Birthday snack/food allergy ?

[PrincessParty]

My DD turns 10 of Friday. She is taking cupcakes into her class. There is one child with a peanut allergy, what can we take for her/him? The bakery says it doesn't use nuts, but won't say it is nut free. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[mjkacmom]

Betty Crocker frosting and cake mix is peanut free, and not maufactured in a plant that uses peanuts. I would think that bakeries would use some products with nuts, and the birthday child would not be allowed to eat them. I only buy Betty Crocker now, and let the children's parents know that I used it.

 

[minniebeth]

What is your school's snack/birthday treat policy? Many schools now have a policy that if the treat is not suitable for the whole class, including the allergic child, it is not to be brought in. Same goes for homemade baked goods, due to possible cross contamination issues in the baker's kitchen. That is why they suggest store bought pre-packaged items with a label on it.

If your school does not have a policy, and you still are going to bring in the bakery cupcakes, some if the items that I know are OK for peanut allergies are: SOME (not all, must read label) snack cakes (no Little Debbie for sure),
Chips Ahoy cookies (brand label, NOT store brand), Fruit Roll Ups, Fruit By the Foot, etc. and our favorite Krispy Kreme Donuts!

My DD has a peanut allergy and sometimes if she is at a Girl Scout event or party outside of school, the moms make her up a little bag of safe candy instead (Starbursts, Nerds, Smarties, DumDums)

I don't do baked goods anymore for her class birthday treats, DD passes out Nerds Ropes tied with a ribbon and a little tag that says Happy Birthday!
I used to wrap a pencil with it too, but got too costly that way.

Hope that gives you some direction and idea...

 

[aprilgail2]

My friends son has a peanut allergy and she has a stash of treats she leaves with the teacher- when the other kids are eating cupcakes or whatever he gets one of his own safe treats. I am class mom this year for the third time and I am very happy that this is the first year I don't have one of the 2 peanut allergy kids in the class- I can relax and not read and re-read label after label for class parties!

 

[Christine]

Bakeries are landmines for the nut allergic. There is really nothing "safe" you can bring.

As another poster said, a store bought cake mx and frosting is safe (and I would let my son eat it if the parent made me aware that they used that mix) but that is me and some parents are much more strict than that.

Having said that, I supplied my son's teacher with his own treats. She kept them in a cabinet for when there were parties. He could eat some Hostess products, some cookies, etc. and that is what I would send in.

The burden is not on you to provide a safe snack for the peanut-allergic child. The burden is on his parents to do so; however, it is really very nice of you to be concerned.

 

[PrincessParty]

Thank you so much for your input. Our school policy says no homemade goodies. I will check out the Chip's Ahoy label and send them in. I knew you all would help me out. DD is in the 5th grade and this is my first time having to worry about peanut allergies in the classroom. Thank you all so much. We are surprising DD with a trip to Disney and leaving Friday after school and I don't have time to make candy goody bags, but will think about that for next year. Thanks again!

 

[pammypooh]

I would just call the child's parents and ask what you could bring in as a treat that would be safe. I work in a school and some of the parents do leave safe "snacks" with the teacher as a just in case. I think the parents would appreciate that you are trying to include their child, so they don't feel "left out" in a special treat.