Junior High and Allergies

[disneyandme]

Look- I am trying to understand your side here. I do know all about food allergies as I have children who have them. I also know that I cannot control what others do. I taught my children what they need to do. As for school lunch? They can rarely buy school lunch because of allergies. I am not lobbying the school board to change it for everyone else. I simply send their lunch in with them. I am teaching them to function in the real world.

If your children's allergies were such that they needed accomodations as to what was served in the caferteria (ie. some food eaten near them that caused a reaction), are you saying you wouldn't ask? Your children don't need this kind of change, but others might. It is not a matter of functioning in the real world- school is a captive audience and not voluntary.

 

[disneyandme]

My child is diabetic and if he eats all the brownies at his table he will have a reaction and could die so no one can have brownies.

I think a closer example to food allergies would be--- would you find it acceptable for the table where your child lays out his/her lunch be sprinkled with sugar? Some may or may not get on the child's food or hands and cause a problem with the diabetes. It wouldn't be a one time thing, but everyday.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

If your children's allergies were such that they needed accomodations as to what was served in the caferteria (ie. some food eaten near them that caused a reaction), are you saying you wouldn't ask? Your children don't need this kind of change, but others might. It is not a matter of functioning in the real world- school is a captive audience and not voluntary.

To be honest I don't think I would. Mainly because it wouldn't occur to me. I would figure that I would have to figure out how to safely feed my child. I also know that food contracts are made with the districts and there would really be no way for me to change all the food in school. The contracts are very specific and go by budget and nutrition etc. So to be honest- while I would stress out beyond belief it probably would not occur to me to even suggest such a thing. Even if I did- it would take a very long time to actually put a plan like that into action so it would not be helpful if I needed it to change now. I more than likely would look for an alternate solution such as my child eating in another room with a friend of their choosing etc. It is a hard boat to be in because you don't want your child to feel left out but on the other hand you can't control the world either. Work is not voluntary either and you are not going to be able to control what people eat there too. So I guess it is just preparing for the future.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Ok the top 8 food allergens are Milk, Peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, eggs.

All of these have the potential of being life threatening. All of these have the potential of causing a reaction from being airborne. So if the school is willing to go peanut free, or just allow it from home, I think that it should for all of the top allergens. But then what about the other kids who are allergic to things that arent a top allergen. Slippery slope and if you are doing it for one child ( and setting precedence) you are going to have to do it for all requests.

My dd had a milk allergy until the age of 3. When she was involved with things I made sure to send her a safe snack and she was trained to say, I cant eat anything my mommy didnt send. If someone who was sitting beside her spilled milk, she would get hives where the milk touched her. I didnt request everything be milk free where she was going.

 

[badblackpug]

I think the point here is this is a JR high student. We are talking about a pre-teen or teen, someone who is definitely old enough to understand what his allergy is and avoid that allergen. It is not the same as a preschool student. This is a young person who will be out in the world without a parent at times. At the local pizza parlor, or fair, or movie theater. There is no way to police peanuts all over the world. There is no way to know whether the person who sat in your movie seat before you had peanut M&M's and didn't wash their hands, or whether the person that rode a ride before you at WDW scarfed peanut butter crackers in line, and didn't wash their hands.

I agree with the PP's...just pack his lunch.

 

[MomtoAlexnWilliam]

OP, I get where you are coming from. It is scary to have an allergy (or allergies) to something that can cause you to get sick and potentially die -- even worse when it is your child. I would ask those who are quick to say you want special treatment for your child (and shouldn't) to really step back and try to put themselves in your shoes. To protect your child from harm is not a "want" but a "need" and those are two different things.

As someone who is highly allergic to cats and some dogs and trees and grass and mold and mildew -- I am one whose back swells up for my allergy tests -- it is horrible when you get an attack. Hives, swelling, difficulty breathing and then the meds you have to take to get better can knock you out! It is not fun and I wouldn't wish it on anyone!

