Peanut - free Schools

LaurasClimb
LaurasClimb Posts: 211 Member
in Chit-Chat
A friend and I just had a rather heated discussion about schools that have gone peanut - free. What's your thoughts?

Replies

  • dayone987
    dayone987 Posts: 645 Member
    As a parent of a non-allergic child it's a pain to find something quick and healthy that my kid likes and doesn't need refridgeration.

    But if my kid was allergic, I'd be grateful to other parents for not putting peanut butter in their kids lunches.
    After elementary school though, there shouldn't be restictions IMO
  • OnionMomma
    OnionMomma Posts: 938 Member
    I have a child who eats a PB sandwich everysingleday!! LOL If he went to a peanut free school he would starve!

    He has past medical issues that have caused him to have a limited amount of foods he will readily eat while I am not present to make sure he is eating it.....that's a VERY long story made VERY short.

    Even if he did attend a peanut free school, I'd get a 504 plan to make sure he could eat what he would accept based on a medical need, not a bratty child who is very picky.
  • _the_feniks_
    _the_feniks_ Posts: 3,412 Member
    I would have thrown a fit as a child as I :heart: PB&J. That being said, I understand the concern and would be OK with it as a parent.
  • Sarahkate1017
    Sarahkate1017 Posts: 24
    I am a teacher, and my school is peanut sensitive, meaning:

    -peanut free tables in the cafeteria
    -students who have a reported peanut allergy cannot consume any food not brought in from home

    This seems like a pretty happy medium to me, although I can understand peanut free schools for students in younger grades because they may not know how to handle their allergy yet, and when a student has a life-threatening peanut allergy, it is best not to take chances.
  • HiKaren
    HiKaren Posts: 1,306 Member
    Does that mean they no longer have any need for Jelly now too?? It just goes along with the pb butter. What about the kids that can have the pb butter? That means they don't get any now. Well that sucks for them then. : (
  • beach_please
    beach_please Posts: 533 Member
    My son's school is peanut-free. While none of my own kids have a peanut allergy, I've known some who do. I'm TOTALLY fine with the ban on peanuts and peanut products. I don't complain that I can't send peanut butter in with him. Instead I'm thankful that I'm not a mother of a child who can go experience anaphylaxis just from breathing air that contains peanut residue.

    It's a no-brainer to me. I don't even see what the issue is. I'm sure if the parents who have an issue with it actually had a child with a severe peanut allergy, they wouldn't' be complaining.
  • LaurasClimb
    LaurasClimb Posts: 211 Member
    I have a child who eats a PB sandwich everysingleday!! LOL If he went to a peanut free school he would starve!

    He has past medical issues that have caused him to have a limited amount of foods he will readily eat while I am not present to make sure he is eating it.....that's a VERY long story made VERY short.

    Even if he did attend a peanut free school, I'd get a 504 plan to make sure he could eat what he would accept based on a medical need, not a bratty child who is very picky.
    Just curious (and you can tell me I'm being nosy!) would he be able to try Sunbutter or one of the other peanutbutter alternatives?
  • LaurasClimb
    LaurasClimb Posts: 211 Member
    My son's school is peanut-free. While none of my own kids have a peanut allergy, I've known some who do. I'm TOTALLY fine with the ban on peanuts and peanut products. I don't complain that I can't send peanut butter in with him. Instead I'm thankful that I'm not a mother of a child who can go experience anaphylaxis just from breathing air that contains peanut residue.

    It's a no-brainer to me. I don't even see what the issue is. I'm sure if the parents who have an issue with it actually had a child with a severe peanut allergy, they wouldn't' be complaining.

    Thank you! It is so nice to see other parents be reasonable about this.

    We are not in a peanut - free school but I am sure I would be okay with it. Her argument was that the child would have to live with the allergy their whole life and needed to learn how to deal with it. (From someone who works in the school system, this argument really upset me!) She just couldn't understand that a nut allergy was not like other allergies!

    My argument was that, understanding how deadly a peanut allergy was, I would prefer to teach my kids some empathy. They can do without their PB & J at school for the safety of another child.

