Peanut allergies

[Coconut36]

Yuck! The OCD mom in me sort of agrees with this for these reasons, but knowing my kitchen and how meticulous I am, it's a shame that DD and I can't bake homemade cupcakes/cookies for her to share at school for her bday and Christmas parties.

Oh I know..there are probably more parents that have wonderful clean kitchens than not but there is that risk and unfortunately the school ends up being held accountable if everyone gets sick from something homemade. I also fully admit that co worker forever scarred me when it comes to this type of thing..I just can't let it go (and yes she brought items into work potlucks..I haven't eaten at a pot luck since that time).

 

[mamacatnv]

The reasoning came about when 2 years ago the school was on a campaign for healthier lunches and choices at school so that included fast food brought in to be consumed in the school cafeteria during lunch hours. It includes a policy of no soda, etc. (Sodas are available in a machine in the teacher's lounge.) Now I have to say, a few of the lunches I have watched DD eat in the cafeteria I think I could have purchased a healthier option at a fast food restaurant. For us, fast food is a very rare option.

I understand the "reasoning" however, IMO the school has no right to tell me the parent, what I can feed my own kid. That is my point.

When DS was in high school soda was removed from the vending machines so the kids brought their own, several had coolers in their cars and had a healthy little side business selling soda

The whole thing is stupid IMO and its our public entities, schools and gov'ts stepping deeper and deeper into our personal lives.

It really bugs me.

 

[aprilgail2]

The school could never "ban" peanut products brought from home. It'd be an uninforceable rule. Who'd search lunches? What'd be the penalty for a peanut-infested lunch? What about foods that appear to be in violation but aren't, or foods that are in violation but appear to be healthy? It'd be a huge time-drain on already overworked teachers and administrators -- and in the end it would be ineffective.

Our school has said it will not ban nuts for the simple fact that they said it would open them up to lawsuits if they said they were a nut free school and a kid did bring in something that got a peanut kid sick. They make no claims to be nut free.


Yuck! The OCD mom in me sort of agrees with this for these reasons, but knowing my kitchen and how meticulous I am, it's a shame that DD and I can't bake homemade cupcakes/cookies for her to share at school for her bday and Christmas parties.



The reasoning came about when 2 years ago the school was on a campaign for healthier lunches and choices at school so that included fast food brought in to be consumed in the school cafeteria during lunch hours. It includes a policy of no soda, etc. (Sodas are available in a machine in the teacher's lounge.) Now I have to say, a few of the lunches I have watched DD eat in the cafeteria I think I could have purchased a healthier option at a fast food restaurant. For us, fast food is a very rare option.[/QUOTE]

I have issues with things made in other peoples houses- I have been to houses where cats are up on the counter where they prepare their food! gross, no thanks don't want anything made by them!!
As far as soda goes- our district when to the extreme where at class parties you can have water and pretzels and fruit...nothing that is not on their "healthy list" so I make it a point to send in soda for my daughter at lunch now and then just because I can-I am just waiting to have someone say I can't! My feeling is that unless the school is paying for my kids lunch then I can send in whatever I damn well please, even if its not on their "healthy list".....they can choose what the free lunch kids can have but as long as I am paying for it then its MY choice, not theirs!

 

[Hannathy]

I understand the "reasoning" however, IMO the school has no right to tell me the parent, what I can feed my own kid. That is my point.

When DS was in high school soda was removed from the vending machines so the kids brought their own, several had coolers in their cars and had a healthy little side business selling soda

The whole thing is stupid IMO and its our public entities, schools and gov'ts stepping deeper and deeper into our personal lives.

It really bugs me.

I agree, When they started all this nonsense a friend of mine always sent her kids in the first week of school with a can of soda and a full size candy bar in their lunches, kind of a "I dare you to say anything" move and a I'm sending whatever I want, understand? Never had a problem.

We are still allowed to send in home made stuff, although they will ask if there are any kids in the class allergic that you mark it well.

 

[mamacatnv]

As far as soda goes- our district when to the extreme where at class parties you can have water and pretzels and fruit...nothing that is not on their "healthy list" so I make it a point to send in soda for my daughter at lunch now and then just because I can-I am just waiting to have someone say I can't! My feeling is that unless the school is paying for my kids lunch then I can send in whatever I damn well please, even if its not on their "healthy list".....they can choose what the free lunch kids can have but as long as I am paying for it then its MY choice, not theirs!

