Peanut-free classroom

[LongLiveRafiki]

DD came home from school today (elementary) with a letter stating that there's a student with a severe peanut allergy and her classroom will be nut-free for snacks/treats. The letter seemed to indicate a pretty severe allergy and noted that there will be a nut-free lunch table and ALL students will be required to wash their hands before going out to recess. The letter asked parents to check all food labels before sending in snacks.

I have a couple of questions and was hoping someone who has experienced nut-free classes or schools or dealt with a nut allergy can help me out.

1) When they say there's a nut-free lunch table, does that mean DD can bring in a peanut butter sandwich as long as she doesn't sit at that particular table? Should she tell someone that she has nuts in her lunch so they ensure she doesn't sit there? Or does it mean no nut products in any student's lunch?

2) For the classroom, for snacks (they have 1/day), I'm assuming the whole classroom is nut-free for this and that's fine. But are snacks that are nut-free but packaged in a facility that may also use nuts okay or should we avoid those as well?

3) Could DD eating nuts before school and not washing her hands right after be an issue? (Just mentioning since the note said all kids would have to wash their hands after lunch so as not to pass nut residue on to the playground equipment.)

Thanks in advance. I know some allergies can be life-threatening (as it sounds like this one is) and I don't want to un-intentionally put another child at risk.

 

[holden]

I’d ask the teacher these questions. She knows the specifics of the child’s situation.

 

[kimblebee]

DD came home from school today (elementary) with a letter stating that there's a student with a severe peanut allergy and her classroom will be nut-free for snacks/treats. The letter seemed to indicate a pretty severe allergy and noted that there will be a nut-free lunch table and ALL students will be required to wash their hands before going out to recess. The letter asked parents to check all food labels before sending in snacks.

I have a couple of questions and was hoping someone who has experienced nut-free classes or schools or dealt with a nut allergy can help me out.

1) When they say there's a nut-free lunch table, does that mean DD can bring in a peanut butter sandwich as long as she doesn't sit at that particular table? Should she tell someone that she has nuts in her lunch so they ensure she doesn't sit there? Or does it mean no nut products in any student's lunch?

2) For the classroom, for snacks (they have 1/day), I'm assuming the whole classroom is nut-free for this and that's fine. But are snacks that are nut-free but packaged in a facility that may also use nuts okay or should we avoid those as well?

3) Could DD eating nuts before school and not washing her hands right after be an issue? (Just mentioning since the note said all kids would have to wash their hands after lunch so as not to pass nut residue on to the playground equipment.)

Thanks in advance. I know some allergies can be life-threatening (as it sounds like this one is) and I don't want to un-intentionally put another child at risk.

Oh goody, another nut thread..

 

[Shanti]

DD came home from school today (elementary) with a letter stating that there's a student with a severe peanut allergy and her classroom will be nut-free for snacks/treats. The letter seemed to indicate a pretty severe allergy and noted that there will be a nut-free lunch table and ALL students will be required to wash their hands before going out to recess. The letter asked parents to check all food labels before sending in snacks.

I have a couple of questions and was hoping someone who has experienced nut-free classes or schools or dealt with a nut allergy can help me out.

1) When they say there's a nut-free lunch table, does that mean DD can bring in a peanut butter sandwich as long as she doesn't sit at that particular table? Should she tell someone that she has nuts in her lunch so they ensure she doesn't sit there? Or does it mean no nut products in any student's lunch?

2) For the classroom, for snacks (they have 1/day), I'm assuming the whole classroom is nut-free for this and that's fine. But are snacks that are nut-free but packaged in a facility that may also use nuts okay or should we avoid those as well?

3) Could DD eating nuts before school and not washing her hands right after be an issue? (Just mentioning since the note said all kids would have to wash their hands after lunch so as not to pass nut residue on to the playground equipment.)

Thanks in advance. I know some allergies can be life-threatening (as it sounds like this one is) and I don't want to un-intentionally put another child at risk.

