strategy. That’s why we’re called rebels. The renegades. Our adage was to go along with us or bite the dust. In the event that we didn’t see a lot of utilization in, at that point it was pass on or bite the dust all the more horrendously (it generally descended to our state of mind). We announced war with specialists since they had power et we despite everything endured in craving, neediness and ailment. This was on the off chance that we were eager to perform overwhelming work for the remainder of our lives. In any case passing would make up for lost time with you in days, if you’re fortunate you may most recent a year greatest. It appeared as though the administration did not depend on vote based system but instead the dread of death. The demons rule over my psyche went on for quite a while or all the more insightfully it endured more than 1000 passings by my own hands until the blood dried underneath my finger nails was would not wash away. The main way out of this frantic world is demise. Right now is an ideal opportunity. Presently.

SPSS Software Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

SPSS Software - Case Study Example Perceptions inside months are anyway adequate to offer solid data on individuals’ recognitions and this implies steadfastness of the gathered information. Also, a dominant part of the respondents, 80 percent, were present understudies in the organization and this backings trustworthiness on the created data because of interior unwavering quality. Also, respondents were illustrative of all the learning levels in the organization, however a greater part, 66 percent were either undergrad or graduate understudies. The representativeness additionally sets up constancy. Referrals by either companions or family members, and the institution’s notoriety are the central point to the respondents’ decision for the college and along these lines distinguish the need to meet students’ desires all together advance referrals and corporate picture. Endeavors for comprehension stakeholders’ needs, particularly understudies, will in this manner guarantee manageability and improvement and ought to be the focal point of the institution’s showcasing interest. None of the respondents favored the establishment as a last choice however not very many (just eight percent) distinguished the foundation as their fantasy college and this recognizes requirement for upgrades in the organization. Also, a noteworthy extent (44 percent) of the respondents revealed goals to encourage their training an are in this way a potential market to focus through gathering their requirements and advising them regarding openings in the college. Respondents’ relationship with the college is in this way normal and necessities enhancements. The respondents seem happy with teachers’ capabilities, however twp percent are not fulfilled while 48 percent are fulfilled yet reservations. The little level of unsatisfied respondents could be because of different factors, for example, individual shortcomings and demeanor yet quantifies are fundamental for improving

Seven books we love about black history and how to learn more about it

Seven books we love about black history and how to learn more about it At Khan Academy we love to learn. As a learning organization, we often share book recommendations with one another. In honor of Black History Month, we asked our coworkers to share their favorite books by black authors that focus on the history of African Americans. Read on for seven recommended books as well as links to Khan Academy videos and articles where you can learn more about the historical events covered in each book.Middle-grade fiction The Watsons Go to Birmingham â€" 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis  Ten-year-old Kenny lives with his family in Michigan. His teenage brother Byron gets into too much trouble, so his family heads south to visit their grandmother in Alabama. Grandma is the one person who can get Byron into shape. It’s 1963, and they are in town when Grandma’s church is blown up.Recommended by Leah (content team)Learn more on Khan Academy about life in the South in the postwar era and how a resistance to desegregation resulted in anger and violence toward innocent people.  Middle-grade nonfiction Child of the Dream by Sharon RobinsonThe daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson shares her coming-of-age story of being a 13 year old in 1963 and becoming increasingly aware of political activism and the civil rights movement.Recommended by Allison (content team)Learn more on Khan Academy about the Civil Rights Movement.  Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea PinkneyA celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent struggle for civil rights. Using metaphor, spirituality, and multilayers of meaning, the author and illustrator convey the final months of MLK’s life and his assasination. The School Library Journal says it is, “beautifully illustrated and begging to be read aloud.Recommended by Allison (content team)Learn more on Khan Academy about Martin Luther King Jr. from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to the March on Washington where he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.  Adult nonfiction The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel WilkersonAn epic telling of a story that often goes untold in American historyâ€"the decades-long migration of millions of black Americans fleeing the South searching for a better life in cities in the North and West.Recommended by Caroline (content team)Learn more on Khan Academy about life after slavery for African Americans and the urbanization of the 1920s.Adult fiction Kindred by Octavia ButlerWhat would happen if you woke up and suddenly were on a plantation in the 1800s? Butler’s science fiction novel tells the story of a modern day black woman who lives in California and finds herself time traveling back to the antebellum South.Recommended by Caroline (content team)Learn more on Khan Academy about life for enslaved men and women in the United States in the 1800s.The Nickel Boys by Colson WhiteheadBased on the true story of a reform school for boys that operated for 111 years, The Nickel Boys dramatizes the story of two boys sentenced to the school during the Jim Crow era in Florida. At the school the students have to deal with physical and sexual abuse, corrupt officials, and the danger of resisting, which can lead to disappearing “out back”. The novel was named one of Time magazine’s best books of the decade.Recommended by Rosie (content team).Learn more on Khan Academy about the origins of Jim Crow and segregation.Homegoing by Yaa Gyas iFrom Africa’s Gold Coast to modern day America, this book follows the parallel path of two sisters through eight generations. The publisher says that this “extraordinary novel illuminates slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayedâ€"and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.”Recommended by Stephanie (marketing team)Learn more on Khan Academy about all of U.S. History because Gyasi’s book really covers it all.

