We pay an awful lot of attention to what our commenters have to say, and so we took note of an argument that cracked wide open yesterday amongst the readers of our piece on packing healthy kid lunches.
By the way, re: peanut butter allergies in the schools... this might sound harsh, but other people's weaklings aren't our problem. Until the last 50 years, this would've been part of natural selection. Now we want to coddle everyone. If your kid can't handle peanut butter, keep them locked up in the house for all I care... but don't expect everyone else to have to "accomodate". - Joe
The problem with your horrible comment is that your kid's wayward peanut butter at lunchtime could kill a child with a peanut allergy. I have a son with a peanut allergy, & I assure you, he is no weakling. Allergy to peanut products has been on the rise & can be mild to deadly – no need for you, who has been blessed with such a healthy child, to be so vicious about it. Geesh! - JT
Say some smart, insightful stuff, and we just might feature your comments in an upcoming post.
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Regardless of which side of the issue you come down on, you *must* read the article entitled "Why your child can't bring peanut butter to school (and what you can do about it)": http://snacksafely.com/2011/11/why-your-child-cant-bring-peanut-butter-to-school/
First lets look at the outcomes of financial stress that the schools will be put in, if some one dies from eating peanut
based products at the school. I hate paying taxes but our free Country forces us to. Know lets consider a law suit
against the school for endangering some ones child and or the death of the child. Your taxes will receive a hefty hike and no one is going to come out ahead. Also do we segregate children of different race, gender, religion and or family preference. I know some ignorant people still do segregate but lets get real we are in 2011. The laws state that segregation is unethical and morally wrong, so who are you to say all children with allergies should be segregated. Would it be OK for me to say because your child has freckles they have to ride a separate bus, eat at a different table, or be victim to genocide to meet my needs. That would be ridiculous wouldn't it. Lets also look at the ADA Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 which insures that no person can be discriminated against based on illness or disability.
Geez! These parents are 'egocentric'. Can't you americans spare a life just for once and stop the 'me' talk?
This is not about 'parenting' skills people! Get a grip, I mean you all need a pep talk on 'understanding' and 'compassion'.
Where is the sense of 'community' here? If it's a life-and-death situation, then give way! To have another day of life is way important than a 'peanutbutter fantasy' of a child!
These parents are sending the wrong message to their kids!
This week my 12 year old (whom is peanut allergic) was bullied in the lunchroom. The kid smeared peanut butter on
his face and clothes. Needless to say, not only was it extremely scary but a very close call. Luckily he got the Epi-Pen
in time and the ambulance came quickly. We spent 2 days in the hospital. We can press assault charges if we want. But,
we are letting the school handle it for now.
So, for you negative (nay-sayers) on this site. SCREW YOU, My kid almost died this week.
Unless you can keep your unruly bullies under control. There should be no Peanut Butter in the lunchroom.
As a PA Mom I beg you PLEASE press charges we have to send a message to everyone that this is attempted MURDER! I am pleading with you to do so, us other PA parents will stand behind you 110%. Don't let this kids get away with torturing your son.
There was a student in my elementary school who was deathly allergic to peanuts. There was one instance where he caught a wiff of peanut butter and was sent to the ER. My school did accommodate his needs by allowing whatever grade he was in the first round of lunch. Also, there was a two table boundary set up for those who did bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like me. So I either sat in the middle or at the other end of the table from him. It is what it is, young students go with the flow.
First:
To the guy who posted a link trying to assert that people can be allergic to water, please read the contents before posting links, so you don't look too ignorant.....
"While the exact cause of this condition is uncertain, some investigators suggest it is a result of extreme skin sensitivity (but not allergy) to an added ingredient (chlorine, fluoride, others) or mineral present in the water."
Nobody is allergic to water, we ARE mostly water.. Some people, however, are allergic to chemicals that can be found in municipal water supplies.
Second:
I know people who have terrible reactions to sunlight. Perhaps it is time to ban the sun. Who cares that the sun gives warmth and life to billions. It makes a few people sick.
We need to build an opaque sphere around the Earth so those unfortunate few with sensitivity to sunlight are not inconvenienced with such things as sunblock, parasols, and staying out of the sun.
Ultimately while a peanut ban may be wonderful for those who suffer from a peanut allergy, it only solves one of the problems of food allergies. In the USA we recognize 8 top deadly allergens; peanut, tree nut, soy, shell fish, fish, egg, wheat and dairy. The children who suffer from life threatening allergies to the other 8 allergens will not benefit from the ban. There should be a comprehensive policy on managing the allergens per child's needs. It's not easy but it's now life as we know it. Individuals with food allergies has tripled since 1997 and the numbers are only going to rise. It's time we look at it seriously and start managing this epidemic.
I'm a teacher in a small private school with three children who have anaphylactic reactions to peanuts. This means that if they ingest even traces of peanuts, their throats will close up and they will go into respiratory distress and potentially die. The parents of these children know that the world at large is not nut-free, and it's unreasonable to try and put these children in a bubble. They (and we) are giving them the skills to manage their own allergies so they can be responsible adults. This does not mean a nut-free school, nor does it mean a nut-free table, because those things are virtually impossible and they set these kids apart from their peers in a way that's unhealthy. What is does mean is that these girls make sure that they wash their hands with soap and water before and after they eat. When there are parties that involve food, they bring their own. We keep the peanut butter in the back of dining hall so that there's little to no chance of cross-contamination. And most importantly, these girls keep an Epi-pen on them at all times, just in case.
I recently took two of these girls on a two day retreat with a sleepover. I carried an extra Epi-pen in the pocket of my pants, as did one other teacher. The chances of a reaction are not particularly high, but they do happen, and the shot of epinephrin will save their lives. Children with severe food allergies need the skills to get along in the world, and keeping them in a nut-free bubble as children deprives them of the chance to develop those skills. It also gives other children the opportunity to develop a sense of compassion and empathy, and to learn how to deal with crisis situations. Everybody wins and no one has to be a selfish douchebag about it.
I think a combination is in order. School should stop serving it, however a nut free lunch table should be designated for the kids with allergies, and any friends that want to sit with them have to accommodate. If the severity is the child cannot be in the same room, then perhaps a separate lunch room or lunch time then. Its not right to tell a parent or child they cannot eat something because of someone else, rather look for a solution that will be pleasant to all.
This poll is so biased. I would never say "tough luck" to anyone. However I believe strongly that peanuts should be allowed in schools. It's the bullying that needs work. You might compare this issue to gun control. We have a right to own them, but no way do we have a right to mis-use them. I believe that we all have equal rights to buy and eat the foods we want. We do have laws that guarantee those freedoms, thank goodness. But we also have laws that punish bullying, thank goodness. You might also compare this issue to contraception in schools. We can provide education, condoms and even demand abstinence, but we can't keep girls and boys from having sex, even with laws in place. The peanut allergy issue is so emotional, I believe, because people don't like to admit to the truth: The truth being: 1. It's not fair to limit what others eat, and 2. Kids will continue to bully. I don't have a solution, only the belief that we can't take away freedoms, and that we need new solutions to enforce bullying laws.
Kate – your comparison to gun control is dead on. Guns are a leathel weapon and therefore need to be handled with care and controlled by laws. As a society we have decided children are not capable of carrying loaded weapons into a school building, ever, even if they are trained to used the gun properly. But we allow every child to carry peanut butter with them to school, without any training about the leathel properties of peanuts – why is this acceptable?
Home-school everyone. Schools are just disease reservoirs that make the entire community sick. (They are also the preferred hunting ground for bullies and predators.) If all the kids were home-schooled, they would also be safer. Isn't safety the most important thing?
My son has a peanut allergy and it is not too severe. But I think if schools take away PB&J they should add something else to take its place, ie.) sunflower butter/almond butter...etc. I also think that it is not really fair to other children that do not have allergies, they get the shaft. But for some parents to say who cares about your child so that my child can have PB..SHAME ON YOU...that is wrong, that is like saying I will sit by and watch someone suffocate a child and do nothing about it. If it was your child you would want something done. Whether it be a separate table for the ALLERGY kids..like they are lepers. It is such a terrible thing allergies and that it has so many people in uproars its crazy that we all can't get along.
First off, for all the people with lame excuses as of why children with peanut allergies should be treated like "rusty" from the mask, should be extremely and completely ashamed and embarrased of themselves. As a teacher of students with special needs, it is appauling that someone refers to students with peanut allergies needing to "ride the small bus" and having to "go in seperate classes". Having a food allergy does not impede their education, therefore they should not be put into a self contained classroom, in lamens terms, I think its a bit much to bring back segregation dont you? As for the people and I hope not parents of actual children who said that "normal" children should chase around with open faced sandwiches to those who could die from encounters with this very product, are basically teaching their children how to become bullies and murderers, congratulations and job well done, did I mention I pray to God that my child does not attend your child's school (and he doesn't even have a peanut allergy). To those people who used the excuse that without peanut oil, "OMG" our earth will suffer, what will we ever do. We are talking about banning it in schools, and secondly, join a environmental club, I dont think your car that runs on peanut oil is the only source of saving this world! The truth is whatever disability, ailment, or allergy a person has, isnt it just, oh I dont know humane, respectful and down right important to ensure the safety of those around you. If someone has a peanut allergy keep it away, if someone cannot inhale smoke because their lungs will contract, smoke somewhere else, if someone cannot be around bees, dont take them near a hive. Whatever the case may be, having your child avoid peanuts during school hours is so much of a sacrifice or burden that its simply out of the question to have them wait until they get home. You can't afford anything else you say, then you definately qualify for free lunch, and if not then I think that is a much bigger issue to focus on with your local schools than if you can send in peanut butter sandwiches. Heres a thought, have a heart and maybe use this as a life lesson to your children. That we sometimes need to make sacrifices for the better of the whole. I read so many comments that said what about the others when "50% of the allergies in school are peanuts", even those who have children with milk allergies complain. Why even chance, having one death and keeping peanut butter in school, then not allowing your child to have peanut butter throughout the school day and have no related deaths at all.
I understand the want for it to be permitted – many families are using government assistance – like WIC and foodstamps and PB is a STAPLE for these households. If you have never had to be in this situation – consider yourself lucky! I have known many families that ate only peanut butter and bread for days on end because ends meat was not met.
I understand that allergies are a big deal – but are the schools not responisble to ensure a child with sun allergies have a safe environment to learn (with proper tinted windows and such?). Do you feel that people with handicaps need to park at the open spots out by the main street?
Even just having a special room for sensative kids would be better than ignoring the problem.
I feel sorry for the students that have the peanut allergies. However, what about the other students? Suppose you have children who are picky eaters and only eat peanut butter? I like the suggestion to have separate rooms for children with allergies. Peanut butter is a major staple for me. I would be very upset if I could not take a peanut butter sandwich with me to work.
Take some time in the morning to swab each child to scan for allergens, then make sure to check each item in their lunch to make sure no one is trying to smuggle an allergen into the school. We do not have a problem with our education system as it is so take more time away from the learning process to make the U.S. even dumber compared to the rest of the world.
Also you set yourself up for lawsuit after lawsuit if you do anything that even remotely tells others you are making the school allergen free. If someone accidentally takes a product made in a facility that processes peanuts, the item may not have peanuts listed as an ingredient, and someone has a reaction some parent with a lawyer looking to make a few bucks will have the school administration, the school board, the superintendent and whomever else they can find to sue in court taking away money the schools already do not have enough of.
When I was in school we had "Peanut Free classrooms". This seemed to work well, and anyone with an allergy and their friends could eat lunch in those rooms.
OH I just realized with all the nut allergies cropping up what are we going to do about Bio Fuel? some of it is made from recycled Peanut oil. I hope my car does not kill a child!. Maybe we should ban Bio Fuel made from Peanuts to make sure nothing like this happens. Or we could make separate roads so those allergians could drive safely. Is there Gluten in bio fuel?
