The Big 9

You have probably heard of “The Big 8,” the eight major food allergens that cause over 90% of food-related allergic reactions. But did you know that there are now NINE major food allergens? As of January 1, 2023, the FASTER (Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research) Act became effective, adding sesame to the list of major allergens (milk, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, fish, shellfish, and soy).  As a result, sesame is required to be listed as such on food and supplement labels.  

Although the percentage of people with a sesame allergy is low, reactions to the food can be just as severe as reactions to other allergens.  Sesame can have alternate names, so in addition to “sesame,” look for the words “tahini” or “benne” on a nutrition label.  Note: Sesame oil is not highly refined (in contrast to many other oils),  which means the allergen is still present in the oil.  

Although it isn’t an all-inclusive list, the following food items are common sources of sesame.  Remember, best practice is to ALWAYS check the label, even on foods that you have used before! 

Asian Dishes	Thai Dishes	Hamburger Buns	Pizza Crust
Cookies	Wafers	Breads	Soups
Energy Bars	Pretzels	Ice Cream	Flafel (Falafel)
Tahini	Salad Dressings	Noodles	Pastries
Margarine	Oils	Sushi	Medications

Want to learn more?  Check out these awesome resources.

Food Allergy Research & Education Website

U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

October 2023 Update

Here's an update on items of interest from AEA Purchasing.  Please share! 

Same URL...New Look and Layout!
Have you seen our new look? Our website got an upgrade over the summer as we joined the Iowa AEA family on the web. If you haven't already, we encourage you to take a look at our new space and become familiar with the new layout for contract and purchasing information. You can still find us at www.aeapurchasing.org!

AEA Purchasing Attends ITEC
If you attended ITEC in Des Moines earlier this week, we hope you took a few minutes to stop by our booth to learn all about the contracts in our technology purchasing program AND walk away with some pretty neat swag! If we missed you, have no fear -- all of our content is online! Check out our purchasing programs here and our list of vendor partners here. All vendors have been awarded through a formal, competitive bid process.

National School Lunch Week
October 9th - 13th was National School Lunch Week and school food service departments throughout Iowa got in the game with this year's theme of "Level Up. Trinity Lutheran School of Cedar Rapid's staff and students joined The Great Apple Crunch, sponsored by the Iowa Farm to School & Early Care Network. AEA Purchasing's Food Program consultants helped Trinity Lutheran staff level up that day by facilitating a culinary training class funded by the Make it Fresh with Culinary Training Sub-Grant. The class highlighted food safety, recipe standardization, culinary techniques, and the preparation and tasting of different variations of cheesy bacon grits (view class photos here). The cheesy bacon grits recipe is one of the 12 winning recipes from the Choose Iowa Student Culinary Competition held in 2021. We would love to hear and see what your school did to celebrate National School Lunch Week this year! Reach out to Barb Adams with your stories and photos. 

Stay in Touch!
In order to serve you better, AEA Purchasing wants to make sure our news and contract updates are reaching the right people. To have staff added to our email distribution lists, please send Joni their contact information and we will add them to our communications.

Vendor Promotions
Click here to gain access to a shared Google Folder with brochures from our vendor partners. Content is added throughout the month. You can also find vendor promotions on our Vendor Promotions webpage.

How AI Can Help Students Learn Digital Self-Regulation

Can AI help students learn important skills like digital self-regulation? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than just a buzzword; it’s changing the way we think about what is possible in education. This includes the support students need to make sure they can navigate digital spaces effectively – both inside and outside of the classroom.

This past year, over a thousand students participated in a study powered by AI to help them improve their self-regulation skills in a digital environment. The study was conducted by Deledao (AEA Purchasing vendor partner) and showed that 82% of students improved their self-regulation skills.

Want to learn more? View the full blog post published by Class Tech Tips.

To start a conversation with Deledao and see how your school can benefit (and save), contact:

Deledao
Kevin Kuckkan
262-894-0650
kevin.kuckkan@deledao.com
www.deledao.com/education
Contract # AEPA 021-G

All the colors of Fall with BLICK Art Materials

Explore a splash of Fall color with product selections, only from BLICK!

