Another peanut allergy rant

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

First let me say that I really do sympathize for those with children with peanut allergies.

Now my son who just started 1st grade, was sent a letter before school started that there 2 kids in the class that had peanut allergies. We would not be allowed to send in any snack that contained peanuts nor would this particular class be able to have pb & j for lunch. The 2 kids will sit at the "peanut free" table but they didn't want to take any chances as one is HIGHLY allergic. I will also say that the "other" kid is Ds' BFF and they went thru prek and k together without incident.

So anyway, they included a list of appropriate brands and items for snack and asked all the parents to read all labels before buying. If the snack isn't on the list we must submit the label with the snack. So we started to adjust last week and I sent him a poopyseed bagel (his fav) w/ cream cheese and a cup of strawberries for lunch. For snack I sent approved petzels and a cheese bar.

Friday a letter comes home, the kid has been retested during the week and some addtl allergies are found.

Poppyseeds
Sesame
Flax
Sunflower
Fennel
Eggs
Strawberry
Blueberry
Cheese


Ok we are told to refrain from using the new list too.

I am trying to understand if this child is so highly allergic, how does he even go to school. It is not a peanut free school.

Also I feel like although I do not mind going peanut free, it leaves very little options for my picky 6 y/o. He loves poppy bagels, strawberries, cheese, and fruit yogurt.

I hate that it has become my responsiblity to take care of this one child.

I know I will probably get flamed, but it felt good to rant anyways.

Mu DH thinks that the kids parents should provide all the snacks if it is that severe.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

How is the kid even able to enter the cafeteria??

 

[LaraK]

My son has multiple food allergies. I send a stash of acceptable snacks for times when things he's allergic to are served. Most other moms I know of allergic kids do the same (or supply all of their child's food with the instruction that they are not to eat anything else from anyone) The ONLY time I've gotten really upset was when a mom sent in chocolate cup cakes and I was of alternative snacks...I wasn't upset with the mom, but with the teachers for not taking him out of the room while the cup cakes were served (he's only 3 and had to watch all the other kids eat cup cakes while he sat there with nothing).

If the peanut fumes are going to cause a reaction, ok...use a peanut free table, but if I couldn't send peanut butter sandwiches with DD, I'd be in trouble.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

How is the kid even able to enter the cafeteria??

That's how I feel.

They are making be bend over backwards with no regard to the other kids. My ds's bf is always at my house and I would never put him or any child in harms way, but to tell me now not even strawberries, I think it's too much to ask.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

That's way too restrictive for every other child. No peanut butter and then no cheese either? Those were my son's two main food groups when he was little.

I'd be rallying the other parents for a meeting with the principal.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Most of those allergies are only a problem if actually eaten, not if in the room . Are you providing snack for the whole class or just your child? As we are seeing more and more it sounds like things are being taken to far for the sake of one child and further than needs to be. It sounds like that kids parents need to provide ALL the food for their kid and you can send what ever you want as long as it is PEANUT free for the rest. Peanuts are really the only thing that are a life threating problem it sounds like.


There are very few allergies that are life threatening from incidental or no contact. Just being in the room with a kid eating strawberries and a poppyseed bagel should not cause this kid a problem. If he chooses to get up and come over and start touching your kids food and then puts his hands in his mouth then that is a WHOLE NOTHER problem and needs to be dealt with as a discipline problem on his part. It is NOT your kids problem. I think I would be having a talk with the school.

 

[KariC]

This from someone with deathly allergies.....

That is a fairly extensive list! The danger from nut and peanut is that the particles are pervasive and airborne. These other foods, not so much. I do think this is an odd request for an entire class to deal with. I DO think the nut/peanut restriction is completely valid. Please remember, people with allergies and asthma are protected under the Americans w/Disabilities Act, tho, and the ability to eat certain foods (like pb&j) as an elementary student is not protected. Maybe the school is protecting themselves by going overboard, because they can loose funding for not protecting students' rights.

 

[Christine]

I have a peanut allergic son and I want to say that I agree with you. No flames here.

First off, it sounds like these parents need a bit of educating and, secondly, if I were the school I would want some documentation that the second list was deadly. I agree that this is way too much to ask other parents to do.

As to the part where the parents need educating: The reason peanut allergy and peanut restrictions are required is because of the "uniqueness" of this food. The peanut and or peanut butter is capable of emitting peanut dust, peanut oils, and peanut residue EXTREMELY easy. This is why this is the ONE food that gets so much attention. Strawberries, blueberries, cheese, and other foods generally do not emit clinging fumes or leave residues on hand, desks, clothing etc that would be easily transmitted to other children. Granted, I suppose in 1st grade it might be easy enough to get messy with some really delicious and juicy strawberries. And, I suppose that poppyseeds can drop off the bagel. Other than that, this request is a bit over the top.