I just thought a little more about it, we need to ban Bio Fuels all together. If you build the separate roads for people with the allergies they would most likely be parallel to each other, as people will need to go to the same places, and if the wind is blowing the wrong direction the fumes may travel into the allergy free road. So we must pull together as a people and make sure we ban bio fuels to protect our population from harm.
Here is what needs to be done. Have the Obama administration fork out about a million dollars per school to allow each school to rebuild the cafeteria to have many rooms with clean air filtration. Have one room for peanut allergies, one for gluten allergies and at least 4 or 5 more for other food allergies. Have the kids that have these allergies eat in their respective rooms. Also you would need to make sure that the classrooms were segregated as well just in case some kids from the non-allergy cafeteria rooms would have some residue on themselves. Unless you enact some form of clean room standards to prevent the non allergy kids from leaving their cafeteria rooms without being, well, clean. They would also need to brush their teeth to make sure there is no allergens on their breath as some seem to be allergic to "fumes" from some of these things. If they were "clean" then you could recombine the classrooms. OR maybe better yet let the parents take care of their kids and quit expecting the government to legislate in place of good parenting skills and teaching respect to each of our kids so that they are aware of a friend who may need some special consideration. Also do not expect our teachers to be medical professionals with the abilities of a EMT to be able to take care of a child who has a reaction unless the teacher is willing to take on the training and responsibilities that the parents offer to provide, at their own expense.
The source of the issue isn't the amazing amount of two sided arguments (i.e. "I'll eat what I want, where I want" and "My child could die you heartless jerk!"). People are arguing about if everyone should bend over backwards in for a minority, or if the minority should tend to their own unique needs. And, in a true "internet argument" fashion, it's broken down into "You don't know how it is!", "I'll do what I want!", or my personal favorite, "I've never seen that happen, so it's not true!". All utterly useless commentary from people who want others to bend for them or are too lazy to step out of their little world to see things from another perspective.
The raw truth of the matter is that it is impossible to ask the overwhelming majority of people to bend over backwards because the vapors from a grilled PB sandwich (delicious, btw) might waft in a window somewhere. If someone asks, "hey, I'm crazy allergic, could you give me a heads up before you make those delicious sandwiches so I can close my window?" Awesome, it's not even a tiny issue and a completely reasonable request. A preemptive walk-around to neighbors would probably be even better. Alternatively, a person with extreme allergies has to realize the world shouldn't have to bend into a knot where ever they go. It sucks, it truly does, to get stuck with such a situation, but you can't get mad at someone for having something you're allergic to. Take precautions if you must. Photosensitive (those adversely affected by sunlight, some even to a life threatening degree) people don't ask for a massive sunshade to be built, they wear a light coat, use SPF bazzillion, or carry an umbrella and shades.
In schools, sure, there should be some kind of exception. I don't see why not. Decent peanut oils don't actually carry the protein that triggers a reaction, so that shouldn't be too much of an issue to buy good oil (because, you know, all that fatty fried food in schools). Making special exceptions cost schools money though, and money isn't exactly flowing right now. At the moment, the practical solution would be to set aside a special table. Easy, costs nothing, and solves the issue for the most part. Those affected by fumes (I never even heard of this before now, it would strike me that the parts per million (ppm) count would have to be high) might have to make special plans for lunch. You have to worry about aerosolized peanut particles. PARTICLES. At some point, I think parents just need to recognize that their child has unique needs, and something unique has to be done instead of hefting it on everyone elses shoulders by refusing to deal with the situation.
Realized I wasn't entirely clear on one point. Concerning the table option. Socially, it does tend to separate children. And as many of us know, the social aspect of school is important in many ways (not to be a social butterfly, but to gain social experience). Those with the allergy should have the resources available to identify possibly dangerous situations related to their allergy (ex. peanut products are likely in all foods because they are in the pseudo-burgers we serve on Tuesday. We suggest a sack lunch, and should always carry their epi-pen). Things like this should be (hopefully) common sense. Assuming the reaction only occurs via touch, and isn't too bad, they can mix and mingle plenty, especially if their friends (those school children sit by) are aware and take care. Those with greater risk need to be separated if their parents demand some non-existent isolation bubble of utter safety. As a rule, you have to assume kids wipe their hands on things after eating. Those things might be napkins, or they might be clothes or door handles. How do you prevent that? You can't. You can't tell parents in the entire city or X, Y, and Z city zones that they can't use a staple of cheap school cold lunches anymore. The real truth of the situation is that it sucks. It really really sucks and there are going to have to be some special steps taken to ensure safety. Expecting 1984758 parents to remember not to make a PB&J so you can pretend the situation doesn't suck is ridiculous.
The subject of bullying is silly. This isn't new, this isn't special at all. How can anyone be surprised at the increase in allergic based bullying? Information on what it is and what it does is -everywhere-, and most people are smart enough to figure out how to see this problem in other people. The urge to bully doesn't arise from some twisted bullying type obsession, it's because bullies have found another hole in someone's defense to mess with them over. This particular brand of bullying doesn't need to be addressed any more or less than any other kind except in the respect that the consequences aren't a bruised ego/social complex, but physical damage. It's equivalent to attacking someone else and should be dealt with on the same level, but not made special (less you just make the issue worse).
Maybe parents need to spend more time figuring out how to raise their kids to have a sense of respect for your average person instead of neglecting or abusing them to the point where they need the attention/have some power complex/etc instead of expecting public institutions to do it for them (or do it but not do it, with all these "you can't tell me how to raise my kid" whining).
I swear, the best thing I ever heard was of a method used by some small communities. If a kid gets out of hand and nothing is being done about it, the parent is the one held responsible by the entire community (In the ethnographic example, the parent was tied to a post for the duration of the event. Obviously we can have other ways of accomplishing the same thing). The kid is then set down by a group of people and the group took measures to keep the kid settled down (i.e. surrounded him/her with people who don't let them get away with stuff).
Well, what we have here is a failure to communicate. Peanut allergies are more prevalent in today's society. Per FAAN, are responsible annually for aprox 92% of all anaphylactic deaths in the US. The number of kids with these allergies have doubled in recent years. The issue with peanut allergies is not going away.
If someone wants to have the attitude of "keep your sorry ass home", I feel sorry for you. Apparently your parents did not love you enough to teach you empathy or compassion for others.
If you knowingly expose someone to their allergen, (ie bullies in school) then you will be punished by the laws of your state. I'd press charges if someone endangered my child's life. Just as you would (Magnus) if someone sprinkled rat poison on your kids lunch.
Everyone needs to respect each other and find a balance. Luckily the law (American with Disabilities Act of 1973) protects kids with food allergies.
take two: "doesn't mean your body doesn't reject it"
One other point – one of the primary causes of arthritis is food sensitivities causing inflammation – should everyone with arthritis be killed off too?
Amazing how much ignorance there is about food allergies and sensitivities. Lots of people have sensitivities to foods they don't even know about including dairy, wheat, nuts, legumes, etc. These idiots that make comments implying that it'd be better if kids who are allergic to nuts died (aside from being the people that actually are the ones that need to be weeded out of the population for their incredibly hateful way of thinking), may not realize that they'll die an early death themselves from Alzheimer's, or cancer or diabetes because they kept eating things that they shouldn't have eaten. Just because you don't go into anaphylactic shock when you eat something doesn't mean your body rejects it. Get a clue!!!
Schools shouldn't ban peanut products for one very good reason:
Kids with peanut allergies need to be sent out into the world with the knowledge that sharing someone else's food can be as deadly as other kids view crossing the street without looking. The fact is that these kids will face peanuts in places outside of school, and they need to be taught from the start that it's their responsibility to make sure they're okay.
Peanuts aren't the only deadly food allergy. All kids with bad allergies need to be armed with the knowledge and discipline to avoid things that can be unhealthy. By not forcing them to learn that at school, where there ARE adults and a nurse nearby, you're putting them at greater risk when they go to their friend's houses.
Saying 'no' to a deadly allergy is a choice that has to be made constantly. Children with deadly allergies have to learn to take charge of what goes into their body.
Allergies are not to be taken casually. They are serious business. A poll alone may not be the way to decide what our kids are exposed to at school or not. It would need an in-depth conversation around very serious issues. It is too simplistic to think that just removing peanuts from a school would keep children with allergies safe. We wish life were that easy. Sadly, it is not.
If you know you have a certain allergy, you must take all precautions to avoid being around that which you are allergic to. That is common sense. Something our kids should be exposed to, trained to have and given the opportunity to demonstrate. Hiding them does them no good in end. How long and how far can a parent protect their children? Someday, somewhere, they could be exposed to the dangers of the world at large and them not being prepared will only hurt them more. Makes sense? I hope so.
Sometimes our precautionary manner can become hysteria, even if not because of us, but because of the over zealous help from those that love us and care for us. This too does more damage than good. As wonderful and kind as the loving protection was meant to be.
Peanuts and Tree Nuts are hardly the largest allergen that our kids need to be protected from. Milk and Eggs and Fish and Shellfish are all risking many more lives. Did you know more kids suffer from allergies to them? Yet, why is it that we hear more about Nut and Peanut allergies? Or perhaps the connection we all have to these larger allergens from a young age and the association we have with them over years colors our thinking? How is it that we are keeping those allergic to these more prevalent and more dangerous allergens safe in this world? I would question what it is that has kept kids safe around them and will not protect them from tree nuts and ground nuts? The answer is a lack of hysteria and lack of desire from all involved.
Nuts and peanuts provide wonderful nutrients for the human body and its growth. They give protein, fiber and healthy fat. They are brain food. Peanut skins are known to have high amounts of anti-oxidants. There is so much good that ground nuts and tree nuts can provide. Why then do we make them such easy targets of those nuts wanting to make allergens an issue and find strength to only go after allergens that are not even the most prolific allergens Peanuts (groundnuts) and tree nuts are universally known to have done more good for the world that savors them than bad. A small fistful of peanuts can give you wonderful energy loaded with great nutrients and wondrous fodder for the brain. I call them my brain & brawn food.
I see room for our kids to police their own health and the related risk factors. We must not treat kids as kids, rather we should treat them as young men and women able to protect their health and well being through training provided by parents at home, through safe environs with correct labeling and safety measures put into place at schools. This makes our kids truly safe rather than placed in a cocoon of comfort and safety that will not exist always and everywhere. It should be ensured that all measures are taken to provide immediate and thorough care for anyone reacting to something. in that awful instance when someone does have an allergic reaction to some allergen in a school cafe, we should be prepared to provide quick and immediate care to the kid in question. This would ensure a safer and better outcome not only for the person who suffered a reaction but stand as an experience seen by all that can equip them better in dealing with any allergy related issues of their own.
We live and learn and practice teaches better than anything else. It is my hope that we are not radical in dealing with allergies. What a sad world it will be where kids are kept away from the very things that make them smarter, stronger and healthier citizens of the world that they will grow to impact tomorrow. A tomorrow we may not even see. That knowledge of the impact our kids will have on a world we cannot even dream about, should give us reason to be smarter today than we sometimes want to be.
It's ridiculous to judge someone's parenting ability based on the food preferences of their kids! My sister-in-law is a great parent of two kids – one ate everything, one ate only cereal and peanut butter when he was little. How did she go wrong? A wide variety of nutritious food was served in their home. When push came to shove, and mom insisted he eat something he didn't like, he just wouldn't eat it, and once told a counselor his parents were starving him. He was skinny but healthy according to his doctor. As he got older, he eventually started eating more foods.
Everyone, including kids, is entitled to their food preferences and dislikes, and it's no one else's place to express an opinion on them. It isn't a moral issue, it isn't willful bad behavior, and it isn't a parenting problem. How would you feel if someone tried to force you to eat a food you particularly dislike?
Having said this, I think most people would choose not to eat something in front of someone it would hurt, if asked.
