Fast Food and Nut Allergy Question

[PatsMom]

DD's volleyball team has a player with a peanut allergy (and maybe other nuts too - the girls were first told no peanuts then told no nuts at all to be on the safe side). DD and I are fine with that - on the all day practices this summer instead of her usual PB sandwich she brought cut up veggies and yogurt. The question we are having now is in regard to team stops for fast food after games. In prior years Subway was the choice. They had reasonably healthy alternatives and most of the girls could find something they liked. DD was told the other day at practice that they wouldn't be stopping at Subway this year and she is under the impression that it is because of the allergy. She was told it would be McDonald's or Burger King. Ever since she read Fast Food Nation, DD has refused to eat anything from either of those places. She is not a salad eater and there are no other really healthy choices. So since I attend the away games we are planning that I will pick up something for her dinner and give it to her in a cooler (they get food to go and eat on the bus so bringing it into a restaurant isn't an issue).

My question for the parents of nut allergic children is why not Subway? Is there an issue with cross contamination that doesn't exist at the other two places? I'd like to get DD her usual turkey sub but not if it is going to put the allergic child at risk. I am also thinking Panera Bread for turkey sandwiches. Does anyone know if they have issues with cross contamination? Do fast food places have to provide allergy information if I ask? DD could always bring stuff from home but she is already bringing breakfast and lunch to school because she is saving up her allowance for other stuff and would have to carry and extra insulated container for anything refrigerated.

Any suggestions for dinners to eat on the bus that are nut free? DD tells me that a couple of other girls are planning to either ask me to pick them up something other than McD's or BK but we want to be very certain that we don't risk an allergic reaction.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't see why subway is any healthier than McDonald's grilled chicken. No one has to get fries. They have frozen low fat yogurt, the fruit and yogurt salad, etc.

 

[Michelle67]

Subway is a nightmare for cross-contamination. I don't know if they use a peanut based sauce, etc., but I couldn't take my daughter there because they use mayo (she is severely allergic to eggs) and they use the same knife all day long without washing it between sandwiches. They may drop it in a cup of water or wipe it off with a towel (or they may not, I've seen them cut several sandwiches in a row without stopping to do anything to the knife), but for a severe allergy that isn't good enough.

I would have her ask the girl directly if bringing something from Subway is going to create any issue. I doubt it. I'm thinking that if the Subway change is related to the girl, it has to do with her direct safety eating there.

I'm assuming the family has checked out McDs and BK, but I could have sworn BK used peanut oil to fry with. I know DQ does. My daughter didn't eat fries from there (she's allergic to peanuts too).

 

[PatsMom]

Subway is a nightmare for cross-contamination. I don't know if they use a peanut based sauce, etc., but I couldn't take my daughter there because they use mayo (she is severely allergic to eggs) and they use the same knife all day long without washing it between sandwiches. They may drop it in a cup of water or wipe it off with a towel (or they may not, I've seen them cut several sandwiches in a row without stopping to do anything to the knife), but for a severe allergy that isn't good enough.

I would have her ask the girl directly if bringing something from Subway is going to create any issue. I doubt it. I'm thinking that if the Subway change is related to the girl, it has to do with her direct safety eating there.

I'm assuming the family has checked out McDs and BK, but I could have sworn BK used peanut oil to fry with. I know DQ does. My daughter didn't eat fries from there (she's allergic to peanuts too).

I hadn't thought of the knife - I have seen them use the same knife over and over as you mention. So it would make sense that if they use a peanut based sauce in anything there is a risk of cross contamination. I think you have answered my original quesion of why one fast food place is better for allergies than another. DD tells me that they are supposed to pretend not to know which girl is allergic because she doesn't want "special" treatment - seems kind of silly to me but DD is trying to respect her privacy and I am trying to figure out something DD will eat with causing a reaction.

I think I will call Panera and ask about their cross contamination policies - I knwo they use nuts in some salads (but so doesn't McDonald's).

 

[Christine]

My son has a peanut allergy and we think Subway is fine. As far as I know, they don't have anything "nut based" there. They do have a sesame issue, that I know, which is a nightmare for a co-worker with a sesame allergy. But I believe they are okay with the peanuts--at least as much as McDonald's is.

As for Panera, my son also eats there but the breakfast items are much more a hazard then the sandwiches. They use a lot of nuts (walnuts) in their bagels and muffins.

 

[PatsMom]

My son has a peanut allergy and we think Subway is fine. As far as I know, they don't have anything "nut based" there. They do have a sesame issue, that I know, which is a nightmare for a co-worker with a sesame allergy. But I believe they are okay with the peanuts--at least as much as McDonald's is.

As for Panera, my son also eats there but the breakfast items are much more a hazard then the sandwiches. They use a lot of nuts (walnuts) in their bagels and muffins.

