To go with the Peanut Butter thread: Do you think that PBJs should be banned...

[cinderella73]

Okay, I have other food allergies, but not a peanut allergy. Just curious because I really thought all food allergies could be pretty much handled the same way, but don't the children with peanut allergies have epi-pens in case of emergency? Does this not work on a peanut allergy? I'm highly allergic to shellfish, but my whole family partakes (except me) and even prepares it at home. I figure they should not suffer because of me and my allergy (I would feel guilty if they were forced to abstain because of it). My DH is very good about disinfecting and cleaning after seafood preparation and we have never had an episode, but I do have an epi-pen on me at all times if there were a problem. Does peanut allergy cause a reaction other than anaphylaxis? Sorry, just looking to be educated here and understand since I have no experience with peanut sensitivity or allergy.

Well actually with peanut allergy's do have some unique features from other food reactions. A severe reaction is a anaphylaxis one BUT peanut allergy sufferer's tend to have more and more severe reactions each time they are exposed . And again with peanut allergys the reactions are usually much more severe in general than with other foods. But before anyone interjects here the key word is "usually". There are some people that have very extreme reactions to other things. But this is not so much as common as found with peanut allergys.

My husband gets anaphylaxis with certain foods. But even his attacks are not as severe as what I have seen in people with peanut allergys. We are talking you absolutly must take fast action or you will go into shock and die serious. My husband gets the itchy throat and his face and lips balloon up and his voice gets gruff and he has a bad time. But he has never entered shock and his reactions never get worse they are typically the same each time.

There are different degrees of anaphylaxis. None to be taken lightly and all to be treated with epipens and ambulance immediatly . But I guess my point is that peanuts along with milk and wheat ( which can be as serious though generally are not so much ) are much harder to watch for. They are in everything . Hidden in the most innocent of foods. Not that shellfish is not difficult to deal with and I feel for you . I am so blessed that I dont have any myself .But can you imagine egg , wheat , peanut , and milk? When my son was young he was all of these. So many kids are their whole life. Thank god he outgrew them . Except for the peanut of course . They say you can never outgrow that. But I have hope one day they will cure it! My son asked me the other day if one day he might have a medicine so he wouldnt be allergic. I wanted to bawl but I just told him yes .. One day

And I am so happy that everyone one here has been so nice about it. (hugs) I was afraid this topic would get heated like so many others on the board latley! lol

We should all have tags... Mine would say.. I stand for strollers at wdw and peanut free schools !

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Okay, so if I am understanding this correctly, some food allergies are airborne, while others are not? Very confusing. I guess I should ask the doctors in my family...I never realized there was such a disparity with food allergies-I thought they pretty much all had the same issues (contact and/or consumption) with a result of anaphylaxis. I definitely wouldn't want any child to suffer, but is it me or does it seem like more and more children these days have these terrible allergies that were not as prevalent years ago? 40+ years ago it was almost unheard of when I was going to school to have a kid with food allergies. It really makes you wonder what the cause behind it all is. I am thankful that my children had no allergies...but my heart goes out to those who do and the worries that go along with it.

 

[ogreenlee]

Add me to the list of people that had a different opinion about this a year ago. My opinion has now changed since the severe reaction my daughter had to pb and she didn't even eat it. She just came in contact with it. Luckily, she had an epi-pen at the school for an egg allergy. At the time, we weren't even aware that she was allergic to peanuts. From that point on, peanut products weren't allowed in the classroom. She goes to a private school that serves lunch so the only time lunch or snack was brought in was on field trip days. Or when a child was celebrating a birthday. But parents would still send in cupcakes for birthdays and that left my child sitting at a table by herself so as not to be contaminated. It breaks my heart to see her sitting by herself because of her allergy. So, yes...I believe schools should be peanut free. We are planning on keeping her at the private school instead of sending her to public school because unfortunately, our public school district is NOT peanut free and in fact they server peanut butter sandwiches every day.

Did your daughter ever eat peanut butter before that incident? How scary...

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Cinderella73...thanks for the explanation. I understand. I guess I just never realized there was a difference...I figured an allergy was an allergy and the resulting problems were essentially the same. Always something new to learn!

