? about peanut/tree nut allergy.

[krcit]

If someone has a peanut allergy(among many other allergies) is it dangerous to give my ds a oatmeal/raisin granola bar for snack? I recieved a list from his teacher and a certain brand of granola bars was on there. I purposely didn't buy any snacks made with nuts b/c I was aware that their was an allery in the class. It is not a big deal, it's just a box of granola bars...a big box, lol, and I would never compromise a childs health but I'm confused I understand that there cannot be peanut products in the class at all, but is something that says on the label 'may contain traces of peanut and other tee nuts' dangerous for the allergic child if he doesn't eat it. Fortunately, none of my kids have food allergies, so I'm pretty ignorant on the subject and just want to be informed. TIA

 

[Jennasis]

I would think your granola bars (which likely contain nuts) are no good.

 

[*BTMRR*]

In my (limited) experience with peanut-free classrooms, items that have the "main contain traces" warning have been allowed.

 

[krcit]

THey don't actaully contain nuts but the label says 'may contain traces of peanut and other tree nuts" They will be an after school snack, no problem. I was really just curious if even that small of an amount(trace) could cause a problem? So scary, the poor mom must be a pack of nerves!

 

[luvmy3]

THey don't actaully contain nuts but the label says 'may contain traces of peanut and other tree nuts" They will be an after school snack, no problem. I was really just curious if even that small of an amount(trace) could cause a problem? So scary, the poor mom must be a pack of nerves!

Yes a trace amount could cause a problem for someone who is allergic. The products were most likely manufactured on machines that also manufacturers peanuts and treenuts so cross contamination is a possibility, although not always a definite.

 

[krcit]

Yes a trace amount could cause a problem for someone who is allergic. The products were most likely manufactured on machines that also manufacturers peanuts and treenuts so cross contamination is a possibility, although not always a definite.

Thanks for the info

 

[TiggerStac]

If someone has a peanut allergy(among many other allergies) is it dangerous to give my ds a oatmeal/raisin granola bar for snack? I recieved a list from his teacher and a certain brand of granola bars was on there. I purposely didn't buy any snacks made with nuts b/c I was aware that their was an allery in the class. It is not a big deal, it's just a box of granola bars...a big box, lol, and I would never compromise a childs health but I'm confused I understand that there cannot be peanut products in the class at all, but is something that says on the label 'may contain traces of peanut and other tee nuts' dangerous for the allergic child if he doesn't eat it. Fortunately, none of my kids have food allergies, so I'm pretty ignorant on the subject and just want to be informed. TIA

as others mentioned, this would be a no go for the classroom. it's amazing how many things have the "may contain" on them. My youngest DS can't have peanuts/tree nuts and there are so many things with this on it.

I am very, very grateful that keebler must have a seperate nut free plant, as my middle son loves their cheese crackers. it only lists wheat and soy.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Sometimes I think these allergy restrictions go a little too far. After all, we are talking here about banning food that MAY have come in contact with nuts from a child who MAY come in contact with the allergic child. If a child is so allergic that having another child touching a granola bar that may have touched a peanut at some point before packaging could send him into a serious crisis, then that child should probably be homeschooled for his own safety.

How many kids have peanut butter on toast before school, or honey nut cheerios, or harvest crunch? The exposure to the allergic child must surely be greater from remnants of those breakfast items on kids' hands and clothes than from the 'may contain traces of...' snacks in the classroom! Should we now start trying to control what children eat for breakfast in their own homes?

Please know that I feel the utmost empathy for parents and children dealing with allergies. I just tend to think that these precautions are probably ineffective at best, and dangerous at worst (by creating a false sense of security).

 

[descovy]

Check with your school.

Our school is peanut free, and seem pretty strict about it. But a granola bar would be okay... as long as it didn't explicitly have nuts. So an oatmeal raisin bar for example would be fine.

"May contain traces of nuts" is basically legaleese CYA for the food manufacturer. If nuts are anywhere in the facility they put it down. Truely the trace of nuts probably equals the acceptable "trace amount of rat droppings, etc..." that is allowed by the FDA in foods.