I think it is the school's duty to ensure that having all these families "jump through hoops" is really necessary.

I do know that when my son was in daycare there was a girl at a local daycare that was severely allergic to milk. A milk carton spilled, it got on her, and believe it or not, she died. This kind of allergy to milk is really rare. Usually only peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish cause this type of reaction.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I agree with you.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Most of those allergies are only a problem if actually eaten, not if in the room . Are you providing snack for the whole class or just your child? As we are seeing more and more it sounds like things are being taken to far for the sake of one child and further than needs to be. It sounds like that kids parents need to provide ALL the food for their kid and you can send what ever you want as long as it is PEANUT free for the rest. Peanuts are really the only thing that are a life threating problem it sounds like.


There are very few allergies that are life threatening from incidental or no contact. Just being in the room with a kid eating strawberries and a poppyseed bagel should not cause this kid a problem. If he chooses to get up and come over and start touching your kids food and then puts his hands in his mouth then that is a WHOLE NOTHER problem and needs to be dealt with as a discipline problem on his part. It is NOT your kids problem. I think I would be having a talk with the school.

I only provide snack for my son but it has to be from the approved list. What my DH said is that since we are not aware that the allergic cilds parents should provide snack for everyone.

I have no problem going peanut free as I am aware it can be life threatening. But what I cannot grasp is how the kid can enter the cafeteria at all. There is the one table and it is at the end of the room to ensure safety. My problem is now the addtional list. C'mon, why should the entire class be denied cheese and fruit and bagels too?

I am going to speak to the teacher at BTS night.

 

[lovetoscrap]

That this is total BULL! That child is not going to have an allergic reaction because of cheese fumes! Either the parents or the school is going WAY to far on this one. I completely agree that I would support the peanut/nut thing, but the other list is a crock and there is no way I would deny my kid anything on that list because that child can't have it. As long as that child isn't eating it, they will be just fine.

If the parents are that hyper overreacting about and afraid their child is going to die cause your kid has a slice of cheddar then they need to look into homeschooling!


I wouldn't even wait for BTS night, I would be talking to the teacher and principal tomorrow and want documentation from a licensed Allergist that shows that your child can not eat those things in a cafeteria or classroom. Heck, even the "list" of approved snack foods sounds like a crock.

Yes, I have allergies, my kids have allergies (not that bad) and we have friends with nut allerges. There is a huge difference between having a nut allergy and just being a NUT!

ETA: Yes, I am also PMSing really bad right now!

 

[aprilgail2]

I only provide snack for my son but it has to be from the approved list. What my DH said is that since we are not aware that the allergic cilds parents should provide snack for everyone.

I have no problem going peanut free as I am aware it can be life threatening. But what I cannot grasp is how the kid can enter the cafeteria at all. There is the one table and it is at the end of the room to ensure safety. My problem is now the addtional list. C'mon, why should the entire class be denied cheese and fruit and bagels too?

I am going to speak to the teacher at BTS night.

How can the kid go ANYPLACE if he has that many restrictions on him???? I would assume that he could not step foot in a restaurant or food store then if it is that extreme. In my daughters grade there are 2 peanut kids For the parties I would ask the peanut allergy childs mom to send in the cupcakes so I could be sure they did not contain peanuts. so he could have those but other kids parents sent in cupcakes that we were not sure about and he would just not eat those, he would have the ones his mom sent in. We had pretzels he couldn't eat since they were manufactured someplace that also used peanut products so he would just eat the cheese doodles instead....his mom did not make a hugh deal about it.
As far as the lunchroom there is no peanut ban-the peanut allergy kids have their own table in the front of the room that they sit at and they can bring one friend with them that does not have peanut butter or products for their lunch.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

That is ridiculous. Talk to the school. You are not over the line at all.

Peanuts, the anthrax of the elementary school.

 

[SeaSpray]

Not for nothing but if it were MY young child with such a severe food allergy that it could that easily kill him, I'd SERIOUSLY consider home-schooling him.

Those parents mean to tell me (not me personally, but a general "me"), that they're willing to have their son possibly exposed to these deadly allergens and leave it all up to OTHER parents, the teacher, and young kids to make sure that THEIR son doesn't come into contact with them?

There's something wrong here; either the kid is NOT as allergic as they're making him out to be, OR they're nuts (no pun intended) to allow their child into an environment where his life could be in danger. NO "right to a free and public education" would be worth it for ME to put MY son into a situation like that, UNTIL and UNLESS he was old enough and mature enough to handle a medical emergency situation and get help for himself if he did indeed come into contact with severe allergens.