Thanks for the input. I am going to try to talk to the coach at tomorrow's game to find out the rationale behind the decision. Maybe the allergic girl's parents just feel better with the other two. Glad to hear you have good luck with Panera - that is DD's real favorite!

 

[Barbossa]

My DD7 is allergic to nuts and we have no problem with Subway. Any place that serves PB&J sandwiches raises a red flag with us (my DD had a mild reaction to cross contamination at such a place), but this doesn't include Subway. My DW and I aren't ones to put a whole group of people out of their way because of my daughter's allergy. If food is going to be served that she's allergic to, or if her group is going to a restaurant that serves a lot of foods with nuts, we'll either avoid the food with nuts or bring our own. Just my humble opinion.

 

[worm761]

There is no health reason for the switch. There are peanuts at McDonald's for the sundaes. If enough kids have a problem with it they should address the coach with it.

 

[Michelle67]

DD tells me that they are supposed to pretend not to know which girl is allergic because she doesn't want "special" treatment - seems kind of silly to me but DD is trying to respect her privacy and I am trying to figure out something DD will eat with causing a reaction.

Ah. Okay. Seems kinda silly to me, too, but I guess that's none of my business!

My thinking is that your daughter bringing something from Subway or Panera shouldn't cause any problem. Hope that works!

My DW and I aren't ones to put a whole group of people out of their way because of my daughter's allergy. If food is going to be served that she's allergic to, or if her group is going to a restaurant that serves a lot of foods with nuts, we'll either avoid the food with nuts or bring our own. Just my humble opinion.

I agree with you, Barbossa. Our point of view is that our daughter has this lifelong issue that SHE is going to have to deal with, and she should be able to do that without relying on the rest of the world to comply. We taught her from a young age, and she is very comfortable asking to read packaging when she is eating at someone else's home, with bringing her own stuff if necessary, and is very accomodating and easy to please if she can't have something as-is.

 

[KadysMom]

Is it because they sell cookies and one is a peanut butter cookie?

 

[Barbossa]

I agree with you, Barbossa. Our point of view is that our daughter has this lifelong issue that SHE is going to have to deal with, and she should be able to do that without relying on the rest of the world to comply. We taught her from a young age, and she is very comfortable asking to read packaging when she is eating at someone else's home, with bringing her own stuff if necessary, and is very accomodating and easy to please if she can't have something as-is.

Our daughter is the same way. She's actually much more careful about food than we are (not that we're not careful, but we know about most foods and restaurants and have learned what and what not to avoid). She'll hound me at a party on whether or not the birthday cake has nuts in it, and she freaks at ballgames when people are eating peanuts in the shell. This is great, as you and I know, because we know our DD's will be able to handle themselves when we're not with them.

 

[PatsMom]

There is no health reason for the switch. There are peanuts at McDonald's for the sundaes. If enough kids have a problem with it they should address the coach with it.

I hadn't thought of the sundaes at McDonald's either. I do know that as someone mentioned, Subway sells cookies that I think they bake in the same oven as the bread. So maybe that is the cross contamination concern.

Not sure how many other kids have an issue. Very few parents go to the away games so to have a parent pick up dinner for you isn't an option for most of them. Last year I was the only parent at most of the away games. DD is also unusually fanatical in refusing to eat at McD's and BK. Someday I am going to read "Fast Food Nation" just to see what they said to turn her against them so strongly! Its also not the end of the world if she doesn't eat until she gets home from the away games. I just hate for her to do that since it is 10 at night lots of times. Then she has a 1/2 hour drive home and has to be up at 5 the next morning to catch the bus (5:45 if she is driving herself). Much easier if she can eat on the bus!

Thanks to everyone who gave me some input. It appears that other than potential cross contamination at Subway my initial thought that one fast food place would be as bad (or as good) from an allergy standpoint is correct and I'll feel OK bringing DD a sandwich from Panera or Subway!

 

[Christine]

Our daughter is the same way. She's actually much more careful about food than we are (not that we're not careful, but we know about most foods and restaurants and have learned what and what not to avoid). She'll hound me at a party on whether or not the birthday cake has nuts in it, and she freaks at ballgames when people are eating peanuts in the shell. This is great, as you and I know, because we know our DD's will be able to handle themselves when we're not with them.

My son is the same way. He's gotten so good at handling his allergy that I *almost* don't worry about him anymore. He's even caught me a few times.

I've gotten lax about reading labels on products I've bought for years. I bought him a box of Cocoa Puffs a few weeks ago and absentmindedly picked up a new rendition of it (it had vanilla puffs added). Never checked the box. He read it before opened them and said "Mom, this had peanuts in it." Thank GOD he is checking these things on his own and not even trusting his mother.