Just as autumn makes its way into our creative hearts, BLICK is here to bring you a selection of favorite products bearing all the colors of the season. With more than 110,000 art materials, BLICK’s unparalleled selection and value will bring a warm smile even as the daylight fades and temperatures drop. Check out these and many other products, only at BLICK Art Materials!

All materials may be purchased from BLICK Art Materials under the AEA Purchasing/AEPA contract.  If ordering directly from BLICK, remember to enter promo code QD20AEP during checkout. 

Wistyria Editions 100% Wool Roving – Autumn Colors
Ideal for fall felting and costuming projects with an ultra-fine and uniformly soft texture, Wistyria Editions Wool Roving is made for crafting and more! Plus, it is 100% New Zealand Corriedale sheep’s wool.

Schulcz Scale Model Trees – Autumn Brown
Schulcz Scale Model Trees are realistic and detailed, coming in a variety of colors inspired by the seasons of the year and various species of tree. Perfect for model and diorama-building!

Paper Accents Cardstock Stash Pack – Autumn
Paper Accents Stash Packs are a great and economical way to outfit the classroom with thematic bursts of color. Acid and lignin-free.

Whitney Brothers Nature View Season Chair – Autumn
Unleash creativity in the reading corner and beyond with Whitney Brothers Nature View Season Chairs, ideal for kids aged 3-6. No assembly required and durable with a non-toxic UV finish, these chairs will stand the test of time. Made in the USA.

Blick Studio Pastel Set, Earthtone Colors
Richly pigmented and made with fine quality raw materials, BLICK Studio Pastels blend easily with a soft and smooth texture.

Kwik Stix Tempera Paint – Earth Tones
Kwik Stix are non-toxic and colorfully brilliant, with no mess! They work on many surfaces and dry in less than 90 seconds.

Pacon Tru-Ray Construction Paper – Assorted Warm Colors
Imagination meets durability with Pacon Tru-Ray construction paper! A classic choice for school projects, paper is fade-resistant and able to be manipulated without cracking or tearing. Plus, it’s ecological with 50% recycled fiber content!

School is Back in Session!

It's October and we are all back into the swing of things when it comes to school business and routine. However, it's never too late to assess...and reassess...all of your classroom supply needs. 

Yes, school is back in session, but are there any last-minute items you still need? Do your teachers find they have more students than they thought? Perhaps you need more seating or an extra desk? 

No matter the situation, School Specialty and AEA Purchasing have got you covered! For all of your supply runs no matter the time of year, visit Select.SchoolSpecialty.com, sign in, and order with your discounted pricing!

Featured products and vendors:

Back in School With School Specialty

Flipside - Check out these reusable and washable dry-erase stickables and learning mats in various sizes, colors, and formats!

Didax -- These math manipulatives & reading resources help educators address individual learning styles and diverse student needs.

Need more information or want to make sure you're receiving the right discounts? Contact:

School Specialty
Courtney Kokjohn, Strategic Account Rep
Courtney.kokjohn@schoolspecialty.com
(515) 339-7227
Contract #s: AEPA IFB 022-A (Furniture), AEPA IFB 023-D (Instructional Supplies), AEPA IFB 023-G (Athletic Equip)

Shop online: https://select.schoolspecialty.com/aepa-co-op

Vendor Profile: Husqvarna

Husqvarna is one of AEA Purchasing's awarded vendors providing outdoor power equipment for all your groundskeeping needs. From hand-held products like chainsaws, brush cutters, leaf blowers, and trimmers to zero-turn and robotic mowers, Husqvarna has the products you need to keep your grounds in tip-top shape!

Contract benefits include:

30% discount on commercial zero turn mowers

20% discount on handheld outdoor power equipment

10% discount on auto mowers (robotic mowers)

15% discount on attachments and accessories

For more information on how you can save on Husqvarna equipment, visit their profile page on our website or contact:

Husqvarna
Bid Reference 020-E
Patrick Shelley
704-534-0208
patrick.shelley@husqvarnagroup.com
www.husqvarna.com
@HusqvarnaUSA

Happy saving!