The Game Of Baseball, That Most Americans Seem To Love,

The game of baseball, that most Americans seem to love, officially started on September 23, 1845 by the New York Knickerbockers. Before that time, there were some games that resembled it and that used the same concept that baseball does, such as cricket. Through the 271 years, there are some similarities in the game from then to now, however, the differences greatly outweigh the similarities. The 19th century was a different time for baseball. The equipment was home-made and did not have any regulations to them. We don t know much about what baseballs were like in the very early days, but we generally know that no two baseballs were the same (Ryder). Later baseballs were made by a hard core, that could be any solid substance like yarn or†¦show more content†¦In 1860, the first glove was spotted and it was catchers who were wearing them (which makes sense). The catchers handled hundreds of balls per game, catching pitches and foul tips. As the evolution of the glove kept going, the leagues made a rule which the catcher and the first baseman are allowed to wear a glove or mitt of any size, shape, or weight. All other players that played were restricted to certain dimensions. Today’s equipment is much more organized and not so jumbled up. The ball must be a certain size and weight. You can’t add any substance to them to make them increase your chances of succeeding, and if you choose to flout this rule, you will be suspended and fined greatly. The bat must be a certain length and weight also. It has to be a drop three which means the length and weight cant have a difference greater than three between them. It must be a certain type and be made of the same material. The gloves aren t all the same though. Everybody has a different size glove. The first baseman and the catcher have their own glove while the other players in the field have the same concept of glove. Although baseball from then to now has many more differences, there are still many similarities. How many changes do you think the ball has undergone since 1845 that changed the making of the ball? Not a lot(Evolution). It is more likelyShow MoreRelatedBaseball And Its Impact On Baseball1736 Words   |  7 PagesBaseball was introduced to America in the 1800s. As the game of baseball started to become popular, many people became interested in the game. Baseball fanatics fell in love with the sport, but not everyone could play. Racial discrimination found its way to baseball when the game was first discovered and created many controversies that prevented many colored players from playing the game because of their skin color. This could be part of the reason why in today’s culture, you do not see many blackRead More Baseball Essay examples1681 Words   |  7 Pages Baseball is a game of skill that is played with a hard ball and a bat between two teams of nine players each at a time on the playing field at once. Although many different people play Baseball all over the world it is most popular in the United States. It is so popular in fact, it is referred to as the national pastime of the United States because of the tradition and popularity associated with the game. Baseball consists of many complicated rules. It also has a very elaborate history. One canRead MoreRacism in Sports Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesAfrican Americans but many different races too. Sports racism is happening more often and becoming a bigger issue. Racism and discrimination have been used as powerful weapons encouraging fear or hatred of others. People argue that talking about supporting racial discrimination and prejudice just words. Others point out them words can lead to come very dire and serious consequences. Some people believe racism in sport is more of a European thing that is likely to happen in football game or formulaRead MoreThe Boys Of Summer By Roger Kahn1549 Words   |  7 PagesThe Boys of Summer, a non-fiction book of baseball, written by Roger Kahn. Who tells a wonderful heart aching tale of a simple stick and ball game that helped start the development to push Americans (generally the white population at the time) to change what the country claims to be, a free and fair non-prejudice country that gives â€Å"everyone† their own rights/opportunities. Jackie Robinson, America’s first African American to play on a Major Baseball league. He was the first colored-skinned to everRead MoreSoccers Lack of Success in the U.S. Essay662 Words   |  3 PagesSoccers Lack of Success in the U.S. Soccer, or football, which the rest of the world outside of the United States calls it, is surely the most popular sport in the world. Every four years, the world championships of soccer, the World Cup, is watched by literally billions all over the world, beating out the Untied States professional football’s Super Bowl by far. It is estimated that 1.7 billion television viewers watched the World Cup final between France and BrazilRead MoreCivil Rights Movement : Jackie Robinson1477 Words   |  6 PagesCivil rights was an important American issue through the late 40s through the 60s. During this time period Baseball was â€Å"America’s Pastime, â€Å"and a major social get together for white Americans. However in 1947 both of these event were combined when the Brooklyn Dodgers gave Jackie Robinson a chance to play professional baseball. Jackie Robinson is the target of my biography. Robinson not only was the first African American baseball player, but he also had a hall of fame career, and eventually hadRead MoreEssay about American Influences of Walt Whitman1476 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Influences of Walt Whitman In his poems and life, Walt Whitman celebrated the human spirit and the human body. He sang the praises of democracy and marveled at the technological advances of his era. His direct poetic style shocked many of his contemporaries. This style, for which Whitman is famous, is in direct relation to several major American cultural developments. The development of American dictionaries, the growth of baseball, the evolution of Native American policy, and the developmentRead MoreStealing Home: Jackie Robinson Essay1092 Words   |  5 Pageshuman being.† This is a very true statement that Jackie Robinson said. The first man to challenge the color barrier in Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson’s upbringing led to him being one of the most well-known baseball players in history. Despite adversities, he fought for what was right. Before Jackie Robinson became the most famous African-American baseball player in the Major Leagues. He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. In 1947 he was named Rookie of the Year, National League MVPRead MoreLou Gehrig Speech Analysis1622 Words   |  7 Pagesappreciation day at the ballpark. Lou Gehrig had been playing major league baseball for seventeen years and is one of the most well thought of players in the game. When the boy and his father arrive at the ballpark, Lou walks to a podium and begins to talk. Without any prior warning, this icon begins to talk about a deadly disease that he has been contracted with and that he must immediately retire from the game of baseball forever. The stadium sits silently and Lou continues to describe how he considersRead MoreRacism In Racism1362 Words   |  6 Pagesand be attacked by the harmful Jim Crow laws. Jackie was an astonished war veteran who just wanted to play baseball but was often dispirited by white people around him. He was drafted by the owner of the Dodgers, Branch Rickey, who believed in Jackie and understood the backlashing the team would receive while having a black man join professional baseball. Getting into professional baseball was much easier for Jackie compared to staying in it, while in the professional league he went through many

Examples Of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs - 815 Words

Group One, Question #1: Cite a passage that was particularly interesting to you and ask why. â€Å"Once, a good shepherd, who had lost all his wealth and possessions, and whose very last belongings were about to be repossessed for debts, was tending his flock near the castle of Boyne. He turned his glance to the castle and there, sitting in front of the entrance, was a young maiden, white as snow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I found this passage thrilling because it was the first time I read about Snow White in a book. I remember as a child watching the movie â€Å"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs†, but reading it gives you many differences and similarities. As do many other stories. One example, â€Å"Not far from the city of Aachen there is a mountain in which Dwarfs once lived.†¦show more content†¦Their first collection of short stories was published in 1812. Many of the Grimms folk tales have been adapted by filmmakers and playmakers, such as Walt Disney. A few films include â€Å"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs† and â€Å"Sleeping Beauty†. Knowing about the authors and their darker style of writing helped me comprehend the amount of detail in each short story. Also knowing their German heritage shows what areas they are referencing, such as â€Å"The Mine Monk Of The Harz Mountains†. This area is a real mountain range in central Germany that is known for its folklore and fairy tales. Another reference depicts an actual city in Austria, â€Å"In the mountains overlooking Innsbruck in Tyrol there lived a Giant Queen named Mother Hà ¼tt.