Peanut-free Schools
Poor Mr. Peanut. He's been busted by the PC police.
We just found out that our kids' new pre-school is peanut-free. No PBJ sandwiches (our kids favorites). No crackers with peanut butter. I don't know if they are going to read the ingredients on granola bars and such to make sure there are no peanuts or peanut oil in them, but the school is a peanut-free zone.
I hadn't even heard of such a thing until a friend mentioned it a few months ago. I just laughed at the time. "You gotta be kidding me!" Well looks like the concept has gone mainstream. Seems like a pretty nutty concept to me. Something like 2% of kids are allergic to peanuts so you're gonna ban them from school? This is kind of stuff that makes liberals look like such nut-jobs.
What's next: cheese-free schools?
posted by Cranky at 9:29 PM
102 Comments:
I have teen-age sons but we went through this a decade ago with our daycare and then primary school so I'm surprised to hear its a new concept there.
I have mixed emotions about it... my kids have peanut allergic friends ( and milk, egg, you name it - these kids are on very restricted diets! ) and on the one hand these allergies seem to be worn like a badge of "specialness" by certain needy people, if you get my drift.
On the other hand, the allergic reaction can be very quickly fatal so 2% or not, do you want to be the one responsible for killing somebody else's child because your kid loves pb&j? Its not worth the the grief.
This allergy didn't exhist when we were kids as far as I know so maybe one day we'll look back at these times as we do with smoking in the 40's and 50's and say, "can you believe those fools scarfing down peanuts back at the turn of the century?!?"
9:02 AM
Well, maybe it's not that new a concept. Just seemed pretty strange to me. Like, do you really have to comb the ingredients in everything you send to school with the kids to make sure there are no peanut ingredients. If something gets through, and a kid takes a bite of it, are you liable?
Like all these things, there is probably some merit to it, but pretty soon we are going to live in such a restricted society, that everything will be banned.
Like I have a sister who has a diabetic son. There are lots of things that can make him real sick. Are all those things going to be banned from any other kid that's in school with him?
Where do you draw the line on these things.
9:16 AM
Good subject! I hate certain things about public schools already but I guess it is a small sacrifice for some of the benefits we received through the bridge program they have at our school. Our oldest son has a form of autism but the program enabled him to read, write and communicate quickly and he is now in the regular classes in first grade! I guess you got to take the good with the bad in any publically funded system. You get used to the no peanut thing fairly quickly anyway.
5:45 PM
My boys make their own lunches and having grown up with the concept, they comb the ingredients on their own granola bars - refusing to pack what might harm their friends.
This bizarre food allergy thing is something we've probably brought upon ourselves by exposing our children to environmental toxins in the womb or something so now we'll get to live with the consequences of of demanding bigger, more beautiful tropical fruit in February and smoked salmon at SPAM prices.
12:07 PM
Cranky:
Many candies and snacks marketed for kids (and adults, for that matter) now have notes on them in bold print letting you know if the product contains nuts or was produced in a plant where nuts are also processed. Some people are so allergic that even the dust can affect them. I'd think, however, that a school would only ban peanut products if they know a child has the allergy. This is how it is at my son's school. If there's a kid in class who has the allergy, then the class becomes a peanut-free classroom. The cafeteria has a special section for allergic kids to sit in, so the older kids can have peanut sandwiches, etc. at lunch.
3:57 PM
This is just a small preschool, and as far as I can tell from the paperwork, its just a blanket rule. Not because there is a specific kid in the class. Probably something forced on them by their lawyers or insurance company.
5:09 PM
My daughter's best friend, who happens to sit next to her in second grade, is allergic to several kinds of nuts - to the point that she never leaves the house without her epi-pens. So the entire class is peanut free. Yeah, it's a bit of a hassle making sure nothing that goes in our daughter's lunchbox (or in Valentine's/Halloween goody bags, etc.) has nuts in it. But better that than sending the kid into an attack.
There's a big difference between diabetes and nut allergies: Diabetics can only make themselves sick by ingesting the wrong thing. A kid with an acute nut allergy can get sick just by putting her hand down on a surface that's had the nuts on them.
11:39 AM
OK, people seem to be setting me straight on this peanut thing. I guess it has merits. Just a fact of life, and maybe a good thing in our new ultra-cautious society. As a parent, I still have to learn all this stuff. It's hard to know where the line is between sensible caution, and things that are just reactionary, and done out of fear of lawsuits, though.
And I still feel bad that Mr. Peanut is going the way of the Marlboro Man.
12:00 PM
I think this is really a non-issue. Peanuts and their products should be banned from schools. I know a pre-teen girl in my community died from trying a free sample cookie at a grocery store bakery. And my brother-in-law is allergic and his reactions get worse everytime. From eating a pudding he thought was butterscotch (but contained PB)he started to suffocate.
I grew up on PB & J and agree it is a staple food, but there is a real chance of death so is it worth it when there are other cheap healthy alternatives? To me it's better to restrict for those few hours at school in order to save even one life.
4:07 PM
OK OK OK. But something has to suck here. If its not peanut-free schools, then its got to be the fact that peanuts are suddenly so deadly. How did this happen? You know, the much reported story of the girl in Canada who died after kissing her boyfriend who ate a peanut butter sandwich turned out to be baloney.
5:11 PM
I'll tell you what sucks about it. The nut allergies were brought onto society by the processed food industry! Most people think that it is just a genetic thing...that one in a million of us just has a bad reaction to nuts. it's more than that. people eat a lot more processed foods than ever and dairy foods, which have been processed as well, sensitize the immune system. Most of us are okay, perhaps the only thing we see is blocked sinuses, more illnesses or skin breakouts. There is that small percentage though that gets a violent reaction and since the schools can only go so far with telling people what they should eat, have to restrict the foods that can cause death in kids. Other scary allergic reactions are know for seafood or eggs. I know people who carry the epipens for those.
2:36 PM
Didn't mean to post without a conclusion and that is this: When will it end? When will the public wise up and realize that these allergies have been brought on by their diets? There are reams of information about how foods can cause all kinds of illnesses when processed to death. Funny how quick people are to try the next 'meal in a pocket' without scrutinizing the junk they're made of. Eliminate the chemical processing, allow your immunities to get back to normal and a lot of these violent allergies will go away.
2:42 PM
I think it is really silly of cranky and sick of extremes to be so petty. Just thank your lucky stars you or a family mamber isnst acutly allergic. I have a little brother who has one of the worst forms of allergies, it is soo scary, knowing that everytime he walks into his first grade class, his life is on the line. You are complaining about trying to save someones life, that is disgusting. Dieing from an allergy is one of teh worst deahts. You go into shock and your body starts dying while you are still alive, everything begins to go into shut down mode. Would you really want you kid to see thier friend die on teh cafeteria floor like that. And dont say anything about the epipens, for some people it isnt enough even if it is administered immeadiatly. My broth who is only little need two shots from the paramedics to save him. it is a really scary thing. think about everything that has nuts, baseball games, airlines, so it is really ahrd. my brother is a base ball addict, and he loves the yankees, and he can never go to a game. Jsut be thankful adn stop complaining!!!!!!!!!!