I agree, When they started all this nonsense a friend of mine always sent her kids in the first week of school with a can of soda and a full size candy bar in their lunches, kind of a "I dare you to say anything" move and a I'm sending whatever I want, understand? Never had a problem.

We are still allowed to send in home made stuff, although they will ask if there are any kids in the class allergic that you mark it well.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Taking the item away from the child, note to the parents regarding the food policy. Having to live their life knowing they sent something that caused harm or death to another child It can be that serious for another child. I have seen so many parents act like lunatics over their "right" to send peanut butter for their kid and I seriously can't understand it. If you know you are putting another child at risk and do it anyway you are just an idiot and a cruel selfish one at that.

I think you might be the exception rather than the rule regarding peanut/food allergies. My ODS is entering 3rd grade and there have been at least 1 or more kids in each of his grade levels with serious food allergies and I know at least one serious peanut allergy preceded him into Kinder as the teacher mentioned it and one room was deemed totally nut free. My DH teaches middle school and has for about 12 years and he knows he has had several food allergies/peanut allergies over the years. My Mom spent almost 30 years in education and had plenty of allergies..some of them life threatening/extremely sensitive to oils/residue as well.

My YDS tiny preschool (as in less than 50 kids in the school) had one child with a life threatening allergy..he would react from being in the room with it/oils on the hands/objects. As in call 911 and use the epi pen reaction. The school was 100% peanut/nut free.

Plenty of schools or individual classrooms have a peanut/nut free policy and enforce it. If something is questionable (and really..aside from peanut products or products known to contain peanuts what is questionable about it? Nobody is going to snatch their ham and cheese and think it might be peanut butter..) then they might offer an alternative item and toss the questionable item. Really not that hard and lots of schools have done it.

My thought is I do not care if they ban peanut items for the kids who are allergic to peanuts as long as they are willing to ban the rest of the top allergens for the kids who are allergic to wheat, soy, milk, shellfish, fish also. I do not think that one child's allergy should be more protected then the next. And yes I had a child who had a milk allergy that she luckily outgrew. Oh and while we are at in Ban outside gym and recess for the kids who allergic to bees.

Nah I'd rather teach my child what they are allowed to eat and how to avoid getting stung and what to do if an allergic reaction occurs. My son is 6 and is more then capable of administering my epi-pen to me if I get stung.

 

[Talking Hands]

I have issues with things made in other peoples houses- I have been to houses where cats are up on the counter where they prepare their food! gross, no thanks don't want anything made by them!!

Just because cats are on the counters does not mean that the people are preparing their food on the same counters. I have 4 cats and they do get on one counter as that is where we put their bowl so the dogs don't eat it. I don't fix food for my husband I on that counter. In have a cutting board that I do all the prep on and usually place it on the stove, do all the prep and then put it in a whatever I will use to cook in and cook it. The counter that cats use is really usless for me to prepare food anyway as it is high and I am short and need a lowered counter to be able to safely cut. So don't assume that the person that allows their cats on the counter actually uses that counter to prep the food for the family.

 

[Coconut36]

My thought is I do not care if they ban peanut items for the kids who are allergic to peanuts as long as they are willing to ban the rest of the top allergens for the kids who are allergic to wheat, soy, milk, shellfish, fish also. I do not think that one child's allergy should be more protected then the next. And yes I had a child who had a milk allergy that she luckily outgrew. Oh and while we are at in Ban outside gym and recess for the kids who allergic to bees.

Nah I'd rather teach my child what they are allowed to eat and how to avoid getting stung and what to do if an allergic reaction occurs. My son is 6 and is more then capable of administering my epi-pen to me if I get stung.

You aren't comparing apples to apples here. Would your child have needed an epi pen if milk spilled? I am going to guess no as milk allergies/intolerance come from ingestion not touch (based on my personal experience, that of my kids and my husband and father). That is where the difference lies. When it comes to peanut/nut allergies in that people with allergies react to the oils and residue from them as well as having airborne reactions. It's not as common with other food allergies. My Mom has a life threatening food allergy but she will not react if someone next to her is eating it or if she touches it..just if she ingests it..that is why other high allergens are not banned, as most are only an issue if one ingests it..not if they touch it or are in the same room with it.