† Tyrol is an Austrian state in the Alps famous for its historic sites and folk traditions. Innsbruck became the capital of Tyrol in 1429 which is almost 400 years before Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their first story. Group Two, Question #3: If a friend asked, â€Å"why are you reading that†, how would you answer? I chose to read this book because I am infatuated with the history behind the authors. Many of their stories have been adapted by Disney and other media companies. Reading this book helped me create my own image ofShow MoreRelatedNegative Influence Of Disney1423 Words   |  6 Pagesideals where women are pretty, domesticated, and nurturing, while men are portrayed as strong, wise, and adventurous. Though I concede that Disney may not be doing this intentionally, I still maintain that children are being affected nevertheless. For example, in the documentary, Mickey Mouse Monopoly, Dr. Elizabeth Hadley recounted a story about the three year old son of her caucasian friend and how after watching the Lion King, he associated the voices of African Americans with the evil hinas in theRead MoreThe Importance Of Fairy Tales1397 Words   |  6 Pagesand, as a result, the consequences th at follow, which allows them to analyze what happened and why. In â€Å"Cinderella,† â€Å"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs† and â€Å"Hansel and Grethel,† through the various obstacles that Cinderella faces to be with the prince and her interaction with her step-sisters, the Queen’s false intentions towards Snow White and her relationship with the seven dwarfs, and Hansel and Grethel’s use of sibling love to survive, the lessons of ‘true love is never easy,’ ‘never trust a personRead MoreSnow White And The Seven Dwarfs1522 Words   |  7 Pagesstriving to achieve perfect realism. Walt Disney’s Snow white and the seven dwarfs (1937) is one of the earliest attempts in capturing realism and achieving the ‘life like’, introducing new techniques such as roto-scoping in characters and multiplane cameras to create 3 dimensional depth. Therefore there are many flaws regarding techniques, style and narrative despite h ow much effort and care was put into its making. The scenes when snow white meets the dwarfs, sings into the well, and when the Queen transformsRead MorePerspectives on Gender Roles: Snow White and Mirrors Essay1049 Words   |  5 Pagesoriginal fairytale. In both stories Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs conveys a message about the mirror representing a sense of self on a superficial and deep emotional level. It reinstates many cultural roles that have been put upon both woman and men. It is a story of self discovery and whether or not the characters are able to develop throughout the story in relation to the affects to a â€Å"real life individual†. A common theme in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for both the Disney film and the 1812Read MoreSnow White Role Models Essay1271 Words   |  6 PagesA role model is a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a movie about a young girl whose stepmother, the queen, fears Snow White will be more beautiful than she is. The Queen tries to get rid of Snow White by having her killed. When this fails the queen goes after Snow White herself. Many people view Disney princesses as good role models for young children. Disney princesses are not good role models. Disney princesses make it seem like it is okayRead MoreMovie Analysis : Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs 1064 Words   |  5 Pageselement in the life of a family—an element that repeatedly created a routine of young motherless and fatherless characters. Take, as examples, the movie Bambi ( 1942) in which a deer hunter killed Bambi’s mother, the movie Cinderella (1950) i n which Cinderella’s mother dies at the beginning of the movie, the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) in which Snow White’s mother dies, once again, at the beginning of the movie. In Disney movies, most protagonists have no parents; they have absentRead MoreThe Brother s Grimm Reality Of Snow White792 Words   |  4 PagesReality of Snow White Disney is known as a company that has produced all the classics. A majority of the movies that Disney has produced, comes from Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, and Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales have been known for being gory and unpleasant towards certain people. Disney has always been a family friendly company, so they had to change the gory and unpleasant theme of the story to something with a childlike theme. The Disney version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, for example, is aboutRead MoreEssay on The Life of Walt Disney1667 Words   |  7 Pagesempire that was made up of cartoons, movies, amusement parks, and much more entertainment. To think if Walt Disney never shared his visions with the world, there would be no animation, amusement parks, Mickey Mouse, or any classic Disney movies like Snow White, Mary Poppins, or Beauty and the Beast. Also, children wouldn’t have gotten to experience walking through Cinderella’s Castle into Magic Kingdom, a child’s oasis. Although Walt Disney is no longer with us, the visions he had are now reality andRead MoreThe Reality as Opposed to the Disney Versions of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty1547 Words   |  7 Pagesoriginal tales to grasp the attention of a large audience. However, some of these interpretations hide the primary interpretation. The original interpretations of the Disney classics Snow White and Sleeping Beaut y are greatly reinvented from the original fairytales Sun, Moon, and Talia and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs because of the brutal nature of the treatment women in these original forms. Although there are differences in certain aspects from the original tales to the movies, there are manyRead MoreComparing Grimm’s Fairytale Snow White to Snow White, by Denise Duhamel1586 Words   |  7 Pages As a child, I was told fairytales such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs every night before I went to sleep. Fairytales are an adventurous way to expand a child’s imagination and open their eyes to experience a new perspective. Modernizations of fairytales typically relate to a specific audience, such as adolescence, and put a contemporary spin on the old-aged tale. Instead of using whimsical themes heavily centered in nature, the contemporary poems connect with the reader in a more realistic

Balance Sheet and Following Account Balances Free Essays

Retained earnings 109,oho 712,000 712. 000 b. Actual sales for December and budgeted sales for the next four months are as follow s: – December (actual) 2800 units It is expected that sales will increase by 40% in the month of January and by a further 50% in the next month. We will write a custom essay sample on Balance Sheet and Following Account Balances or any similar topic only for you Order Now The following month sales would drop by 50% an d then will will ream remain in cons Tanta for for the next next 2 moon months this – The management will not alter the selling price, which is currently $100 – Management wants finished goods inventory to be 20% of the following month’s sales – One units of finished goods require 2 kilos of raw materials. – The price of materials is currently $10 per kilo and is expected to increase by 50% in February hereafter it will remain constant for the next four months. – The management wants raw materials inventory to be 10% of the following month’s p reduction needs – Each unit of product requires 2 hours of direct materials for completion. – The laborers are expected to work for a total of 4000 hours per month at a wage rat e Of $6 per hour. Any additional work requires an overtime payment of time and a half. – Manufacturing overhead: variable: $5 per labor hours worked; fixed $17000 per MO nth. – Sales are 20% for cash and 80% on credit. Half of the credit sales are collected in the month following sale while the remaining half is collected in second month after the sales. The accounts receivable at December 31 are a result of December credit sales. – Monthly expenses are budgeted as follows: salaries and wages, $10,000 per month: a advertising, $70,000 per month; shipping, 5% of sales; other expenses, 3% of sales. Depreciation, I including depreciation on new assets acquired during the quarter, will be $42,000 for the quart err. – One- half of a month’s raw materials purchases is paid for in the month of purchase; the to her half is paid in the following month. Shipping expenses are paid in the month following the shipment. , while advertising I s paid in one month’s advance. During February, the company will purchase a new copy machine for $1,700 cash. Du ring March, other equipment will be purchased for cash at a cost of $84,500. – During January, the company will declare and pay $45,000 in cash dividends. – Management wants to maintain a minimum cash balance of $30,000. The company h as an agreement with a local bank that allows the company to borrow in increments of $1,0 00 at the beginning of each month. The interest rate on these loans is 1% per month and for is How to cite Balance Sheet and Following Account Balances, Papers