 

[mrs.beast]

there does seem to be many more. ten years ago when i first started teaching i had zero, in the last 8 years i have had at least one in my class every year( usually one in each of our 4 classes in my grade) and this past year 3 (one dairy/eggs/shellfish/berries, one peanut, one dairy). it make our cooking project a challenge (thanks to the allergy websites for recipes) next year we have 4 in our grade level all with severe peanut and 2 with severe wheat also. it is really sad to think that these kids have such a limited diet and have to bring their own foods to parties etc. i have kept my room nut-free every year (except 2 years ago with my special needs child who would always eat peanutbutter-fyi mom wanted it in his IEP to protect him from a ban but we said no) and when it wasn't i just cleaned everything (and i mean everything from book covers to hand sharpeners, to manupulatives, to my buzz lightyear on my desk) as i got the room ready over summer. i still make everyone was their hands also (one mom called me the germ-a-phobe teacher) while i feel pb should not be banned, it is really sad for all children who have allergies. it is very difficult to read labels and it seems that now everything lists that is could be contaminated by nuts and milk, so it makes it hard to buy things that everyone can have. what i found works best was to have the parents of the child with allergies make lists of what the child could have. it worked much better and eased the anxiety of the other parents who did not want to buy the wrong food and leave the child out. my daughter was very allergic to milk as an infant/toddler but has since outgrown them and my son has various mild food allergies. it is a bummer to see him sad when his friends get something he doesn't.

 

[cinderella73]

it can be a major inconvenience for some. as a pp stated some special needs children and autistic children are very picky about what they will eat when and some will only eat peanut butter for lunch ( i have had one in my class, thank goodness not at the same time as when i have had a severely allergic child. he only ate pb-no j on ritz crackers, strawberry go-gurt, tree top apple juice, and one oreo for lunch every day all year) not to mention that there are children with multiple food allergies that may have peanut butter as one of the foods that can be eaten (there was a girl at our school where this was the case-she was allergic to just about everything it seemed, even most veggies, fruit, and candies)also, there are other food allergies that are as severe (equally life threatening) and are becoming much more common (wheat.) the wheat allergy is airborne also. so my question of asking if we ban that is legitimate. i think banning food is unnecessary, it doesn't happen in the malls, playgrounds, stores, movie theaters, theme parks, and the school (on the weekend, afterschool hours, for scouts, etc) and i am sure that the children go there. i agree that precautions should be taken, but banning the pb is not going to make the problem go away. teaching children and adults good cleaning habits works well at our schools, and so i believe that banning is unnecessary.

i also want to add that we don't isolate kids with allergies at my school. all treats to share must be peanut-free, (even dairy free/egg free, etc where needed) and anyone with a nut free lunch can sit at the nut free table (checked by staff and must be certain that they are nut free.) i also keep a stash of acceptable treats in my desk for the students with allergies in case the treat ingredients are not listed. at these times, we take the treats to the grass/or underhangs in rain and eat there so that the allergic child is not alone and we wash up before we go to the room. i also use tons of soap and make the kids rub it in before they go to the restroom to make sure that they was well.

I am sorry but the all the mall and playgrounds and stores are not a daily and constant enviorment and cannot be considered as a equal to a classroom. If you read my post above it explains my reasoning as to why what you are saying is not feasable. Rather than repeat myself again I will bow out of this topic saying my last piece. I came in only because I wanted to thank the poster not to start a hot debate.

Eduacting others is important and using caution is paramount . But if the allergens are still around there is always a increased risk. I am not saying children do not eat lunch. Or that they dont eat milk, wheat , eggs, and peanuts. What I am saying is lets take the major allergens and remove the types of them that can be more easily transmitted . Especially in the younger grades.
Examples :
If a child is allergic to wheat flour then dont make crafts or bake with the students using it. Choose another craft. Perhaps no one is allergic to milk. I didnt say dont let kids eat sandwhiches. But since wheat flour is airborne and if you had a child with that allergy why not find another project . As classmates will no doubt have this in their hair and clothing no mater how well they wash up. And is it worth a child dying? No

If there is a child allergic to milk then a simple seperate dining area may suffice as milk is easily washed away from surfaces. Not take all milk away. Also caution used when doing class projects and partys so the child will not feel left out. Unfortunatly so much as sneeze in one kids eye from another child who drank milk caused the childs eyeball to swell up and cause vision loss. The child at the time was not seated seperatly at lunch. He is now.

