This is NOT right - kids' food allergies

[3timesoccermom]

This was mentioned in another thread and I wanted to discuss it but not in that thread. I also didn't think it fit HUTC as I am not hot, merely irritated by this issue.

I am sure food allergies (in this case - peanuts) or other nutritional issues are difficult and I do empathize, but it is not right to expect hundreds or even thousands of kids to give up bringing PBJ's for lunch because a few students are allergic.

It would have a much smaller impact on the rest of the student body (and their families) to have the few students with peanut allergies sit away from the others eating lunch.

That is definitely not a perfect solution; some will say that would be ostracizing those students, or that they shouldn't be deprived of the socializing that goes along with lunch, etc., but it is far more reasonable (and fair!!!) than inconveniencing and even depriving so many others.

PBJ's are 1) a well-loved staple for millions of children, 2) economical, 3) nutritious, and 4) easy to make/store/pack and even banning them from the school is not 100% foolproof.

It is a sad thing for a child (or anyone) to have issues of this kind but in the end, that is life, they will need to learn to deal and they will not be able to expect the entire population to jump through hoops for them in the long run.

I mean absolutely NO disrespect to anyone who is dealing with issues of this type.

[CouponSAHM]

Thanks OP for starting a new thread for this. I'm curious if others have encountered this at their schools?

I posted this in another thread:

My sons' little private school is the same! What's up with this??? My mom is allergic to nuts and we were taught how to be considerate around her, like knife in jelly jar First, cookies with nuts baked Last, and how to open door knobs with our forearms so we could wash up. But most importantly, SHE was taught to be aware and how to avoid the dangers. The burden was on her to be concious of her allergy, not make everyone else.
LOL sorry for the vent, just burns me up!!

[3timesoccermom]

You could not be more correct couponSAHM. It was your reply (and 1 other) in the other thread that got me started thinking about this again.

[Cynthiabutterfly]

When I was a kid, my diet was restricted. I agree with the OP, I would have been MUCH happier being sat with other kids in the same boat as me; instead of being forced to watch other kids eating things I was not allowed to eat.

[rebate_queen]

Peanut butter sandwiches are the only thing my DD will take for lunch.....I would be in a heap of trouble if they banned Peanut butter from her school.

[3timesoccermom]

rebate_queen - It's becoming more common than you think. A good friend works at a pre-school and they have recently banned it as well.

I think if I were a parent of one of these kids I would actually feel guilty if so many people had to change their habits on my (child's) account.

[dionada]

That's really sad. I'm sure it's for liability purposes - if a kid has a reaction (or heaven forbid, dies) because of a PB sandwich, the parents might try and sue the school. Most people wouldn't - but it only takes one devastated family and an ambulance-chaser to hit a school district with a huge fine (or more likely a settlement).

We need reform within the legal system, not the lunchroom. I can't even imagine a childhood without PB&J!

[moxi]

I have a close friend that has a child with peanut allergy. For him, it is a matter of life and death. He had a life threatening attack when a child breathed on him after eating a PBJ. The family did keep him out of school( a couple years) until the school went peanut free. I can understand the inconvenience of not being able to send PBJs with the kids, however I would gladly change the family diet to spare a child a severe attack.

[rebate_queen]

But for me, there is not the ability to change the diet....my DD is a VERY picky eater (since she was 2 years old, she's 10 now) and Peanut butter sandwiches are the only sandwiches she will take for lunch.

[judymd]

it irks me, and I'm gonna be asking questions at the parent's night.

Don't want to create too many waves since DD is going to a new school, and since its preschool and I have to bring snacks, it makes me crazy and other parents crazy since it seems like its always the same few snacks that are brought.