To TwM – How sad that the main staple of your children’s diet is peanut butter. Wow – what a mom you are! You put a sandwich over a child’s welfare. You are pathetic. Being allergic, my child has learned justice, tolerance and concern for others…so did the 20 children in his class over the eight years he spent with them in school. They were able to eat peanut butter, but then were tolerant and kind enough to wash their hands and rinse out their mouths and wash off the tables and desks at the school so they wouldn’t get him sick. So glad your children weren’t in that class. With parents like you…we know what they’ll grow up to be…sadly just like your pathetic self.
So I get the feeling there are the people who care and those who would probably rub the peanuts in the kids faces themselves. As someone with food allergies here's the deal: we don't want you to change the diet- but if you know I'm allergic to something so severely that breathing it could kill me don't sit down beside me and start eating it. I WILL punch you in the face. Besides that- grow up adults and think about the possibility your kid could develop the allergy next. Then u'll see how bitter your words are.
As a kid without resources…peanut butter on a spoon was my main meal, sometimes only meal.
Fortunately, I still like pb on bread with a bit of jam, jelly, or honey and occasionally in yogurt, all right in everything.
I happen to have many allergies; one I do not suffer from is peanut butter.
However, being mindful of other people’s possible concerns I never leave home having consumed the slightest amount of pb since years ago I heard in a report (honestly, I do not recall what program) that some people’s reaction can be significant by even a simple breath/scent across the table from another. I do not want to be responsible for harming anyone.
I request that other’s limit or eliminate scents, particularly no smoking around me.
I am even at the point of wearing a dust mask out, however embarrassing, yet it helps a little and I wear a personal ionic air cleaner that also minimizes exposure to some allergens …
It is that or I end up being a recluse, which I rather not but allergies are not something to “sneeze at…watery eyes, tingling lips, tongue swelling, etc.” include for me my throat closes, I have endured shots (once a series of 3) to help ease my symptoms just because “you stranger” chose to bathe in cologne. I haven’t worked since 1992 thankful I have a perfect husband who supports me financially, emotionally and he stands by me when there is nothing to do but wait and hope that what I am ingesting or exposed to that I am ok –Russian Roulette allergy style. Not fun…!
Let me stop now before I get onto the subject of resurfacing the road, anyone have air to breathe...?
Regarding peanut butter in school...there needs to be alternatives- the children can enjoy the yummy pb at home and try other foods at school that are less of an issue for all.
Furthermore, I understand that other nut butters though more costly tend to have little to no effect on some people who are allergic to peanut butter perhaps something to consider.
First, re: the Darwin argument: the vast majority of allergies are not genetic – humans start producing their own immune system after between 6 months and 2 years after being born. Allergies are a hyperactive immune response that is based on the developmental environment at this age. Natural selection wouldn't act on allergies because they, by and large, didn't exist until people started living in clean environments (ie not on farms, not in the wilderness, etc.)
Second, re: the EpiPen argument: EpiPens work approximately 20% of the time. For a man of my size (6'3", 180 lbs), an adult dose will wear off between 6 to 8 minutes after injection, if it works at all. EpiPens don't "solve" or "cure" severe allergic reactions;; they simply may provide a buffer period before an ambulance arrives to administer IV steroids.
Third, re: the accommodation argument: we live in America, which means that we have many freedoms, but not unlimited freedoms. Claiming that accommodating other people is an infraction on your rights is actually un-democratic because it invokes a tyranny of the majority. By those standards, standards where policy can"t advocate for the minority voice, women still wouldn't be allowed to vote, minorities would still be segregated, and wheelchair accessible wouldn't exist.
Schools should accommodate on a case-by-case basis. If there is a severe allergy (peanuts get the most attention because life threatening peanut allergies are by far the most common, but the argument would apply to any type), the school should decide whether or not it's dangerous to have the allergen in the school for that particular student. If yes, it should be treated accordingly. Some allergens are easier than others to get rid of, but every effort should be made whether that means having a designated allergen-free area or removing the allergen entirely if its presence in the school poses a risk.
I agree. To add to you accommodation paragraph... anyone with a disability can ask for a Section 504
plan. Which means the school administration and the parents create a heath care plan and agree to how
the disability will be handled (on a case by case basis). It is a team effort to manage, but every child is
entitled to a safe learning environment -by law. Those that disagree can try and change that but the
Americans with Disability Act has been around since 1973.
My daughter isn't allergic to peanuts but actually milk. I am not a radical over the top kinda guy but I want my kids to have a good education and be allowed to do all the same things as others. To explain the level to which my daughter will react is if she comes into contact with the liquid its turns to a chemical burn, and then leads to Anaphylaxis which means a trip to the ER. If she ingests it she will have these reactions and runs a very very high risk of dying. I love my daughter as everyone loves their kids, I don't want to loose her because someone can't understand a medical condition that she has no control over. The family is careful with food and where we go and we don't push a agenda on people of you can't do this, but be respectful of people who has a disability. I understand new directions need to be made in this area, are we asking for the world no, do we pay the same taxes and support the same school functions and support the community you bet. No one thinks well she had a reaction and died is as bad as a kid who throws acid or gas ona kid and lights it..... If a kid walks up throws milk on my daughter its the same act, and after these exact actions were taken everyone was up in arms. Look no one knows the stress of this unless you live it. I jsut want a safe place for a kid to be a kid. Everyone wants that its what every parent wants. just ours takes a little extra effort... Not asking the world just asking for some level headed understanding. And this message and plea go for all food allergies.
Oh and before someone thinks up the idea I am talking changing the entire menu to be this way I am not, I will cover all the food costs that's my responsibility not another families. I see the idea of banning some products but I am asking for simply let us protect our kids before something bad happens.
I have a 3 year old brother with peanut allergies who is going to preschool this year, and just the other day a inconsiderate parent decides to bring peanut butter granola bars as a class treat! After many fliers were sent home with the kids stating the there was an allergy to peanuts so to avoid bringing items with nuts! The worst part about the whole thing is the schools making a major problem out of it! they are saying the wrong forms were filled out and that my mothers word and handing over the epi pen are not enough!! Now i do not think it is enough for a school to decide to just play the game at a lunch period to lunch period basis! If there is one peanut allergy in the school then peanut products should be taken out of the school and band(same goes for any other major food allergy)! And just because a child has this or any other food allergy that does NOT make the child "weak"! The "Weakling" is the one who is not willing to "accommodate" to help there fellow humans!!!
why are some of you idiots so angry. Getting rid of peanut products gets rid of liability to the school if someone has a bad reaction or even a fatality. idiots, grow up and act like adults.
A ban on peanut butter will not solve the problem of children with food allergies being exposed to allergens at school, and might only be a false sense of security for parents of children with severe food allergies. First, as many have commented here, there are many other food products that contain peanuts that could be brought to school which could cause a potential reaction. Second, I doubt that all parents and students would fully comply, especially given the mentality of many who have commented here. Third, it would be unfair for students severely allergic to other foods to ban only peanut butter. My daughter for example is also severely allergic to tree nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and dairy, so all those kids bringing peanut alternative nut and seed butters could still be putting other children at risk. So what might work? How about an empty classroom for the allergic kids to have lunch in, on a voluntary basis, while monitored by an adult? On a voluntary basis meaning the parent of an allergic kid should determine that their child should be required to eat there. In the separate room, the foods that all of the allergic children in the group are severely allergic to would be banned from those students' lunches in order to be fair to other food allergy sufferers. This way only the allergic group would be burdened with preparing allergy friendly lunches for their kids. This would allow the kids to eat in peace, without the visual stigma of sitting at an “allergy table,” although kids in school will know who the allergic ones are anyway...
I personally don't think that other people should be burdened by my child's allergy. If for example my daughter goes to a birthday party, I send her with her own cupcake and don't ask the party host to make a gluten free, soy free , dairy free, nut free, seed free cake for all the kids to accommodate my daughter. I therefore can't expect other parents to send their kids to school with only beans, rice, meat, veggies, and fruit to accommodate my daughter, but hopefully a solution that can fairly accommodate all, within reason, can be found.
I agree with the birthday comments completely. Our son has a severe allergy to a milk protein (casein), has an epi-pen etc. What we do is what you do, provide our child with alternatives when he goes to parties. We don't expect other parents to accommodate us.
And I agree, I'm not sure why the peanut allergy children get special consideration here...yes, yes I know about the airborne possibility, but even the most outrageous claim on here says only 50% of allergy related deaths are to peanuts, what about the other 50% of the kids, they don't matter?
The classroom idea is a very good Idea and yes the kids know who is in that room right away, there isn't going to be a fool proof plan for this you are right there. If someone wants to harm another kid with using food as a lets say weapon and thinks its a joke its going to happen, or if they simply some in contact with it. You cant stick them in a bubble their whole life the best you can do is be vigilant and pray you beat the odds.
my youngest son has food allergies. He started at about 6 months old & had a laundry list of allergies. I am thankful that he has outgrown most of these. He still has some, but at 4 years old he knows what he can and cannot eat. I choose to homeschool him. I understand food allergies, but if your child is in mortal danger why do you send him to public school. I'm sure all the usual arguments apply i.e. both parents work, not enough $$, etc, but seriously isn't your child's welfare more important that the big house or extra stuff. Stay home and keep your child safe yourself. Many school districts will give you their books for free each school year.
In one study, Perry and colleagues at Duke University placed 15 peanut-allergic children on a slow, but escalating oral dosage program, during which they consumed limited amounts of peanut food. Another eight peanut-allergic children were placed on a placebo regimen.
Among the children exposed to these carefully rising doses of peanut, negative reactions were mild to moderate, requiring medicinal intervention only a handful of times, the authors noted.
At the program's conclusion, a "food challenge" was conducted. The challenge revealed that while the placebo group could only safely tolerate 315 milligrams of peanut consumption, the 15 children who participated in the immunotherapy program could tolerate up to 5,000 milligrams of peanuts – an amount equal to about 15 peanuts.
Having concluded that the dosage program afforded some measure of short-term "clinical desensitization" to peanuts, the research team then explored the program's potential for inducing long-term protection in a second trial.
Eight of the children who had participated in the oral dosing program for anywhere between 32 and 61 months were then subject to an oral peanut challenge four weeks after being taken off the dosing program.
All of the children – at an average age of about four and a half years of age – demonstrated lasting immunological changes that translated into a newly developed "clinical tolerance" to peanuts, the researchers said. And although the children continue to be tracked for complications, peanuts are now a part of their standard diet
I KNOW, YOU IDIOT, YOU DOLT! DON'T YOU THINK THAT PARENTS OF PEANUT-ALLERGIC KIDS WOULD DOOOOO THIS IN A SECOND IF IT WERE AVAILABLE!?!?!?!? IT IS NOT AVAILABLE, IT IS EXPERIMENTAL!!!
I have an peanut allergic child. I hear your "side" quite often. We take our child to the Mayo Clinic each year to be tested
on his food allergies and his Dr. is notably the best at Mayo. Your article does not mention that people have died in this study (small dosage/therapy). It is not approved by the FDA and is considered experimental.
Now, put yourself in my shoes. Would you allow your child to be a part of that study knowing he could die? Even the best
Dr.s don't have a clear answer on why food allergies are so prevalent today. The best known theory is: We over vaccinate and our immune systems are "bored" and looking for something to do (as untechnical as I can explain). When small children are introduced to a food (such as peanut) their immune systems are not developed enough to handle the protein. That is why peanuts are not recommended until the age of 3. But, when my son was 11 mo. someone (without my permission) gave my son a peanut cookie and he had an anaphylactic reaction. It is quite possible that he would have never developed the allergy if we had waited till he was 3yrs to introduce peanuts.
Sorry for the long response.
It's ridiculous we can't send a kid to school with a peanut butter & jelly sandwich these days. Developing 3rd world nations have almost ZERO nut allergies compared to that of the United States. Even Europe is lower than us in this category. The reason is most likely all the ridiculous "AVOID AT ALL COSTS" mentality that is going on. There's such a worry about a child being exposed to even a HINT of air that might blow past someone's peanut butter & jelly sandwich that we're actually HURTING kids by not allowing them to be exposed to nuts. It's the same with sickness – you can keep your kids locked in a bubble but in the end all you'll wind up with is a kid with a very weak immune system because it's not had to do its' job and build up tolerances.