Ever get Pb on your hands? Then you know how hard it is to wash off. It is not reasonable to expect that kids will not bring certain products containing peanuts . But the elimintaion of the Pb sandwhich at lunch will lower the risk of that residue from adhering to school books , desks , and library book, pencils etc... I know that there are so many products out there with nuts. But none so dangerous as the oils from a sandwhich.
Some systems are already in place. Seperate dining areas are sad to see but maybe they can think of ways to make them more pleasant. It makes me sad to think about a child eating alone. But maybe if school can institute a no Peanut rule a child can sit with a few choice friends whose parents are sympathetic and will pack their childrens lunches accordingly .

No matter what a school does though a parent will never be free of worry. But for a school to say well we wont change because what about his person and that person's needs and what about other public places? Thats like saying we cant cure aids so why cure cancer? You have to worry about crime when you go the city why should it be any safer here?

You do what you know you can to make things better for children and safer. Did you know that a child who has never before been allergic to peanuts can develop it out of nowhere? Same thing with any food but the top food allergens are more likley to do so. Why not help protect the kids intill they are old enough to do so themselves? School should be a safe haven for kids. Its not a mall or a park. Its a school.

Your confidence that school can handle this so well concerns me . Because I read every label everytime and always check to make sure my apples were not sold near the peanuts in a store and so on. And I still worry . If you had ever seen a child go into shock maybe you wouldnt feel the way you do. But I pray that never happens.

 

[hildarumpole]

Two of my kids are allergic to peanuts and most tree nuts. My daughter has been the school guinea pig on how to deal with allergies. It's a small parochial school and they never had to deal with anyone with food allergies prior to my daughter. Every new school year I feel like we're re-inventing the wheel. She's had basically the same set of kids (and parents) since kindergarten, yet everyone has to be constantly reminded not to bring peanutty and nutty treats into the classroom. We don't allow her to consume anything not sent from home, but we also don't want the classroom contaminated and risk a reaction. One year, a mother gave my daughter a peanut butter cup at a class party. Fortunately, I was there. I reminded the mother of my daughter's allergy. She replied she knew, but "it's just a peanut butter cup, not real peanut butter." Butterfingers are another one people seem to think contain something other than peanuts. We've worked very hard, training my daughter how to read labels and politely refuse treats. It wasn't easy the first few years, when she felt like she was missing out, but by 2nd grade she really got it. We haven't asked for an all-out ban for the school. At lunch, she knows to sit away from anyone with a pb&j or peanut butter cookies. She also eats food out of plastic containers, so things aren't sitting on the tables. On a practical level, my kids are going to have to learn how to live in a world full of peanuts and nuts. School is as good a place as any to deal with that reality. All I ask of the school is to exercise some common sense precautions and be prepared for an emergency. Every parent who has a child with food allergies has to make decisions based on what's best for their child, given the specific school, relative to their child's personality and level of allergies. If a school decides to ban peanuts, that's their decision. IMO, it gives a false sense of security, because, so many things have allergy warnings. Based on personal experience, hardly anyone notices them.

On the epi-pen: I wouldn't count on anyone, especially a kindergartener, knowing how to self-administer in the event of an emergency. Children (and even many adults) aren't always self-aware enough to recognize an anaphylactic reaction, much less be able to whip into action and give themselves a shot. It's one thing to train with the device when you're feeling fine, but quite another reality sets in when something really goes wrong. I would hope any school district that has students who require epi-pens makes sure all teachers and staff who come in contact with kids are trained to recognize a severe allergic reaction and are prepared to administer an epi-pen.

Peanut Butter substitute: We eat Soynut Butter made by I.M. Healthy. It's organic. It comes it different varieties, like crunchy, honey, no salt and chocolate that is so yummy, especially on graham crackers with a little marshmallow fluff.

