Judging for the FreeFrom Awards
In 2019 I was asked to be a guest on The Allergy Today podcast which you can read about here. It was so much fun and I reached out the Cressida at the free? To say how grateful I was and if there would be anymore opportunities to be apart of that I would love to. Cressida ask me if I would like to judge in the FreeFrom awards. I was so overwhelmed.
I see the labels of the winners of their products of the free from section in the shops but I had no idea that normal people did the judging. Well they do, and I was one of them.
I got appointed to judge the STORE CUPBOARD and DRINKS categories.
Leading up to the event I got a bit nervous, I didn’t know what to expect. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to eat any of it. Even though it is “free from” most of my allergens are not in the top 14, which proves hard when sampling something, without those foods. I actually managed to eat and sample a lot. I read the ingredients of every food 20 times and asked everyone if they saw my allergens.
The judges were amazing, I am very grateful to them for walking me through the process and helping navigate the judging.
The team made me feel so safe. They separated all the food in to separate bowls, they answered my questions about what it was I was eating and how they prepared it! I couldn’t eat the majority of the foods but the ones I did eat were enjoyable. I couldn’t judge the products I didn’t consume, but there were many of us there so I didn’t feel like I let the team down. Actually there were some people that had allergies or intolerances too, I didn’t feel like the odd one out (which is remarkable).
My favourite judging foods:
Store cupboard
Garlic & Rosemary bannisters potatoes- hands down the best frozen roast potatoes I have ever had in my life. They gave me the rest to eat because I loved them and it was rare I could eat anything. 10/10 buy.
Fody Foods - Low foodmap Tomato & basil sauce
Manny’s korma sauce (they also have a satay sauce that is peanut free!!)
Tesco free from korma sauce - quite watery but since I have never eaten korma I liked it Manny’s was my favourite but Tesco is very convenient.
Tesco Gluten Free Yorkshire pudding
The real Yorkshire pudding gluten free
Drinks
Mulled wine (Not sure on brand but when I find out I will edit)
Bannister potatoes!! Incredible, they do not look like they came from a packet or frozen. Exciting!
Toward the end of the day I got red and a rash on my arm. I think I lightly reacted to something but took an antihistamine and it went down quickly.
On the allergy table instagram I took everyone through my full day of eating to show what I eat on a day I am not in the house.
Full day of eating
I had a really good day, I felt really lucky to be a part of the conversation around FreeFrom Awards and to be included. I am very excited to keep working with them in the future if that happens!
If you would like to know more about the day, the Awards, or anything else, please leave a comment down below or message me on instagram.
Be safe!
UPDATE:
We are now in April 2020 and last night was the FreeFrom Awards ceremony. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 virus we the ceremony was not in person. Cressida and Michelle were amazing and did a zoom call with the judges and entry brands and we watched the prerecorded ceremony together, which was lovely!
I thought I would put the entries that I want to try. What I love about the FreeFrom awards is that they do a really good job at having everyone included. There were a lot of foods I couldn’t eat, but they would be safe for someone whose main concern is dairy or gluten. I have found recently that allergy friendly is subjective to the allergy reactor. The thing that I am most amazed by is how many brands are now catering to people with allergies. I am so happy for the young children who are growing up now being able to have foods that they know is safe!
These are foods that seem safe for me and I will try to get them in the house (hopefully do a product review). I probably won’t do it now due to fears of hospitals but I am excited for all of the new “safe” foods I will get to have!
Congratulations to everyone who entered this year. We are all winners because of your innovation. Thank you!
Some other ones I will be looking into (I wrote a list whilst watching):
Tesco cinnamon swirls
Asda freefrom cheddar
Delmare dairy free coconut milk
Applewood vegan cheese
Bannisters rosemary potatoes (I raved about them before but I haven’t been able to find them since!!)
Tesco Wicked vegan ravioli
Made good Chocolate chip bars (My flatmate turned me on to these but I haven’t tried. She Canadian so knows all the good allergy friendly treats)
Twelve below drink
Bellfield gluten free beer (I love beer)
Lucybee coconut milk
Califa Farms (The brand)
Big Oz (The brand)
Tesco Yorkshire puddings
Bay Kitchen (the brand)
Dell’Ugo Mushroom & spinach ravioli
Tesco turkey stuffing tortilla chips
Growers garden (The brand)
Sipling cocktails (Cuban and Moscow mule)
Our Paula’s garlic butter
liberate crumpets
FreeFrom Italy
This is such an amazing list, I am so grateful to all the brands again for even giving me options to look up. Thank you to the FreeFromAwards family for making me feel taken care of and a part of the family. Cressida, Michelle, Susan and Alex, you are doing amazing work! I hope I will be back next year, and in person!!