Peanut Allergy issue - is this going too far in your opinion?

[NCDisneyMom]

I have a question. For those of you who have kids in peanut-free rooms or schools, how far do they carry the restrictions? Is it just peanut-containing foods that are banned or do they include tree nuts? What about products that could possibly have come in contact with nuts in processing, like a plain chocolate bar or cookie? What about soy which is a legume just like peanuts?

I've actually been very lucky with my son's school. Before he even began there this year, there was already a school-wide policy on birthday party food. A child can bring in a treat, but it is given out at lunchtime, in the cafeteria (where my sons seat is wiped down with a Clorox wipe before he sits down...he is responsible for doing this, with the teacher's supervision). And, the policy is that it must be a store-bought item with a label. Again, this was in place BEFORE we got to the school. My sons classmates have been asked to refrain from bringing anything with blatant peanuts or other nuts (since he is allergic to tree nuts, also). Thus far, the parents have been great. The teachers know how to read the labels, and if it is a "may contain" item, or if they are just not sure, I have supplied them with some special treats just for ds to have in these instances, so that he is not completely left out.

I had also talked to the nutritionist before he began, just to find out about some of the food they supply in the cafeteria. When she heard about my son, SHE made the decision to not sell PB&J sandwiches in the cafeteria anymore, and to remove all blatant nut products. I did not even ask! Kids are still more than welcome to bring their PB&J from home, however.

For the few times of the year when they do have food in the classroom, I am heavily involved in the food choices...both with the teachers and the room Moms (who are wonderful, I might add). Anytime I need to make a change to what they have planned, I offer to go out and buy it myself. I see no reason to inconvenience others if I don't have to. It's my child with the allergy, so I will pay any added expense or time needed to keep him safe. I also keep the classroom heavily supplied with Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer, since my son uses more of them than anybody else. To me, it's a small price to pay to keep him safe.

Remember, my son is only 5. The kids in his class are 5 or 6 years old. My son does a great job of asking about things before he eats them. To this day, he has never eaten something he wasn't sure of. But, he's still only 5, and should not be completely responsible for such a heavy burden (IMHO). He can't be...he's still a small child, as are his classmates. As he gets older, and more responsible, he will take it on...a little at a time. I don't expect that we will have peanut-free classrooms forever.

Although, just a cute little story about how wonderful and caring his classmates are about this. The Mom of one of the little boys works at Target, and we saw her there one night. I saw her again the next day, and she told me that she told her son that she had seen us at Target the night before. Her son turned to her with a very serious expression and said "Mom! You didn't sell him peanut butter did you? Because he's allergic and can't eat it!".

 

[phillybeth]

The classmate's parents is just pleading for help from every family to help out their child's life.

Sorry. That's not my job to teach them or their child how to manage their allergies.

I am adult with serious life threatening food allergies and I don't expect anyone to make accomodations for me. And yes, I was allergic as a child as well. Same deal- I learned to live in the real world, and grew up with the knowledge that no one was responsible to protect me except me.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

This happened to my ds in first grade. Another child had peanut butter crackers for his snack and then thought it would be funny if he "man handled" everything in my ds's lunch box. My son ate NOTHING that day because of this- and he never told the teacher because he was scared Jordan would do it again when he didn't know it- then he would eat the lunch and die. Kids can be so cruel.

OMG!! My heart just breaks for you and your little guy. What a horrible thing for that child to do. These are the things I dread in the years to come.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

This happened to my ds in first grade. Another child had peanut butter crackers for his snack and then thought it would be funny if he "man handled" everything in my ds's lunch box. My son ate NOTHING that day because of this- and he never told the teacher because he was scared Jordan would do it again when he didn't know it- then he would eat the lunch and die. Kids can be so cruel.

That's terrible! I don't understand why kids are so cruel sometimes.

My dd has a friend with Celiac disease. She cannot ingest gluten, which is in wheat and a host of other ingredients. One day at school another girl had a cupcake and waved it in front of my dd's friend saying "Emma can't eat this, Emma can't eat this". Even that broke my heart, and it didn't go nearly so far as your son's incident, or the one mentioned by NCDisneyMom.

 

[aprilgail2]

That request is WAY over the top and there is no way in heck I would agree to anything like that. At my daughters school the peanut kids have their own peanut free table they sit at for lunch..that is as far as it goes. If you want to sit with your friend there you can if you don't have any peanut products for your lunch. What my daughter eats at home is her business, and yes, she eats peanut butter for breakfast and 99 percent of the time she has it for lunch... peanut butter crackers, peanut butter and apples, peanut butter and celery or just a jar of peanut butter she eats with a spoon at school for lunch. She could take something else but why should she have to, they have their own table and she is not at it. I also request the end of every school year that she is not put in the same classroom as the one peanut kid in her grade so she won't have to have a peanut free snack. If my child was that allergic that they could not be out in public then I guess I would have to homeschool her....