I don't know what the answer is for your school. Definitely continue what you have been doing -- making sure your child is aware of what has peanuts in it and how to avoid them. The easiest thing to avoid cross contamination is to have your child bring a lunch from home. As for it being in the lunch room itself, include some good wipes for him to use on and at the table and on the doors leading out of the lunch room.

Maybe the school could do some awareness training for the other kids -- reminding them to wash up as either at a sink in the lunch room (we have one in ours) or immediately thereafter. That would also help!

Go and talk to your administrators and see what you can brainstorm for an answer! Good luck!

 

[disfan07]

I agree that by JR high it should not be an issue. And I HAVE a severe PA.

And yes, you can be allergic to peanut dust. Which is the problem on airplanes. When an entire airplane opens up a package of peanuts, the dust can possibly spread thorughout the air. The reason it is such a big risk on teh plane and people take so many precautions is because of teh shear number of people eating peanuts in a confined space. Breathing in peanut dust is the same things as breathing in pet dander. Breathing in either one can cause an allergic reaction in a person.

I cannot eat anything with peanuts, made on the same line or even made in teh same factory as peanuts. In everyday life, I do not expect anyone to make accomadations for me. I carry my epi pen adn benedryl with me adn I wear a medical alert bracelet that has my allergy listed. But an airplane is different.

My allergist is one of the top allergists/immunologists in the country. When I asked her about precautions she told me specifically that when flying NOT to fly any airlines that serve peanuts and to make any request necessary to make sure that peanuts are not served by the airline. That leaves Virgin America, Jetblue and SWA. I did ask her why it was necessary and she said that she strongly reccomends that precaution because of the enclosed space AND because of the fact that we are in the air without immediate access to medical treatment. An epi pen only works for about 15-20 minutes. If the plane cannot land in that time your out of luck. That is why i was told to fly with 6 epi pens. That gives me 1 1/2 hours of medication.

Rant ahead.....

Seriously though, I'm not going around demanding for outrageous accomodations. I am ASKING for an accomodation that the airline OFFERS. I'm not going on delta for example and demanding that they not serve peanuts when I KNOW that they dont offer that accomodation. But SWA does, so yes I use it. And their rule specifically says that they cant control what other people bring on and I understand that. It's one thing for a few people to eat soemthing with peanuts/peanut butter on a flight. Its another thing entirely for an entire airplane to eat them. Also, on SWA, telling them that I have a peanut allergy is teh only way to be able to preboard and I have to preboard so that I can wipe down my seat adn tray table without holding up the rest of the plane. I dont see what the big deal is about a freakin bag of peanuts. It's a dang bag of peanuts on ONE flight. I'm so sorry to incovenience you SO MUCH. Live my life for one day. Add this allergy to the EIGHT other medical problems i deal with everyday. Maybe at that point you would be able to feel even a little bit for the people who have to request something like this.

Rant over...

But, i do agree with the PPs that have said that by JR high this is just something else to be dealt with. I understand why they do it for Preschools. I worked in a peanut free preschool and it really is done mainly for the toddlers and 2 year olds because they dont necessarily understand what they cant have and as closely as you watch them, if you turn your back for one second, thats all it takes for another kid to grab anothers food. But once they understand what they cant eat not as many accomodations should be made. I do think in elementary school it is important especially in the lower grades for the teachers to know but past that, i just dont think it is necessary. Believe me, I understand how scary it is, but it is life and soemthing that a lot of people unfortunately have to deal with.

 

[minniebeth]

Op, I sympathize with you and understand where you are coming from, I have a DD with a severe peanut allergy too. She is going into 8th grade and she is in a private school~ her allergy is one of the reasons she is there, they are a peanut/tree nut free cafeteria. They don't serve anything on their menu containing peanuts or tree nuts. It is not a peanut/tree nut free school, the kids can bring things containing these items and there is a peanut/tree nut free table. There is no eating whatsoever in the classroom. This greatly decreases exposure for her and other kids who have this allergy.

I know it will all change next year when she goes to high school, she will most likely pack her lunches each day.

