Peanut free school? - Big Big Forums

magenta · 09-09-2009, 10:08 AM

Our elementary school went peanut free this year.
There is a student who just entered 1st grade who is allergic to peanuts. Are any of your schools peanut free? We have to start reading labels while shopping. I am not complaining, just curious as to how common this is nowadays.

Any tips on brands would be appreciated. (Besides fresh fruits & cheese)The school sent home a list of peanut free foods, but alot of it I do not think is good for lunch.

The list contains Sugar cookies, glazed donouts, hershey kisses, chocolate teddy grahams, Oreos, Saltines, chips....These I do not send w/ my kids to school for lunch.

Anyone with some knowledge would be appreciated. My kids do not like lunchmeats (I perfer them not to have all the sodiom anyway) Peanutbutter sandwiches are OUT! Of course, being a staple of my second graders life, is going to be challenging for him more than me! lol

jasmine · 09-09-2009, 10:19 AM

so your children are banned from bringing peanut butter sandwiches in their own personal lunches they pack for themselves? I do know the seriousness of peanut allergies/reactions but also do not think it's fair for other students to be limited to what they put into their own bodies/eat. I think the staff, students and parents can be educated on what all includes the peanut free diet.
I know there was someone in school when one of kids was much younger that was allergic I believe to dairy products, they had to be very careful on what was served to the child at parties and stuff.
I think it is great that they want to look out for the child with his peanut allergies, but not limit what others can eat in their snacks and lunches. JMO

magenta · 09-09-2009, 10:30 AM

Oh yeah, the whole school every student & staff member. I am not going to call the school and complain because for one, I don't know if I can articulate my self to sound like I am not caring for a child's health, and I keep coming back to a child's right to a public education trumps kids rights to PB & J. ? IDK

My DH is highly pissed off about the whole thing. He thinks they shouldn't put out 300 students & staff for one child. I guess I see both sides, I wouldn't want my kid to be sick but I also see the inconvience and the cost of my groceries going up.

There will be no more classroom snacks for B-days & holiday parties either.

ttistin · 09-09-2009, 10:35 AM

I do understand, in the school I worked at in Alabama we had a child that had a peanut allergy and we could not have peanut butter in the kitchen at all. Some people have a more sever reaction to even being near it, so just to be safe they keep it out of the school.

For lunches maybe try something like pizza rolls, tortilla with pizza sauce and cheese and whatever toppings they want? Left overs in a thermos? I am sure there are plenty of sites out there with a lot of ideas for you.

My kids school has not been through this yet, I am sure at sometime it may happen. So lunches have been easy, but if it happens I understand.

Jenefer3 · 09-09-2009, 11:04 AM

I don't know about that child, but I do know that some people with peanut allergies can have an issue with it being near or on someone's breath, but also what if a child in a different class has a peanut butter sandwich then goes outside for recess and plays with that child and didn't wash their hands thoroughly? That could create a huge medical issue for the child.

I'm not saying I agree with banning it though.

Urban Cowgirl · 09-09-2009, 11:05 AM

It would really suck for me! That is all my 5yo will eat for lunch!

At our school they have peanut free tables in the cafeteria, but I would not be surprised if the school went nut free at some point.

I used to live in Military housing and they were like townhouses, well my next door neighbor would swell right up if I opened a jar of peanut butter in my house. She was deathly allergic and extremely sensitive to it.

iluvmybaby · 09-09-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magenta

Our elementary school went peanut free this year.
There is a student who just entered 1st grade who is allergic to peanuts. Are any of your schools peanut free?l

OK I am going to say it, this is bull hockey. BULL HOCKEY, I have severe food allergies, what if everwhere I went I said, you cant serve X at the resturant or X at my friends etc. I suck it up, I bring my own food to friends at a party ((and share)) or I chose something at a resturant that doesnt have X in it. If this student cant have nuts then his parents needs to pack him a lunch and tell him not to eat at the cafeteria

Quote:

do understand, in the school I worked at in Alabama we had a child that had a peanut allergy and we could not have peanut butter in the kitchen at all. Some people have a more sever reaction to even being near it, so just to be safe they keep it out of the school.

Then this student needs to have his lunches catered to by his parents. I have deathily allergies and I could not imagine the whole world stopping to accomodate me.

Urban Cowgirl · 09-09-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvmybaby

OK I am going to say it, this is bull hockey. BULL HOCKEY, I have severe food allergies, what if everwhere I went I said, you cant serve X at the resturant or X at my friends etc. I suck it up, I bring my own food to friends at a party ((and share)) or I chose something at a resturant that doesnt have X in it. If this student cant have nuts then his parents needs to pack him a lunch and tell him not to eat at the cafeteria
Then this student needs to have his lunches catered to by his parents. I have deathily allergies and I could not imagine the whole world stopping to accomodate me.

I can see your point here. The child does need to be taught that the real world will not tip toe around his/her needs.

magenta · 09-09-2009, 11:38 AM

I agree, the child does need to be taught. That is one of the main arguements among us mothers. I honestly do not know what is right or wrong. I really feel that our school district is doing it to prevent liability. It is rumored that the mother of the allergery kid threw a huge fit at the school and that they folded.

I also feel that one day this kid is going to be out in the real world without a 100 people looking out for him and he is going to have a big blow to his world.

My son is not allowed to have Mountain Dew. (No, it won't kill him or anything) But he will tell you if you offer him, No, I am not allowed to have that. He is 7.

Like I said I don't know what is right or wrong...I am all over the board on this one.

Licchl05 · 09-09-2009, 11:43 AM

My babysitters son is allergic to EVERYTHING...eggs milk chicken...but he can eat oreo's...im confused why it's on the list??

magenta · 09-09-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Licchl05

My babysitters son is allergic to EVERYTHING...eggs milk chicken...but he can eat oreo's...im confused why it's on the list??

I assume it is because there are no nut products in it. I know there are wheat & soy listed on the back of oreos. I looked at the grocery store.

The list says specifically "Oreos: Original, Double Stuf, Mint Creme, Chocolate Creme, Golden Oreos, Golden w/ chocolate (NOT Peanut butter creme or Oreo Cakesters)