 

[lizz5]

One question... these allergies have been around for years, and yet I don't remember once as a child a school telling our parents we could not have peanuts because of another child. Yet I am sure someone was allergic so is this a issue that the child was taught to deal with at a young age and it was between the school and that family, not the whole school and everyone elses family as it is these days.

 

[disneysteve]

One question... these allergies have been around for years, and yet I don't remember once as a child a school telling our parents we could not have peanuts because of another child. Yet I am sure someone was allergic so is this a issue that the child was taught to deal with at a young age and it was between the school and that family, not the whole school and everyone elses family as it is these days.

Actually, the incidence of allergies has been increasing steadily. Nobody is exactly sure why but I think the prevailing theory is that it has to do with our germ-phobic society: antibacterial everything. Kids aren't being exposed to as many germs at a young age and are thus not developing normal immunity. When DD was a baby, we were way less anal about cleanliness than our friends and our DD has turned out to be the healthiest of the bunch among our friends' kids. I think this theory has some definite merit.

 

[ducklite]

Psst...why...did he invent peanut butter? or find the peanut?

giggle

I thought that was Al Gore.

Anne

 

[Ava83]

Actually, the incidence of allergies has been increasing steadily. Nobody is exactly sure why but I think the prevailing theory is that it has to do with our germ-phobic society: antibacterial everything. Kids aren't being exposed to as many germs at a young age and are thus not developing normal immunity. When DD was a baby, we were way less anal about cleanliness than our friends and our DD has turned out to be the healthiest of the bunch among our friends' kids.

This is actually a leading theory in the jump in allergies. My DH works with allergists and this and introducing foods to early are the 2 theories that they think may explain the rise in numbers.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I am glad someone started to clear up the story about the deadly kiss. I also read that People article. The boy had a piece of candy with PB in it HOURS before. And the girl had not had a reaction for so long, she thought it was asthma at first, which is why she did not give herself a shot, she thought she was having an asthma attack. So there were many things combined that added up to tragedy for that poor girl. As someone said, the boy has an allergy as well (egg I think) and would have understood, but she never told him about her allergy.
To address the OP, I think if her child is not in that kid's classroom, the request is extreme. If it is the same classroom, however, a peanut-free room is not too much to ask. I remember reading here once how a school had a "peanut" table (instead of a "peanut-free" table) where kids who had PB were to eat, so the peanut allergic kids weren't singled out! I thought that was extreme too. I think the individual teachers of these kids need to have the moms come in and educate the kids about whatever allergy, disability, or condition that needs to be addressed. There was a boy a grade ahead of DD#2 who was on chemo and everyone in his class needed to have the disinfecting hand gel, and wipe their desks down frequently, so this boy wouldn't pick up any germs he couldn't handle. The mom and the teacher explained this to the class parents at the open house so everyone understood the need. Sane with a girl in DD#1's grade who is highly sensitive to stuff like marker fumes. The day before she started school, all of her teachers explained to the classes that they could not use markers anymore, but needed to switch to using their colored pencils.
Really, if the request turns into a mandate, what is next, banning the sale of PB in that town? DD#1 is slightly sensitive to cigarette smoke, should I contact the principal of her jr. high and make sure he tells all of her teachers they are not allowed to smoke? Yes perhaps a bad analogy, but I think a better request would be the idea of "if you have PB with your breakfast, please remember to brush your teeth and wash your face before you come to school."
Robin M.

 

[Skywalker]

Skywalker, what grade is your child in? I think it would be reasonable to ask parents to refrain from PB for breakfast (or brush and wash as suggested) in the lower grades if their child shares a classroom with a highly allergic child. However, if you child does not come in contact with the allergic child, it's totally over the top.

Hi Robin. Well, my son is in Grade 2, although I don't know what grade the allergic child is in. My son says the child is not in his class, and the teacher confirmed that the child is not even his grade. The school is K-6, and I have no idea who the child is or how old. I asked my son's teacher this morning and she said "Well, it is probably better if we don't tell too much because if people know they are in a different grade they may become complacent". What the

Some of the mothers this morning were "outraged" and said they will have peanut butter for breakfast every day now.

 

[tink2020]

Why stop there? Why not sue the decendents of [size=-1]George Washington Carver?[/size]

I'm not even replying to topic of this thread, because I try to avoid drama like this.... but THIS is one of the funniest comments I have ever seen.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

My BIL is allergic and he carries around benadryl with him 24/7 - and he's a school teacher. I don't think it'd be fair to ask everyone in his class not to eat peanut butter during the week.

He must not be terribly allergic if all he has to do is take Benedryl.

The child in the OP's school must be VERY allergic. People who are highly allergic to peanuts can die from exposure even with shots of epinephrine and advanced life support. I can't imagine why anybody would object to the measures the school is taking. Would a parent want to be responsible for the death of a child just because they personally didn't want to be bothered taking precautions?