11:06 AM
what sucks is that my daughter and son have to live their lives in fear. If you have a child w/ a peanut allergy, it isn't about getting sick (throwing up, etc.)--it is about dying quickly. They never leave the house without thier injectors, because you never know what the people sitting in the seat before you had, or what the cook in the cafeteria used the knife to cut a few minutes before.
Think about this--my daughter was rushed to the hospital during her first baseball game due to peanut shell dust in the air. She'll never see a ball game in person. My son is 4 and has to beg the attendant on planes to announce that he has a severe allergy and could die if someone sitting behind him has peanuts on the plane. Is it fair that a 4 year old has to live with that--that sucks.
12:39 PM
I used to feel the way you do. Then my son at 18 months accidentally blew up like a balloon and developed welts all over his body. He had labored breathing. He was in anaphylactic shock.
I know at least 8 adults with PA...it has existed for a while. It is just worse now. No one in my family has this except my son. I ate all natural, not peanut minimal processed foods during my pg.
150 kids per year DIE from the peanut allergy. Why is it worse than other food allergies? I don't know, but it is. It is highly unpredictable. YOu can have a splotchy mouth with the first rxn, and stop breathing with the second. No other allergy is as unpredictable.
As for a school staying peanut free, even if no kids in it...two things
1) a child can develop the allergy at any time. My allergis told me NO CHILD under the age for THREE should have peanut butter. THeir stomachs aren't equipted to process it. Some allergist argue if a child has had acid reflux or eczema, they shouldn't have peanuts until FIVE years of age. And a child can eat peanuts, one, two, ten or one hundred times, and then the following time, have a deadly reaction.
Also, peanut protein is oil based and VERY VERY difficult to clean off surfaces. Traces can be found even after thorough cleaning.
So now that you know all this...put yourself in my shoes for one day. You neverleave your home without cell phone, benadryl, and epipens. Even to run into the grocery or walk around the block. You READ EVERY label, and call companies if you are unsure. You can't go to most restaurants you used to frequent with your other children, b/c the same restaurants carry a lot of peanut products. Applebee's corporate policy is to tell peanut allergy customers that they woudl prefer they NOT eat at their restaurant!!! Every birthday party, play date, party, celebration...is a potential lethal experience. Think about that for one day. Try to live that ONE day...and then see what you think about the annoyance of a peanut free school.
Thank you for your time.
11:24 PM
While my family would never wish to put a child's life in jeopardy and abide by peanut free rules in my daughter's kindergarten class, and while we realize the seriousness of a peanut allergy and its consequences, I cannot help but be resentful that my daughter cannot have her usual pbj for luch and that, once again, we opt to change the shopping habits of 20+ families and the eating habits of 20+ children, instead of the school working with the one allergic child's parents to isolate that one child for safety's sake.
8:09 AM
I should hope that you would curb your resentfulness and, quite frankly, your self-centerendness to extend a little compassion to a child who could die from the wrong bite, touch, or whiff. Thirty minutes a day without a PJ sandwich will not kill a non-allergic child; however, the risk of that PJ sandwich (or any nut product) will kill an allergic child. And as for changing shopping habits--I'm sure yours have not changed, nor has the other 20+ parents. I have no doubt that you have bought foods which do not contain nuts, etc. It's not a stretch to send bananas or apples to school as a snack. It's not difficult to read ingredients. Any child who does not have this allergy does not have to worry about putting something in his mouth and wondering if it will kill him. Any child without a food allergy can go home and enjoy ANYTHING for dinner, ANYTHING for breakfast, ANYTHING on the weekends, ANYTHING during the holiday, ANYTHING during the summer months, ANYTHING at the movies, ANYTHING at a restaurant, ANYTHING at a birthday party, do I need to go on? The average life expentency of a person is approx. 72 years. This is approx. how long someone with a food allergy has to monitor the allergy. Compare that to 6-7 years that a child without a food allergy may have to skip PJ for lunch for the days school is in session.
7:16 PM
Again - it's another lost freedom. In general: Summer school is only for the stupid and not the normal. Special education and special tables with special teachers to help malcontents learn the ghetto languages. Expensive school sports played by the few. It's just the end of our freedoms and the begining of communism, which never worked.
8:04 PM
wow ok... your comment is terrible... i was the one who wrote about my brother the anonymous 11:06 one. I can't believe you are actually going to compare someone dying to communism. you think making things peanut free because someone could die is communism! what is wrong with you! how could you ever compare something like that to a type of government. You would want someone to die over the fact that you think nuts should be allowed because if they arent its communism! you know.. your saying that because you are ignorant. I feel bad for you because you will never get the opprotunity to look beyond youself. I look at my little second grade brother and i see what an amazing person he is... having the severity of an allergy he has has made him the most compassionate person, someone so respectful of differences. KNowing that my little brothers life could be cut short makes me look beyond my self, and i try to draw off of the amazing ability he has to respect people. My little brother who is a living, breathing, human being who is loved by so many, you think his life is worth something because trying to help save his life would be communism... grow up. Get out of this little sheltered box you live in. You need to be thankful that your life isnt as hard as his is at 8 YEARS OLD! be thankful will never have to experience something so horrific as seeing your little brother almost die from anaphylactic schock. From the other comments you made in your statment leads me to believe you just have a lot of growing up to do, and maybe you think all these things because you just dont know any better, and sadly, you dont try to either. Its sad because you dont care about the millions of people with allergies to nuts. and im sorry for you.
6:17 PM
My son attended preschool for the first time last year. We were excited for him. Unfortunately he had a peanut allergy and the teacher served peanut butter crackers to the kids on the first day of class, even after us telling her about the allergy and requesting that she send a letter home to parents requesting that they send other items for snacks.
My son passed away 12 hours later.
Kids this young don't know what they can and can't eat...as kids get older, they try to test it.
Be thankful you have your child today.
4:22 PM
Hey AH - my son has a severe peanut allergy, and I find it very frustrating that small minded, unempathetic losers like you get upset just because their kid can't have a peanut around my son. It is not an exageration to imagine the peanut your spoiled brat has to eat at school is a loaded gun pointed directly at my son's head. With your logic, just because your kid likes guns, you are in disbelief that the school has the audacity to ban guns at school. Your correct, though, that liberal nut jobs, like me, thinks its crazy that their kids shouldn't have to deal with a life threatening situation at school. Yeah, there are only 2% of the kids with the allergy, but its deadly AH. They can die in 30min if they accidentally ingest it. DO YOU GET IT NOW!!! THEY CAN DIE IN 30 MINTUES!!! YOU IDIOTIC AH!!! I thank God, though, that the kids in my son's class are a lot more understanding than their looser parents.
11:31 AM
As the parent of a severely allergic toddler, I get so angry with the sensitivity of others. This is a life we are talking about. No exaggerations, life or death. Should I be teaching my son about his right to bear arms, as these people callously talk of "excercising their freedoms". Until these idiots can get over themselves and selfish attitudes, which unfortunately they are passing on to their children, we need the schools to step up and protect our children. It seems no matter how hard we can try to educate some people they don't have the mental or emotional capacity to grasp the concept.
