Peanut allergies

[Hannathy]

safe"



Exchange peanuts for an allergen and I wouldn't care what they chose to ban. If there are a number of students who have a LTFA to milk (or any other allergen) and can't breath near it or they risk anaphylaxis, then ban it.
I wouldn't care, and I'm just surprised that so many people would.

And I ask again because then where does it stop? At what point do we say enough is enough ? Peanuts, tree nuts, bees, milk, different fruits, shellfish, how about kids that are allergic to the sun? should we black out all the windows? The list could go on and on.

 

[Mandychelle79]

Fair enough and I do agree that 5 year olds can be responsible as I have a ds who has a LTFA to tree nuts and since there is no such precautions in place for his allergy he has managed to safely handle himself at school and elsewhere for the last 6 years. I'm just confused as to why people seem to get themselves worked up over a ban, or in this case just discussing a ban. Why does something like this have to be a fight? We are talking about kids, and yes they should learn and be responsible, but that doesn't mean they have to have their life be put in danger to do it, at the ripe ole age of 5. And as I said previously, I don't know any parent of an allergic kid who thinks "well there is a ban (or other precautions) in place so my kid is taken care of, no need to prepare them and educate them on how to stay safe"

FTR, I'm not here saying there should be bans put in place in all schools, I'm just saying that I don't have a problem with schools who choose to do it.



Exchange peanuts for an allergen and I wouldn't care what they chose to ban. If there are a number of students who have a LTFA to milk (or any other allergen) and can't breath near it or they risk anaphylaxis, then ban it.
I wouldn't care, and I'm just surprised that so many people would.

Unless you have lived with someone with a food allergy you wouldnt know how difficult it would be to remove all the allergens from the school that can cause anaphylaxis. If they banned only the top 8 they would have very little left that they are able to serve. Pretty much some sort of meat with no sauce and rice with no butter and some type of veggie with no butter. That is why I am for not banning anything. Because by banning one and not another it can be perceived that they are favoring one child over another.

 

[luvmy3]

Do you honestly mean it? Think about how incredibly difficult it would be if MY son was in your child's classroom. When younger, my son had severe reactions to touching dairy, eggs, and shellfish. He had ingestion allergies to so many things that I can't remember them all. So say the school already bans peanuts and tree nuts. Now my son comes along and they ban all dairy, eggs, and shellfish. What the heck is everyone going to send their kid for lunch? Do you have any idea how many things have dairy and eggs in them? It is hard enough for me to feed my son but I make the effort because his life depends on it. Is every mom out there really going to put the effort into making nut free, dairy free, egg free meals for their kid five days a week? As a parent, would I trust them to do so? No! As a parent, would I expect them to do so? Heck no!


It sounds very well meaning to say "ban whatever anyone is allergic too" but it isn't that simple. I do think it gives parents a false sense of security and eases the burden from the parent to teach their child to deal with their allergies instead of relying on others to comply.

Do you have experience with a LTFA or does your child? I think this is easy to say when you aren't the parent of a child who does. Through the years I have met IRL and online many parents of kids who do, and not one of them feels a false sense of security. We are all very much aware of the dangers, even when there are precautions including bans. The burden is never gone when your child's life depends on it. If a child has to be in school 5 days a week and not under their direct supervision of their parents, there is nothing wrong with expecting their child to be kept safe. Funny if we were talking about bullies at school, a ban would be supported

And I ask again because then where does it stop? At what point do we say enough is enough ? Peanuts, tree nuts, bees, milk, different fruits, shellfish, how about kids that are allergic to the sun? should we black out all the windows? The list could go on and on.

Yes I really mean it. And in a pp I said there is a reasonable way to come to the conclusion to ban a particular allergen. If there aren't any kids who have a severe allergy to insert allergen, don't ban it. If there is a kid or multiple kids that do, then ban it. Obviously that is just the quick answer, but you can understand what I'm saying.
I don't have a problem with a school making accomodations for kids whose life is literally at risk. I would be okay with my kid's and myself being inconvenienced for the safety of others.

Unless you have lived with someone with a food allergy you wouldnt know how difficult it would be to remove all the allergens from the school that can cause anaphylaxis. If they banned only the top 8 they would have very little left that they are able to serve. Pretty much some sort of meat with no sauce and rice with no butter and some type of veggie with no butter. That is why I am for not banning anything. Because by banning one and not another it can be perceived that they are favoring one child over another.

See above, and re-read some of my previous posts. Its not about being fair, its about being reasonable I'm confident a school can figure out what is reasonable when it comes to its own students and their allergies.
And, I do live with a child with food allergies, tree nuts, soy and sesame. He also suffers from asthma and severe seasonal allergies as well, not to mention Oral Allergy Syndrome. Not once have I asked the school to do anything for him, and I won't in the future. I also don't see it as "not fair" because the school puts precautions in place for peanuts but not treenuts. Its just how it is.

 

[ilovemk76]

Do you honestly mean it? Think about how incredibly difficult it would be if MY son was in your child's classroom. When younger, my son had severe reactions to touching dairy, eggs, and shellfish. He had ingestion allergies to so many things that I can't remember them all. So say the school already bans peanuts and tree nuts. Now my son comes along and they ban all dairy, eggs, and shellfish. What the heck is everyone going to send their kid for lunch? Do you have any idea how many things have dairy and eggs in them? It is hard enough for me to feed my son but I make the effort because his life depends on it. Is every mom out there really going to put the effort into making nut free, dairy free, egg free meals for their kid five days a week? As a parent, would I trust them to do so? No! As a parent, would I expect them to do so? Heck no!