(And I don't care if anyone agrees with me or not )

 

[tw1nsmom]

How can the kid go ANYPLACE if he has that many restrictions on him???? I would assume that he could not step foot in a restaurant or food store then if it is that extreme.

Actually, some people with severe nut allergies have to do just that. I have a cousin who was diagnosed with life threatening/severe nut allergies (nut, not peanut) as a child. As he got older it got even worse. He NEVER goes out to eat. He lived at home for college because the colleges couldn't guarantee him a safe dorm environment. He lives in an apartment with his fiance now while they pursue their doctorate and she does all the grocery shopping ( he shares cooking duties). He carries an epipen everywhere and wears a medic allert bracelet in the event he inadvertantly comes in contact with nut oil/residue/fumes. BTW, this isn't intended as a flame, just an explanation.

Having said that, I do agree with the OP and others that say the list is excessive. Possibly, the parents have been under stress dealing with the one allergy and are overreacting to the others. I would ask the school to clarify and if they insist that all those items are really banned then they need to provide snack for the children. I would even be willing to pay for the snack. Just don't ask me to figure out what's okay.

 

[babieemelly]

I feel bad for the child who has the allergy. It sounds pretty severe and I hope he stays safe. I can understand having a peanut restriction in the school, but adding everything else to the list is pretty severe. What are you supposed to send your kids for lunch?! Has anyone questioned the school officials about this?

 

[SharkyGoddess]

My question is, if these kids have such life threatening allergies and are labled as disbaled and protected by all this disability stuff, then why don't the parents have them placed in a special needs classroom where their demands can be more easily met? Before anyone falls over foaming at the mouth by my question, I have a cousin with three children with varying degrees of different nut allergies and both of my sons have allergies, one to smoke and one to fish. So I am not belittling their allergies. I do however feel the parents are expecting the world to stop and revolve around their child which isn't fair to the rest of the classroom. One would also have to wonder how these parents take their kids into public places such as grocery stores, malls, parks and Disney. The world isn't allergy free. Even my Aunt who died of MS recently used to say, "When you have limitations, YOU adjust to the world, you don't expect the world to adjust to you."

Having kids in school and having worked in the school system, I have never heard of a classroom being this restricted. Your child has the right to have the snacks he/she enjoys eating too. I would call the school and complain.

 

[Daxx]

When my Dad was a kid, everyone went home for lunch. Nobody ate at the school. And, they never had snacks in school, either. No birthday cupcakes, no classroom parties w/food. Of course, everyone who attended the school lived in walking distance! The kids weren't bussed to school (or driven, for that matter). Maybe they were on to something back then?

OK -- now you all know I'm not serious as going home for lunch as it would be an impossibility nowadays! Moms now work, kids are bussed to school, etc.

We have to think about what we can do to deal w/food allergy issues in school. Maybe we need to have two cafeterias -- one for kids who can eat PB and one for kids who cannot. The heck w/just a table ... separate them altogether and then those w/airborne allergies won't be faced w/any issues and we'll have happy campers. Cut out the whole snack day and bday cupcake thing and just wear the crown and have the class sing to you.

I don't know what the answer is ... but something needs to be done b/c it seems as if more and more kids are dealing w/food allergies.

 

[Beth76]

OK, I'm totally for not sending in snacks for the class that the kid can't eat. I can handle not sending peanuts with my kid. But a whole list of normal foods I can't send in for my own kid is too much. Eggs? Cheese? You seriously can't send in anything with cheese or eggs for your own child? I'm sorry, if the kid is that allergic he should not be in public school. I agree with Seaspray, the parents can't be all that concernd if they're relying on all the other kids' parents to watch out for their child's life-threatening allergies. Sounds like they're setting up for a lawsuit.

 

[Hannathy]

Is that list for snacks or for lunch? If it is lunch that is even more nuts and I simply wouldn't comply! If it is lunch is the school district lunch program going to comply? I doubt it. Sorry if the child is that allergic they should remove him for lunch because otherwise it is to dangerous for him and too restrictive for everyone else. In fact if he is that allergic how is he in school because I'm sure some child has had peanut butter before school and hasn't washed his hands- I could probably guarantee it! Very very few children are truly that allergic.

 

[Mermaid02]

I bet the parents are NOT behind the new and improved list.... the school is doing some CYA. My son is allergic to peanuts and the only time we thought about asking the school to ban them was after a child had peanut butter and crackers and then purposely wiped his hands all over my son's desk. Peanuts are banned at the high school here due to a HIGHLY allergic child. He is one of those kids who REALLY can't breath "peanut fumes". Life must be challenging and scary for him.