I'll tell you something else, take something from home... "homemade" and it could be "trace of nuts" Case in point, my kids brings in a homemade biscuit and strawberry jam. Certainly "no nuts" in either of these products. But if I have ever, in the life of my opened jar of jam made a PBJ sandwich... well it "might contain traces of nuts"

 

[luvmy3]

Sometimes I think these allergy restrictions go a little too far. After all, we are talking here about banning food that MAY have come in contact with nuts from a child who MAY come in contact with the allergic child. If a child is so allergic that having another child touching a granola bar that may have touched a peanut at some point before packaging could send him into a serious crisis, then that child should probably be homeschooled for his own safety.

How many kids have peanut butter on toast before school, or honey nut cheerios, or harvest crunch? The exposure to the allergic child must surely be greater from remnants of those breakfast items on kids' hands and clothes than from the 'may contain traces of...' snacks in the classroom! Should we now start trying to control what children eat for breakfast in their own homes?

Please know that I feel the utmost empathy for parents and children dealing with allergies. I just tend to think that these precautions are probably ineffective at best, and dangerous at worst (by creating a false sense of security).

Last year, or the year before I can't remember, one of mu kid's teacher sent a note home to parents asking us to be aware of what our kids were eating before coming to school and if it was anything containing nuts to please make sure they wash up after eating. There is always someone with a peanut allergy in one of my kids classes but one year it was someone that could get a reaction with contact not just ingestion.
While I agree that keeping your child home is a definitely a way to ensure they are 100% safe from an allergen, those kids still have the right to an education so the schools/classrooms should be made safe for them.

Check with your school.

Our school is peanut free, and seem pretty strict about it. But a granola bar would be okay... as long as it didn't explicitly have nuts. So an oatmeal raisin bar for example would be fine.

"May contain traces of nuts" is basically legaleese CYA for the food manufacturer. If nuts are anywhere in the facility they put it down. Truely the trace of nuts probably equals the acceptable "trace amount of rat droppings, etc..." that is allowed by the FDA in foods.

I'll tell you something else, take something from home... "homemade" and it could be "trace of nuts" Case in point, my kids brings in a homemade biscuit and strawberry jam. Certainly "no nuts" in either of these products. But if I have ever, in the life of my opened jar of jam made a PBJ sandwich... well it "might contain traces of nuts"

The labeling of trace amounts of nuts is on there because it could kill someone, its different than having a trace amount of rat droppings or insects allowed in your food. It doesn't matter whether its an FDA acceptable amount or not to the person who may ingest that granola bar.
Having said that, I do agree that there is no way to keep all traces of peanuts out of a classroom, like your example, but if its something that is known to have a high probability of being cross-contaminated then it definitely understandable why it wouldn't be allowed (if there is a peanut ban).

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

While I agree that keeping your child home is a definitely a way to ensure they are 100% safe from an allergen, those kids still have the right to an education so the schools/classrooms should be made safe for them.

All children have the right to an education, but if a child is so allergic that coming into contact with something that may have come into contact with a nut will set them off then there will never be a safe environment for them in a school. That is just reality. The government, in those cases, should provide the resources for homeschooling that child.

The labeling of trace amounts of nuts is on there because it could kill someone, its different than having a trace amount of rat droppings or insects allowed in your food. It doesn't matter whether its an FDA acceptable amount or not to the person who may ingest that granola bar.

OF COURSE a child with nut allergies should avoid eating foods that may contain traces of nuts! But we are not talking about that child eating the food...it's one of his or her classmates.

 

[luvmy3]

All children have the right to an education, but if a child is so allergic that coming into contact with something that may have come into contact with a nut will set them off then there will never be a safe environment for them in a school. That is just reality. The government, in those cases, should provide the resources for homeschooling that child.

They don't have to because the school's can put policies in place to protect its students.

OF COURSE a child with nut allergies should avoid eating foods that may contain traces of nuts! But we are not talking about that child eating the food...it's one of his or her classmates.