    Thanks...nut usually one to rant (he he...see what I did there...nut), I feel better.
  • sweetchildomine
    sweetchildomine Posts: 872 Member
    I think it's kind of silly in a way. Parents should make sure their children know the seriousness of the situation. I'm allergic to EVERYTHING and when I was a kid my Mom beat it into my head that I would literally DIE! One of my sister's children is the same way. She's only 5 and if you eat shellfish anywhere near her she starts screaming hahaha. Its so funny LOL.
  • ifitkillsme
    ifitkillsme Posts: 77
    Having been around a peanut allergy child I am very understanding of the situation. Our school does not allow any home baked products to be handed out for birthdays, parties, etc. They have to come from a store in original packaging. Many of our mothers are quite upset that they can't make treats for the classroom. I am all for the packaged items. We have a variety of allergies not just peanut in our small school. Also I am picky about knowing what kitchen my child's food came from, we have a problem with meth in our area and have had known "meth parents" bring food from their meth kitchens/labs!
  • brighteyes31143
    brighteyes31143 Posts: 87
    A friend and I just had a rather heated discussion about schools that have gone peanut - free. What's your thoughts?


    Ahhh after saving someone's life who is allergic to peanuts.. I think its wise to not allow them in schools.. It can take ONE BITE to send someone into Anaphalactic (SP?).. It was sooo scary watching that.. Soooo yea, I think its good :) Find another protein, SAVE A LIFE!!! :)
  • LonLB
    LonLB Posts: 1,126 Member
    A family i know has a boy with a peanut allergy. He packs his own lunch, and the school has eppi pens everywhere stashed away. Never had an issue at school.
    He's a great kid that is one of my Son's friends and I coach him in football. ANY thing the school has to do to keep him safe I'm all for!
  • paintlisapurple
    paintlisapurple Posts: 982 Member
    A friend and I just had a rather heated discussion about schools that have gone peanut - free. What's your thoughts?

    Absolutely no problems with peanut free schools...I am put off by the quality and food choices available from the lunch programs however.
  • choppie70
    choppie70 Posts: 544 Member
    I teach in a school that is "Peanut aware". The school lawyer told us we cannot use the term "Peanut Free". There is absolutely no way a school can make the claim that no peanut products or products that were made in plants that use peanut oil will enter the school. We strongly urge parents to refrain from sending any products with peanuts to school. We had a student who could go into anaphylactic shock if she even inhales peanut fumes.

    We have tables in the cafeteria that are for students who are allergic to peanut butter/peanut products.

    My daughter was in preschool last year and there was a student with a peanut allergy in her class. They were not allowed to bring any food into the classroom. I would have made sure that any food she may have brought was peanut free.

    I understand that a lot of kids are very partial to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But, there are other options now.
  • OnionMomma
    OnionMomma Posts: 938 Member
    I have a child who eats a PB sandwich everysingleday!! LOL If he went to a peanut free school he would starve!

    He has past medical issues that have caused him to have a limited amount of foods he will readily eat while I am not present to make sure he is eating it.....that's a VERY long story made VERY short.

    Even if he did attend a peanut free school, I'd get a 504 plan to make sure he could eat what he would accept based on a medical need, not a bratty child who is very picky.
    Just curious (and you can tell me I'm being nosy!) would he be able to try Sunbutter or one of the other peanutbutter alternatives?

    He was tube fed for about 2.5 years and had a severe oral aversion to any food. Switching even bread brand is a HUGE no no in our house. We don't even switch PB brands. :-(

    That's the hard thing about allergies, I completely understand, it is a life threatening issue for some kids, but my child has medical issues as well.

    PB is a staple for him, with his past weight issues and FTT (Failure to Thrive due to medical issues) we just can't get rid of it.

    He's going to private school anyways. The thought of him eating lunch successfully in a public school lunch room gives me nightmares.

    I've seen them, I was a teacher by trade before he was born and have since moved from private school to a public school setting.

    ETA but thanks for a suggestion. :smile:

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