Nut Allergies

[Mish]

I thought that this was an interesting article:


http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/08/02/nut.allergies.reut/index.html

 

[Selket]

I can understand how it happens. I try to make sure William knows what peanuts look like in the shell (he has that one down easily due to Mr. Peanut on tv ) and unshelled. I usually end up pointing out the unshelled peanuts in the grocery so he can see without being in danger (not holding the jar though). He does see things like acorns on the ground and think they are peanuts. And he doesn't touch them. I've noticed however that he often doesn't recognize a peanut shell if they are in pieces and on the ground - perhaps mixed in the dirt like under bleachers at my other son's baseball games.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I have heard a similar argument against giving peanut allergic kids soy nut butter and other peanut butter substitutes. The argument goes that children with severe peanut allergies need to be taught to avoid brown sticky things.

There was an incident like that at my DS's preschool. The class was peanut free because of a little girl with severe allergies. The allergic child had a sibling who loved peanut butter. After her little sister was born she begged the mom to continue to allow her to eat it, so the mother decided that she would allow her to take peanut butter sandwiches to school, but not to eat it at home -- figuring that there wouldn't be as much risk that way. However, one day the girls came to school and somehow ended up switching lunches. DS's classmate who was 2 knew enough to bring the sandwich to the teacher and said "Can I eat this" and the teacher told her -- it must be soy nut butter, go ahead, and the poor child took a bite and immediately broke out into hives all over her body. She ended up OK, but I know it was terrifying for both the child and the teacher.

 

[Selket]

Ugh! We do eat Sunbutter (butter made from sunflower seeds) - I should say my 8 year old who is not allergic eats it as he was used to eating peanut butter. William is afraid of it I think - even though he doesn't put it that way. He just refuses to eat it and usually asks me if I get it out if it is safe and it isn't peanut butter, etc. It is a good point.

I am a bit surprised that the other mom kept peanut butter in the house and made sandwiches with it for the other child. At least William is so allergic that he is contact sensitive. I would be too afraid to prepare something with peanut butter in the house that a bit would get on something (countertop) or not wash completely off a knife, etc. Yet her child might not be touch allergic. The only time I let my older one have peanut products is if he is at a friend's house or sleepover or at daycamp, etc. - some place without William.