There's NOT ONE CASE of a child DYING or even being seriously hospitalized because someone next to them ate a peanut butter sandwich. DUMB. I'm so tired of this sick mentality that we have to "take care of" everyone and their issues. Not everyone is meant to be a superstar, genius, stellar athlete, etc. Get your lazy rear end off the welfare system and put out some actual energy at a job – you might lose a few pounds doing it too! (And stop drinking so much soda like a fiend – your diabetes will probably go away as a result; you'll definitely lose weight – dolts).
Wow. To say that no one has been hospitalized or died because someone ate a peanut butter sandwich next to them just shows that you are TOTALLY uninformed and have not read a single post on here about actual peanut allergies and cross-contamination.
Ignorant, uniformed rant (and off the subject) much, Turt Honey? Now go have some nice chamomile tea and lay down before you hurt yourself, Sweetie.
I have a peanut allergic child. When he was in Kindergarten, I received a call from the school. "Come immediately, we've
dialed 911!". I drove as fast as I could to the school only to find out that a teacher decided to make peanut brittle in the
classroom. I was told that the same lesson could be done making applesauce. Apparently the teacher didn't like to vary her curriculum. We pulled our child from that school and never looked back. We have taught our son how to manage his allergies and he is now in Middle School and hasn't had a problem since. He's well educated on managing his allergies on his own.
Nobody has the right to endanger my child's life. Shame on those that don't take this seriously. I'm not sure how you sleep at night. A peanut free school is unrealistic, but a peanut safe school is realistic. Meaning, teachers and educators should use common sense when dealing with kids and food allergies. Make reasonable accommodate when needed.
As a child, I had a classmate who was severely allergic to nuts. Most whined when they wouldn't let us bring any pb sandwiches or cookies to class. You know what stopped it? When a sweet but stubborn room mother brought a snack mix that had nuts in it one afternoon. Just opening the jar near the girl set off the reaction. I will never forget watching another child claw at her own throat, unable to breathe, because one person decided "it wasn't a big deal". I think banning peanut butter from all schools everywhere is going too far? But for the few children who are extremely allergic, it ISN'T something they can just 'choose not to eat'.
(The girl in question did recover, by the way, but her parents yanked her from the school after that. I don't know what ever became of her.)
That's ok, Kay, the general public apparently not only doesn't care about what became of your classmate after clawing at her throat, almost dying in front of you, but thinks the "stubborn" (read "entitled to peanuts") mother was not only within her RIGHTS, but absolutely a candidate for sainthood. Because "where does it end", right?
@JB, I sincerely apologize that my sarcasm was not more obvious. PLEASE read my previous comments in this thread. I am HORRIFIED by the intolerance here. I have a peanut-allergic child and was merely trying to make a point. Not well, apperently. I'm a bit bitter from all of the people here saying my kid should die for being allergic, as long as it doesn't inconvenience their kids. Anyway, sorry again.
Nearly 50% of the US population is allergic to peanuts! A peanut allergy is so bad that it kills the ones allergic! An allergy to water (Aquagenic pruritis) is very rare, and usually does not cause more then a skin rash. Peanut allergies are on the rise in the US, and there is no way knowing what causes it. With there being so many people allergic I think schools are not the only places it should be banned. This allergy is clearly an epidemic, and I hope that all these people saying that there is no reason to ban it, have children with this allergy. So that they might understand how sad it is seeing your child scared about having friends because they might eat nuts.
What causes peanut allergies to be on the rise you ask? LACK OF EXPOSURE TO NUTS you DOLT. In fact there's promising research that introduces microscopic levels of nuts to allergic sufferers in slowly increasing dosages – in nearly all the people treated with this new method they are able to actually EAT peanuts. YES – EAT PEANUTS. These were "HIGHLY & FATALLY ALLERGIC" individuals. READ THIS BIZATCHES – and quit your whining about your child's intolerance: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636455.html
In one study, Perry and colleagues at Duke University placed 15 peanut-allergic children on a slow, but escalating oral dosage program, during which they consumed limited amounts of peanut food. Another eight peanut-allergic children were placed on a placebo regimen.
Among the children exposed to these carefully rising doses of peanut, negative reactions were mild to moderate, requiring medicinal intervention only a handful of times, the authors noted.
At the program's conclusion, a "food challenge" was conducted. The challenge revealed that while the placebo group could only safely tolerate 315 milligrams of peanut consumption, the 15 children who participated in the immunotherapy program could tolerate up to 5,000 milligrams of peanuts - an amount equal to about 15 peanuts.
Having concluded that the dosage program afforded some measure of short-term "clinical desensitization" to peanuts, the research team then explored the program's potential for inducing long-term protection in a second trial.
Eight of the children who had participated in the oral dosing program for anywhere between 32 and 61 months were then subject to an oral peanut challenge four weeks after being taken off the dosing program.
All of the children - at an average age of about four and a half years of age - demonstrated lasting immunological changes that translated into a newly developed "clinical tolerance" to peanuts, the researchers said. And although the children continue to be tracked for complications, peanuts are now a part of their standard diet
The absolute hatred and bullying shown here has convinced me that NOBODY will look after my peanut-allergic 4-year-old but himself. But that is GOOD, all the better. I was SO upset yesterday, reading all of this stuff about how they wanted (yes WANTED) my son to die so that they can protect their God-given right to peanut butter and because little Suzie would pout and go on a hunger strike for a few days. The COMPLETE lack of compassion and understanding and quite frankly, the evilness, about HALF the people expressed seriously depressed me. But today, I am twice as determined to teach him that he is out there ALL ALONE when Mommy is not around. I am also determined to teach him how to kick those pro-not my problem people's fat kids' backsides.
Yes. Happily. Don't start it, but if they start it, finish it. They definitely started this. Now behave and be nice, everybody. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
This. I don't have a child with peanut allergies, but it does horrify and disgust me that people are actively saying children with this allergy should "just die" because it inconveniences them. They do make non-peanut nut butters (and soy nut butters), people! If someone in your child's class is allergic, there are many alternatives that will not KILL SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD. What next...we should kill the disabled (like myself) because we have the audacity to need help getting up and down the stairs?
And you know what makes it extra-sad is that I WANT to be an all-inclusive, loving Earth Mother, but after coming into contact with these people, ok, FINE, I can be Sarah Connor.
There is a calm rational way to find a solution - a way to keep kids peanuts away from kids with allergies - that also don't involve the extreme need to ban them. I happen to love peanuts. So it's wholly unfair to me to prevent me from having it just because another might get sick if they eat it. So don't ever feed it to the kids who are allergic ... keep them away from it if needed ... but allow those who want it to have it.
Wow. The hatred and ignorance displayed here is so depressing, I'm embarrassed for our country to be a part of a society like this. There is something I have come to realize and it is this: The general mentality of American society is very childlike in that, it's "all about me" and "I want it MY way" and "you can't tell me what to do!". We've lived as a society in this great country for 200+ years and have completely twisted, warped and redefined (as we see it) what the PRIVILEGE of our "freedom" truly is. Freedom isn't doing what ever you want, when you want, at the expense of others. Freedom isn't elitist or "survival of the fittest". We are supposed to live here peacefully and help and love one another. I know, I know..."but then it wouldn't be all about ME", now would it?
My kids go to a peanut free school and this is easy to solve. I have switched all 4 of my kids to almond butter. We went through several brands before we found one that they liked. It is called Barney Butter, it is made in a peanut free facility and they can't even tell that it is not peanut butter. So much healthier for them too!!
Thats great! Another good option is Soy Nut Butter! There is a brand that they sell at walmart in the peanut butter section that says school safe soybutter. The label is green, and has a little apple on it. This brand taste just like peanut butter!
Like a leper? Why not the closet, or in a room all by themselves?
This is ridiculous. School's don't need to ban peanuts or peanut butter........but they also don't need to make these kids outcasts. Education and a peanut free zone is fine. One table, or portion of the lunch room. That isn't that difficult. Additionally all these "poor" regular kids shouldn't find it too difficult to adjust. Plus, this is putting forth a good precedent for children–learning to adjust to others and make sacrifices and adjustments.
Let me start by saying that I am 31 years old and I have no children. Additionally, I have and always have had a peanut allergy. In addition to this, I also have allergies to all other nuts. I graduate high school in 1998, so obviously I made it through grade school, junior high, and high school without having a major issue related to nuts. That being said, anyone who says that schools are being too sensitive and that "we" are screwing over their kids really needs to take a look in the mirror and realize that they are being ignorant. Yes. IGNORANT. Most peanut are allergies can be described as "mild". Mine is "mild" when put on a spectrum of other people with peanut allergies. What does "mild" mean? It means that I have to always carry an Epi-Pen with me in case I come into contact with peanuts. It means that a "mild" reaction can still be deadly. A "mild" reaction causes a person to go into anaphylactic shock and essentially suffocate to death. It just takes longer than those with a "severe" reaction. Plain and simple, you are hiding behind ignorance and saying "well it doesn't affect my kid, so why should I care?" You should care because you are a human being. Congratulations to you and your kid! You have something I wish I did. Peace of mind that eating something, or being exposed to it, isn't going to kill me. Get off your high horse, stop being ignorant and become educated. Make a small sacrifice so that a kid can grow up with one less worry. Lord knows there are many other things to worry about.
Someone asked, "How do you suppose that a kid who is allergic is going to be exposed to a peanut butter sandwich by a kid who isn't allergic, unless they are forced to eat it, they are attacked with it or they choose to eat it on their own??? "
If you haven't noticed, children touch everything, so I think accidental exposure is a lot easier than you realize.
Nevermind that some have the same reaction to the smell alone. I have a good friend whose throat started closing up as soon as she got home because her careless (for other reasons, too) roommate made peanut butter cookies and the smell permeated the building. I do not know if this was from airborne particles, but bear in mind that the senses of smell and taste are closely linked, and the body subject to unconscious associations a la Pavlov's dogs. I also knew a girl who was severely allergic to latex, and I don't recall any of us whining that we couldn't use certain pencil erasers, we were just glad our friend was alive.
Not all allergies are nearly as common as peanut allergies, so I don't think we need the hysterics about what's going to be banned next.
Grow up, folks. It could just as easily be your child - and the grand irony is, you may have helped do this to their immune systems since we are culturally obsessed with using unnecessary hospital-grade antibacterial products in our homes. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no3_supp/levy.htm
ALL children in America are entitled to a safe learning environment in our public schools. To fortunate parents who have kids w/out a disability such as a food allergy and who feel that they should disregard the health and welfare of a small child:would you be comfortable having your child sit down to eat lunch next to a bottle of poison or something similar that could harm, even kill your child? That is what you are asking the peanut-allergic child to do when he sits next to someone eating peanut butter. Your child can eat it all they want any other time but in school. Are you all really that uncaring that you would send in peanut butter anyway, causing an innocent child harm? Their lives are hard enough worrying about every bit of food they eat. If you are that heartless, I feel truly sorry for you. Hopefully you would teach your children to be caring helpful individuals by leading by example but if not, I hope you never have to deal with the tragedy that could result from your selfishness if you choose to disregard the severity of peanut allergies.
Here is what has worked best in our situation: The school has agreed not to serve peanut products and very easy substitutions were made for the famous pb&J. Kids are allowed to bring in their own peanut butter, though we have found many kids who refuse because they don't want to cause accidental harm to a fellow human being (perhaps we should learn from our children). Ideally, if they have peanut products they sit at a designated table. If this is not possible, then the peanut allergic child brings their lunch because we cannot expect the schools to also be responsible for "made on peanut equipment" type of statements. There are just too many ways that this can go wrong for the severely allergic child. The allergic child sits at the very end of the table with the hot lunch kids. The others sit at the opposite end with their sack lunches. Again, if there is a peanut table, then the child can sit at the regular table without the separation of sack lunchers and hot lunchers. I have two allergic children and DO NOT support a ban on peanuts. The reality is there are some very hateful parents who will send it in because they feel it is there right. I would rather know and have a plan r than not know and be caught off guard... a potentially deadly mistake. Keep in mind, that this plan won't work for those individuals who are sensitive to even the airborne particles of peanut butter and a different plan may be needed at their schools.