Survey of Food Allergies in the UAE

Introduction Nearly each one of us eats to live and there is no doubt that most of us enjoy eating. However, recent studies have established that nearly 1 in 20 young children below the age of 5 years and almost 1 in 25 adults are allergic to at least one type of food. There have also been studies indicating that food allergy, and especially allergy to peanuts, is on the increase.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Survey of Food Allergies in the UAE specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to a 2010 report by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), this has led a large number of people to create more awareness on food allergy, thus making it a topic of rising public concern. Indeed, when a person in a family is allergic to any food, the whole family is involved. In such a situation, the family lives in constant anxiety that a loved one may consume a food that could result into a serious allergic reaction, which is commonly known as anaphylaxis (NIAD, 2010). The purpose of this research paper is to create a survey about food allergies in the UAE with the aim of establishing the seriousness of the situation within the region. The paper will also seek to examine the economic impact of food allergies and investigate whether the UAE region offers allergic consumers alternative products for their needs. Statement of the Problem In UAE, a federal public health law is on the making and government agencies hope that it will prevent people from losing their lives from food allergies. Although the law is supposed to reduce the number of fatalities resulting from food allergies, it will definitely not diminish all death cases in the region. The change in food-packaging laws is a welcome move for thousands of UAE residents who suffer from one or multiple food allergies. In UAE, there are already laws in place that demand warning labels about possible food allergens. T he labeling guidelines formulated four years ago require all possible allergens to be clearly indicated on the food packaging. Despite these legislations, many foods still do not contain the required cautions and this has led to numerous hospitalizations over the past several years. The passing of new legislations will be a welcome move to majority of allergic patients who want to buy allergen free products but face numerous challenges due to the current lax food labeling laws. The blame for this does not entirely lie on food producers since most UAE residents do not know what the food regulation entails (World Health Organization, 2002). Since there is very little information on the issue of food allergy in the UAE, this paper undertakes to review the matter with a view of making conclusions that will be beneficial to both patients and various stakeholders in this field.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first pap er with 15% OFF Learn More Significance of the Study Generally, one is at a greater risk of developing an allergy if the family they come from has a history of food allergy. The reason that makes food allergies a very significant subject in UAE is that the allergies might not necessarily be food related but may even be other allergic diseases such as asthma or eczema or atopic dermatitis. If one’s both parents have allergies, then the risk of being allergic is higher than that of someone whose only one parent is allergic. An allergic reaction to food usually occurs a few minutes to several hours or even days after contact with the culprit allergen. This is because the process of intake and absorption of food and the placement of mast cells both affect the timing and position of the reaction (DeWaal, Robert, 2005). All these factors make the subject of food allergy an important one to all of us. Limitations of the Study This research paper relies mostly on secondary data, which include electronic media and online libraries. These sources are subject to manipulation and stereotyping in order to suit the personal interests of the researcher and therefore may substantially impair objectivity and integrity of the report. The study is also limited in that there is very little information regarding the issue of food allergy in UAE that is in circulation and the little that is available does not incorporate all the aspects of the problem (DeWaal, Robert, 2005). This will undoubtedly leave many loopholes in the research and it is hoped that these loopholes will form the basis for future research in this field. Brief Overview of Food Allergies In order to effectively investigate the issue of food allergies, it is prudent to first get a general overview of this term. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (2010), food allergy is an unusual response to a food generated by the immune system. The response might be slight or in scarce cases, it can be linked with the acute and life-threatening reaction known in medical terms as anaphylaxis. For this reason, it is crucial for people to work closely with healthcare professionals to know what foods can trigger an allergic reaction to their body. Right from the onset of this research paper, it is important to highlight that food allergy should not be confused with food intolerance (NIAID, 2005). According to experts, a food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a harmless food as though it were a threat. When a person is at first exposed to the food, no reaction is witnessed. However, it is believed that this exposure leads the body to respond the next time. When the person is exposed to the food again, an allergic reaction can be witnessed. In most cases, the first exposure to food occurs when you eat it.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Survey of Food Allergies in the UAE specifically for you for only $16 .05 $11/page Learn More However, there are occasions when this happens without ones knowledge. An example of this is in the case of peanut allergy. In most cases, a person who experiences anaphylaxis on the first documented contact with peanut may have previously used a skin care product that had peanut as one of its ingredients or might even have inhaled peanut dust at a social place or at home (NIAID, 2005). When one is initially exposed to a food allergen, the body’s immune system acts as though the food was harmful and transmits definite IgE antibodies to counter that allergen. These antibodies revolve through the blood and fasten to mast cells and basophils. Initially, mast cells are located in all tissues of the body, and mainly in body parts that are prone to allergic reactions. Some of these parts include the nose, esophagus, lungs, skin and the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, basophilis are located in the blood and in tissues that have becom e inflamed because of an allergic reaction. The next time that one is exposed to an identical food allergen, it fastens to the mast cells and basophilis. The fastening triggers the cells to discharge massive quantities of chemicals such as histamine. Depending on the placement of the tissue where the chemical discharge takes place, one experiences various forms of food allergy. These symptoms can range from mild to acute. When the allergic reaction is acute, it leads to a potentially life threatening reaction called anaphylaxis (NIAID, 2005). Food Allergy in the UAE Food allergy is indeed a complex disease. The reason for this is that both polygenic genes as well as environmental factors can trigger it. It is sad to note that this is one of the least studied topics despite the fact that it has been identified as an important problem within UAE. Just like any other type of allergies, food allergies have too been on the rise. In America, 3.5 to 4% are considered to have food allergy a nd 4 to 6% of children population around the globe are believed to be affected (NIAID, 2005). The prevalence and causes of food allergy in UAE is still unclear. Individual studies show-varied data. However, if the trends elsewhere in the world are anything to go by, then the situation warrants immediate attention (NIAID, 2005). In one of the privately funded research, (The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), 2011) a meta-analysis was carried out to establish the prevalence of food allergy in UAE. The foods reviewed were cow’s milk, eggs, peanut, fish, shellfish and wheat. The prevalence rate of self-reported food was ranging from 3% to 35% for any kind of food and was very high once evaluated against objective measures.