CRANBERRY TWP — Families with children suffering from severe food allergies often see a bleak future, with constant sacrifices made to ensure safety.

Instead, Butler native Cory Williamson saw a way to help his brother Colin — and to establish a rapidly growing business.

"When (Colin) was 3, we found he had a severe peanut and tree nut allergy," Cory said. "He could die from it."

The allergy prevented Colin from eating a range of foods. Many common food products in the United States contain nuts, and even nut-free products are often prepared in environments where nuts are present.

Not wanting her child to miss out on chocolate, Colin's mother Janice began preparing nut-free desserts, and Cory quickly realized the possibilities in developing more chocolates.

"I've always been a chocoholic. ... I couldn't believe how good it tasted," Cory said.

"There are a lot of allergen-free companies out there, but the taste is lacking. ... The product really gets watered down."

In October, Cory and his other brother Brant established We're Not Nutz, a Cranberry Township-based company that produces chocolate based on their mother's recipe.

"She experimented with (the recipe) over the years, and by the time we started the business, it was perfect," Cory said.

In only 10 months, the brand has expanded to two online stores and the McGinnis Sisters grocery chain, with more grocery stores expected to add their products soon.

"We hope to be in 50 to 100 stores by the end of this year," Cory said.

While the company currently operates from a home in Cranberry, Cory said they hope to move to a commercial lot soon.

However, their ambitious goal comes with difficulty, especially when the product must be closely monitored for nut traces.

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, some 3.3 million Americans have nut allergies, with numbers increasing each year.

One Centers for Disease Control report indicates a 3.5-fold increase in food allergy-related hospital admissions since 1997.

Maria Acebal, Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network vice president and general counsel and whose child suffers from food allergies, said families with members suffering from nut allergies have come to increasingly rely on nut-free brands like We're Not Nutz.

"At the grocery store, you've got to religiously read every label," Acebal said. "It is so reassuring that it has a food label that affirmatively says 'does not contain peanuts.' They are of huge importance."

With a background in an allergy-affected family, We're Not Nutz maintains connections with allergy awareness groups and charities.

Butler resident Lisa Lynd, who has two children with severe food allergies, said her family has been forced to make major dietary changes.

"We don't eat out a lot," Lynd said. "We always talk to the manager first (before eating). There are peanuts in crazy things you wouldn't think of."

Before products like We're Not Nutz candies became available, families like Lynd's were often unable to eat popular desserts.

"There are very few types of candy we can buy, especially chocolate candy," she said.

While Lynd said she hopes more nut-free brands become available in the next few years, she is happy We're Not Nutz chocolate is available to her children.

Cory said 5 percent of We're Not Nutz's profits go toward nonprofit groups like the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

"It's important to do our own work to get the word out," Cory said. "It's not just something that should be taken lightly."