When we are talking about elementary aged children there is a greater risk involved..hands wiped on the table/bench after eating, hands wiped on clothes and then touching the allergic child for example. That does not apply to dairy allergies or most other food allergies. By all means all children with food allergies need to learn what is and is not safe to eat but if your child is going to have a life threatening reaction because someone next to them wipes their hands on the bench all the teaching in the world isn't going to save them from a reaction.

 

[Hannathy]

Just because cats are on the counters does not mean that the people are preparing their food on the same counters. I have 4 cats and they do get on one counter as that is where we put their bowl so the dogs don't eat it. I don't fix food for my husband I on that counter. In have a cutting board that I do all the prep on and usually place it on the stove, do all the prep and then put it in a whatever I will use to cook in and cook it. The counter that cats use is really usless for me to prepare food anyway as it is high and I am short and need a lowered counter to be able to safely cut. So don't assume that the person that allows their cats on the counter actually uses that counter to prep the food for the family.

I agree! Our cat eats on our counter also. I do occasionally use that counter but before I do it is cleaned extremely well and with bleach so there is no problem with using it.

 

[Mandychelle79]

You aren't comparing apples to apples here. Would your child have needed an epi pen if milk spilled? I am going to guess no as milk allergies/intolerance come from ingestion not touch (based on my personal experience, that of my kids and my husband and father). That is where the difference lies. When it comes to peanut/nut allergies in that people with allergies react to the oils and residue from them as well as having airborne reactions. It's not as common with other food allergies. My Mom has a life threatening food allergy but she will not react if someone next to her is eating it or if she touches it..just if she ingests it..that is why other high allergens are not banned, as most are only an issue if one ingests it..not if they touch it or are in the same room with it.

When we are talking about elementary aged children there is a greater risk involved..hands wiped on the table/bench after eating, hands wiped on clothes and then touching the allergic child for example. That does not apply to dairy allergies or most other food allergies. By all means all children with food allergies need to learn what is and is not safe to eat but if your child is going to have a life threatening reaction because someone next to them wipes their hands on the bench all the teaching in the world isn't going to save them from a reaction.

Actually my daughter did react to touching things with milk protein in them, not to needing a epi pen, but she did react. There are documented cases of airborne milk allergy cases.

 

[Coconut36]

Actually my daughter did react to touching things with milk protein in them, not to needing a epi pen, but she did react. There are documented cases of airborne milk allergy cases.

Well children with severe peanut allergies react to the point of a life threatening reaction to touching residue or airborne exposure. That is why they are (and should) be banned..most especially when we are talking about young children who are not mature enough to understand that their dirty fingers are putting the life of another at risk.

When you have a high allergen item that can cause a life threatening reaction simply by someone being near it/in the same room or touching something with oils/residue on it then you have to ban it because it only takes 1 kid who still has PB on their hands or who wipes it on the table/clothes to cause a serious reaction or death for another.

Your DD touching milk is not on par with such a reaction and you are not making a remotely valid comparison by stating all high allergens should be banned as it doesn't compare and there is no valid reason to ban them like there is for peanuts/nuts.

As someone with food allergies and a family history of it I would love to see those documented cases of an airborne reaction to milk (as I am trying to figure out how that could even work aside from powdered milk and who has that at school/in their lunch?).

 

[Mandychelle79]

Well children with severe peanut allergies react to the point of a life threatening reaction to touching residue or airborne exposure. That is why they are (and should) be banned..most especially when we are talking about young children who are not mature enough to understand that their dirty fingers are putting the life of another at risk.

When you have a high allergen item that can cause a life threatening reaction simply by someone being near it/in the same room or touching something with oils/residue on it then you have to ban it because it only takes 1 kid who still has PB on their hands or who wipes it on the table/clothes to cause a serious reaction or death for another.

Your DD touching milk is not on par with such a reaction and you are not making a remotely valid comparison by stating all high allergens should be banned as it doesn't compare and there is no valid reason to ban them like there is for peanuts/nuts.

As someone with food allergies and a family history of it I would love to see those documented cases of an airborne reaction to milk (as I am trying to figure out how that could even work aside from powdered milk and who has that at school/in their lunch?).

As someone with food allergies you should know that every exposure can lead to a more volatile reaction. So yes her allergy COULD have progressed to the point that if she came into contact with spilled milk that she WOULD have needed her epi-pen.