 

[cinderella73]

there does seem to be many more. ten years ago when i first started teaching i had zero, in the last 8 years i have had at least one in my class every year( usually one in each of our 4 classes in my grade) and this past year 3 (one dairy/eggs/shellfish/berries, one peanut, one dairy). it make our cooking project a challenge (thanks to the allergy websites for recipes) next year we have 4 in our grade level all with severe peanut and 2 with severe wheat also. it is really sad to think that these kids have such a limited diet and have to bring their own foods to parties etc. i have kept my room nut-free every year (except 2 years ago with my special needs child who would always eat peanutbutter-fyi mom wanted it in his IEP to protect him from a ban but we said no) and when it wasn't i just cleaned everything (and i mean everything from book covers to hand sharpeners, to manupulatives, to my buzz lightyear on my desk) as i got the room ready over summer. i still make everyone was their hands also (one mom called me the germ-a-phobe teacher) while i feel pb should not be banned, it is really sad for all children who have allergies. it is very difficult to read labels and it seems that now everything lists that is could be contaminated by nuts and milk, so it makes it hard to buy things that everyone can have. what i found works best was to have the parents of the child with allergies make lists of what the child could have. it worked much better and eased the anxiety of the other parents who did not want to buy the wrong food and leave the child out. my daughter was very allergic to milk as an infant/toddler but has since outgrown them and my son has various mild food allergies. it is a bummer to see him sad when his friends get something he doesn't.

Btw I wanted to let you know that I appreicate what you do and wasnt trying to be nasty in anyway. I was just speaking from my viewpoint as are you. I applaud the fact that you put out the effort you do to keep things safe.

 

[cinderella73]

Two of my kids are allergic to peanuts and most tree nuts. My daughter has been the school guinea pig on how to deal with allergies. It's a small parochial school and they never had to deal with anyone with food allergies prior to my daughter. Every new school year I feel like we're re-inventing the wheel. She's had basically the same set of kids (and parents) since kindergarten, yet everyone has to be constantly reminded not to bring peanutty and nutty treats into the classroom. We don't allow her to consume anything not sent from home, but we also don't want the classroom contaminated and risk a reaction. One year, a mother gave my daughter a peanut butter cup at a class party. Fortunately, I was there. I reminded the mother of my daughter's allergy. She replied she knew, but "it's just a peanut butter cup, not real peanut butter." Butterfingers are another one people seem to think contain something other than peanuts. We've worked very hard, training my daughter how to read labels and politely refuse treats. It wasn't easy the first few years, when she felt like she was missing out, but by 2nd grade she really got it. We haven't asked for an all-out ban for the school. At lunch, she knows to sit away from anyone with a pb&j or peanut butter cookies. She also eats food out of plastic containers, so things aren't sitting on the tables. On a practical level, my kids are going to have to learn how to live in a world full of peanuts and nuts. School is as good a place as any to deal with that reality. All I ask of the school is to exercise some common sense precautions and be prepared for an emergency. Every parent who has a child with food allergies has to make decisions based on what's best for their child, given the specific school, relative to their child's personality and level of allergies. If a school decides to ban peanuts, that's their decision. IMO, it gives a false sense of security, because, so many things have allergy warnings. Based on personal experience, hardly anyone notices them.

On the epi-pen: I wouldn't count on anyone, especially a kindergartener, knowing how to self-administer in the event of an emergency. Children (and even many adults) aren't always self-aware enough to recognize an anaphylactic reaction, much less be able to whip into action and give themselves a shot. It's one thing to train with the device when you're feeling fine, but quite another reality sets in when something really goes wrong. I would hope any school district that has students who require epi-pens makes sure all teachers and staff who come in contact with kids are trained to recognize a severe allergic reaction and are prepared to administer an epi-pen.

Peanut Butter substitute: We eat Soynut Butter made by I.M. Healthy. It's organic. It comes it different varieties, like crunchy, honey, no salt and chocolate that is so yummy, especially on graham crackers with a little marshmallow fluff.

Oh definatly. IN fact I think they should allow the teacher to have the EPIPEN. If they want the nurse to have a extra thats fine . But the child should have one nearby as well. Cafeterias as well I think. Its getting so commonplace now that all staff like you said should be trained.