I would be talking with the principal of your school and even the superintendant to see what proper cross contamination procedures can be put into place in the cafeteria. Until then, packing lunch each day would seem to be the safest bet. I know your options are limited, it stinks, but having an ongoing dialogue with your administration is the key to helping to put better safety guidelines in effect.

Best wishes to you, I know it's not easy!

 

[mjkacmom]

For those of you who say the school shouldn't change for one child, it's certainly more than one child! I believe there has been at least two children with peanut allergies in all of my kids' classes. Five elementary schools funnelling into the middle school, six kids per school, 30 per grade, equals 60 in the middle school.

Our schools do not sell products with peanuts, and there is a peanut free table in all of the schools (you are not allowed to eat any unlabeled treats at these tables). The problem with allergies is that they usually get worse with every exposure. Therefore, a child who only reacts to ingested food, upon coming in contact with that food numerous times, might develop a more serious allergy, such as contact or inhalation.

BTW, none of my children have peanut allergies. My dd has celiac, so no gluten (no school lunches for her!), so I'm sensitive to what a PITA they can be. I know there are many food allergies out there, but with SO many kids allergic to peanuts these days, why chance it?

 

[disneyandme]

... The reason it is such a big risk on the plane and people take so many precautions is because of he shear number of people eating peanuts in a confined space....

The school cafeteria is a confined space where the shear number of people eating something increases the chance of a reaction. The OP didn't ask about making the school nut-free. She was specific that was not what she was looking for. She was asking that the school cafeteria not serve them to eliminate the sheer numbers of people having them at one time.
Nut allergies are such a hot topic because they are much harder to clean up. A spill of milk can be wiped off a table with no residual left. A spill of peanut butter must be specially washed with cleaner in order to eliminate residue- which can cause a reaction.

 

[disneyandme]

Okay- but then how does the child function in the rest of the world? I am not being snarky but I have seen this argument on the Dis a million times. I am completely sympathetic to the person who is allergic but I don't get how they can go anywhere if they need to ban - in this case the cafeteria- the serving of peanut products. How can you take the kid to a food store even? What about the mall? How can they go to someone's house? It is not that I would want any child or person to suffer the fate of a life threatening allergy but I do want to know how they actually function on a daily basis. You cannot control your environment unless you stay home. Maybe I am missing something here.

How often do you take your dairy allergic kids to an ice cream parlor? Do you sit with them at a table? You make choices as a person with a medical issue (or parent of one) and sometimes that means not going to certain places. A lot of kids/people with nut allergies can't attend baseball games due to the nuts.

 

[disneyandme]

I think the point here is this is a JR high student. We are talking about a pre-teen or teen, someone who is definitely old enough to understand what his allergy is and avoid that allergen. It is not the same as a preschool student. This is a young person who will be out in the world without a parent at times. At the local pizza parlor, or fair, or movie theater. There is no way to police peanuts all over the world. There is no way to know whether the person who sat in your movie seat before you had peanut M&M's and didn't wash their hands, or whether the person that rode a ride before you at WDW scarfed peanut butter crackers in line, and didn't wash their hands.

I agree with the PP's...just pack his lunch.

It's not compareable to this situation where the cafeteria serves peanut butter cookies to all lunch buyers- which in JR high is a high percentage. A closer comparison would be the 90% of the people in the movie theater eat peanut M&M's and don't wash up- or 90% of riders at WDW eat pb crackers in line. I know people who have had to get out of line at WDW because of people eating in line.

 

[disneyandme]

Having a food allergy is like playing Russian roulette every day. You plan and prepare as much as possible and hope for the best. Asking for a safe place to go to school is not out of line or overboard. This parent is not infringing on other's rights to eat nut products, just asking that the school not provide them.

 

[Hannathy]

Having a food allergy is like playing Russian roulette every day. You plan and prepare as much as possible and hope for the best. Asking for a safe place to go to school is not out of line or overboard. This parent is not infringing on other's rights to eat nut products, just asking that the school not provide them.

Asking the school to not serve them is infringing on other people. Just for 1 child everyone should do without one of the easiest and cheapest proteins off the menu? When all that 1 child needs to do is not eat. And if that child is so severely allergic are you telling me they would trust an operation run as well as we all know school cafeterias are to not have any cross contamination? So everyone will be inconvenienced and that child will probably not eat there anyway.