This is a lot like allowing your child to play in a busy road so you can sue who ever happens to be driving down that street and then insisting everyone stop driving cars. You have a child who has special needs and you place them in a position of danger. You allow it. You insist on it. Take responsibility for your part in this. Because it could not happen without your participation.
What about kids that are deaf, blind or in wheel chairs? Are they spinning around in a world of entitlement? Last I checked,
a disability is a disability. Why accommodate one and not the other? Since anaphylaxis affects your ability to breathe (a basic life function) it is no different from any other legal disability. The reason people have such a hard time with peanut allergies is that its more prevalent now than in previous generations.
I think it all comes down to this: people don't like being told what to do, particularly when something MIGHT be a threat to an abstract person. Banning anything is only going to annoy a lot of the population, and provide a false sense of security for the affected person. When there is an actual threat to a specific child, a better solution is to educate the kids and their parents and ASK them to cooperate. You really need to get cooperation here, not coercion. I find it nearly impossible to believe that even the most outspoken people here would actually intentionally endanger a friend or neighbor's child.
Feeding peanut butter to your child everyday is irresponsible not because you'll upset the allergic weaklings and their limp-wristed liberal parents but because you will transform your own child into a lard-ass like most American kids these days. Amen.
Allergic weaklings... my peanut allergic son is the starting quarterback for his HS football team, plays on a national AAA Hockey team (#1 in our state). Yeah, he's a weakling. Sure, what ever you say...
Get a clue. Childhood obesity has nothing to do with food allergies. Why don't you educate yourself before you sound off.
Oh, my goodness! There isn't anyone saying to "Put all of the Peanut Farmers out of business!" All this poll is about is trying to see where people stand on this issue where there are children that attend school with “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies” that can kill them within a matter of seconds by them being in the same building & around others who may have eaten a known “Allergen.”
There isn’t anyone saying “YOUR KID” cannot eat “PEANUT BUTTER!” However, if your kid eats Peanut Butter for lunch Monday-Friday & is around my kid, my kid will die! Therefore, if you could let your child eat something else for lunch Monday- Friday so “my kid” doesn’t die it would be greatly appreciated!
**F.Y.I.*** ANYONE WHO KNOWINGLY INDUCES OR TRIES TO INDUCE A “SEVERE ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION” CAN BE CHARGED WITH ***PREMEDITATED MURDER OR ATTEMPED MURDER!” If you know someone could die by your actions (bring Peanut Butter & Jelly) to school & you do it any way. You and your kid could be charged with attempted MURDER OR MURDER!
This is why it should be a case by case basis, not an all out ban. No one in my family would knowingly hurt your child. You need to make sure a note is sent to the parents in you school that your kid is the allergic and let the rest of the world live. I am sorry you have to deal with something so sever and it must be hard. I am lucky I do not have that particular problem. I can assure you that everyone has something hard to deal with.
I think many people love peanut butter and it is a healthy, lunch and snack. It is better for you than all the processed crap out there. My peanut butter has no sugar. I feel bad for parents who have kids with allergies to peanuts, but you can not ask the world to give up peanuts. That is the point. I do not think anyone blames you for peanut allergies. I think people are saying you need to teach these kids to take care of themselves and you need to educate their classmates to keep it away from them. I do not think making every kid in every school in you district not eat peanuts is not fair. I think you are telling us we are selfish and uncaring. Face it your child needs to learn to advocate for themselves and deal with their serious problem. The world is not peanut free. You are asking the world to accommodate you. I am willing if their is a child in my kids class to accommodate that child, but to accommodate period end of story even if no kid in our school has a problem is silly. I also feel that if your kids allergy is so sever they will die from smelling peanuts, you have bigger problems than school. What about play grounds, the mall, the grocery store, my car in the parking lot that my 4 year olds peanut hands have touched? This is a serious problem and if your kid is around I will accommodate them, but if not I think my kids should be aloud to have peanut butter. I do not think that is unfair. I think peanut butter is a great food. It is nutritious and you can guarantee the kid will eat it and it does not need refrigeration.
Is this something that is more controversial because we included the words "lunchtime" and "schools" in it?
I know that everyone loves to jump all over the education system and the profession itself, but realistically I wonder how many times a child with a peanut allergy has been to a zoo or a some type of fair or circus where peanuts were being fed to the animals and the shells were on the ground. What about restaurants where it's popular to eat peanuts as an appetizer and throw the nut shells on the ground? Or for all the sporting events that kiddos attend with their parents... baseball, football, etc. Should we go to the MLB and NFL and say we want them to ban peanuts from being sold at their events? Or would we even think about asking something like that of a huge entertainment venue? Because that wouldn't be the fault of a school if a parent chose to bring a child to something of an entertainment nature, so would a parent think about the what if's and dangers as much if the responsibility were placed in their own hands?
I think the issue around education is that every child has a right to attend school (no matter what kind of disability) and
the right to learn in a safe environment. That is the reason we have laws to protect them. What happens outside of school is the parents responsibility.
I'm a parent of a peanut allergic child. I have a neighbor that was against accommodations in schools and her views
mimic many of the "don't make your problem my problem" sentiments listed here. Then about a year ago, her youngest son had an anaphylactic reaction when someone gave him a peanut M& M. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital and was lucky to be alive.
Guess what? She did an about face. Imagine that. Next thing you know she's calling me to find out how to best manage
her child's peanut allergy. Funny how opinions change when its YOUR child.
So, for those that are on this blog and want to make it seem like we don't want to parent, that we want to make our problem your problem. Think again. It very well could be your problem someday.
I am thankful that there are laws that allow my child to attend school (American with Disabilities Act of 1973). Accommodations in schools allow kids to learn in a safe learning environment. Kids shouldn't have to worry about their allergy in Math, Science or any other subject.
Hi, I am sorry to hear about your child having that horrible reaction! It's terrifying! I honestly think it's ironic that your neighbors kid had a reaction. It's funny how karma will come back to bite you when you least expect it. I don't know where you live but there are laws to protect your child especially for kids with "Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies." If there isn't a law in the state in which you live, I can help you get one passed. I've already done it for my child & other children that live in my state. Take Care & Please let me know if you need any help!
So %99 of the population must give up peanuts because %1 have peanut allergies (and only a fraction of those have it bad enough where airborne peanut allergen is fatal)? You expect to dismantle a $2 billion dollar a year industry? You want to put 25,000 American farmers out of work because you refuse to keep your allergic child from harm by keeping them home? Exactly who's being selfish here?
Can we try to remain civil? Allergies are serious. That said, can we employ some common sense? Granted my kid's school is small but we handle it easily. Teachers know who has a nut allergy. Their photos are in the serving area of the lunch room, epi pens are readily available and their friends look out for them. Kids who bring P&J sandwiches to school sit away from them because THEY don't want to endangered their friends and their friends don't mind because THEY want their friends to enjoy their lunch. Can we have a little mutual respect – like our kids seem to be able to have?
I find it extremely disturbing the amount of ignorance there is still out there regarding "Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies!" Most children with “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies” DO NOT have to eat the known allergen to go into “Anaphylactic Shock & DIE!” All it takes is for the known allergen to be in the same room with the person allergic because A LOT of peoples’ “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies are AIRBORNE!!!” The known allergen could be on the breath of another person & the person allergic could go into “Severe Anaphylactic Shock & DIE! If a person eats a known Allergen & touches something after eating this known allergen, then the person with the “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergy” comes along & touches the same surface as the person that ate the known Allergen, the person can go into “Severe Anaphylactic Shock & DIE!” THIS IS NOT A STOMACH ACHE, OR HIVES THIS IS “DEATH!”
If your kid eats a “KNOWN ALLERGEN” (PEANUT BUTTER, NUTS, FISH, ETC. ETC.) & then is around my kid, MY KID WILL DIE!
However, if your kid doesn’t eat “Peanut Butter, Fish, or Nuts” Monday – Friday for lunch is he or she going to DIE? “I DON’T THINK SO!”
I have a note from my kids Pediatrician if your kid eats a known “ALLERGEN” & is around my kid, “MY KID WILL DIE!”
Do you have a note from your kids Pediatrician if your kid doesn’t eat “Peanut Butter/Fish, ETC. for lunch Monday-Friday that he or she will DIE? I DON’T THINK SO!
Just a FYI: Did you know that can eat Fish, Peanut Butter, etc. etc. your whole life & not have a “Severe Anaphylactic Reaction,” however, turn around & eat it the very next day & it almost kill you! If you DO NOT have a “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergy” to anything, “PRAISE GOD!” Because it could be you, your kid, your husband or your Mom today, tomorrow or a week from now! THINK ABOUT IT!
I know if I had a child that was that severely allergic to a certain item, I wouldn't feel safe having him eat with other children even if the school banned peanut butter. Just because it's banned doesn't mean that a child will understand that. Some elementary school kids pack their own lunches. If a kid grabs a pack of peanut butter crackers by accident and then breathes on your child, who then has a severe allergic reaction, it doesn't really matter whether the item was banned or not. How could you ever feel safe sending a severely allergic child to a public school? You are basically putting your child's life in the hands of other children! I don't have children yet, but if my child ever had an allergy that severe, I would not send them to a public school, where anything can really happen.
My youngest daughter almost died when she was a year old. We were in and out of hospitals and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong. She had internal bleeding and was losing all of her body’s proteins. Finally, she was diagnosed with a severe Casein allergy. But instead of the normal reaction, her body responded as though it was being slowly poisoned. Not all severe and deadly allergies are Anaphylactic reactions. Her doctors told us that less than 1% of 1% of all allergic reactions were the kind she was experiencing and it had to do with the fact that the part of her immune system that regulates allergies was missing. That meant that at any time in her life, when she developed a new allergy as we typically do, she could die. Because it would not register as a normal reaction and it would be delayed and it would not be detected on blood work as a normal allergic reaction….. through some miracle and an accidental exposure to milk products and later testing on her immune system we discovered we had, had a miracle and she was fine. She will be fine. BUT, the point is I do know what it is like. I lived in a world of total unknown. I lived with the fact that at any time some unknown substance could kill my daughter. During the time milk and all dairy was the enemy I never once suggested that anyone alter their lifestyle for us. We dealt with it. We took food and drink for Sarah everywhere we went. She was our responsibility, no one else’s. And had her body not healed itself, it would have remained the same this year, her first year of kindergarten. The plan was for a family member to attend lunch with her every day. It never even occurred to us to ask the school to accommodate.
As for some of your comments about if your kids take PB Monday –Friday then simply send them with something else. I know families who cannot afford anything else right now, sadly. It’s PB or nothing for them. Also, I made a point in another post that, most other lunch foods have to be kept cool somehow, with ice packs or some other type of insulation or they can go bad risking illness. There are days when my children don’t remember to put there ice packs back in the freezer and so they have to take PB, because I’m not giving them a turkey sandwich….that’s going to sit in the class for 3 hours, and warm, before lunch.
Ironically, my Sarah came home yesterday afternoon and announced she had a new friend named Brianna. She said “Brianna can’t have peanut butter”. I explained to Sarah that Brianna can’t have anything with peanuts. I also explained to Sarah that on those days that she has anything with peanuts she cannot under any circumstances, go near Brianna without washing her hands really, really well and brushing her teeth (I will put a wisp in her box for after lunch). I plan on sending her teacher an email today to find out if they are going to install any protocols. I don’t want this little girls life to be at risk, I am not a cruel person. And I have been where her parents are with the anxiety of having a child with a life threatening issue. But I have said before and I maintain this position, that the needs of the minority should never outweigh the needs of the majority. Ways can be found to accommodate, but don’t alienate everyone else.