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fascinatingly, there was a noted heterogeneous association between studies irrespective of assessment or the food item reviewed. Whether this mirrors actual differences or is a problem of varied study designs cannot be established. In another study conducted in 2005 (DeWaal, Robert) where 12,000 newborns were recruited, a rather interesting finding was established. During the study, all the children who developed atopic dermatitis or signs orchestrated by food allergy were summoned for homogeneous clinical evaluations. This included the diagnostic gold standard and the double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge tests. During the food allergy test, it was established that eggs, cow’s milk, peanut and wheat were the most frequent food allergens in UAE (DeWaal, Robert, 2005). Patterns of Food Allergy outside UAE In order to effectively examine how the allergy issue affects consumers in UAE, it is important to briefly look at patterns of food allergy outside the region. The re is no doubt that food allergy is a widespread problem affecting children and adults in developed countries. Although there is limited data on this issue, the little that is available shows that the prevalence and models of food allergies are slightly different from that of UAE. In one such study carried out by Wong (2011) from the Department of Paediatrics and School of Public Health in Hong Kong, clinic based studies in Japan showed that the common allergens were milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, sesame and buckwheat. In China, it was established that the common allergens were shellfish, fish, and peach while the pattern of allergy in Russia was similar to that in UAE. Although there is no probable explanation for this, it might be due to dietary differences and similarities in the countries where the studies were carried out. This might also be due to factors associated with the protection against food allergies in these areas (Wong, 2011). As discussed elsewhere in this pa per, food allergy is an important social health problem that affects close to 5% of children and almost 4% of adults and this might be rising in prevalence (DeWaal, Robert, 2005). Despite the threat of acute allergic reactions and even death, there is no known treatment for food allergy in either UAE or elsewhere in the world. As it is, the disease can only be handled by avoiding possible allergens or treatment of symptoms. The identification and management of food allergy may differ from one clinical practice setting to another. As pointed out earlier, patients and medical practitioners frequently confuse non-allergic food reactions, such as food intolerance with food allergies. It is therefore important for UAE to come up with guidelines to establish the difference between food allergy and food intolerance. However, what is most important for UAE is to be prepared to deal with the economic challenges brought about by food allergies (NIAID, 2010). Economic Impact of Allergy Preven tion in UAE The subject of food allergy cannot be effectively tackled without looking at the economic perspective of it. Since the paper has already established that there is no known medication for food allergy, then it is only right if we examine the economic impact of allergy prevention in the UAE (Drummond et al, 1997). There is no denying that the economic impact of allergy prevention is a very broad and complex matter, depending on the perspective of policy makers. In trying to examine the economic issues of this matter, it is then only right to examine what sort of economic questions might be important. Although there might be varied definitions for economics, one thing that is agreeable across the board is that economics is about resources and happiness in society. Economics concerns itself with how all the available productive resources are used to enhance happiness. Perhaps the reason why Thomas Carlyle termed economics as the ‘dismal science’ is that there ca n never be sufficient resources to completely satisfy each need and want. One has to make choices. The best choices obviously result into economic gains for everyone, but majority of choices necessarily result in losers as well as winners. The big question then is to determine how this gets resolved (Drummond et al, 1997). Money and Markets One way how this can get resolved is through valuation of goods and services for exchange using cash. Generally, there is a consensus among societies when it comes to the issue of right values through market price systems. Economics is commonly reflected upon as the examination of money and markets, but it is often beyond this. The reason for this is that markets fail to deliver optimal social welfare in many ways (Drummond et al, 1997). Markets and Market Failure There is no doubt to any economist that free organization and distribution of wealth and power in production can give rise to monopoly. According to Drummond et al (1997), consumers and producers do not necessarily have ideal information on goods and services, nor about their wants. This is especially true in health and health care. On top of this, many services unlike goods are not exchanged in the marketplace and can be underestimated or fail to be valued at all in market transactions. One example of an undervalued resource is the parent’s care of their little ones. Finally, a number of goods are not marketable to individuals, but are refereed to as ‘public goods’, such as clean air or hygiene in public schools. In UAE and other societies, these needs are met through socially organized systems. Viewpoints, Domains and Economic Questions Different economic queries are crucial at different stages and for different groups. Solutions favoring one side might not favor all. An example of this is a situation where individuals and families are concerned with upholding their own health and comfort, thus creating an interest on particular costs of livi ng with or preventing allergy. In UAE where the state is the main provider of healthcare, the costs of the services utilized by allergic people may not be recognized as costs to them. In comparison, when health-care givers consider costs and benefits, they do not necessarily consider the consequences of illnesses or medication of ailments on household earnings, and this is not taken in within the direct responsibility of health care administrators (Drummond et al, 1997). The reason why it is prudent to look at the economic impact of allergies in UAE is partly because firms that produce goods and services in the region are affected in diverse ways by food allergy. Apart from the healthcare industry, there are foods and other producers of products which may activate allergy or which may aid sufferers in some way. Companies may get concerned through their own corporate social responsibility or through directives with tracking social purposes for maintenance of the health of the populat ion, but in the end they have to live up to their purpose, which is to make profits. In UAE, the government has taken a broader viewpoint and has actively been involved in balancing the conflict between interests in the political economy. The methods of economists advising the public-sector policy have advanced to take a communal viewpoint (Drummond et al, 1997). Methods Used by Economists In the field of health economies in the UAE, cost-of-illness analysis (COI) is commonly used as an expressive tool. This takes a wide ‘top-down’ approach, which examines crude sector level estimates of impact or a much more pronounced ‘bottom up approach’, which studies a defined group of the populace with prospective data collection and/or analysis of routinely gathered information. However, it is important to be conscious that COI does not give answers to economic allocation decisions, where diverse strategies for dealing with problems are being weighed against each oth er (Drummond et al, 1997). Economic evaluation compares the stresses of alternative policies, comparing costs of inputs and values of outcomes. The methods used to achieve this include the cost-benefit analysis (CBA), cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and the cost-utility analysis (CUA). These analytic approaches in health economies progressively incorporate techniques of decision analysis and modeling gotten from Operational Research and other administration methods. Option evaluation or investment appraisals are utilized for industry and public sector planning. Cost of Allergy in the UAE There have been various estimates of the costs of allergy in the UAE. One source, (Table 1) gives estimates of direct costs showing three forms of allergy, but fails to include the estimate for food allergy. Asthma counts for the largest communal cost of all. Table 1. Direct costs to society of allergy in UAE Asthma 4.6bn Contact dermatitis 2.3bn Allergic rhinitis 1.3bn Food allergies [] Source: (Drummond et al, 1997). The authors of the report admit the shortage of adequate data on any of the allergies at this level. Even in areas where there is availability of data, the methodology of cost of illness research is not well described or scientifically authenticated and it is usually seen and utilized as a technique for persuading those in power to take notice of this scourge. In order to gain more confidence on these figures, it is important to create methods that are replicable and useful. It is sad to note that there is no cost estimate of food allergies, which is the most prevalent form of allergy in UAE. Socio-Economic Costs of Food Allergy in the UAE From what has already been discussed, the team who prepared the UAE Allergy Report (Drummond et al, 1997) had not found enough to attempt an estimate of UAE impact on food allergy. There have also been attempts by other parties (O’Connell, 2003) to search for further review on the subject. This has include d looking at the Web of Science Journals using search terms shown in Figure 1. As expected, this