 

[Erin1700]

Thanks for the heads up about Subway using the same knife. We are just starting to test my DS 19 months for food allergies. We go to Subway alot and although we don't get Mayo for him, I never thought about the knife issue.

 

[Doe]

Here's a link: http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=d7db2510-b157-4ce0-92a2-0b8464f2e9e6

Not commenting on the family suing Subway, but it goes to show how cross contamination is just as dangerous for a food allergic person as eating the offending food itself. After I heard about this story I paid attention the next time my husband & I went to Subway for lunch. Sure enough the young man making the sandwiches took a peanut butter cookie out for an order and without changing his gloves grabbed a handful of bell peppers.
OP, I see no problem with your daughter eating a sandwich from Subway or
Panera.

 

[HunnyPots]

I hadn't thought of the sundaes at McDonald's either. I do know that as someone mentioned, Subway sells cookies that I think they bake in the same oven as the bread. So maybe that is the cross contamination concern.

Not sure how many other kids have an issue. Very few parents go to the away games so to have a parent pick up dinner for you isn't an option for most of them. Last year I was the only parent at most of the away games. DD is also unusually fanatical in refusing to eat at McD's and BK. Someday I am going to read "Fast Food Nation" just to see what they said to turn her against them so strongly! Its also not the end of the world if she doesn't eat until she gets home from the away games. I just hate for her to do that since it is 10 at night lots of times. Then she has a 1/2 hour drive home and has to be up at 5 the next morning to catch the bus (5:45 if she is driving herself). Much easier if she can eat on the bus!


Thanks to everyone who gave me some input. It appears that other than potential cross contamination at Subway my initial thought that one fast food place would be as bad (or as good) from an allergy standpoint is correct and I'll feel OK bringing DD a sandwich from Panera or Subway!

Nope, they have a special cookie oven that is used only for cookies - at least our store does.
They do have some Asian-style dressings now that may contain peanuts.

 

[PatsMom]

Here's a link: http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=d7db2510-b157-4ce0-92a2-0b8464f2e9e6

Not commenting on the family suing Subway, but it goes to show how cross contamination is just as dangerous for a food allergic person as eating the offending food itself. After I heard about this story I paid attention the next time my husband & I went to Subway for lunch. Sure enough the young man making the sandwiches took a peanut butter cookie out for an order and without changing his gloves grabbed a handful of bell peppers.
OP, I see no problem with your daughter eating a sandwich from Subway or
Panera.

I wonder if the parents of the girl DD plays volleyball with read about this and that is why they don't want Subway as a food stop.

 

[Barbossa]

Here's a link: http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=d7db2510-b157-4ce0-92a2-0b8464f2e9e6

Not commenting on the family suing Subway, but it goes to show how cross contamination is just as dangerous for a food allergic person as eating the offending food itself. After I heard about this story I paid attention the next time my husband & I went to Subway for lunch. Sure enough the young man making the sandwiches took a peanut butter cookie out for an order and without changing his gloves grabbed a handful of bell peppers.
OP, I see no problem with your daughter eating a sandwich from Subway or
Panera.

Wow, what a sad story. Not to exonerate Subway, but I wonder if the family had Epipens with them. You'd think that restaurants would give their employees solid education on cross contamination, but I know it still happens. Like I mentioned, my DD had a mild reaction (at Legoland), I'm sure the guy who made PB&J sandwiches used the same knife for my DD's chicken sandwich. My DD, who isn't hyper-sensitive to her allergans, got itching and hives around her mouth (it still freaked me out, fortunately a teaspoon of Benadryl did the trick, I was watching her like a hawk for any signs of anaphylaxis). Needless to say, we don't eat at places that serve PB&J sandwiches!

 

[Doe]

I wonder if the parents of the girl DD plays volleyball with read about this and that is why they don't want Subway as a food stop.

Maybe. But as a mom to a daughter with severe peanut/tree nut allergies I simply don't let her eat there and in your situation I'd simply pack my allergic daughters lunch and not worry about everyone else eating at Subway because in this situation she's only at risk eating food prepared there and isn't at risk being in Subway.

Wow, what a sad story. Not to exonerate Subway, but I wonder if the family had Epipens with them. You'd think that restaurants would give their employees solid education on cross contamination, but I know it still happens. Like I mentioned, my DD had a mild reaction (at Legoland), I'm sure the guy who made PB&J sandwiches used the same knife for my DD's chicken sandwich. My DD, who isn't hyper-sensitive to her allergans, got itching and hives around her mouth (it still freaked me out, fortunately a teaspoon of Benadryl did the trick, I was watching her like a hawk for any signs of anaphylaxis). Needless to say, we don't eat at places that serve PB&J sandwiches!

No, they didn't have an epi.

 

[Barbossa]

No, they didn't have an epi.

Wow, that makes it doubly tragic.