Peanut butter issue - Parenting Issues Message Board

mommyof5 · 02-25-2003, 04:56 AM

Hi everyone, I was wondering if your in the same situation?
The school my children attend does not allow you to send peanut butter sandwiches for lunch because of other childrens' allegies to it (this includes granola bars with peanuts, muffins with peanuts, peanut butter cookies,etc. You get the idea. If you do you're sent home a note NOT to do it. (They worry about the kids swapping food - which they do). My kids love peanut butter!, not as an everyday thing but shouldn't I be given the right to send it?
I understand it's dangerous for the other children but they don't say anything about eggs, eggs sandwiches, tuna fish sandwiches, etc. what about the children who are allergic to those and other things?
My own daughter is not allowed grapefruit, grapefruit juice, or anything containing grapefruit (not that many kids like the stuff anyway) because it will interact with her medication (tegretal) and make it toxic. So last year (kindergarten) I taught her not to swap foods or to ask a lunchroom monitor before accepting any food ar drink from other kids. Why can't other parents teach there kids to do the same?
Sorry if I seem in a huff about this but I've been dealing with this for 7 years now and it's always only "peanut butter" that's an issue! Aren't allergies to fish, seafood,wheat and eggs just as bad and should be a concern?
Oh, maybe I just need to vent but I still don't think it's fair

. I'd like to hear from others about there lunch food rules, if there are any or not?

mommyof5

kellaz3 · 02-25-2003, 05:51 AM

Hi Mommyof5,

My children's school is the SAME way and my oldest is bummed she can't bring her peanut butter crackers to school for snack.
However, being the parent of another child with bad food allergies, I do agree with the school. Some children have such bad reaction to peanuts, that even being NEAR them could cause them to have throat swelling. My son is HIGHLY allergic to citrus fruit: Oranges, pineapple, lemons, etc., and also carrots!!!! If he has any of those items it is a medical emergency!!!
Yes, seafood is another highly allergic food, and the reason being that's not eliminated at school is because who's going to bring THAT??

Peanuts/peanut butter is eliminated at school, because let's face it, ninety-nine percent of kids actually eat that.
Most children with allergies know not to eat them. But just being around them can cause a severe allergy outbreak and then there's a situation at hand.
All parents need to respect school rules and policies regarding highly allergic foods like peanuts. You could save a child's life!!

Kelly

Greenberry · 02-25-2003, 06:26 AM

It makes me angry to hear of things like this. I assume that your children go to public school. Perhaps I am mistaken about that, but public schools seem much worse about making rules that cater to the lowest common denominator and punish the more responsible. If my child had an allergy so severe that she would DIE if she was in the same room with a peanut butter sandwich, I think that rather than impose her problem on a school full of hundreds of children, perhaps it would be better to homeschool or make other arrangements for her education. But hey, that's just me!

kellaz3 · 02-25-2003, 07:45 AM

To reiterate, schools usually only impose this rule in the classroom ONLY as it is a smaller environment and when there's a class party. If parents are bringing in items for a class party, the "allergic child" may not be aware of the ingredients in the food.

Now, the cafeteria is a different story. Peanut butter sandwiches are offered in my childrens' cafeteria. Why? Probably because it's a larger area and obviously the child knows not to order that item, and the sandwiches are wrapped so it doesn't touch another food.

Homeschooling would be an ideal situation, but not everyone can do that, Greenberry. Also, peanut allergies are not the lowest common denominator. Peanut allergies make up over half of food allergies in children. A lot of children outgrow allergies at a certain point as well.

I don't think any child without allergies will suffer if they can't have peanut products. They can eat them at home. There are lots of other snacks to choose from to bring to school. All parents should respect the child with the allergies in the classroom.

My son has allergies to certain fruits and carrots. He knows not to eat them EVER. However, I have an EPI pen in the classroom and in the nurse's office along with Benadryl.

Until you have a child with severe food allergies, please please don't judge. It can be a dangerous condition!!

Kelly

Chelle1977 · 02-25-2003, 08:28 AM

I think they ban peanuts and peanutbutter because, as someone already mentioned, just being around it can cause deadly reactions. I don't think many other allergies are that severe. And as Kellaz pointed out, allergies to PB are more common.

Shouldn't children who are deathly allergic to PB and peanuts be able to attend a PUBLIC school, free of fear? Feed you kids PB toast for breakfast or in sandwiches on Saturday.