I honestly dont know how people get exposed to air borne milk particles, but I do remember reading an article about it a few years ago when my daughter was still dairy free.

Anaphylactic bee reactions are more common then anaphylactic peanut reactions. Bee stings kill 4 times more people per year then peanut allergies. So what will people say when parents with children with bee allergies start demanding that the schools do away with outside recess or outside gym class. I can hear it now... Why should my child suffer because little Suzi is allergic to bees?

BTW so everyone does not think that I am heartless. One of the first questions I ask of a teacher is if there are any allergies in the class, that way if I do send in a treat I can make sure it is a safe treat for everyone. My kids school is not peanut free and the cafe serves uncrustables as the second option daily so apparently the parents in our district dont get up in arms about this topic.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Our elementary/intermediate schools have individual peanut-free classrooms. If your child is in one, he or she cannot bring in snacks with peanut warnings, but they can have peanut things brought from home at lunch, as there is separate seating. The cafeterias do not use any peanuts at all in what they prepare, though. I remember when DS was in first grade, one of his friends had a peanut allergy, and he was allowed to eat at the peanut free table to keep him company anytime he bought the school lunch.

 

[badblackpug]

Well children with severe peanut allergies react to the point of a life threatening reaction to touching residue or airborne exposure. That is why they are (and should) be banned..most especially when we are talking about young children who are not mature enough to understand that their dirty fingers are putting the life of another at risk.

When you have a high allergen item that can cause a life threatening reaction simply by someone being near it/in the same room or touching something with oils/residue on it then you have to ban it because it only takes 1 kid who still has PB on their hands or who wipes it on the table/clothes to cause a serious reaction or death for another.

Your DD touching milk is not on par with such a reaction and you are not making a remotely valid comparison by stating all high allergens should be banned as it doesn't compare and there is no valid reason to ban them like there is for peanuts/nuts.

As someone with food allergies and a family history of it I would love to see those documented cases of an airborne reaction to milk (as I am trying to figure out how that could even work aside from powdered milk and who has that at school/in their lunch?).

How do people like this function in society? If you are so deathly allergic that you cannot be in a room with peanuts or touch peanut residue, in all seriousness, how do you leave the house?

There is no way to police the general public. You can ban peanut products from a school, but who is to say that little Suzy didn't eat PB toast for breakfast and then not wash her hands? She touches things and spreads peanut residue.

Anywhere in public people are likely to have eaten peanut products then touched any number of things you may come in contact with. Door handles, ATMs, shopping carts, etc, etc.

A ban is just a peacekeeping measure. It truly unenforceable. I live in one of the districts that doesn't ban peanuts. As a matter of fact, one of the alternative lunches is PB&J sandwich.

As a PP said, there are actually more documented allergies to milk and eggs in the US than there are to peanuts. Not intolerances, which are not allergies, but true allergies. The peanut group is just more vocal.

 

[LisaR]

Well children with severe peanut allergies react to the point of a life threatening reaction to touching residue or airborne exposure. That is why they are (and should) be banned..most especially when we are talking about young children who are not mature enough to understand that their dirty fingers are putting the life of another at risk.

When you have a high allergen item that can cause a life threatening reaction simply by someone being near it/in the same room or touching something with oils/residue on it then you have to ban it because it only takes 1 kid who still has PB on their hands or who wipes it on the table/clothes to cause a serious reaction or death for another.

Your DD touching milk is not on par with such a reaction and you are not making a remotely valid comparison by stating all high allergens should be banned as it doesn't compare and there is no valid reason to ban them like there is for peanuts/nuts.

As someone with food allergies and a family history of it I would love to see those documented cases of an airborne reaction to milk (as I am trying to figure out how that could even work aside from powdered milk and who has that at school/in their lunch?).

My son has had two reactions to touching dairy products. These weren't minor reactions. These were hives all over his body and severe swelling including his throat. Since the reactions occurred while placing his hands in a milk solution (preschool project) his hands swelled to twice their size. He did not consume any of the milk.

He also reacted to touching eggs. Again, a very severe reaction. Hives covering most of his body.

My son also can't peel potatoes. He can eat them and touch them but he can't peel a large quantity of potatoes (like helping with Thanksgiving dinner preparation). We've tried twice now. Both times resulted in hands and arms swelling to abnormal sizes and one trip to the ER.