11:24 PM
It really does suck for the people who are allergic, but is that the fault of everyone else? Not even remotely.
I really do sympathize with them, but a line needs to be drawn here. How is it anyones fault that 1 kid out of 4 million is allergic to nuts? its not, but why should 3.99 million kids suffer because of 1 kid.
As i said, it really does suck, but its not my concern.
There are already too many people on thisplanet and the problems are jsut going to get worse.
4:05 PM
My son also has a severe peanut allergy and almost died from an accidental ingestion of peanut butter. He is 12 and lives each day in fear. His is afraid to touch people or things out of the house for fear of exposure and a repeat of the horrible reaction. For those parents who children live on PBJ please consider soy nut butter or other butters as an alternative to PB. I know it is an inconvience to you but it could save our children's lives. The funny thing is that all my son's friends go out of their way to accomodate him and it's the parents who are annoyed and complain they can't send PB to school. Many of these parents could take a lesson in compassion from their children.
7:41 PM
I'm sorry to read this .I stumbled upon it while trying to find a link between peanuts and smoked salmon.
my daughter had a severe reaction last night and now I'm afraid to feed her things I knew were good before .I think about that she could die everytime she eats.Each time she coughs I get the epipen ready.It is disheartening that not only we have to live in fear of losing our child everyday but we have to think about people who might not comply with the school rules because of their principles.
I don't wish this on any other parent.
6:38 AM
Since this blog is about things that SUCK I am going to give you my top five regarding this particular subject
1. Outliving your children -SUCKS
2. Tolerating assenine comments by people who neglect to research a subject- SUCKS
3. Co-habitating on the same planet with people who have no regard for others especially defenseless children - SUCKS
4. Praying to God that some parent doesn't decide a PBJ sandwich is just fine to send to a nut free school and kill my child in the process - Sucks
5. Having to grow up in fear that something as benign (to the rest of the worl) as a nut can kill you , leave you blind, deaf, brain dead or just unendingly petrified and ostracized because YOU are the kid that took away a FRIGGIN PBJ SANDWICH - REALLY SUCKS and it sucks even MORE that adults who are supposedly able to rationalize and sympathize and teach their own children to DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE UNTO YOU OR YOURS simply wont.
So next time one of you feels like sending your kid into a "nut free zone" with a nut go buy a gun instead , put a bullet in it and tell the kid to shoot. At least the victim won't have to suffocate to death .
12:21 PM
I continue to be amazed at the overwhelming stupidity I encounter daily. As the mother of a child with peanut, tree nut and shell fish allergies, it is truly unbelievable. You have been educated on the affects of eating allergens from other posters, so I won't go there, however, I would like to put it in perspective for you. Would you be comfortable if I sent cookies that contained rat poison just because my child could eat it without consequences? I would love to test this theory with all of those parents that complain about finding alternative snacks. Let's send cookies, sandwiches, etc. that contain rat poison, acid, and a number of other poisons to school and see how parents of "healthy" kids react. God forbid their kids be subjected to something that could potentially kill them. Furthermore, what sucks is the selfish mentality of people like you.
4:30 PM
To the moron that posted that 1 in 4 million kids is allergic, do your research. It is 1 in 25 school aged children, which comes out to about 2.2 million. Furthermore, 1 in 17 under age 3 have a food allergy. 150-200 people die yearly from eating a food they thought was safe. GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BEFORE POSTING.
4:37 PM
Consider you son and daughter lucky that they don't have to worry about this. My daughter has to. Eliminating the PB&J is a small price to pay to not kill a child. Get off of you butt and make a ham and cheese. Is it really that hard. I am not willing t5o play Russiam Roulette with my daughter..... maybe you should walk a mile in our shoes.
5:51 PM
The original poster should feel ashamed. I have a cousin who is in second grade with severe peanut allergies and what that family has to go through to keep him safe is unreal and incredibly difficult on the family. I couldn't imagine going through what they have to go through just to get an education for their child, and you know why? It's because people like you are so self centered and ignorant that they have to fight tooth and nail. I always tell them once he is out of elementary school, kids will start understanding the seriousness of this and be sympathetic. But the stories I hear is that the parents are the one's who are making such arrogant comments. Quite the world we live in. Liberal nuts to a deadly allergy? Absolutely incredible.
1:44 PM
I LOVE PEANUTS AND NO ONE CAN STOP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ALEADY ALMOST KILLED A KID BY EATING PEANUTS INFRONT OF THEM WHEN I DIDNT KNOW THEY WERE ALLERGIC..... I FELT SO BAD FOR HIM......
R.I.P. JOHNNY TESSALO MY GREAT FRIEND WHO DIED OF PEANUYT ALLERGIES AND ALSO R.I.P. JESANEE BOLARADE MY OTHER FRIEND AND R.I.P. YVONNE SAFIRE MY OTHER FRIEND
5:15 PM
This is why I am having such a hard time with my kids. My Twins are allergic to peanuts among many other foods. If they come in contact with it at all they will go into shock. That means if your kid was to eat it for lunch, then play on the monley bars ahead of my boys they could then touch it and have a reaction. The oils of peanuts stay on your hands and mouth for 6 hours after you eat or handle it regardless of handwashing. But you must be right, lets make sure you child gets to keep the favorite food of theirs and well ban my kids. They don't deserve the same education as yours because they are different. How self centered can you be? What if it was your kid? did you ever think of it that way?
8:39 PM
You are so rude about this issue. I have to live my life worried if someone before me ate a freaking peanut on the desk. And if I touch it I'll die.
How can you be so heartless to find this a joke?
1:00 PM
Look,
I get the fact that there are so many problems with children and that the majority of the world does not have an allergy but I have dealt with my nut allergy through school and other young children and parents like yourself do not understand the severity. Essentially, a child very young doesn't know how to deal with their allergy so they aren't going to know a nut can harm them. You have to respect that or your going to kill someone else's child in a matter of minutes. I respect the fact that people simply don't understand the allergy and I'm not a charity case either. But when your very young, you know probably just about as much about your allergy as the parent sending a peanut butter sandwich to school. Kids begin to share snacks and BAM.
2:02 PM
Why do parents send their severely allergic children to public school? It's like putting them in front of a firing squad every day. Even if the school is nut free, that isn't enough to protect those severely allergic. What about child endangerment laws? While everyone wants their child to be "normal" eventually you have to realize your child is different and act accordingly.
5:34 PM
You are impossible. Are you that ignorant or that insensitive. I have lived my entire life with my nut allergy, and know my child has it as well. There were children over 30 years ago with the allergy, and unfortuneatley it is handled the same way. The child is isolated, teased, bullied, and most importantly in fear of their life every day. That is some childhood, let me tell you. You should be thankful that the preschool your child is going is a pioneer regarding this situation. I am currently trying to change legislation both nationally and state wide to be more proactive in dealing with children with allergies. I had to hire a lawyer to make policy changes at my sons elementary school to ensure that he will be safe. So rest assured if I get MY way, AH like you will have to live by my laws...... PEANUT FREE public school system. It might take some time, but it will be the only answer to resolve this issue. There is legislation alreday being voted on to require that all restaruants list every ingredient in every item listed on the menu. SO if you still think this is a joke, not warranted -- I would like to place you in a bubble and see how long you would last.