I realize that, I was addressing why the labels are on the food in reference to the pp because they mentioned the trace amounts of rat droppings, which would only matter to the person ingesting that particular food. However there are those who have allergies so severe that if that "trace" was left on a desk and they touched it they could go into anaphylaxis. Its just a tool to make everyone aware of a potential danger. If a school is going to ban every student from bringing in something with peanuts to ensure the safety of those allergic (who wouldn't be eating the otehr student's food) then its is understandable that they would ban things that could have trace amounts included. It has nothing to do with ingestion, it has to do with coming in contact with peanut/peanut oil so it doesn't always matter if an allergic child is planning on eating that food or not.
Personally I have never heard of banning things that could have trace amounts, I'm just saying that I can totally understand why they would be.

 

[Hannathy]

If the allergic child is not going to eat them then it would be no problem. These peanut restrictions go waaaaay to far.


And just let a school try to tell me what my child could eat before school.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes a trace amount could cause a problem for someone who is allergic. The products were most likely manufactured on machines that also manufacturers peanuts and treenuts so cross contamination is a possibility, although not always a definite.

but only if they eat them. Not if another child eats them talk about overkill

 

[luvmy3]

but only if they eat them. Not if another child eats them talk about overkill

The OP asked, I answered and yes it is entirely possible for a child that has an allergy to peanuts to have a reaction due to cross contamination even if they do not ingest, and yes it could happen with a trace amount because to someone allergic it sometimes doesn't make a difference what the quantity is. I never said it was probable, only possible
You know I once thougt like you, then my ds was diagnosed with a treenut allergy and I found many allergy forums filled with people sharing their experiences with peanut and other LTFAs. It was a real eye opener, so you can continue to think its overkill and thats fine, but for a growing number of people it is a way to ensure their child's safety. I certainly don't begrudge them that.

 

[Hannathy]

The OP asked, I answered and yes it is entirely possible for a child that has an allergy to peanuts to have a reaction due to cross contamination even if they do not ingest, and yes it could happen with a trace amount because to someone allergic it sometimes doesn't make a difference what the quantity is. I never said it was probable, only possible
You know I once thougt like you, then my ds was diagnosed with a treenut allergy and I found many allergy forums filled with people sharing their experiences with peanut and other LTFAs. It was a real eye opener, so you can continue to think its overkill and thats fine, but for a growing number of people it is a way to ensure their child's safety. I certainly don't begrudge them that.

Please explain to me how it is going to be a problem to someone allergic if they do not ingest them? the "just may be on a machine" is not going to affect anyone who is allergic unless they ingest them no way. so it is unnecessary and going overboard.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

However there are those who have allergies so severe that if that "trace" was left on a desk and they touched it they could go into anaphylaxis. If a school is going to ban every student from bringing in something with peanuts to ensure the safety of those allergic (who wouldn't be eating the otehr student's food) then its is understandable that they would ban things that could have trace amounts included. It has nothing to do with ingestion, it has to do with coming in contact with peanut/peanut oil so it doesn't always matter if an allergic child is planning on eating that food or not.

But again, we're not talking about foods that contain nuts or peanuts. I can completely understand banning them in classrooms if a child is severely allergic. However, banning products that *may contain traces of nuts* because of the factories where they were processed seems to me to be overkill. The chance of there being enough exposure to produce a reaction is likely to be much smaller than the chance of exposure through other sources (i.e., breakfast items eaten at home).

As I'm typing this, I'm eating some roasted peanuts. Later, I'll make my kids' lunches for school. They therefore may contain traces of peanuts. If a child is so allergic that coming into contact (not eating, but touching) my DDs' lunch sends them into anaphylactic shock, I stand by my comment that that child has a disability too severe to mainstream into the regular classroom and accommodations should be made. No realistic restrictions would provide a safe environment for that child.

 

[Christine]

To the OP: As a parent of a peanut allergic family member, I would tell you that if your child eats a granola bar with the "may contain" statement on it, I would not be worried. Just about ANY scenario is possible but the probability of your child ingesting this and then somehow contaminating the allergic child is just so ridiculously low it's not even worth considering, but that's just my opinion of course.

The old "may contain" statement is sometimes a CYA statement made by the manufacturer and sometimes not. I've placed many calls to manufacturers prior to many of these statements going on products.

For some products, like plain M&Ms, they are manufactured on the same line as the peanut M&Ms with no thorough cleaning between runs. The chances of peanuts being in plain M&Ms is great. Most peanut allergic people will react to a plain M&M.