search did not establish specific studies or costs on economics of food allergy in UAE, but rather came up with several papers highlighting how this subject might be researched. From this review, it is then right to assume that costs might fall to one or more of the below economic sectors. Individual or family, health sector, industry and public sector. Society incorporates all of these sectors. It is obvious that this is not just a simple case of adding up since what might be a cost to one sector might actually be a benefit to another i.e. family costs of medications over the counter are an advantage to the pharmaceutical industry. †¢ Web of Science 2002 †¢ allerg* AND (cost OR econ) AND food* †¢ No specific primary research on costs of food allergy †¢ Discussions of possible costs in several papers Figure 1. Literature Review for Economics of Food Allergy. Sou rce O’Connell, 2003. Possible Costs of Food Allergy in the UAE There is no doubt that there are associated costs when it comes to the issue of food allergy. These costs can be sustained directly in the form of managing allergy, or they can be an indefinable effect of the allergy that is not easy to measure but one that affects people’s decisions (see Table 2). costs of food allergy Individual or household Health sector Industry Public Sector Society Direct Costs Out-of pocket expenses Hospital Primary care Loss (or gain) of sales revenue Outreach and social care All Indirect Costs Informal care Loss of education or income Public-health campaigns Costs of regulation Lost work from sick employees Regulation All Intangible costs Quality of life Public Opinion Table 2. Possible costs of food allergy. Source: Drummond et al, 1997. Many families in UAE have direct out of pocket costs, indirect costs of loss of labor time, or indefinable costs of effects on qu ality of life. Consequently, the health sector experiences direct and indirect costs, such as the express costs of providing hospital primary care and the public health crusades may be an indirect effect (or cost). Both industry and other public-sector agencies in UAE will experience the effects of food allergy. Communal costs and benefits are the product of all of these various factors. In economic policy decisions, the effects of public opinion in UAE are as important as the benefits to concerned individuals in the final decision, especially where taxpayers’ money is utilized for services. From what has just been discussed, a few issues come out clearly about the cost of food allergy. One of this is that health-care costs may be small for some people and high for others. Additionally, it can also be noted that effective self-management may result in lower health care and indefinable costs. It has also been proved beyond doubt that productivity in the workplace as well as ed ucation can be affected not only by absence, but also by controlled movement and effectiveness at work. Lastly, it has also emerged out that the existing quality of life measures might not be susceptible to definite outcomes of food allergy (Drummond et al, 1997). Despite these clear observations, it is important to note that there is no clear evidence to back these findings. Research Agenda on Economics of Food Allergy in UAE In order to realize the full economic impact of food allergy in the UAE region and provide clear evaluation interventions to cope better with the problem, there is need for better knowledge about the nature and costs associated with food allergy. Currently, there are numerous interventions, which change the way food allergy can be managed in UAE. Some of these include diagnosis and testing, health and food education and sponsorship, food labeling, self-management instruction and support, food preparation methods both at industrial level and at home and immunot herapy. All of these methods carry a certain cost in at least one economic sector, and may or may not be efficient. Economic evaluation of various approaches could help in setting priorities in order. Since good interpretation of economic data in food allergy is reliant on good clinical and epidemiological investigation evidence on classification and acuteness of illnesses, utilization of healthcare services, effectiveness of treatments, and standard of life information, interdisciplinary partnership is important for both cost of illness research and economic evaluation. Since food allergy also involves producers of food, the effects on the industry of approaches for mitigating food allergy are an integral part of social costs. Public policy often incorporates trade-off between best solutions for customers and producers in the short and long term (Wong, 2011). One aspiration of economic analysis is to enlighten this discussion. However, there is a great deal of work ahead to make th is a reliable venture in UAE. Inequalities in the Economic and Social Cost of Food Allergy in UAE As discussed earlier, the economic and social impact of food allergy affects many sectors of the society. There are associated costs to individuals, their careers and their households, most likely for the whole of their lives. In the healthcare sector, resources are needed for prognosis, support and education. The entire food chain in the UAE is affected through fluctuated costs, food regulations and ethical obligations. The employment sector is also affected in terms of reduced productivity. Currently, there is no specific information or a clear methodology for establishing the economic and social impact of food allergy to individuals and the society. It is even harder to quantify the costs associated with quality of life factors such as health, quality of living, family and acquaintances and general well-being. While it is hard to establish some of these facts, it is probable to illus trate the social and economic impact of food allergy from the viewpoint of the individual and their families and caregivers through and assessment of the issues constantly brought to the attention of patient support groups in UAE. Although these might not be quantifiable, they are nevertheless very real (Drummond et al, 1997). These impacts can be eased by ensuring that individuals and households receive the services they require and through heightened appreciation, responsiveness and education. How to Manage Food Allergy in UAE Restaurants The stress of bringing up a child with food allergies in UAE affects each family differently, depending, in large part, on how the doctor initially hands the news and the family’s coping method. Based on how the information is presented, the family can leave the hospital scared and uncertain whether they will be capable of averting the next reaction, or concerned but confident that they can keep their child secure. Most doctors in UAE educ ate their patients on how they can lead secure lifestyles without taking any precaution. Despite the provision of this information, families still have a reason to get worried especially when it comes to the issue of eating food that is prepared outside the home (FAAN, 2011). A rising number of consumers with food allergies in the UAE encounter a myriad of challenges when eating food from restaurants, cafeterias and fast food outlets, and when selecting food that is not industry packaged. The trends in eating habits have also changed in the recent past. Unlike in the past, most families in UAE prepare less food at home from ingredients something that has robbed the young generation of key skills on preparation and knowledge of food. At the same time, the rate of traveling has increased, and people now enjoy a variety of foods, which come from various parts of the world served by our neighborhood food businesses (WHO, 2002). Those patrons who need to shun certain food products to gua rd their health encounter a range of practical challenges, starting with the need to establish the ingredients contained in the dishes. After this, the patron has to investigate whether the food establishment has managed to prepare that particular dish without running the risk of contamination from the culprit allergen, at times in trace amounts. Evidence from lethal reactions to foods and that reported by patient group members indicate that the most critical factor in effective avoidance is access to the ACCURATE information on what is contained in the food (NIAID, 2010). Most lethal reactions involve consumption of dishes containing the cause allergen. In some cases, the allergic party might not have been evading the particular allergen, or may be through lack of accurate analysis or protection advice, but even those with precise diagnoses and well-honored averting skills have been caught in the mix. Some of the practical barriers include failing to retain the correct information, bad information-sharing between preparation and service staff, contradictory recipes, and menu statements from other languages/ cultures, which are not understood by staff/customers. Other barriers might be cross- infectivity in preparation or service, including shared utensils on self-service buffets, customers being nervous about enquiring for information in the presence of their colleagues, and now wanting to make a commotion (O’Connell, 2003). In one research carried out in UAE (DeWaal, Robert, 2005), food businesses were asked different aspects, by questionnaire and interview, on how