3:48 PM
Seriously? You would rather a child die just so your child can have PB and J? Okay, whatever.
My son has to read every label EVERY time to make sure a product is safe and stays safe. We've taught him that if it doesn't have a label, he can't have it. We've had fellow students wave peanut butter sandwiches in his face and parents complain that they couldn't be bothered to read a label and didn't care to. He's dealt with it but life sure would be easier for him if his cafeteria was peanut-free.
10:37 PM
I stumbled upon this post because like the original poster, I was also ticked that my child's preschool is going peanut free and it is hard to believe that one can dictate the behavior of everyone. It is not that I am insensitive to the issue but like any parent I do think of my kid first. My child is a resistant eater, much different than a picky eater... resitant eaters usually eat only 5 or 6 foods and do not get the required nutrition because they won't eat. PB is my childs ONLY protein (won't eat meat, cheese, beans, soy). I give it to him as often as I can in any given day because this is his only source of protein. A school going peanut free takes away a whole food group for 8 hours of his day. I understand your side of the coin, can you understand mine?
12:24 AM
So feed him peanut butter at home at lunch and dinner and for a snack when he gets home. What's the big deal? He's not going to DIE if he doesn't get protein during the school day.
5:43 PM
I am sitting here in tears as I read this... my daughter is severely allergic to nuts and I am trying to figure out how to convince her school to go nut-free and I came upon this post.
I confront the fact that she may die because of this every minute of my life. I have no sympathy for the "picky eater" argument. Try feeding a child who cannot eat eggs, dairy, wheat, soy, or nuts. There are substitutes. Soy nut butter, sunflower seed butter.
Educate yourself and realize that if your child were the one with the life-threatening allergy (often times which can be airborne or contact only!), you would have a totally different opinion. And I realize going nut-free isn't a safety guarantee, but I have no doubt that it helps with younger children who don't always understand about sharing food/treats, don't wash hands well, have their fingers in their mouths all the time, and are unable to manage their allergies.
Spend eight hours in my shoes and you won't ever care about sending in a PB&J again.
4:39 PM
Our elementary school decided over the summer to go Peanut Freakin' Free. Out of the nearly 1000 students at our school, there are only 3 that are allergic, and only ONE of those is considered severe enough to be affected by airborne peanut proteins. That particular child & several of his friends eat in the library every day.
If it were my child, I wouldn't demand my school to make it a peanut free zone. I'm just not that selfish, that I would put my ONE child above 900+ other children, I'd figure out a way for him to stay safe without making the remaining student body be subjected to HIS lifestyle.
In my instance, enough parents voiced their opinion to the school board that our principal is now claiming there was a total misunderstanding. She seems to think that the parents at our school are morons and can not understand the meaning of a letter coming home stating that we must not send peanut products to school, nor do we understand the words PEANUT FREE SCHOOL that are posted on every commons area door & the entrance doors. Oddly enough, it seems that our principal has made a big mistake, she didn't present her plan to the school board.
11:08 AM
This should not even be an issue. Protecting a kid is more important than anything. If YOUR child had a serious allergy like that, how would YOU feel? This world makes me sad.
8:20 PM
Know What sucks???People like you that think your child is gonna suffer b/c they can't have a PB&J at school. My daughter could DIE within minutes of exposure. But maybe your right... We could just ban the kids not the nuts. What rite do I have asking you to care about my childs life?? Maybe kids with allergies should have to be home schooled...Do you believe in handicap parking spaces..or is that inconvieniant for you as well?
5:54 PM
My daughter is 14 years old and has always been able to eat peanuts and now she can't even be around anyone who has eaten it. Her air way closes and she has been close to death. It's not a fun situation to be in. I believe if your child was in a life threatening situation and it was as easy as having their piers refrain from peanuts while in school to make your child SAFE, you would understand and want the school to do everything to make your child SAFE. Unless you have experienced your child gasping for air, you would not understand. I believe it is ignorance in your part to not be able to say " IF IT WAS MY CHILD I WOULD WANT HIM/HER TO BE SAFE" instead of thinking of it as an inconvenience.
12:26 AM
CRANKY,
My daughter is 14 years old and has always been able to eat peanuts and now she can't even be around anyone who has eaten it. Her air way closes and she has been close to death. It's not a fun situation to be in. I believe if your child was in a life threatening situation and it was as easy as having their piers refrain from peanuts while in school to make your child SAFE, you would understand and want the school to do everything to make your child SAFE. Unless you have experienced your child gasping for air, you would not understand. I believe it is ignorance in your part to not be able to say " IF IT WAS MY CHILD I WOULD WANT HIM/HER TO BE SAFE" instead of thinking of it as an inconvenience. HAVING A DIABETIC CHILD THAT CAN GET SICK IS ALOT DIFFERENT THEN HAVING YOUR AIRWAY CLOSE.
12:47 AM
For the purpose of enlightening you and all other parents who are still in the dark about peanut allergies, let me explain it using this analogy. Imagine having your child sit down to eat in their classroom and somebody went around and sprinkled rat poison on the desk around your child's food and then told them to be careful not to eat it or even touch it. Peanuts are the equivalent of poison to my son and no reports of "inconvenience" for a fellow parent are going to make me want to have your child "learn" about allergies from the death of my son.
2:55 PM
Cranky and the other opposers of peanut free schools,
Maybe you will develop an anaphylactic allergy to peanuts and soon know what it is like to live in fear and hell every second of your life you fools!
10:18 PM
For all you parents that complain about your child not having peanut butter and jelly at school....for just one moment picture holding your child in your arms as they gasp for air and their tiny little body swells up and they use what little air they have left to cry because they are so scared, or nevertheless the child that was given something with a peanut or nut ingredient in it and no one noticed right away (which could be a matter of seconds) and they collapse to the floor and it is too late to save them. My son could also die if given any kind of nut product and I found out after he was given nuts at a cookout and went into anaphylactic shock...so many thanks to the peanut free schools and daycares.
1:22 PM
Oddly enough, as long as I've been watching this thread, it still astounds me that so many of you people that know or have children who are allegic would actually wish that same thing on other people.
I don't think anybody that has read this post or replied to it has ever denied the severity of the peanut(nut) allergy and not a single poster has wanted to put those allegic children in harms way, but seriously, there are other ways of dealing with the peanut allergy other than banning peanuts/nut products from schools 100%.
Personally, I have zero objection to no peanut products being used in the cafeterias (peanut butter cookies baking in an oven can certainly cause a reaction because of the large quantity of protein in the air), nor do I object to the school cafeterias refraining from serving peanut butter sandwiches. However, the average school may have TWO children who are severely allergic to nut proteins, those two children can be protected simply by eating in a different area. I'm not suggesting they be relegated to sitting alone!!!! I'm saying that it only takes a moment to ask a table full of students if they have peanut butter for lunch, if anyone says yes, then either have those children or the allergic children move to opposite sides of the cafeteria. Most cafeterias are large enough that the small amount of protein in 4-5 sandwiches will not 'float' across the room to endanger the allergic children.
