BugaBees app teaches kids about food allergies

A new smartphone application called BugaBees aims to teach children about food allergies.

Based on the popular book series by Amy Recob, the app was developed to improve childrens' awareness of what they, their friends, or their family members may be going through and how allergies affect people.

The app, available for both iOS and Android, creates virtual friends (BugaBees including Beetle, Cricket and Butterfly) who relate their experience and issues with food allergies in a way kids can understand.

The app has children learn the characters' allergies by feeding them various foods. When the bug is fed a food it is allergic to, it turns blue. Kids score points by feeding the bugs foods they can tolerate.

The app includes eight of the most common food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, milk, soy, eggs and wheat.

The app is available in iTunes and Google Play stores for $4.99.