That brings me to my final point. Don’t you think that by you vigilante attitude you have something to do with people digging in their heels against a PB ban?? I was noticing that yesterday. The more vigilante the allergy parents were the more aggressive the anti ban people became. Find a gentler way to promote your cause, and I bet you will see results.
Listening to you mouth breathers defend you genetically inferior crap factories makes me want to vomit up the five fingers of Macallan I had to thrown down just to make it through this literary miscarriage. Back in my day, young men were tough enough to wait until they saw the whites in the eyes of the godless soul whose face they were about to blow off at near point blank range with a colt commander. Now if you so much as shove a peanut butter sandwich into some kids face, his bowels will vacate like a Saigon embassy. God willing, your children will all die from inhaling peanut dust before they have a chance to further poison the gene pool with their offspring
ALL YOU PARENTS ARE GROWING UP YOUR KIDS TO BE JUST LIKE YOU: OPINIONATED, ANNOYING, CRASS AND IGNORANT. LISTEN TO YOURSELVES! JUST STOP FIGHTING AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS. STOP TELLING OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE. GROW UP! WTF? SEEING YOU GUYS AS AN EXAMPLE MAKES ME SCARED HOW YOUR KIDS WILL GROW UP: JUST LIKE YOU!
Thank you for your thoughtful post, Krista. Nut-free tables and specifying nut-free lunch periods won't do the trick, because the oil in peanut butter can stay on the tale, on a doorknob, etc and an allergic child can have a life-threatening reaction just from touching the oil left behind, or from smelling peanut butter. It saddens me to see that so many people are willing to let a young child live with this danger so that they can continue eating a snack food.
PUT YOURSELF IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES FOR ONCE! Sad thing is I bet many of these horrible people who show complete lack of empathy or concern for human life probably call themselves "christians".
Peanut allergy is estimated to affect 0.4-0.6% of the population.
Dr. Christakis points out that about 3.3 million Americans are allergic to nuts, and even more — 6.9 million — are allergic to seafood. But of 30 million hospitalizations each year, just 2,000 are due to food allergies, and about 150 people die annually from serious allergic food reactions. That’s the same number of people killed by bee stings and lightning strikes combined. About 10,000 children are hospitalized annually with traumatic brain injuries from sports, 2,000 children drown each year, and about 1,300 die in gun accidents, he writes." Media sensationalism has also been blamed.
Prevalence among adults and children is similar—around 1%—but at least one study shows it to be on the rise in children in the United States. The number of young children affected doubled between 1997 and 2002. 25% of children with a peanut allergy outgrow it. In America, about 100 people per year die from peanut allergies.
We are talking about a very very small percentage of the population who are allergic to peanuts.
The American Peanut Council has statistics regarding the peanut industry.
http://www.peanutsusa.com/USA/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.page&pid=12
Seven states account for approximately 99% of all peanuts grown in the U.S. Georgia (41%) grows the major proportion of all peanuts followed by Texas (24%), Alabama (10%), North Carolina (9%), Florida (6%), Virginia (5%), and Oklahoma (5%). There are approximately 25,000 peanut farmers in the major producing regions.
Peanut butter accounts for approximately half of the U.S. edible use of peanuts — accounting for $850 million in retail sales annually. It is a popular sandwich spread, particularly for children, and it is both nutritious and economical. Peanut butter is high in plant protein, contains no cholesterol, and has many important vitamins and minerals, including niacin, vitamin E and other antioxidants, and natural folic acid.
Many of the top-selling confectionery products in the U.S. contain peanuts or peanut butter. They are most popular in combination with chocolate. Peanuts and peanut butter also are used in a variety of cookies and baked goods. Peanut oil is considered a premium, high quality cooking oil in the U.S., is able to withstand higher cooking temperature than many other oils and does not retain the flavor of foods cooked in it.
American consumers eat more than 6 pounds or 2.7 kilograms (kernel basis) of peanut products each year, worth more than $2 billion at the retail level.
World peanut production totals approximately 29 million metric tons per year, with the U.S. being the world’s third largest producer, after China and India.
Like I said before – you can't make peanuts disappear from the world.
I am so disappointed at the responses here. We live in a selfish narcissistic society that is passing these sad opinions on to our children. What ever happened to compassion and honoring thy neighbor. Yes, I am the parent of a child with severe peanut allergies, but I am also considerate and sensitive to other peoples needs. If I knew that my actions (such as sending a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my child's lunch) could potentially KILL another child, I wouldn't do it!
It's upsetting that it takes a tragic event such as YOUR child going into anaphylaxis shock, for you to have sympathy towards others disabilities (which were not, by the way, chosen by these individuals).
Under the American's With Disabilities Act of 1973, Section 504 (which now includes food allergies as a disability), my child does in fact have the RIGHT to attend a public school and not be discriminated against because of her disability. This means my child has the right to be in a room that she is going to be safe in and to participate in all activities your child participates in without being endangered. I wish for this kind of safety and security for all of our children, not just mine.
We've removed lead paint and asbestos from schools so that they do not pose harmful effects many years down the road on our children. It has been proven that peanuts in particular can be DEADLY within 7 minutes of contact to some people. Is it really that big of a deal to rethink what you put in your child's lunch knowing that you could be saving a life, not harming one?
When I was in elementary school, granted it was a while ago, a new student came to our school who was allergic to everything, including peanut butter. Not only was peanut butter banned, but an entire list of other foods as well. It actually went so far as children not being "allowed" to have contact with their own pets before school, out of fear this child would have an allergic reaction from the hair on another child's clothing. When things start being banned, where does it end? If children have a severe enough allergy, there should be no eating of anything in that classroom, and the child should not eat in the cafeteria. It does not make sense to ban food items for hundreds of other children if it is only a few children that have an issue. It seems like a simple solution to just isolate the children who have the problem, rather than affect the entire student body. My school actually had to stop selling certain school lunches because this one child was allergic. Extremely unfair to the other children.
Blaming someone for having food allergies is a bit like blaming them for their gender or skin color – it's not a personal choice or something that they can control. Banning PB seems like an over-reaction to me, but there are probably fairly simple work-arounds that will protect the lives of those with allergies while allowing those who enjoy peanut butter to eat what they like. A little creativity here, please. Are Americans unable to discuss anything without polemics?
Unbelievable... I cannot believe the majority of the comments I have been reading on this article since yesterday. I cannot believe how rude, uncaring and mean-spirited people are. And your comments are ridiculous!
"My little brat will only eat PB&J. Why should MY child starve?! Why should we be punished due to a couple of defective weaklings" Starve? Really? REALLY? You're so quick to call everyone else "bad parents" because their children have a severe allergy (because yes, they all signed up for this fate and it is their fault... ::eye roll::) and your child will not eat anything else?!
I am lucky enough to have a 5 year old who is not allergic to any foods. I count my blessings. I also know what it's like to have a picky eater. She's very, very picky. Thankfully she hates peanut butter (as do I) so this will never be an issue for us. Like other 5 year olds though, she's picky. Everyday for lunch, I have to pack her a turkey sandwich. Plain. Just turkey on whole grain white bread and peeled cucumber slices on the side. That's it. Everyday. If she couldn't have her turkey sandwich, she would probably pick at the few other things in her lunchbox and not eat. But you know what? If I was told that there was a child in her class who was severely allergic to turkey (yes, I am making this up) and could die if exposed to my daughter's sandwich – guess what? I WOULD NOT HESITATE, FOR ONE MOMENT, TO MAKE HER SOMETHING ELSE. Yes, she'd probably go hungry the first few days, as she'd be missing her turkey sandwich. Yes, she's whine about it. But you know what, she would NOT STARVE and after a few days, when she would realize that she's not getting her turkey sandwich back in her lunch, she would adapt and eat the other things I packed for her. Big whoop. She could have all the turkey sandwiches she wanted when she got home.
You people are sad. Your pathetic sense of entitlement disgusts me. "My Johnny loves PB&J" – yes, I'm sure it's going to kill him to go without a gross, fat-and-sugar filled sandwich for 1/3 of his day. "I can only afford PB&J!" – I find that hard to believe. I don't find that buying turkey slices is making me bankrupt... I pay $2.50 for a package of her favorite turkey and it lasts about 7 lunches. Ooh... *gasp*
And all of you who are naming all these other, minor allergies and being stupid, please stop. Read, educate yourselves, do something! I am deathly allergic to hazelnuts. However, those are very easy to avoid. I did have an accident with an unmarked cream cheese at a business conference, but I've learned from it. :) I do not expect anyone to accomodate my needs – I do hear what you're saying. BUT – and this is a huge but – hazelnut, strawberry, pollen, dust – those are allergies that are either a) easily avoidable and/or b) not as deadly as peanut allergies. If someone ate a hazelnut chocolate and then sneezed on me, I wouldn't die. But a small, 4 year old child with peanut allergies MIGHT if someone wasn't careful with peanuts.
These parents aren't asking for your precious spoiled brats to be punished and inconvenienced. And starved. Nobody wants your children to starve. But is a little compassion too much to ask for?!!! Apparently, according to all the uneducated, spiteful people on here, it is...
I meant "she'd whine about it" not "she's whine about it".
My heart goes out to all the parents who have to live with their children's allergies and worry every single day about their safety – thanks to inconsiderate people like the many commenters on this board.
Thank you. I could not agree more. the evilness spewed on this page has caused me to lose the LAST bit of faith I had left in humanity. We, as a country and species, are doomed.
I think banning peanut butter would create a false sense of security for children with an allergy, doing them no favors for the future. Instead, parents of all children should make the effort to teach them about differences, consequences and respect thus making them understand and own their allergies, etc. Outside of school the world does not cater to allergies the way schools seem to prefer nowadays. I don't think it's any coincidence allergies seem a lot more severe either. How confusing for a kid growing up to be catered to and not have to take responsibility for themselves because schools are doing it for them. Everyone is dealt a difficult hand and some things are harder to figure out than others, but we can't create a false atmosphere and then claim we're teaching children about the world and how to live in it.
First off, I don't understand why some people are being so harsh towards kids with allergies. It's not like they can help it. The parents of these children are only trying to do their job as a parent and protect their children as best they know how. If your child/children had an allergy to something that could kill him/her wouldn't you also do everything you could to protect him/her from that? If you answered no, you aren't fooling anyone.
Second, I don't believe that peanut butter should be banned from schools. I think that the parents should come up with a plan for their children and then the school should work with them. If there are enough children in that school with the peanut allergy, they could even have two seperate lunches.
I just wish everyone would stop being so harsh with the people who are slightly different from them. Yeah people are different, but you should try to put yourself in their shoes, see it from their side. Maybe then there wouldn't be so many comments posted from untolerant people.
There's a beautiful thing called homeschooling if your child is unable to be in the presence of other children's peanut butter. This seems to be the new trend, with food or any other type of complaint: "It affects me negatively, so other people shouldn't be allowed to do it"- even though it does not affect them, or not in the same way. If you, your child, or anyone else has a problem with peanut butter, feel free to not eat it. But to detract from other people's ability to eat it is ridiculous.
Schools should get on with the business of educating. Issues such as peanut butter or no peanut butter are red herrings. Don't go down the rabbit trail. We are clogging up the education system with non-sensical although passionate topics for some. If your child is allergic to certain food items. Don't give them to him/her. Tell them not to eat it. The child will be living with that the rest of their lives, they need to start dealing with it. Can you imagine if you had to worry about the different dietary needs of 30 children? No wonder no wants to be teachers!
I would hate to see peanut butter banned from school lunches. For one, it is a tradition and a staple for many families. Not to mention if peanut products were banned from schools, teachers, parents and other school employees would drop their guard and something would slip in. That said, I think there is a good solution that should be worked out between the teacher and parent. i have seen times where my son brought PB&J to school for lunch and he was slightly embarrassed because he had to eat at the opposite end of the table from his friend. We did not know his friend had an allergy, but I still felt it was handled very well and I was more conscientious in the future as well. I don't believe there is a reason for hostility. Compromises can be reached with good communication.