I'm an elementary school teacher. Here's my take based on my experience:

1. Your child can have peanut products at lunch. That's why they have the nut-free table, to keep the allergic kids away from that.
2. No classroom snacks with nuts, but you don't have to worry about whether the production facility is also nut-free.
3. Yes. Please have her wash her hands after eating nuts before school. If it matters after lunch, then it matters after breakfast.

It's considerate of you to be careful & prepared to help protect the allergic child in your child's class. Thanks for caring!

 

[AustinTink]

DD came home from school today (elementary) with a letter stating that there's a student with a severe peanut allergy and her classroom will be nut-free for snacks/treats. The letter seemed to indicate a pretty severe allergy and noted that there will be a nut-free lunch table and ALL students will be required to wash their hands before going out to recess. The letter asked parents to check all food labels before sending in snacks.

I have a couple of questions and was hoping someone who has experienced nut-free classes or schools or dealt with a nut allergy can help me out.

1) When they say there's a nut-free lunch table, does that mean DD can bring in a peanut butter sandwich as long as she doesn't sit at that particular table? Should she tell someone that she has nuts in her lunch so they ensure she doesn't sit there? Or does it mean no nut products in any student's lunch?

2) For the classroom, for snacks (they have 1/day), I'm assuming the whole classroom is nut-free for this and that's fine. But are snacks that are nut-free but packaged in a facility that may also use nuts okay or should we avoid those as well?

3) Could DD eating nuts before school and not washing her hands right after be an issue? (Just mentioning since the note said all kids would have to wash their hands after lunch so as not to pass nut residue on to the playground equipment.)

Thanks in advance. I know some allergies can be life-threatening (as it sounds like this one is) and I don't want to un-intentionally put another child at risk.

As a person with life-threatening food allergies, I just want to thank you for asking these questions. I wish more parents cared this much.

I work at a completely nut-free school. We have enough kids in our small preschool to warrant going this route. There are many options now for sun-butters and the like. The kids in our school do not miss peanut butter in their sandwiches or even notice the difference.

For your specific questions:

1) Usually the kids with nut allergies would only be sitting at the nut-free table, so your daughter and others could seemingly bring peanut butter because they wouldn't be sitting by them. Again, sun butters are a great alternative though.

2) Our school says anything packaged in a facility with nuts is off limits. You might need to check this one.

3) Yes, it could be an issue. If she touches a doorknob with nut residue on her hands and the person with allergies follows her, they can be harmed.

 

[BOST99]

My son's preschool is all nut free so cant help with #1.

2. Yes you should avoid anything but check with the school. Since ours is all nut free they gave us a sample list such as fruit, veggies, cheese sticks, fruit gummies and pirates booty.

3. I wash his hands. I also make sure to brush his teeth and wash his face. This is probably extreme but these are toddlers who put things in their mouth. So figure better safe then sorry.

 

[Hikergirl]

You should ask about the specific rules for your school.

In my kid's elementary school there was a peanut free table for the kids with peanut allergies they had to sit there. Other kids could sit with friends (that were allergic) as long as they did not have any peanut containing ingredient. That table was peanut free, not nut free though. My ds has a tree nut allergy and was not required to sit there.
Kids at other tables were allowed to bring in whatever they wanted.

In the peanut free classes my kids were in we weren't allowed to bring anything containing nuts. They were not specific about things that were packaged in a shared facility. I would ask the teacher for clarification.

It could be an issue so if you know your child ate peanut butter or something with peanuts then I would have her wash her hands.

 

[Summer2018]

DD came home from school today (elementary) with a letter stating that there's a student with a severe peanut allergy and her classroom will be nut-free for snacks/treats. The letter seemed to indicate a pretty severe allergy and noted that there will be a nut-free lunch table and ALL students will be required to wash their hands before going out to recess. The letter asked parents to check all food labels before sending in snacks.

I have a couple of questions and was hoping someone who has experienced nut-free classes or schools or dealt with a nut allergy can help me out.