Aside from the potato issue, my son has outgrown his touch sensitivity to eggs and dairy but he still can't eat either one. He is allergic to all nuts but has never had a problem touching them.

You can not predict how a child reacts to things. And you can not say that a touch reaction to dairy is not as severe as a peanut allergy until you see a kid that can't breath after touching milk. I have lived through 14 years of my DS having some severe reactions to the most bizarre things and every one of them have been 100 times more severe than any reaction he has ever had to peanuts.

FTR, I am not in favor of banning ANY foods.

 

[Mandychelle79]

The peanut group is just more vocal.

And IME MOST are less willing to admit that other food allergies are just as dangerous as a peanut allergy.

 

[luvmy3]

My kid's elementary school does not allow peanuts in the classrooms. They do allow kids to bring in PB and they also sell it in the cafeteria. They have a peanut free table at lunch for the kids who are allergic.
When they get to the Jr. High there are no regulations.

Schools have found a way to control exposure to those kids who have allergies, without having to ban PB.

 

[Schmeck]

Well children with severe peanut allergies react to the point of a life threatening reaction to touching residue or airborne exposure. That is why they are (and should) be banned..most especially when we are talking about young children who are not mature enough to understand that their dirty fingers are putting the life of another at risk.

When you have a high allergen item that can cause a life threatening reaction simply by someone being near it/in the same room or touching something with oils/residue on it then you have to ban it because it only takes 1 kid who still has PB on their hands or who wipes it on the table/clothes to cause a serious reaction or death for another.

Your DD touching milk is not on par with such a reaction and you are not making a remotely valid comparison by stating all high allergens should be banned as it doesn't compare and there is no valid reason to ban them like there is for peanuts/nuts.

As someone with food allergies and a family history of it I would love to see those documented cases of an airborne reaction to milk (as I am trying to figure out how that could even work aside from powdered milk and who has that at school/in their lunch?).

I can't 'document it', but my daughter with the apple allergy can't go inside the cider barn at our local apple orchard when they are doing a press. She also breaks out in a rash with contact. So, we are going to have to ban apples from schools now too?!?

 

[Schmeck]

And IME less willing to admit that other food allergies are just as dangerous as a peanut allergy.

Then sit next to my older daughter and I'll give her a mango. You can stab her with an epipen, OK?

 

[Coconut36]

How do people like this function in society? If you are so deathly allergic that you cannot be in a room with peanuts or touch peanut residue, in all seriousness, how do you leave the house?

There is no way to police the general public. You can ban peanut products from a school, but who is to say that little Suzy didn't eat PB toast for breakfast and then not wash her hands? She touches things and spreads peanut residue.

Anywhere in public people are likely to have eaten peanut products then touched any number of things you may come in contact with. Door handles, ATMs, shopping carts, etc, etc.

A ban is just a peacekeeping measure. It truly unenforceable. I live in one of the districts that doesn't ban peanuts. As a matter of fact, one of the alternative lunches is PB&J sandwich.

As a PP said, there are actually more documented allergies to milk and eggs in the US than there are to peanuts. Not intolerances, which are not allergies, but true allergies. The peanut group is just more vocal.

There was a child in my YDS preschool that was this allergic to peanuts. We were asked not to give peanut products prior to sending our child to school if possible as he would react to the oils on the skin of another. I do not believe that reactions to others foods are this severe or this easily transferred to others...hence the reason they ban peanuts vs milk or eggs or fish. Most schools I know have a table for allergic children to eat at that would be free of allergens..specifically their allergen. In cases of milk, eggs, fish..those children would reduce their risk. In the case of peanuts the kid at the non allergy table walked out with peanut butter on his hands and went back to class and touched the other kids desk..causing a reaction. That doesn't happen with other foods.

I don't know why people keep arguing it "isn't enforceable" when lots of schools, districts and classrooms do ban it and do enforce it.

I am only in favor of a ban for young children. When it comes to food allergies in say Kindergarten for example I don't think fellow students can understand the risk their food poses to another (and for the record I have heard of classrooms being free of a given allergen if it is a high risk for a child..not just peanuts). After elementary age I think it is different as the allergic child has to learn to adjust and the peers are old enough to understand if told of an allergy a peer has.