they handled a food allergic guest. In this survey, 95% of the respondents indicated that they would offer a safe meal, but only a dismaying 26% indicated that they had any sort of food allergen training. Like many UAE households, 5.5% believed that the heat would destroy the allergen and 46% had faith that a small amount of allergen would cause no significant harm. Close to 50% of the res pondents believed a buffet would be allergen free if it was kept in clean condition while 21% indicated that doing away with the allergen (like nut topping) would ensure that the meal was safe. In this survey, an impressive 85% recognized the possible allergens prevalent in the UAE but then only 18% had an action plan to offer allergy free meals. Like so many citizens in the UAE, none of the respondents knew what to do in case of an allergic emergency. What was interesting is that a whopping 78% believed that regulation on food safety and food hygiene did not cover food allergens (DeWaal, Robert, 2005). From the results of this study, it is encouraging to note that restaurant and catering industries in UAE are ready to offer allergy safe meals to their allergic consumers but they have to be warned in advance. The apparent lack of basic knowledge on food allergy and allergens indicates the necessity for more education and training. Food allergic patrons need to present themselves, b ut still need to take extra caution. A solution to this could be the proposal for a new UAE regulation on the provision of food information to end users, as this will mark a big step onward in protecting the food allergic individual (DeWaal, Robert, 2005). Food Safety Having established that staying away from possible allergens is critical in protecting the health of people with food allergies makes the issue of food safety an important topic in UAE and indeed elsewhere in the world. According to the World Health Organization, food borne diseases are prevalent in all parts of the world and the toll in terms of human life and suffering is enormous. Contaminated food is estimated to be the cause of 1.5 billion cases of diarrhea in children each year, translating into more than three million early deaths (WHO, 2002). These deaths and sicknesses are distributed in both the developed and developing nations. In America, it is estimated that food borne diseases contribute to nearly 76 mil lion illnesses annually among the country’s 290 million inhabitants, as well as 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 fatalities. In the Middle East, statistics show that approximately one million children under the age of five years die each year from diarrhea diseases after consuming contaminated food. Although there is no sufficient data to identify and track food borne allergies, the statistics are believed to be overwhelming (WHO, 2002). Food Safety in UAE â€Å" Food safety is progressively viewed as an important health issue in the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In collaboration with the WHO, most countries in that region have undertaken extensive reviews of their food safety system and some have modernized their national legislation on the issue. Despite efforts to update food safety laws, there is limited information available to fully appraise the food safety problems and issues. Although United Arab Emirates has adopted the use of customized software for food inspection to monitor and control the safety of food – whether domestically produced or imported, more still needs to be done in order to curb the problem of food allergy (Wong, 2011). According to the World Health Organization (2002), allergies are generally perceived as mild and self-limiting illnesses, and comprise a reality of every day life in UAE. Medications, if administered at all are procured over the counter and most allergy episodes go unreported. Some diseases like diarrhea are usually viewed as strictly waterborne other than an allergy-triggered disease. In most cases, medical attention is sought too late, and often in asphyxia cases. This shows that improvements are undoubtedly needed in the detection and prognosis of allergens. Despite the difficulty of obtaining accurate allergy surveillance data, it appears that there is a reduction of allergen-induced cases in UAE and other Gulf countries. This is likely due to increased food monitoring and improved co nsumer information. Policies and Plans of Action in UAE In the UAE region, land suitable for growing food is scarce. Meeting food needs and guaranteeing food security largely depend on food imports. For this reason, putting in place a system to control their safety and quality are imperative for public health. What is most interesting to note in this mix is that the food imports that the UAE rely on has been found to be unsafe for human consumption. Beginning January to June 2001, close to 27% of food exports from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to the United States were discarded by America’s Food and Drug Administration for failing to comply with the U.S. safety regulations (WHO, 2002). What is even more disheartening is that these foods were found to have high level of microbiological contamination and food additives while close to 58% of the foods were rejected for labeling problems. What makes this significant to UAE is that she gets most of her food through direct impo rts from these countries within the region (O’Connell, 2003). Although UAE has food control systems in place, those systems are largely unable to cope with new challenges. In UAE, the set legislation is largely inflexible, the standards are obviously not consistent with global and even domestic needs, and training in efficient food handling is lacking as observed elsewhere in this paper (NIAID, 2010). In most cases, food inspection models are old-fashioned and the supervisors do not possess adequate knowledge of modern risk-based approaches to food control. Additionally, the laboratories that have been set up do not possess the required scientific and technical expertise, financial resources, and equipments. Due to lack of government’s commitment to the matter, these laboratories have a difficulty in procuring reagents and reference materials and lack a globally recognized certification. There has also been a lot of resistance to change from local administrators who do not necessarily support this initiative. There is also the issue of underreporting something that further compromises the quality of the food products. For this reason, the frequency of food borne allergens is not used to help define national food safety strategies, and chemical and microbiological contaminants are not accorded the priority that they deserve (WHO, 2002). Under the UAE law, food companies are required to provide safe foods. As a result, food companies have the mandate to find out whether their products create any risk for allergic people. This particular law has specific labeling requirements for those products that contain possible allergens so that the consumers buying packaged labeled food should never be in doubt on its constituents. For example, labels need to point out that casein is derived from milk and that peanut oil might not be labeled as simply vegetable oil. However, the labeling law does not cover unintentional presence of allergens in food. Regardles s of this, food manufacturers have the obligation of ensuring that there is no risk of unintentional presence of allergenic food in their products. This helps them to decide if it is significant to warn allergic people of the possible risk. An example of this may be adding simple warnings such as a simple phrase stating, â€Å"May contain traces of nuts† (FAAN, 2011). Although the law has been in effect for a long time now, it is still hard to access how big a risk a food product might pose for an allergic person, since researchers are yet to come into harmony on the level of food required to cause an allergic reaction. Recent research has shown that there exist lower perimeters of intake below which food allergens will cause only mild or even no visible symptoms and that these symptoms range from one allergic individual to the other and even within the same person at different occasions. The amount that may prompt an allergic reaction observable by second parties ranges from a tenth of a milligram in rare cases, up to grams and sometimes tens of grams, with extensive dissimilarities between individuals as well as between allergic substances. In UAE, there is adequate scientific data for cow’s milk, eggs and peanuts to permit statistical analyses to forecast doses of those foods safe to consume for the majority of allergic people. However, scientists in the UAE region and regulatory authorities have only in the recent past begun to deliberate on how to make statistical evaluations of the data (Dewaal, Robert, 2005). Potential Allergenicity of Biotechnology Products Regulatory guidelines for establishing the safety of new food crops developed using biotechnology in UAE were published in the dying years of the last century before the inception of Genetically Modified (GM) products. Many GM crops are now widely accepted as 77% of global soybean and 26% of maize produce is from GM selections (FAAN, 2011). The early safety assessment seems to be func tional since there are no major cases of harm from these