My children are 8yo. They DO understand that if they take a peanut butter sandwich for lunch that they must put their trash in their lunchbox, not the trash cans, and they must wash their hands thoroughly after eating. I don't think there is a parent in the world that wouldn't be willing to compromise in order to protect another child... but then again, reading the replies from some of you who have peanut allergic children, I could be wrong. How sad that while you, as a parent, want to protect your child, you would wish harm on another.
9:32 AM
I too have a child with a severe peanut allergy. My God if anyone ever witnessed their child having a reaction they wouldn't even consider writing to this forum. Because of intollerent people in our school I considered removing her from school - but hey the principal was all over it when it came to loosing the funding of 2 children.
Since moving to a different school with a so called peanut table where kids sit with their PB sandwhiches, we have way too close a call. One day the lunch room was not available, grade 4,5,6 ate lunch in my daughters classroom. The next day my daughter joins her reading group at a table and instantly breaks out all up and down her arms where her skin touched the table, luckily she did not put her hands in her mouth or it would have been over. She is doing so well in this school she has good friends and good academic results but those things don't matter if she isn't alive.
The problem with peanut butter is the residual oils left on the tables, water fountains and door knobs in schools.
6:12 PM
My son is allergic to peanuts. He just started Kindergarten this year (Fall '08).
His allergy is extreme as it causes anaphyaxis (anaphylactic shock)when peanuts (or trace of peanuts) are ingested (through mouth or eyes).
In his case (and a large portion of that 2% of allergic kids) anaphylaxis can occur immediately and he could be dead in under two minutes. That's not even enough time to get off the playground.
Now, just so you know, I used to subscribe to the same attitude you do. Why do we have to cater to the minority and where does it end?
Think of it this way:
Every child who has peanuts (a very large percentage) is essentially carrying the food equivalent of a gun to school. The difference is there is no sound to indicate a lethal charge has been deployed.
Last I heard, metal detectors have gotten very popular in public high schools. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say less than .01% of children have been known to carry guns. Yet, we still have metal detectors in schools. Talk about catering to the minority!
The fact of the matter is that for some unknown reason, we are seeing a huge increase in the number of children who are severely allergic to peanuts. The numbers have doubled in the last two decades. So if it seems strange that you are hearing more about peanut allergies, don't be surprised.
My son's school does allow peanuts. They have attempted to make reasonable accommodations(peanut free table and epi-pen trained teachers).
We live in a world where peanuts are abundant. It is important to not shelter him so much that he develops a false sense of security.
I gotta tell you though, every day he goes to school, and every day I am scared sh#tless at the thought of what could happen.
I guess that's part of being a parent, but please, don't take peanut allergies lightly and have a little compassion for those who have to deal with this burden. It could happen to you, you know.
2:07 PM
My son is so severely alergic to peanuts that he has had third-person contact anaphylaxis. He stops breathing when anywhere near peanuts. He stops breathing if you had a PB&J, then I touched something you touched and then he touched something I touched.
So, to the folks who are upset having their school go Peanut-Free- Imagine how upset you would be if your child DIED because someone couldn't find a new lunch to bring to school.
3:13 PM
you may feel differently if your child was the one who was allergic to peanuts. it's a small price to pay to ensure the saftey of those children! how selfish of you to want your kids to be allowed peanut butter at the risk of other children's lives! it's a small price to pay. my daughter doesn't know the difference between soy butter and peanut butter and she's had both. she wants to keep her brother safe. people need to realize how serious and fatal this could be. show some compassion for those who live with the fear of going into shock everytime they are around food!!!
9:58 AM
I wish to god to all the people out there that are complianing about having to send there child to a school with no peanut butter sandwich ( poor babys!!!) that you should never have to go threw the day to day troubles and worrying of having a child with allergies, your complining about one think being band for a few hours of your childs life, try telling a 4 year old that he cant have cake, choc, lollies biscuits etc because if he does IT WILL KILL HIM, so get over it and try and understand how hard it is for us parents out there to leave there children every day in the trust of someone elses hand.
4:05 AM
What would be reeeeally cool, is if all you people that are still bitching at us that think there are alternatives available, would actually learn to at least use spell check. Your ignorance with proper english & spelling truly explain your reluctance to see the other side of the coin. ANY child going to school these days could DIE at school.
9:01 AM
I see your frustration with not being able to give your kids their favorite sandwich for just a portion of their day, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'd so much rather be in your shoes than having to worry that my son will die... DIE or possibly suffer brain damage because people can not be compassionate towards others!
You really think you are on the hard side of this? Can't your children come home and eat all the peanut products they like? My son has severe allergies to peanuts and tree nuts and I have to worry about sending him to school with students who's parents cant show compassion! Its not like anyone is asking you not to celebrate a holiday, just not eat peanuts! Its a life or death situation and I hope you can see the severity of these allergies and the importance of your help and that its a health issue, not political or just a preference from some crazy mother! Please be more open minded about this!
11:51 AM
I really really wonder how all of you people who are against this would feel if your child had a LIFE THREATENING nut allergy. All the things our children cannot have because it could kill them, and to think, your upset because the schools want to take one thing your child CAN have because it could potentially save another childs life. Its really teriible to know that there are parents who feel this way, especially because they are going to raise thier children to have the same views, lets just hope thier children never end up with these allergies for they would give them peanut butter anyway so as not to have to go without it.
11:08 AM
My 2 year old son went into anaphylactic shock just by being in the same room as a peanut product. His brush with death was how we found out about his peanut allergy - our lives will never be the same. Peanut free schools give him the chance to have at least one normal childhood experience. But more importantly, they give him and every other peanut allegic child in school a chance to live. Let me repeat that - it saves lives. Forgive me if I somehow feel as though other parents' frustration with their children not being able to eat a peanut butter sandwich is less important to me than my child dying. Go to a different school if it frustrates you that much - my child does not have that option. I am truly saddened by the thoughtless, selfish, and ignorant comments made on this blog, although I would like to say thanks to those who left comments that explain the importance and severity of the situation.
12:45 PM
I'm glad that none of your kids have medical conditions. It must be nice. I hope if they did develop a medical condition that people would show some compassion. So when some innocent kid is seizing on the floor from your kid's peanut butter sandwich it will be ok because your kid has the right to his peanut butter and the other kid didn't have a right to be safe in school. I suspect that if it were your kid with a peanut allergy you would be screaming the loudest. Maybe you should splurge and buy your children some healthy nutritional food instead a $2 jar of peanut butter to live off of.
6:38 PM
A child could die, DIE!! Anyone who does not understand - Stop. There is no issue here. A child would be placed DAILY in a life threatening situation by something as easily avoided as peanut butter. Schools are only a start, restaurants are next!
