Peanut butter bans

by Maggie Vink (Subscribe to Maggie Vink's posts)
Aug 20th 2008 3:00PM

Categories: Healthy Kids, Nutrition & Supplements

Last year, my son had a classmate with a peanut allergy. In consideration for this child, parents were asked not to send in treats for the class that contained peanuts. But there was no school-wide ban on peanuts or peanut butter. Kids were still welcome to bring the old PB&J standby in their lunch boxes. Many schools, however, are choosing to make school-wide peanut bans to protect kids with allergies.

I'm not allergic to peanuts, but I am allergic to tree nuts. As an adult, it's difficult to know exactly what foods contain nuts that I may be allergic to. So, as a safety measure, I just don't eat anything that I'm not sure of. I can imagine that this type of self-monitoring is even harder for school-age children. And seeing how kids trade things in their lunch boxes so frequently, I can see where a peanut ban could be wise. (Imagine a kid bringing in a chocolate chip cookie that has some peanut butter in the batter. If that was given to a kid who has allergies, the child may not guess that there are peanuts in there, and then have an allergic reaction.)

So I wouldn't mind if there were a ban on peanut-based products altogether at my son's school. But some parents disagree and feel that the needs of a few shouldn't dictate what the majority does.

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Comments (5)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Gabrielle 8-20-2008 @ 3:53PM

I don't think it's realistic for a child in elementary school to 'self monitor', especially at the kindergarten/1st grade level. And I believe these bans are at the elementary school level.

I think folks who voted for that don't have kids or are lucky enough to have kids who arent allergic to anything. Can you imagine sending your kid to school every day worrying they will be exposed? I'd gladly pack something else for my daughter to make it easier for the kids with allergies (and there are more and more kids with allergies).

Tim 8-20-2008 @ 3:59PM

You have to realize that the issue can exceed personal responsibility. I'm a former preschool/kindergarden teacher. In my class I've seen allergy cases where the student did have an allergic reaction to students eating their PB&J in other areas of the room. The doctor explained that if the allergens become airborne and the child is exposed reactions will occur. After learning this we discussed the issue with the children then the parents. Everyone understood and was supportive. Education is the way to go here. People need to understand that their actions can put others at risk. School is not an option for these kids so why put them at risk?

Maggie Vink 8-20-2008 @ 4:06PM

I have heard before that peanut allergens can become airborne. I'm far from an expert on the subject (my knowledge being limited to articles I've read and to my own personal allergy to tree nuts).

The boy in my son's class last year was not affected by airborne exposure to peanuts, but if he consumed any he would be in trouble.

Any experts out there that can explain the difference? I'm assuming there must be levels of severity in allergic reaction.

fanny 8-20-2008 @ 4:36PM

I get the whole allergy thing and kids who are allergic to peanuts, but exactly where do you stop. My daughter had a kid in school who was allergic to eggs, so do we ban eggs? What about the kid allergic to strawberries? I know someone who had a child who was allergic to cats, she had a reaction because she sat near another child who had 4 cats at home. So do we now clean every child before they come into school?
I understand children can not self monitor, but a child with an allergy must be instructed to never ever eat anything from anyone else. The kid I knew who was allergic to eggs couldn't eat a thing that was brought in no matter what.
If you have a child that allergic they get a reaction to the airbourne allergen, then absolutely the parent should be talking to the school. However, banning one food to ensure a child doesn't eat it, can be a very slippery slope. Yes peanut allergies are extremely dangerous, but so are other allergies, eggs, milk, seafood, etc. So where do you draw the line? I'm not saying kids can monitor themselves, I'm saying parents have to ensure the child knows how dangerous it is etc.
It is not unacceptable for a school with a child with a high allergy that would react to peanuts in the air to ban them, but to just ban something cause someone might be allergic is a bit over top.

bunny 9-16-2008 @ 4:23PM

I am allergic to peanuts [I stop breathing if I eat them or smell too much peanut dust]. This awful allergy runs in my family.

That being said, when I was in school I KNEW NEVER EVER eat anything that was not from my home or to trade lunch items. I remember bringing my own food to parties to be "safe".

I am against bans as I don't think it is fair to the vast majority of kids who are allergy-free.

Part of having an allergy is to learn what you can/can't do. One has to recognize that the world exists and you need to adapt to it, rather than expect to be "catered to" or impose your limitations on everyone else around you.......