It sounds very well meaning to say "ban whatever anyone is allergic too" but it isn't that simple. I do think it gives parents a false sense of security and eases the burden from the parent to teach their child to deal with their allergies instead of relying on others to comply.

You are so right. I really feel for the kids who have food allergies.

It could get to the point where the kids could not eat anything and drink anything but water.

It is important for the teacher(s), school nurse and others in the school to know what kids have these types of allergy and also know what to do if something does happen.

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

My daugter has a life threatening allergy to tree nuts. However, as others have already said, I have taught her that she too is responsible for her health. She knows not to eat anything homebaked from someone else and that she must always ALWAYS read labels. If someone offers her something but the label was thrown away, she flat out doesn't eat it. Period. I always send her with safe snacks but I do not put her in an allergen bubble. She always has epipens with her, I have one also in my purse for her as well as ones at home. I feel we are doing our best to educate her about this and she takes it very seriously because she knows how awful it feels to have your airway begin to constrict or your chest to begin tightening like you're having a heart attack.

I agree with the other posts who said where does the ban end? Even with the top 8, that's only 8 allergens and look at how they're in everything. There'd be nothing left for the kids to bring in for lunch time. I don't think it's fair to expect people around you to accommodate your child in that way. It's the parent's job to provide safe food while they're still young.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes I really mean it. And in a pp I said there is a reasonable way to come to the conclusion to ban a particular allergen. If there aren't any kids who have a severe allergy to insert allergen, don't ban it. If there is a kid or multiple kids that do, then ban it. Obviously that is just the quick answer, but you can understand what I'm saying.
I don't have a problem with a school making accomodations for kids whose life is literally at risk. I would be okay with my kid's and myself being inconvenienced for the safety of others.

Trouble is once a ban is in place it is never removed, whether that child is still in school or not.

 

[Talking Hands]

And that leaves 915 meals over a 365 day period that one can get their PB. That doesn't even include snacks in between

Which is fine for the person who has no allergies. But what about that kid who is allergic to milk and milk products which are found in places you would not expect like lunch meats or prepared foods and also diabetic. It just doesn't work for all kids so saying they can eat something different for lunch besides peanut butter doesn't always work.

Ok for me then you should ban milk, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, butter and any product containing lactose or casein. Can't serve me any foods with gravy or most sauces, creamed soups, etc. You going to insure I don't get food poisoning if I bring in founds that can't be refrigerated like meat spreads or sandwich meat if I can find a safe one. Oh also ban mangoes, shellfish and any products containing aspartame including Equal. No Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, etc. While you are at it ban sugar as well. Can't have that either. Of course you have to ban cashews as well as I am allergic to them. It can get ridiculous. Oh their is a person who is allerigic to corn so that must go. And all gluten must go as there are those who are severely affected by that.
There is NO WAY to make it safe for everyone.

I didn't ask the school to ban every food my daughter was allergic to. No peanuts, milk or other dairy products, mango, shellfish, or onions. She learned from the get go not to eat from others plates, to ask questions of those preparing foods and to call me if necessary so I could bring her something or take her home for a meal.

To be honest what makes me the angriest is going to some place to eat and being told that an alternative is available, ordering the food and finding out the alternative item isn't available and I have been lied to. I can adjust to the known but the unknown can kill me or my daughter.

Added: while I am not a student I am affected by any ban on foods in the school as I work there. Fortunately I can eat in the cafeteria run by the culinary students and they will let me no what is safe for me to eat which the regular cafeteria will not. So if I do not pack a lunch I will eat there. The students and teachers (chefs) do care about dealing with allergies and for the students it is a learning experience.

 

[luvmy3]

Trouble is once a ban is in place it is never removed, whether that child is still in school or not.

Okay, well that is where the reasonable part should come into play, and we could continue to go back and forth but since this isn't something that I'm here advocating for I think there isn't much more for me to say on the subject. I wouldn't care for my reasons, and some people would for their reasons. I guess I'm just surprised at some of those reasons, just as I'm sure some are surprised at mine

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

My daugter has a life threatening allergy to tree nuts. However, as others have already said, I have taught her that she too is responsible for her health. She knows not to eat anything homebaked from someone else and that she must always ALWAYS read labels. If someone offers her something but the label was thrown away, she flat out doesn't eat it. Period. I always send her with safe snacks but I do not put her in an allergen bubble. She always has epipens with her, I have one also in my purse for her as well as ones at home. I feel we are doing our best to educate her about this and she takes it very seriously because she knows how awful it feels to have your airway begin to constrict or your chest to begin tightening like you're having a heart attack.

I agree with the other posts who said where does the ban end? Even with the top 8, that's only 8 allergens and look at how they're in everything. There'd be nothing left for the kids to bring in for lunch time. I don't think it's fair to expect people around you to accommodate your child in that way. It's the parent's job to provide safe food while they're still young.

I agree x100.

 

[Gigi22]

DH has an allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. He is old enough that there were never any bans on any foods at school when he was of school-going age. He is also lucky that he is not super-sensitive to nuts--he can (and has) survived ingesting a tiny amount of nuts over the years. Some people can't survive even trace amounts, and it is these people who have to be extra careful, and for whom the bans are most important.