2:23 PM
If children can't get used to living with their allergies when they're in school, then when will they learn? The world can't be peanut free. There will always be peanuts in movie theaters, parks, restaurants, not the mention COLLEGE and the rest of life. What's wrong with educating kids starting in preschool about allergies, and particularly allergies of children in the class - instead of shoving the problem under the rug for as long as possible to make believe your child isn't at risk? Furthermore, creating a "peanut free" school gives your child a false sense of security, since in most cases it's basically the honor system. Should your child let his or her guard down in a peanut free school and not be as careful about hand washing, etc. and then be caught off guard by a child who has a granola bar that uses peanuts? They need to be aware of their allergy and learn to deal with it in healthy, self-aware ways. This problem isn't going to go away when they matriculate out of whatever school theyre in now, so don't fool them into believing theyre safe.
2:31 PM
things-that-suck: a 5 year old little girl dying because she ate peanut butter.
12:57 PM
Everyone who thinks it is a pain on their family because their child cannot bring a pb&j sandwich to school for lunch grow up. We are talking about not killing a child. I think I am a little more worried about the kids of the selfish parent passing that onto their children. Can we isolate those children at lunch and snack so they can learn that their parents are idiots.
2:20 PM
Mr. Cranky,
An alternative would be to let your kids bring peanuts to school and finally get rid of the inconvenient 2% of the kids that are allergic to peanuts.
The only drawback is that your kids would watch the other kids dying from an anaphylactic reaction.
Very inconvenient, indeed!!
4:45 PM
The focus on this thread seems to be on PB sandwiches...the problem is that it is ALL products that are made with peanuts or even processed in the same factory as peanuts that are banned in these schools. That includes a lot of items. The problem I have with the peanut free school zone is that, for example, our school is peanut free, but they don't have all of the kids/teachers/guests wash their hands when they get to school. Doesn't this completely void all of their efforts? A child could eat PB or a related product before school and still have residue on them when they get there... I don't ever wish for a child to suffer. If a school zone is supposed to be peanut free, then ALL of the proper precautions should be taken and GOOD lunches should be made available for all of the children. The school food that our children are fed may be peanut free, but it's NOT healthy!
7:42 PM
Careful you are showing your ignorance! And you call yourselves parents! You have not a clue how difficult it is to manage a child with a life threatening food allergy! Unfortunately, I have no doubt that all of you that don't have an ounce of empathy for those effected will someday be faced with your own challenge regarding your child and you will see how ignorant you really are!
11:12 AM
I just read the comments and am appalled with those of you complaining because your kid can't take pbj to school. What's wrong with you people? These are children's lives we are talking about. Would you send your kid to a school if you knew that poison might be in your child's water?
A Peanut/Tree Nut allergy is considered to be the most fatal allergy of all. It is unpredictable, one reaction can be minor, with hives, swelling. The next reaction can be dangerous, air passage closing, anaphylaxis, shock, death.
A person with a peanut allergy has only to breath it and could have a reaction.
This is the reason Peanuts/Nuts are being banned by schools.
Yes there are other allergens out there, dairy, eggs, soy, ect. However, these allergens must be ingested to cause a reaction, very different to peanuts/nuts.
A few months ago, my husband and I ordered take out. We advised the restaurant that we had a peanut allergy in the home (our son). We were assured that the food we ordered did not contain any peanut/nut products, however, almonds were in some dishes, not ours. We ordered, knowing that our son only has an allergy to peanuts and not tree nuts.
I had made dinner at home for our son, so he did not eat the take out.
I spilled some sauce on my shirt, wiped it off then proceeded to play with my son. His eye began to swell. He rubbed his face on my shirt where I had spilled the sauce.
WE TOOK APPROPRIATE ACTION TO AVOID A MAJOR REACTION, then called the restaurant to inquire about ingredients again. We were told that although they did not use peanuts in the recipes, they could not assure us that their ingredients had not been CROSS CONTAMINATED at their Suppliers'/Vendors.
Bottom line: PEANUT / TREE NUT ALLERGIES ARE DANGEROUS! In some cases a legal liability to schools.
It isn't that hard to read ingredients and pack a peanut/free lunch.
You are blessed that your child does not suffer from food allergies.
Help us, keep our children safe!
3:55 PM
every quotes all kinds of stats, or stories, that hav the status of a guy in the pub said . Apparently 10 children died from an allergic reaction in the USA last year according to the CDC. 2.1 million people die from car accidents . Simple math 10 relative to a huge population is dare I say peanuts. Each individual death is horrible but banning peanuts in all schools is infringing on the rights of the vast majority of children , the rights of the many outweigh the rights of the few or am I wrong?
5:40 AM
I once hear the term “Don’t let your arrogance get ahead or your ignorance”. With that in mind I did some research. It looks like the number of kids with nut allergies has doubled in the last couple of years. No one knows why the allergy even exist. The thought is that it is the way we genetically modified the foods. This started “mainly” in the late 80’s. Since then it is now main stream. Kids now have reactions to it but we as adults are kind of immune to it. I met a girl at the restaurant that had a late onset at the age of 19. Go figure. So my thought is simple. If there are kids with these allergies I don’t see why my kids “have to” have P&J. I see it as a small sacrifice on their part. I’m not going to be that one jerk that because of their arrogance kills another student because “my” kids shouldn’t have to eat something else.
3:57 PM
Yes you are wrong. Everyone has a right to live. You don't have a right to peanuts you fool
3:59 PM
Peanut/tree nut allergy is the largest growing allergy in the country. It has boomed since the year 2000 and experts are not sure why. If you don't believe me, you could get off your opinionated but and do a little research yourself before making comments. If you haven't figured it out yet, I have a peanut/nut allergic child. Guess what? We didn't even have to ask for it when he was born. Plus, every Halloween, birthday party, school party,restaurant visit,and label reading absolutely everything worries are just a bonus. At age 9 he carries and knows an epi-pen and how it works. He also has known for a long time how important this is because if he eats the wrong thing, it can kill him. Not every child gets to carry this with them everyday. As far as nut free zones and schools go-as long as there are children who haven't been trained to wash their hands after they eat their food around, I think the schools have to heed the caution before letting them use and touch the same supplies, books, utensils, etc.Sounds like fun, huh. I am sorry you and your child is missing out on it.
4:27 PM
I have a child that is 2 years old that has food allergies. Untill you see what can happen you really don't know. We also have a second child that is 8 years and has no allergies. We know how it is to have to take the time to make a GOOD lunch the night before. So, what is the LAZY way, come on admit it? Make a PNJ. To all parents lets get off your butts and turn off the TV and make our children a heathy lunch for the next day. How about a ham, turkey or even a chicken sandwatch? And how about throwing in an apple.
1:44 AM
My four year old child is airborn and contact allergic to peanuts. Which means if your kid is eating a peanut butter sandwich while reading a library book and my son picks it up next... it could potentially kill my baby! He IS that allergic. At preschool, kids are too little to advocate for themselves; they don't understand how to decifer what is and is not safe to share. I am so scared for him to begin public school in September. My kid could DIE based on what you send to school for your kid to eat.