I feel for your frustration! Some of my own family doesnt even get it. Its hard. But maybe as it becomes more common place ( even though I hope it doesnt) people will be more aware. They need to make some public service announcements about it.

 

[mrs.beast]

cinderlla73, i was not offended. you are a parent who cares about the safety of your child. i did not take it personally and as i said i do agree with some of what you said. thanks for the comment.

 

[1of6]

I am in the "please don't ban pb" camp. It may sound harsh but let me explain. DS10 is allergic to peanuts and soy. We found out in Nov. when we had him tested for everything at the allergist. He never ate pb (he didn't like it.) His reactions right now are digestive but I know it can change. He has an epi-pen in the office just in case.

After DS10 was diagnosed, it dawned on me that DD3 doesn't eat anything peanut. I had her tested just for peanuts and it was positive. She has never eaten any (she would spit out anything with peanuts in it even before we knew or ask if it had nuts in it.)

DD8 lives on pb&j at school. She gets a couple a week.

As long as there is education for the other parents and kids in the peanut-free rooms I don't see a problem with allowing pb in the school.

 

[Aristomommy]

My children's school allows peanut butter and they have not restricted any other products either. I have a younger brother with severe dairy and wheat allergy among other allergies. My mother was very vigilant about keeping him safe, but didn't expect to restrict what any other child could and could not eat. His allergies were airborne (wheat especially) as well as skin irritation and of course eating. There was a school year my brother was home because the school was going through necessary construction during school year and the dust, paint fumes etc. that didn't bother other children nearly killed him. I understand that this isn't an option for all parents, but I would like to see a mutual solution to help children with allergies and non-allergic children as well. Observing my mother, I know how difficult it is to raise a child with severe, life-threatening allergies. What I also learned from her was her resolve to keep the rest of us in the same household on normal diet as much as possible.

 

[Hannathy]

No it shouldn't be banned. PB is an excellent and easily bought source of protein for many, many children, especially from lower incomes.

I think arrangements could be made to accommodate the really small percentage of kids allergic to peanut butter rather than take this option away from folks.

 

[mrs.beast]

Oh definatly. IN fact I think they should allow the teacher to have the EPIPEN. If they want the nurse to have a extra thats fine . But the child should have one nearby as well. Cafeterias as well I think. Its getting so commonplace now that all staff like you said should be trained


years ago i had to keep it locked in a closet in my room (safety precaution so other kids could not get it and play with it )and i complained all the time to the nurse because if there was a need to use it i was afraid the time i spend getting out my key from my desk walking to the approved lockable cupboard, getting it open, and getting the pen out could take too much time and i would end up being too late. also i worried about what a sub would do. it is really more important for the child to have the pen on his/her person. if the child is at pe the halls, with a sub who does not know where the pen is kept, the few seconds/minutes of delay could make a life life threatening difference. now and for the last 3 or 4 years at our school all the kids carry them on themselves. please if your child has an allergy make sure it is not in the office or locked in a cabinet or it could be inaccessible when it is really needed. all people on campus should be trained to use epi pen every year, not just once because it is easy to forget and some things change (like spotting symptoms for certain allergies) at our distric ours are, even our custodians and grounds keepers who are not assigned to a school but float from campus to campus.

 

[cinderella73]

Oh definatly. IN fact I think they should allow the teacher to have the EPIPEN. If they want the nurse to have a extra thats fine . But the child should have one nearby as well. Cafeterias as well I think. Its getting so commonplace now that all staff like you said should be trained


years ago i had to keep it locked in a closet in my room (safety precaution so other kids could not get it and play with it )and i complained all the time to the nurse because if there was a need to use it i was afraid the time i spend getting out my key from my desk walking to the approved lockable cupboard, getting it open, and getting the pen out could take too much time and i would end up being too late. also i worried about what a sub would do. it is really more important for the child to have the pen on his/her person. if the child is at pe the halls, with a sub who does not know where the pen is kept, the few seconds/minutes of delay could make a life life threatening difference. now and for the last 3 or 4 years at our school all the kids carry them on themselves. please if your child has an allergy make sure it is not in the office or locked in a cabinet or it could be inaccessible when it is really needed. all people on campus should be trained to use epi pen every year, not just once because it is easy to forget and some things change (like spotting symptoms for certain allergies) at our distric ours are, even our custodians and grounds keepers who are not assigned to a school but float from campus to campus.