Really? A tradition? A staple? I don't know about you, but my family has more meaningful traditions than eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It's not like anyone is asking to ban peanuts and peanut products forever and from everything. If someone can't go 1/3 of their day without eating peanuts, they have issues...
My kids have an allergy table in their school and all the people with food allergy's sit there. I believe that banning peanut butter is not a very good idea because people with allergy's could sit away from people with peanut butter. Also, peanut butter is a healthy lunch which all kids need and my kids just love peanut butter and they would get upset if it was banned from school.
in my kids lunch box today is, peanut butter an jelly, peanut butter cookies, planters bag of peanuts,peanut juice, peanut butter flavored soap to was her hands after lunch.. an i even bought recycled peanut butter lunch bags..an its all about protecting my kids rights...!
When I was growing up, if you were allergic to something, you stayed away from it. When will people take responsibility for their own issues, instead of trying to impose them on everyone else?
If you are afraid your child will eat peanut butter, put them in a private school, bag their lunch for them, instruct them that they shouldn't eat peanut butter, i.e take responsibility. Jeez.
Although I can see your point. The problem isn't just lunch, Its about class time too... Science projects and
people that are aware of someone having a life threatening allergy and choosing to ignore the risks and
exposing them "on purpose" because they don't want to be inconvenienced.
At my son's daycare, they had a food allergy table where sensitive kids would eat together. The rest of the room could eat what they liked. I understand the need for safety, but banning snacks that %90 of the kids can eat safely is over kill.
There's a whole lot in the world we can't control. There are many people who are allergic to nothing and can go any where, do anything and eat everything with no ill effects. And then there are people who have no immune systems what so ever and have to live a lot of their lives in plastic bubbles. Home schooling people with severe allergies might work for some people, and others would find it reasonable to ban peanuts as a food source (no peanut growers, no peanut oil, no peanut butter companies, etc)(a bit extreme perhaps). Many places have come up with compromises – they aren't perfect – but they are workable. People make lunch for their kids, and a lot of them love peanut butter. It's handy, it's easy, doesn't require refrigeration, it's a good protein source, it's reasonably priced, there are no skull and crossbones or poison symbols anywhere on the label. They are not going out of their way to make something that's deadly to anyone else. They are not bad people. If your child will drop dead because a child across the room eats a peanut butter sandwich for lunch – your child needs to be in a very controlled environment and I'm not sure a school could/should have to conform to that degree of control. How far does this go? Through high school? Collage? Are you going to propose banning peanuts in her place of employment? Sorry but you can't make peanuts disappear from the world. There is also some debate as to the effectiveness of nut bans.
"Dr. Christakis notes that while it’s reasonable for schools and parents to take basic precautions, there is no scientific evidence that nut bans are particularly effective at protecting children. But more important, he argues, is that limiting widespread exposure to nuts can make things worse. The “policy of avoidance” means that fewer children are being exposed to nuts, likely increasing their risk for developing an allergy. A 2008 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of 10,000 British children found that early exposure to peanuts lowers risk of allergy, rather than increasing it."
wow, been a while since i read so much flame and obnoxiousness on one page. you people who post flame should read the whole page and ask yourself why. you are all so obviously useless. so mean spirited, mouthy, obnoxious, and hatefull that if you were a dog we would put you to sleep. i almost thought i was reading the raving rants of fox news readers. Jesus wept you people are vindictive and spiteful. This is what we have done with the internet... this, and you-porn. This species is F****d.
Something should be done but not banning it. Last year at our school a nurse misunderstood the school policy and said the entire school was peannut free when it was only the classrooms. The school luches are an unhealthy alternative and way too expensive for me to afford for 4 highly active children. I tried to make peanut free lunches that were higher in proteins than the school lunches which are mostly carbs. This became very taxing on the budget. Peanut butter is great for struggling families who want protein in their children's diets...please do not say use lunch meat. 4+ packs a week is way too much and then add in all of the chemicals and sodium .
I'm so confused about the concerns about sitting at the peanut free table. Your child's safety is less important than the chance he may be ostracized? Kids are ostracized for so many things in school. There are so many worse stigma out there (race, true handicaps, braces, being a "nerd", the list goes on), that I find it funny anyone is even concerned about this. The argument that you child shouldn't have to sit at a separate table and feel bad about themselves is just silly. Their safety should come first.
Don't forget 95% of all statistics posted on on CNN.com are made up.
As a pediatric nurse who is frequently in school or camp settings, I am very familiar with the peanut controversy. What most of the readers do not realize is that a peanut allergy is frequently deadly to the child. Many do no even need to eat it- opening a jar or bag of nuts in the room is enough to cause respiratory distress and possibly kill the child within minutes. The children have epi pens available, but still must be removed from the area and often taken to the hospital. It is very sad that many adults choose to ignore this. Most of the non-allergic children I have seen are understanding and willing to forgo the peanuts in order for their friend to remain in the room with them. Perhaps we need to learn from our children?
I think schools should make accommodations for kids with allergies but I am completely against banning PB. There are millions of people out there who have to overcome some sort of challenge and we accommodate their needs the best we can but it cant be expected for everyone else to change their lifestyles to meet your needs. If you cant be around PB than don't be around PB. If you want to sit with your friends then ask them to not bring PB to school but if they are addicted to PB then your going to have to accept the fact you cant sit with them. If your kid was allergic to gluten, would you seriously expect the parents to buy gluten free products (bread for example) to make sandwiches for their kids?
I'm sorry but you are in idiot Gluten intolerance will not kill a child a mealy a few short minutes. Peanuts on the other hand very well can. Please be informed on the facts of an issue before you try to comment on them.
It is not mean if you don't rearrange your life to account for everyone's potential allergies or other types of issues. If you have a problem, then its your job to work around, not impose your will on society. Much of this peanut butter allergy has been caused by coddling people anyway. In the UK, where children have been overly protected from peanuts, there is a 10 times greater incident rate of peanut allergy than in Israel, where kids are exposed to peanuts at a much younger age.
I'm so sorry Lynn and I'm with Jack. People are downright mean. It's not about the kid with the allergy. It's about being considerate of another human and their allergies. I can see how American kids are turning out to be mean, self centered, and obese. Their parents aren't setting good examples. No allergies here, but I'm not going to send any to school with my kid. There are plenty of other options.
As a seasoned communications professional in the healthcare field (13+ years) and, perhaps moreover, as a mother to a child (son, 5 years) with severe nut allergies, I feel that I have some credence and credibility that affords me an opportunity to weigh in on this subject. (My son averaged an ER/EMS/Hospital vist at an average of 2x/month during his first three years.....)
First off, as a disclaimer, I fully recognize that opinions represented in this forum may range from a personal to a clinical level, as well . I understand that I do not know the representation of profession of commentators in this blog, and do not mean to offer judgement on commentary posted.
Again, so all of that said, here is my commentary....
Again, at first, I am a mother with a child that suffers severe allergies....but I leave that point for a moment....
As a professional in the healthcare field, I think we need only look to the bonafide research that is presented to us from a number of well-respected academic, research-focused associations and forums. The American Academy of Pediatrics and more relay to us - the parents of allergic children - insurmountable and important data about our chldren who suffer from food-borne allergies.
I assure each of the readers in this forum - weather you are a parent of a severly-allegic child, or a parent who does not understand this situation - that change must come about.
Both of my children attend public school. I do not expect that the school district should makle any differentiial for my son, with his nut allergies. Yet, the school has graciouscly done so, at no real expense. There are four children who eat with my son at a nut-free table duriing lunch. I have not asked the school to delete peanut-butter sandwiches from their lunch menu, as there is truly no need. The problem is contained.
Next year, when my son is in first-grade, I hope that he will have the greater know-how about mananging his own healthcare. And I know that it will be my responsibility to ensure that he takes great reigns on managing his health.
But I know that this will be a great concern for me, as a parent, for a long time.....
I think you are setting your child up for success. Once he leaves school and joins the 'real world' he is going to have to fend for himself by getting a job, shopping, eating out, socializing etc and he is going to have to be aware of his allergy and make smart decisions based around it.
Parents who expect everyone else to make changes for their child are setting their kid up for failure because the world simply does not work like that. As much as we would like it to, it doesn't. If kids enter adult life expecting everyone else to change how they live because of their allergy then they are going to be in for a rude awakening.
What about those who are allergic to the sun (solar urticaria) or to water (aquagenic pruritis) or other types of chronic urticaria (heat, cold, etc.)? What about bee sting allergies, grass allergies, allergies to other kinds of nuts, etc.? Where do you draw the line? A parent ultimately has to be responsible for a child with special needs and find the right place for him. There are other avenues of education that can be pursued–school vouchers, anyone?
Get a grip people, almost evyer form of packaged treat now has a label warning that says the material in the bag was processed in a factory or on a line that may have come into contact with Peanuts, tree nuts or wheat – there is no safe food to replace it with.
Kids with allergies that severe should stay at home and study online – it is the wave of the future.
I think this is another side to a coin tossed earlier in the year. CNN posted a story about peanuts being banned from airlines. While I myself am not a fan of this, in an airplane it makes sense. Passengers are in an enclosed space and get circulated air. However, in a school setting i fail to see how proper education on both the sides, the school to the students and the parents to their children, can't stem the issue so that things such has a ban does not have to occur. I have to admit I am also in agreement with something that was stated earlier in the thread. It is wrong to expect everyone else to give up peanut butter because your child has an allergy.
Everyone has some health issue or another. As a child I was so allergic to grass if I across a field I would loose two days of school. As a result I was excused from normal PE. Today I am not quite as allergic to grass as I once was perhaps, because my nose is a bit further from the ground than it used to be, but I still avoid it whenever I can. My point is it is only humane to accommodate the special needs of those that we can. Peanut allergies can be very serious. There are people who can go into anaphylactic shock after coming into contact with a single peanut shell for only a moment which can be life threatening. Its not unreasonable for them to expect a peanut free environment in which to study.
A ban at the pre-school and lower levels ok, but beyond that NO, school is supposed to teach life lessons, and teaching kids that there world is safe is wrong, kids with peanut allergies need to be taught from a young age that they are responsible for themselves, the world outside of school isn't peanut free (a friend of mine, son knows how to read the labels to protect himself from his peanut allergy). The other kids need to be taught too about the importance of watching out for others, to wash there hands and clean up. LIFE lessons. I also know when inner city schools here banned peanut butter several kids started coming with out lunches. In that case who's not respecting who. As for too far, now schools here as well are dictating what kids can even eat, they aren't allowed cookies nut free or not except on Fridays cause it promotes obesity. how far should schools be allowed?
The problem with banning one allergen is that you have to ban them all... It could create a serious but comical situation.
For example my kid is allergic to Citrus Fruits, if his school is going to ban Peanut Butter than I would expect them to ban all foods that kids in the school are allergic too, because if you are going to protect some kids (a minority) than you have to protect everyone, just to be fair...
Man most of these posts are just downright depressing. The recurring theme is "I don't care about your child", "It's your fault your child has an allergy and therefore you are a bad parent". Frankly I'm embarrassed for those of you who make these kind of posts. Here's a brainstorm idea: instead of serving your child peanut butter for LUNCH, serve it for DINNER. If your child will only eat peanut butter for lunch and dinner just know this, you (yes you) have failed your child with your lazy parenting and the apple will not fall far from the tree
OK. That does it. I have had it up to here with the whiny PC idiots trying to make life miserable for the rest of us. It's not like peanut allergies are something new. If your kid has one, then tell him to be careful, just like every other kid with a peanut allergy has done since we had such a thing as schools. What's next? Ban synthetic clothes because some kids have sensitive skin? Get over yourselves.