9:03 PM
My four year old child is airborn and contact allergic to peanuts. Which means if your kid is eating a peanut butter sandwich while reading a library book and my son picks it up next... it could potentially kill my baby! He IS that allergic. At preschool, kids are too little to advocate for themselves; they don't understand how to decifer what is and is not safe to share. I am so scared for him to begin public school in September. My kid could DIE based on what you send to school for your kid to eat.
9:03 PM
This is why I homeschool. I am very blessed to be able to do so. I could not bring myself to send my Peanut Allergic Son into the school systems to deal with people who are so ignorant. It just infuriates me how selfish and self centered people can be. I really don't even know what to say to people that are so stupid. I feel that peanuts SHOULD be banned in preschools and elementary schools when a peanut allergic child is present. I feel as a parent of an allergic child it is my job to show my Son how to navigate this world safely and be able to take care of himself. However, very young children aren't able to take care of themselves therefore we as adults have to protect them. I would think by middle school a ban would not be necessary. It's very upsetting to me that people actually think my Son's life isn't worth the trouble. That a PB&J is more important then him. That an innocent child's life should be overlooked because he is a small percentage of the population. Wow, what ever happened to compassion.
9:17 PM
I have 5 year old twins who have severe nut allergies. I think elementary and preschools should definitely be nut free. Children of this age can not be responsible for what is put into their mouths. They depend on those who are responsible for them to manage what they eat. My children can die from just touching nut residue. If it were your child, I guarantee you would feel different. You need to pray to the lord that your children don't develop life threatening allergies. With your attitude, they would not stand a chance.
4:10 PM
Someone above mentioned liability. That's a good point - it's important to know who to sue in case your child dies because of their own defective immune system.
It's not just about kids bringing peanut butter sandwiches to schools - it's the fact that because some people are so allergic, they could die from second- or third-hand contact. A library book is taken home and a kid eats peanut butter crackers while he's doing his homework. Instead of breakfast, a student running late might grab a peanut-butter granola bar to eat at the bus stop. These things could kill a severely allergic child, and that means every kid and their families have to be the peanut police. Some families will do it cheerfully, some will do it grudgingly, and some (like the type who leave their kids in hot cars on summer days) won't do it at all. So are you going to bring the force of law into it?
It's usually sad when a kid dies, and I don't wish that kind of pain on anyone. But I think in a lot of cases where schools are going peanut-free, it IS an effort to limit liability of the school in the event a child has an anaphylactic reaction, because these days, death means dollar signs.
Bottom line, YOU brought that precious unique little snowflake into the world, and primary responsibility rests with YOU to keep it safe from harm, no matter how susceptible to harm it might be. If others want to help you, great. If not, suck it up and deal.
Christ, 100 years ago kids died all the time, and back then they were actually useful. The "WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN??!?" hysteria, and the fetishization of motherhood, has GOT to stop.
2:34 PM
If you're looking for things that suck, try checking your outlook first.
9:22 AM
I just had this agrument with my brother and father. My brother threatened to deliberately send PB to school with his daughter to define her right to have it at school. And their wonderful idea is to force allegric kids into special schools and isolate them. My big question is should I warn my niece's school district of the threat because this is life and death. I've worked in preschools as an aide, I've accidentally triggered a reaction in an adult. I know this is real, they think that food allegries are make believe and if your child is allergic they need to go to private or special schools that is not a legitimate option since we all pay for public schools.
6:33 PM
"This is kind of stuff that makes liberals look like such nut-jobs."
Um, fuck you.
I'm a liberal, and this kind of thing makes me crazy. As a liberal, my belief is that I should be able to do what I want and so should you. It should not be my responsibility to monitor the world for someone else's kid's allergy.
8:53 AM
know what really sucks is that my kid can die, from any tree nut peanut any where near him. its even airbourn. so wait until your healthy kid gets home to eat peanut butter. dont be an ass. think of want your saying do you want a seven year old to die in front of your kid. i dont think so.
11:44 AM
If you are so scared that your child will not come home after a day at school because of peanuts and you constantly put yourself through that everyday, then maybe public school isn't the best option for your family.You can't say that your child will miss out because there are plenty of kids that are homeschooled that are properly socialized and what not but you can gurantee your childs safety. That would be the best option.
12:01 PM
I have a severe peanut allergy, and I personally think that peanut free schools are a great idea. I do not want to sit at a special table with only a couple other kids. I want to sit with my friends and not have to worry about having a serious allergic reaction!
-A Worried Student
7:18 PM
I think these "parents" who are complaining that their poo children can't have a pb&j sandwich at school are pathetic! I have 2 children with AIRBORNE peanut allergies who live in fear everyday and who can't go to a lot of birthday parties, or live a normal life! If this was your child with a LIFE THREATNING ILLNESS..I'm sure you'd chang you ind. Please go educate yourself before you sound foolish and heartless. This is childrens live we're talking about. Imagine if your child was liable for a classmates death! So ignorant! Our children deserve the SAME PUBLIC education as yours. I pay thousands in taxes very year.
10:59 AM
you have no idea how ignorant your blog on this subject is...educate yourself!!
8:44 PM
All I have to say is, you people are disgusting. Do you have no hearts or feelings regarding the life of a child???? Peanut allergies are like walking around with a loaded gun... I would NEVER wish a peanut allergy on any child. No one will ever understand the fear, unless you have a severly allergic child. I can't believe fellow parents would even question following a peanut free rule for the sake of a child...
12:40 AM
Everyone who has said something negative towards the peanut allergy schools or negative at all is just plain stupid. Educate yourself on how this allergy can harm others.
Treat others as you would want to be treated!
12:03 AM
everyone who is a naysayer to the peanut free school idea is a suffering idiot. you would not feel the same if this was your child/loved one. it's really a VERY small thing to not enjoy a pb and j in while at school~ get off of the soapbox. it's really a choice between something you think tastes swell and someones life. how selfish can you really be?!
2:10 AM
Original Post was about being resentful that your Preschool is nut free....instead of being bitter, pick another school and go there.
When we shopped preschools, there were dozens that allowed nuts and dozens that didn't.
6:55 PM
I found this site while googling why my son should have to stop bringing peanut foods to his preK(new mandate, public special needs preK). He is already in a substantially separated class for his disability, PDD-NOS, yet now he has to be separated again for someone else's disability? I have fought hard to have him where he is and his own disability limits how he reacts to changes, this VERY MUCH includes his diet. I am mad yes. Why can't that parent of the allergic child, who is not even in my son's class, take the same cares and measures I take. I feel my son's disability rights are being violated in this. No my child won't die from his disability but he is limited already when he goes places due to his own special needs that really why should he suffer(age 4, low comprehension) someone else's? Selfish you say-> whatever, having dealt with my own children's disabilities I am sick of my children being limited yet others' get the considerations-And these same parents are the ones who look at my child's behaviors, speech and mannerisms at playgrounds, stores, malls and such with their high and mighty opinions! Spare me!