products. The greatest potential risk of food allergy would be gene transference encoding an allergen or protein adequately identical to an allergen being introduced to a different food crop so that unforeseen reactions might happen upon eating. The risk of GMOs containing possible allergens is minimal since UAE like many other nations requires a thorough assessment of these foods before they are allowed into the country. The GMO Panel of the United Arab Emirates first evaluates data originating from the studies carried out by the applicant. The panel then publishes a scientific opinion, which includes a conclusion on the food safety of the product in review. With these stringent rules in place, the GMO products in the UAE market might be the only food product that might be deemed free from possible allergens but even then, there is no enough research to proof this point (O’Connell, 2003). In the case of cow’s mi lk allergy prevention, the available data is not also complete since no study has so far been published that meets all the criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. Nevertheless, the studies carried out to date point to a greater effectiveness of extensive hydrolyzed protein formulae over partially hydrolyzed formulae, although the latter might offer nutritional advantages and reduced costs. There is no doubt that further efforts are required in the classification of the commercially available milk formulae used for the management and avoidance of cow’s milk allergy. In the absence of well-documented researches proving the prophylactic value of partially hydrolyzed formulae, children at high risk of allergy should be fed with a prophylactic hypoallergenic diet centered on extensive hydrolyzed formulae. However, even these have been found to be deficient in terms of quality for the brands sold in UAE. This means that cow’s milk allergic patients from UAE wi ll have to stay away from milk products until that time when a safe alternative product can be procured (O’Connell, 2003). Functional Food Market in UAE Functional foods are defined as foods that provide health benefits on top of their basic nutritional value. These extra health benefits constitute the basis for producer’s health claims on foods. Legislation demands that health claims should be centered on and authenticated by publicly accepted scientific evidence. For allergic people in UAE, numerous products that offer an alternative to foods that are known possible allergens are available in the market. One of these products is the hypoallergenic formulae, which is used in the treatment and prevention of cow’s milk allergy. In UAE, there are a large number of commercially available milk formulae products clearly labeled as ‘hypoallergenic’. However, only a fraction of these conforms to the standards highlighted in the guidelines of subcommittee o n Nutrition and Allergic Diseases of the World Health Organization. As far as the treatment and prevention of cow’s milk allergy is concerned, the broad hydrolyzed protein formulae and amino-acid concentrated formulae are the only two products that meet the recommended standards for hypoallergenicity, which is defined as nonexistence of reactions in 90% allergic patients with 95% confidence. Even in these cases, there is a greater variability on the wide-ranging hydrolyzed brands in the UAE market, and for some of them, the clinical information in support of the claim of hypoallergenicity is conspicuously absent. On top of this, other products referred to as ‘partially hydrolyzed formulae’ have in the past been promoted as suitable for cow’s milk allergic people but in the end turned out to be ineffective. This products have actually been accused of being responsible for several anaphylactic reaction in numerous cases reported in various parts of UAE. This data lie beneath the fact that it is compulsory to define the products put on the UAE markets as hypoallergenic formula for treatment of cow’s milk allergy (O’Connell, 2003). The Way Forward Despite rising efforts to prevent food allergies in children, IgE arbitrated food allergies are on the rise in UAE. The World Health Organization recommends that during the opening six months of life, infants be exclusively breastfed, and that weaning onto solids and other milk formulae should only commence after the lapse of that period. Definite avoidance of foods such as hen eggs and peanut in atopic infants is believed to prevent the possible allergic reaction to these products. While there is data proposing that exclusive breastfeeding and the utilization of extensively hydrolyzed formulae may prevent the progress of eczema, there is still inadequate evidence to prove that such dietary interventions prevent the progression of IgE-triggered food allergy. The double exposure to allergen hypothesis posits that tolerance to antigens happens in the neonate through high dose oral exposure and that allergic sensitization happens through low dose cutaneous contact. In one study carried out in a prospective birth cohort, it was shown that low dose exposure to peanut in the type of arachis oil applied to exposed skin on young children was linked with heightened risk of peanut allergy by the time the child turned five years. Recent studies have also showed that young children who are exposed to allergens in the first six months of their life through the oral route have a high tolerance for such allergens than children who did not have such an exposure. However, such studies are subject to reviews and have the possibility of causing opposite reactions. What this means for UAE residents is that they will have to wait for a little while longer before they know the truth regarding this issue (Wong, 2011). In the meantime, UAE parents have the responsibility of ensurin g that their children are not exposed to any possible allergens until that time when the truth on the matter will be established. Conclusion Food allergy is a complex disease. This is because it is not only influenced by polygenic genes but also by environmental factors. Despite the complex nature of the disease, it has been one of the least studied research topics even though it has been recognized as an important problem within UAE. Currently there is no known cure for food allergies. One can only evade the symptoms of food allergy by not being exposed to the allergenic substance. After someone with the help of a healthcare professional has identified the food that he/she is allergic to, one must remove those foods from their diet. In order to avoid coming into contact with such foods, there is need to always read the list of ingredients on the sticker of each prepared dish that one is considering eating. It is also important to note that majority of the food allergens such as pea nut, egg, and milk, are present in prepared foods that one would not directly link with those foods. Since 2007, UAE food manufacturers have been obligated by the law to label the ingredients of packaged foods. On top of this, the law mandates that food manufacturers must use simple language to reveal whether their products contain or have traces of any of the eight known allergenic foods-egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, shellfish and fish. Easy measures of hygiene can remove most allergens from the environment of a person with a food allergy problem. For example, a simple act of washing the hands with soap and water will do away with peanut allergens, and a good number of household cleaners will eradicate allergens from surfaces. Despite the efforts adopted by food allergic people to keep away from possible allergens, they will from time to time be forced to deal with unintentional exposure. Given the enormity of the matter, the UAE government must come up with stringent r egulations to cushion the public from unintentional exposure to possible allergens. There is also need for the public to be educated on allergy management since majority of them do not know what to do incase of a food allergy attack. Effective education will also help the public to know what is stipulated in the law regarding the issue of food allergies in UAE. References DeWaal, S., Robert, N. (2005). Global and Local: Food Safety around the World. Washington: Center for Science in the Public Interest. Drummond, M., O’Brien, B., Stoddart, G., (1997). Methods for Economic Evaluation in Health Care. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network. (2011). Parents of Children with Food Allergies Survey. PDF File. Retrieved from http://www.galaxyfoods.com/ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2010). Food Allergy: An Overview. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. PDF File. Retrieved from https://www.niaid.nih.gov/ O’Connell. ( 2003). Pediatric Allergy: A Brief Review of Risk Factors Associate with Developing Allergic Diseases in Childhood. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 90 (3), 53-58. World Health Organization. (2002). Health situation in the South East Asia Region 1998-2000. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/ Wong, G. (2011). Patterns of Food Allergy outside Europe. Clinical and Translational Allergy, 56 (1), 42-48. This research paper on Survey of Food Allergies in the UAE was written and submitted by user Aaden Z. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.