Other companies, like Hershey's often have dedicated lines for different candy so some are safe.

Other companies have dedicated lines or do very thorough cleanings between runs but don't want the liability so they slap the statement on even if the product is clean.

So, yes, your granola bar could have some traces in it. Your daughter could get a trace on her hand and touch something. I just think at some point you have to weigh probability against risk to make things okay for EVERYBODY in the class. I think it's kind of crazy to restrict the "may contain" products from people in the classroom. Overt peanuts, yes--trace or possibilities--no.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

But again, we're not talking about foods that contain nuts or peanuts. I can completely understand banning them in classrooms if a child is severely allergic. However, banning products that *may contain traces of nuts* because of the factories where they were processed seems to me to be overkill. The chance of there being enough exposure to produce a reaction is likely to be much smaller than the chance of exposure through other sources (i.e., breakfast items eaten at home).

As I'm typing this, I'm eating some roasted peanuts. Later, I'll make my kids' lunches for school. They therefore may contain traces of peanuts. If a child is so allergic that coming into contact (not eating, but touching) my DDs' lunch sends them into anaphylactic shock, I stand by my comment that that child has a disability too severe to mainstream into the regular classroom and accommodations should be made. No realistic restrictions would provide a safe environment for that child.

Why do you stop at the classroom? If a kid is that allergic can the kid go to a restaurant or mall or supermarket? What about people who have peanut butter breath, what would happen if they come in contact with each other? What about driving through the state of Georgia? Is that safe to do? I know gas stations that sell boiled peanuts.

Is it safe for the kid to leave the house? I wouldn't let my kid out the door!

 

[luvmy3]

Please explain to me how it is going to be a problem to someone allergic if they do not ingest them? the "just may be on a machine" is not going to affect anyone who is allergic unless they ingest them no way. so it is unnecessary and going overboard.

I'm not sure what you don't understand? Here's a scenerio, and please remember that I never said that this always happens, will always happen or that there is a high chance of it happening, just that it is possible.
A company called P's Nuts makes granola bars some containing peanuts, some not. They use the all the same machinery to make the granola bars and they are supposed to clean it after each use, only one day John has a hangover and doesn't feel much like cleaning it, no big deal, most of those chopped peanuts went into the peanut granola bars. So when its time to make the batch of oatmeal granola bars, some of those chopped peanuts, or some of the peanut oil gets into the batch. Again not really a big deal for most people, but little Billy decides to bring one in for snack and gets his crumbs everywhere, and he doesn't wash his hands after he eats and he uses the communial markers. Timmy who is allergic puts his arm on the crumb and who knows that crumb could be an oat or it could be a tiny piece of peanut, he just brushes it off and does his project using the marker that Johnny used, and then he rubs his mouth. I could go on and on but you get the idea. There are people who will have a reaction just from coming in contact with a peanut or peanut oil. Its is less common for contact with a peanut causes a severe reaction, but it has happened. Is this a remote possibility in the classroom, yes but its still a possibility so again I can understand why schools may choose to keep any and all possibilities of peanuts out of the classroom in order to avoid any chance no matter how small. I don't believe its necessary either, and I never claimed it was I am just saying that there are reasons why parents would want that stuff banned, and I can understand why they would want to, sorry you can't.
The OP was given a list with a certain "may contain nuts" item listed on it, I imagine that there is a reason that it is being included with items that do have peanuts, maybe the child with the allergy does get a severe reaction when he comes in contact with that brand, or he has had that particuar granola bar before and did have a reaction and thats why its on the list, I really have no idea of the specifics. I don't understand why people get so up in arms about stuff like this especially when not knowing the details about the kid the OP is talking about, or his allergy, or how severe it is. I wouldn't have a problem being inconvenienced if it meant keeping a child in my kid's class safe, I wouldn't care if it was going overboard, if the teacher requested a certain item not be brought in I would assume there was a good reason for it.

Just to clarify, I wasn't telling the OP not to feed her child the food but she asked of it could be a problem, and the truth is it could even if the chances are small. Did anyone else consider that IS the reason its on the list