Mad Parent
10:13 AM
Also, Please Note:
It is NOT just pb&j sandwiches but all peanut containing products! The list of therefore banned foods is pretty long since the american diet uses peanut products in many processed foods. This includes the oils and such. After my own dd had to go on a no wheat, eggs, whey, casein diet for 2 mos, it is shocking to see how many allergens are in every day foods. The schools answer is always "Just Ban" yet they do not provide the non-allergic families with options such as refrigeration for fresher, healthier foods. HHHmmmm. schools need to provide help with other options if they want us to limit our children's diet or they can feed our children the appropriate diet. Most preschools I am finding have no lunch program. So a parent has to choose healthy foods that can be "stable" at room temp or risk deadly food poisoning. So maybe I do go along with the peanut free, will you parents go along with helping feed our children safely too? Support us in demanding a decent lunch program even at preschool level or providing refrigeration for snack/lunch foods?
10:34 AM
Boy are you people glib towards the people whom you are asking lifestyle changes from! 'poor baby can't have a pbj, its lazy to make pbj instead of a ham sandwich, you are so cruel/ignorant/immoral, and even I WISH YOUR CHILD WOULD DIE FROM SUFFOCATION'
My daughter goes to a peanut free school. It's a hassle. It'snot just peanut butter sandwiches as you damn well know but are convinetly leavingg out of your argument. It is anything made with peanut ANYTHING. Which is pretty much everything besides fruit cheese lunchmeat and other simple foods.I don't automatically check labels on the few premade food items I buy. I've learned to check it before it goes in that lunchbox tho. My local supermarket has a dismal selection of peanut free items so no I cannot simply pick up sunflower butter instead. I go to a specialty market. I pay more money. And I do this gladly to keep my daughter's best friend safe. Her name is Roxy and she is adorable. I would never hurt her for my convince or preference. BUT DONT BE A BITCH. MMMMMMMKAY.
People like me are a liiiitle jaded on the whole allergy thing. Oh your allergic to wheat and dairy? You mean it makes you fart. Your allergic to dairy/rice/eggs/fish/soy/wheat/nonwheat/partially wheat/sunshine/immunizations and a few more? Ok. I somehow don'tt think we are Goo.g to be besties. In fact, if we do our research as some of you kindly suggest there is just as much info on peanut allergy mass hysteria and over diagnosis AND studies that say peanut free schools are more of a risk than they help because more children BECOME allergic due to never being exposed the same way our immune systems are weaker because of all the antibacterial fluid moms rouse their children in 7 times a day. That's a fact. It's in Time magazine. Look it up.
I am not discounting the moms who have held their child in their arms while they swell and suffocate. You are a very very few. I am no stranger to the fear of my child dying. My one year old son has neurofibromatosis1. He grows and will continue to grow hundreds of tumors in his body throughout his life. Some are on the surface of his skin and people stare and ask rude questions. Some are dangerously close to vital organs. But I'm not (bitchily) asking you to cut out every carcinogen out of your life. Am I.
In conclusion: educate people. Inspire people. You will get nowhere being rude about it.
PS. If my post contains grammatical errors please don't discount the information and opinions I have conveyed. That is a classic tactic of someone who knows their argument is NUTS.
8:14 PM
If your 8 year old niece died from peanut allergies, you might change your tune. Talk about something you understand.
7:51 PM
Just came across this selfish comment. Being a mom of a 5 year old with a life threatening peanut allergy, I can tell you that schools that allow peanuts could be compared to a school that allows loaded guns. Think about a 5 year old with a peanut butter sandwich sitting next to my child. Just sayin.
9:32 PM
More and more children are being born with life threating food allergies. Peanuts being the main one. People need to get on board with this. I have a daughter that is allergic to peanuts, severly. I expect people to respect her situation as I would if someone else's child had a disability and it is a disability. We are now looking into social security for my daughter being that we cant send her to school and we don't have the means to home school being that both me and my wife have to work or even a private school, who has the money for that.
11:44 PM
Just a small FYI, I didn't read all of the comments. However I would like to share that my son has life threatening allergies to peanuts. If he smells the peanut he will go into shock, his blood pressure drops and it all bad from there. I don't know much about Diabetes but I don't think anothers actions from across the room could effect a person with diabetes as it could for my son cost his life.
1:22 PM
I think the author has realized that he/she was wrong. Name calling is not going to help the situation. If you really want to make people realize the seriousness of food allergies you need to educate them, not call them a "dumbass." Perhaps the author will write a new article entitled, "Things that suck: Being wrong about a very serious issue" or something along those lines. ;)
4:03 PM
I have a 5 yr old daughter with a tree nut allergy that will start kindergarten next year. Reading some of these comments absolutely terrifies me. Anyway, we have to keep our daughter away from peanut butter too, since this is what she initially had a reaction to (I'm assuming a cross contamination in a tree nut facility). I find that we have no problems with Sunbutter. Sunbutter is made from sunflower seeds and we love it (hated soy). It is peanut-free, tree-nut free, and made in a faciliity that is also peanut and tree nut free. I order it on Amazon and we're also lucky that our supermarket sells it here locally.
11:31 PM
The kissing thing may or may not be bologna but there is the Sabrina Law in Ontario, Canada. I'm a teacher in Canada and many of the students eat in the classroom. We don't have a cafeteria so it's extremely serious. I use to teach in the states and I felt like many of you but my tune has changed. All of the teachers are trained yearly on how to use an epipen and the students can sniff a peanut out a mile away. I'm just so thankful that allerject now exists here. 2 months ago I found out my child may have a peanut allergy. We are waiting on testing but at least I know here that my child can go to any school and be safe!
2:39 PM
Humans are the only species on the planet that will cater to the genetically disadvantaged to the detriment of the rest of the population. Talk about natural selection! We used go live in Suffolk, Virginia. That is the peanut capitol of the world. Yearly peanut festivals with peanut butter sculptures and food galore. No allergies. They grew it, picked it and ate it. But God forbid darling little "aiden" ( a lot of those these days) has to sit someplace safe to eat....ban the whole freaking school. Mindless libtards! As if nuts were the only hyperallergenic food on the planet. Wait till those kids have kids...sit back with some popcorn (if it will me allowed) and watch the show!
1:19 AM
The peanut bans are ridiculous. Parents of allergic children should (and he responsible ones do) teach their children to only eat their own food and to ask questions if someone wants to serve them something else. Parents of non-allergic children should not be forced to accommodate everyone else's allergies. Sure, little Jimmy is allergic to peanuts, but little Susie is allergic to eggs and little Martha is allergic to dairy and little Emily is allergic to strawberries and little Johnny is allergic to gluten and little Tommy is allergic to soy and little Anna is allergic to beef...once you accommodate one it becomes hard to justify not accommodating all of them and pretty soon all that can enter school is water...but some people have skin reactions to water so I guess we can't have that either...hungry children have difficulty learning. My picky-eater preschooler whose allergy is not peanuts should not be forced to go hungry at lunch because some other parent can't be bothered to teach their kid to avoid their allergen.
9:40 AM
You actually have the nerve to be upset about "the no peanut thing" when you yourself has a son with autism and you deserve support from the school that caters in the needs of your son. I guess it's only important to you if it directly affects and helps you. Your a disgrace to all parents with children of disabilities.
1:46 PM
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