1) When they say there's a nut-free lunch table, does that mean DD can bring in a peanut butter sandwich as long as she doesn't sit at that particular table? Should she tell someone that she has nuts in her lunch so they ensure she doesn't sit there? Or does it mean no nut products in any student's lunch?

2) For the classroom, for snacks (they have 1/day), I'm assuming the whole classroom is nut-free for this and that's fine. But are snacks that are nut-free but packaged in a facility that may also use nuts okay or should we avoid those as well?

3) Could DD eating nuts before school and not washing her hands right after be an issue? (Just mentioning since the note said all kids would have to wash their hands after lunch so as not to pass nut residue on to the playground equipment.)

Thanks in advance. I know some allergies can be life-threatening (as it sounds like this one is) and I don't want to un-intentionally put another child at risk.

I am a teacher in a peanut-free classroom. Our cafeteria no longer serves peanut products. There’s a peanut-free table just in case someone brings in something from home. I have had students with allergic reactions only if they injested peanuts. Last year my student couldn’t even be in the same room with it. I stopped bringing in my Kind bars even though I eat them in the teachers’ lounge.

Obviously the more information you can get from the teacher, the better. I personally would find something other than peanut butter for my child’s lunch. Save peanut butter for home on the weekends.

 

[BLAZEY]

DD9's school is allergy aware. The kids eat in their classroom so if there is a child with a nut allergy in her class the class is NUT FREE. We have switched to WOW butter to be on the safe side. Last year she sat next to the kid with the allergy. I would rather send DD with a nut free lunch than be the cause of a child having a reaction at school.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

DD came home from school today (elementary) with a letter stating that there's a student with a severe peanut allergy and her classroom will be nut-free for snacks/treats. The letter seemed to indicate a pretty severe allergy and noted that there will be a nut-free lunch table and ALL students will be required to wash their hands before going out to recess. The letter asked parents to check all food labels before sending in snacks.

I have a couple of questions and was hoping someone who has experienced nut-free classes or schools or dealt with a nut allergy can help me out.

1) When they say there's a nut-free lunch table, does that mean DD can bring in a peanut butter sandwich as long as she doesn't sit at that particular table? Should she tell someone that she has nuts in her lunch so they ensure she doesn't sit there? Or does it mean no nut products in any student's lunch?

2) For the classroom, for snacks (they have 1/day), I'm assuming the whole classroom is nut-free for this and that's fine. But are snacks that are nut-free but packaged in a facility that may also use nuts okay or should we avoid those as well?

3) Could DD eating nuts before school and not washing her hands right after be an issue? (Just mentioning since the note said all kids would have to wash their hands after lunch so as not to pass nut residue on to the playground equipment.)

Thanks in advance. I know some allergies can be life-threatening (as it sounds like this one is) and I don't want to un-intentionally put another child at risk.

1) Yes, yours can bring in PB but not sit at that table. Sun butter is a pretty tasty alternate though!
2) Definitely check with the school on that one. It may depend on the particular child's reaction history. My DD can eat things packaged in a facility and have no problems ... another kid might be more severe.
3) Absolutely she should wash her hands before school if she's consumed nuts. Another potential issue could be if she eats nuts and happens to wipe sticky hands on clothing before going to school ... so be aware of that.

Thanks for looking out for others! With my DD, she had friends telling their parents they didn't want PB so that they would feel better sitting near her (hers was not a nut free table). It made me feel good that other people (and especially other kids even) are aware and looking out for their allergic friends!

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I do plan to send a note asking for clarification, but I haven't had the greatest luck so far this year with her teacher actually clarifying issues I send notes about (not this issue yet, but a couple others).

Thanks to those who mentioned the nut-free butters. I'll check around and see if I can find one of those. I will also try to ensure she washes her hands before school and doesn't wipe her hands on her clothes. I'm pretty obsessive about hand washing anyway, but sometimes she forgets. This will be a great opportunity for me to talk with her about nut allergies though and I think she will do well with remembering if she understands the importance of it. She's great at reminding other relatives that her little brother can't have most dairy products.

Thanks again, everyone.