And I also ask again who gets to determine which allergy gets accommodated?
They can't prohibit everything.

 

[disneyandme]

Asking the school to not serve them is infringing on other people. Just for 1 child everyone should do without one of the easiest and cheapest proteins off the menu? When all that 1 child needs to do is not eat. And if that child is so severely allergic are you telling me they would trust an operation run as well as we all know school cafeterias are to not have any cross contamination? So everyone will be inconvenienced and that child will probably not eat there anyway.

And I also ask again who gets to determine which allergy gets accommodated?
They can't prohibit everything.

What right does it infringe on? Food allergic children do have the right to go to school in a safe environment- nothing has been said about the child eating the cafeteria food.

 

[disneyandme]

By the way, WDW is one of the safest places for a food allergic person to eat, because they care enough to learn about hidden allergens and cross contamination. They certainly feed more people in a day than a school cafeteria.

 

[Hannathy]

What right does it infringe on? Food allergic children do have the right to go to school in a safe environment- nothing has been said about the child eating the cafeteria food.

She is asking the cafeteria to stop serving all peanuts that is infringing on a lot of children based on the needs of 1 child. He is in a safe environment in that no one is forcing him to eat the food.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

By the way, WDW is one of the safest places for a food allergic person to eat, because they care enough to learn about hidden allergens and cross contamination. They certainly feed more people in a day than a school cafeteria.

And people pay a lot more money to eat at Disney than most people are willing to pay to make sure every school child gets enough protein, carbs, etc at school. School lunches are very cheep, the people preparing them are certainly not Disney chef quality and probably earn minimum wage to work at a job most of wouldn't do.

 

[princessmom29]

Where do parents get the idea that their child is being penalized because they don't get a peanut butter cookie? If there is a child who has a medical condition that requires them to eat certain food, then I would understand the arguement. But, does the child eat only peanut products at home? Are their other foods they can eat? The arguement is one child's desire for a food versus the potential for a child to die. Some schools ban candy and soda from lunchrooms- are parents up in arms that their kids can't have their beloved soda with their lunch- I think not.
The OP isn't even looking to ban peanuts from the school- just to have the cafeteria not serve them. Kids can still bring things from home.

Why shouold they have to give up PB cookies and not milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, and wheat All of which are common allergens? Do you see my point? We cannot remove everything that is apotential allergen from schools and still actually feed children. Why should peanuts be any different than anything else one is allergic to?

Sorry,but yes, you are missing something. When peoples are out in the real world, they can choose to go into a store, go down certain aisles, visit friends, eat at certain restaurants--- Not so much with school. Kids have to go where they are told. They have no choice in when they attend, where they sit, if they can just get up and leave. A peanut allergic person would not choose to go to a restaurant that serves peanut based foods- like some Aisian foods- they would go somewhere else. But in school-they still have to sit in the cafeteria with everyone who buys lunch eating foods that can kill them. For some, a nut free table doesn't help- hands and faces aren't washed up after lunch and the food protein is carried throughout the school.

This is where anut free table solves the whole problem without depriving anyone. DD just sits at the teacher's table when shrimp are on the school menu, which is at least twice a month.

It's not compareable to this situation where the cafeteria serves peanut butter cookies to all lunch buyers- which in JR high is a high percentage. A closer comparison would be the 90% of the people in the movie theater eat peanut M&M's and don't wash up- or 90% of riders at WDW eat pb crackers in line. I know people who have had to get out of line at WDW because of people eating in line.

WEll, we have been in that situation and dealt with it many times. Essentally every restaurant in town serves shrimp in some form, so someone had been at every table eating shrimp at some point in the day. The solution is to wipe down your area before sitting.

The common thread here is that WE are responsible for keeping allergens away.

 

[okeydokey]

I would gladly give up my "right" to eat a peanut product at school to protect the kid that may die if I eat it. Seems like the reasonable and right thing to do to me.