Oh yes I totally agree. The child should be able to keep the pen on them at all times. But sometimes a backup is needed and maybe a teacher could keep extras to be safe. Here in my school district they dont even allow a teacher to have them on their person or in the classroom and certainly not the child. They only allow the nurses. I am so glad as a teacher you agree . I wish my school district did. Maybe I should mail them some educational info on the it. I homeschool now but there are so many kids currently that have to deal with it. You would think a school would be better educated! I doubt our school even knows what the symptoms are. Sad really

 

[cinderella73]

No it shouldn't be banned. PB is an excellent and easily bought source of protein for many, many children, especially from lower incomes.

I think arrangements could be made to accommodate the really small percentage of kids allergic to peanut butter rather than take this option away from folks.

So are beans.

 

[shelly3girls]

None of my children have any food allergies but I truly appreciate the danger. It would be an inconvenience if our school banned pb since that is what DD8 brings to school almost every day. If there was a child with a severe allergy I would be completely fine if it was banned. I think it is the saddest thing to see a child forced to sit alone or at a special table b/c of an allergy. Food allergies are legally a disability (atleast in our state) and these children have the right to a safe school environment. I am willing to be inconvenienced to protect a child's life.

 

[monorailsilver]

None of my children have any food allergies but I truly appreciate the danger. It would be an inconvenience if our school banned pb since that is what DD8 brings to school almost every day. If there was a child with a severe allergy I would be completely fine if it was banned. I think it is the saddest thing to see a child forced to sit alone or at a special table b/c of an allergy. Food allergies are legally a disability (atleast in our state) and these children have the right to a safe school environment. I am willing to be inconvenienced to protect a child's life.

That just made me cry. I must be hormonal or something.

My ds (who will be 4 in September) has a peanut, treenut & dairy allergy & per the blood work is still allergic to egg & beef but I am able to give it to him with out any reactions .

I don't like to ban anything either but I would rather the kids be taught to wash their hands more often, or I should say the parents should remind, encourage, enforce (or is it inforce?) handwashing.

My 6yo dd eats PB sandwiches or has dairy of some form (milk, ice cream, cheese) but I have trained her to wash her hands after every meal & she washes them even if she has not had any of the offending foods.

My ds can only sit in his chair when he eats for fear of my 6yo's spillage!

I have had some of my dd's friends come over & they look at me in amazement when I make them wash their hands after they eat when they clearly have food all over their hands & their mouth. Some are even amazed when I make them wash their hands when they come inside from playing outside, school, gymnastics/sports but it's the rule in my house. Not only does it keep the toys clean from those foods, my kids rarely get sick.

One of my friends kids are always sick. I mean always & her kids don't wash their hands. Her oldest even said to me "my mommy doesn't make me wash my hands when I come home.". Well then you wonder why you are always sick then!

So basically I wouldn't ban it but my ds's peanut allergy isn't that severe (per the blood test, his dairy is about 10 times worse as is his tree nut one). However when I make pizza, I can not have his cheese-less pizza in oven at the same time as a pizza with cheese on it or else he has a reaction.

 

[skw444]

Did your daughter ever eat peanut butter before that incident? How scary...

Because of her egg allergy, we were told to stay away from peanuts until she was 5. So, she hadn't eaten peanut butter before.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Hi,
I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in and say that I ,too, think that the children's teachers should carry the Epi-Pens. I teach 1st grade and this past year I had a child with severe peanut allergies in my class and I agreed to keep an Epi-Pen in my desk. (Which I took with me if we went somewhere.) I was already familiar with how to use them (DH and DS8 both have them for allergies that are not food related.) They are very simple to learn to use and I know I felt a lot better having it close by. The #1 rule in our class was safety and I think most teachers would be very accomodating if the schools were willing to let them learn.