With foods like peanut butter (especially),there is no such thing as a "peanut-free" zone. Kids carry it around on their hands, sleeves, and mouths.

 

[mickeyboat]

Actually, the incidence of allergies has been increasing steadily. Nobody is exactly sure why but I think the prevailing theory is that it has to do with our germ-phobic society: antibacterial everything. Kids aren't being exposed to as many germs at a young age and are thus not developing normal immunity. When DD was a baby, we were way less anal about cleanliness than our friends and our DD has turned out to be the healthiest of the bunch among our friends' kids. I think this theory has some definite merit.

I also heard a blurb that scientists are considering whether the use of soy formula and baby lotions containing nut products is contributing to allergies.

Denae

 

[disneysteve]

DD#1 is slightly sensitive to cigarette smoke, should I contact the principal of her jr. high and make sure he tells all of her teachers they are not allowed to smoke?

Actually, it isn't such a bad analogy. I'll give you another one. DW is asthmatic and develops trouble breathing when around people wearing perfume or cologne. She has periodically needed to leave the sanctuary at our temple due to many women wearing perfume (and plenty of it). It would be great if we could make the building perfume-free but it just isnt reasonable to expect a congregation of 600 families (to say nothing of guests) to abide by this just to keep my wife safe. Instead, she takes her daily meds, carries an Epi-pen and other emergency meds and, when the situation presents itself, steps out of the room and takes her meds.

 

[disneysteve]

I can't imagine why anybody would object to the measures the school is taking. Would a parent want to be responsible for the death of a child just because they personally didn't want to be bothered taking precautions?

The discussion is what constitutes reasonable precautions. IMO, it is reasonable to ask that we not send DD to school with a PB sandwich for lunch. But it is unreasonable to request that we also not serve her peanut products at home.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I also heard a blurb that scientists are considering whether the use of soy formula and baby lotions containing nut products is contributing to allergies.

Denae

No baby lotions (my doc advices not to and she always had good skin.) My baby was only breast feed, never had any formula (soy or others). We didn't find out about her allergy at 1st becuase she never had any milk, so it wasn't until she was exposed to it around 7 or 8 months old that we started to supspect it. It wasn't until she was 12 months old until I had to cut it (and eggs) out of my diet. Her allergy is not severe, but she doesn't fit the bill for food allergies in a lot of ways.

I read one Dr. theray that antiboics can cause it. When a normally very healthy child gets a dose of antiboics they turn against the food in their system. DD had her 1st dose around the same time she 1st had some milk products. The second time also her allergies became worse (when I had to stop eating milk and eggs myself.) The 3rd time she had some just a few weeks ago I was very concenred, but if anything her allgeries are better now.

My own Doctor and allergiest doesn't think it is the case. I don't know enough to know, but it does seem to fit.

I don't think the not smoking is a bad analgoy, but saddly peanuts seem to get more attention. The severity of many peoples peanut allergies is a major issue and I feel in my heart for them. Milk and eggs are bad enough, but at least her having some isn't going to be a major threat to her health.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Actually, it isn't such a bad analogy. I'll give you another one. DW is asthmatic and develops trouble breathing when around people wearing perfume or cologne. She has periodically needed to leave the sanctuary at our temple due to many women wearing perfume (and plenty of it). It would be great if we could make the building perfume-free but it just isnt reasonable to expect a congregation of 600 families (to say nothing of guests) to abide by this just to keep my wife safe. Instead, she takes her daily meds, carries an Epi-pen and other emergency meds and, when the situation presents itself, steps out of the room and takes her meds.

My DH's sister and and her husband attend a large, upscale urban church and the entire congregation has been asked (via letter) to not wear perfume to the services due to the number of allergic reactions it provokes!

I seriously doubt the child with the peanut allergy at the OP's school is "slightly allergic"--I can't imagine they would take such measures over a slight allergy. And Steve, are you saying your DH has actually had to USE the Epipen due to perfume allergies?? If not, i would count her perfume allergy as "slightly allergic" too.

 

[disneysteve]

And Steve, are you saying your DH has actually had to USE the Epipen due to perfume allergies?? If not, i would count her perfume allergy as "slightly allergic" too.

No, she doesn't carry the Epipen for the perfume allergy. She carries it due to food allergy (seafood). But she has had to use an antihistamine, asthma inhalers and oral steroids for smoke or perfume reactions, so I'd tend to classify it as moderate, not slight, but I agree that it is not as severe as an anaphylactic reaction.

 

[CathrynRose]

If the child is that sensitive I think he/she should stay home with a teacher visiting his home.
It is one thing to ask for no peanut products to be sent to the school -anything else is unreasonalbe in my opinion. Also unreliable- there are so many instances where that system could fail.

'

2nd this.