I think many people love peanut butter and it is a healthy, lunch and snack. It is better for you than all the processed crap out there. My peanut butter has no sugar. I feel bad for parents who have kids with allergies to peanuts, but you can not ask the world to give up peanuts. That is the point. I do not think anyone blames you for peanut allergies. I think people are saying you need to teach these kids to take care of themselves and you need to educate their classmates to keep it away from them. I do not think making every kid in every school in you district not eat peanuts is not fair. I think you are telling us we are selfish and uncaring. Face it your child needs to learn to advocate for themselves and deal with their serious problem. The world is not peanut free. You are asking the world to accommodate you. I am willing if their is a child in my kids class to accommodate that child, but to accommodate period end of story even if no kid in our school has a problem is silly. I also feel that if your kids allergy is so sever they will die from smelling peanuts, you have bigger problems than school. What about play grounds, the mall, the grocery store, my car in the parking lot that my 4 year olds peanut hands have touched? This is a serious problem and if your kid is around I will accommodate them, but if not I think my kids should be aloud to have peanut butter. I do not think that is unfair. I think peanut butter is a great food. It is nutritious and you can guarantee the kid will eat it and it does not need refrigeration.
I also want to mention one of my kids is allergic to strawberries and I take precautions for her, but never tell people to ban them. We do not eat them in our house in front of her. She is only 4, but I put them in my 8 year olds lunch because she loves them. She has known since she was 2 1/2 the she is allergic to strawberries and could articulate it and her sister has known longer. If she can tell people no at 4 and younger a school age child should be able to be responsible for themselves.
I think it is sad that some kids have allergies, and they should be protected, but a whole school going peanut free is excessive. I know my kids favorite lunch is PB&J. I use whole grain bread and sugar free peanut butter. She then has a low sugar jelly. It is a great lunch that is high in protein. So kids should be educated and they should be aware of the kid with the allergy. I think a spot in the lunch room should be designated peanut free and the other kids should enjoy a good lunch.Let the kid with the allergy deal with reality from a young age. The world is not peanut free and will not go peanut free. My kids eat PB&J all the time on the run it is much healthier that any fast food chain lunch. They walk into stores, play at the park. I think it is up to those parents to watch their kids and let people know to keep it away from their child. It is like any other sickness it is the parent and child's responsibility to take care of it. I think banning Peanut butter for the millions of children who love it is wrong. I was at a park once and some parents treated my child and I like criminals for eating PB&J. I am would have taken care to clean my kid before she touched the play ground equipment and kept the peanuts near me. Instead they yelled at me and left. I think they were the selfish ones and they are doing the kid no favors teaching them to treat people badly instead of just stating the allergy and hoping people will comply. I will happily put peanut butter away if there is a kid playing with mine who is allergic.Otherwise peanut butter is a great healthy food.
I recognize that some people are hypersensitive to peanut products and it could kill them, however as all it could take would be one student eating a granola bar for those rushed breakfasts to have enough peanut contamination to pose a threat I believe that it is best to keep those students at home. I am an incredibly busy person and I cannot eat lunch if I have to go through the lunch line at my school, so I pack peanut butter because it is shelf stable unlike meat. For severe and not deadly cases schools should take reasonable precautions to protect the student, but deadly cases schools should make no accomodations to limit liability.
Oh My what is next that the school can control? Next they will make a kid go to scholl all day with out eating and this is exactly what it is comming to. There are so many kids allergic to eggs so do we ban in the schools every thing made with eggs? Oh and I forgot there are so many allergic to wheat. So do we also ban anything made with wheat too ?
I think it is up to each parent to worry about what their child eats. And to teach them what not to eat as well. I think if the schools would worry more about education and teaching our kids something they would be better off.In some areas the school system in some states have set up just what they can feed these kids nutrition wise and I have to laugh the state tells them what to feed the child and they are not allowed any sugar items but they are allowed to give them nutrition wise chicken nugets that are full of fat. This is really gettting bad. SO bottom line is take care of your own kid and let the schools teach them and worry about a good education and you as parents worry about what your own child eats!!!!
Parents start taking a interest in what your child does! Or lock your child in a closet til he or she is 18 and you will not have to worry about anything but what you do with your child only! You willnot have to put the blame on the schools for not taking care of the child that you should have been taking care of your self. THE SCHOOLS ARE TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND THAT IS ALL. YOU MUST TEACH A CHILD RIGHT AND WRONG YOUR SELF AND MOST OF ALL RESPECT. ALSO WHAT TO EAT AND WHAT NOT TO EAT IF YOU WANT TO FEED THEM SPECIAL FOODS IF THEY HAVE ALLERGIES!!!!!!! DO NOT LEAVE YOUR JOB UP TO SOMEONE ELSE!
If we ban PB how about:
1) Strawberries, Raspberries, Apples or several more Fruits
2) Milk and Cheese products for the Lactose Intolerant
3) Bread / Pizza Crust and other Wheat products for the Gluton Intolerant
4) Walnut, Pecans, and other Tree nuts for those alergic
5) Products containing Sugar for the Diabetics
6) Other products (Caffeine ) etc due to Cultural / Religious prohibitions
There are numerous other alergens and social reasons FOR YOU to keep me from taking care of Myself and my Family
I am close to tears at some of the horrible mean spirited comments on this board! My son is 5 and just entered Kindergarten. He is severely nut allergic. He was diagnosed at 10 months and up to this point it was fairly easy to monitor his eating and what he was exposed to. Starting school has been very scary and nervewracking for me as he could die within minutes if there was an accidental ingestion and the correct actions weren't taken. 60% of deaths from food allergies occur at school. I have been extremely involved in partnering with his teacher, principle, school nurses, bus drivers, and lunch staff to make school safe for him. I have supplied the school nurse and his teacher with an epipen. He also carries one in his bookbag and I insisted the bus driver be trained on how to use it as well. I spend $18 every two weeks on Wet Ones because they are the only product that will remove nut protein from hands after lunchtime. I compromised on this because it was not convenient to take 21 children to the bathroom to wash hands after eating lunch. I have provided a nut free snack list for snacktime. I send in special stuff that my son can have b/c he can't eat the birthday cupcakes from bakeries. The school has a peanut free table and for the first two weeks my son sat alone. Imagine going to school for the first time and trying to make friends but having to be alone during the most social time of the day. His (great) teacher came up with the idea to send home laminated cards that say "peanut free lunch" so that if another child brings a lunchmeat sandwich or what not the parent can put that card in the lunch and the teacher can look over it and allow him/her to sit at the peanut free table. Now my son has others to eat with and I am so grateful. My son is very responsible (first born) and is very aware of his allergies. HOWEVER he is five years old. This has to be treated the same as any other special need. My son NEEDS to be safe at school and all you people saying that this is basically my problem and my problem only have serious issues. A five year old can be told how to stay safe and what to eat all day long but the school and staff must play a vigilant, active role to make it a safe environment. I of course would be in favor of peanut free schools altogether b/c of the severity of the allergy. Peanut allergies are one of the most severe, most common and only getting increasingly more common. Free/reduced lunch is available if times are that tough that all you can pack for your child is peanut butter. I find it appaling to see implications on here that parents of allergic children are obsessive, we caused the allergies from not exposing our kids to certain foods, allergies are natural selection and my child should be weeded out, etc. WOW. I hope none of your children are ever struck with any illness or special need, I guess you'll just let them die b/c that's Gods will right? Geez people. Have some heart. I cannot believe the disgusting and shameful comments on here!
I am sorry Lynn, but you sound obsessive. It is great that you are involved, but you should be. I also disagree about a 5 year old not being able to tell what they are allergic to. My 4 year old can not eat strawberries, she tells people all the time and has since before she was 3. She loves strawberries so it is hard for her, but she knows and I do not keep them in my house. I have provided snack and juice for her at school for the days someone brings in a snack with strawberries in it. By the way lots and lots of juices and products have strawberries in them. She has looked at labels and smelled food. This I did not teach her. I just told her she is allergic, to tell people and not to eat them. I understand that your child has a contact problem as well. Maybe home schooling is right for you? My 8 year old found out the hard way that she is allergic to penicillin when she was 5 she broke out in hives over 95% of her body. She always tells Doctors and nurses first thing that she is allergic to Penicillin. Most of the time it is not relevant, but I let her advocate for herself. I have been told she could die if she ever ingests it again. Ok so we all have something to worry about. My kids are aware of what they can not have and speak out. I trust them. I do not baby them, they are strong.
To percysmama, your an idiot and obviously one of the many that don't understand severe allergies. Lynn is trying to protect her son from DYING from exposure to nuts. No one but a true severe allergy parent understands what she is going through. No one cares about her child's wellfare as much as she does so she has to be proactive when it comes to the school environment. Exposure to peanuts is more than just a PB&J sandwich. You can't just tell your child to stay away from a PB&J sandwich and they will be safe. So many products are processed around peanuts and they can't eat those products either, for example, breads, crackers, snack bars, and etc.
I dare you to go nut free for a week and see how stressful it is. Eat nothing that was processed in the same plant as peanuts/nuts, nothing cooked in peanut oil, and etc. Then come back and tell us it is easy...you won't because it's not easy!
the intolerance is shocking... as a mother of three kids with no allergies you will never catch a peanut product in my kids lunch. They all love peanut butter, but understand this is something they only eat at home out of respect for those who have allergies. I could not live with myself if that pb&j I sent to school caused a severe reaction to another child or even worse.
Baning it at schools will not work. Most people with peanut allergies don't need to eat it to get sick. They just have to touch anything with peanut oil on it. Kid eats a hand full of peanuts at home and uses a pen to do homework. Next day take the pen or any object touched to school and hands it to someone with allergy. The other person still gets sick. Their are so many ways for peanut oil to get to schools without it ever being servered or brought for lunch.
Peanuts are just one particular allergen that gets a lot of focus. There are many others that are as significant, and perhaps, as common. If we ban every item that any kid might be allergic to, to some degree, it's only a matter of time before kids come to school, go through decontamination, get in a clean suit, and study from books that have never left the clean room-esque environment.
And then they get out of school, go somewhere like the mall or a movie or a playground and come in contact with the allergen. Since you can't control the environment all the time, your only real line of defense is preparation for the inevitable.
I have a kid who IS allergic to peanut butter and who doesn't fully understand the consequences of ingesting a single bite of the stuff. The problem doesn't lay in the fact that other kids have to conform to keep everyone safe. The problem is that kids, under 13, don't understand what it means and subsequently don't treat the problem well. Yes my child has been exposed by the outside world and we do teach him, but if we can teach our kids early on to be mindful of those who have allergies and disabilities aren't we better off?
For those who can't see this then I offer this:
- allow smoking everywhere any place and anytime. hell, i'll just light a pack and smoke into your allergy free kids face, because that is fair.
- If your parent or loved one has cancer then let them die, why should I foot the bill on their health insurance
- Let everyone drink and drive, who am I to tell you that you shouldn't
Schools have other reasons for banning peanut butter than just concern over allergic kids. Often times, schools profit from kids buying lunches at full price and those profits go to subsidize the free and reduced lunch kids. In these tough times, parents are more apt to sent their kids to school with a cheap PB&J sandwich than spend money for kids to buy a less healthy school lunch.
Many schools are now not only going peanut free- but threatening kids with confiscating any lunches suspected of containing peanuts and punishing kids or parents who repeatedly send kids to school with peanut products. The alternative is always- don't pack, spend the money and buy your kid's lunch from us.
Also in many of the wealthier schools, teachers don't like the competitveness where parents send their kids to school with expensive packed lunches and the only kids who buy are the poor kids who get free lunches. So you've got the poor kids eating their free hot dog lunch and the rich kids eating their Whole Foods Chicken salad and hummus.
Don't you love the yuppie-like comments that treat peanut butter like it's a "treat"? For many peanut butter provides an affordable lunch whose nutritious value is very good. Government Care-like food packages to low-income people used to include peanut butter for that reason. If you value an allergic kids health, you should also realize that many kids deprived of peanut butter would be eating nothing but jelly on their sandwiches some days. Accomodations can be made for allergic kids without banning peanut butter, which hasn't even been an issue since it was invented over a century ago.
This is a serious question to those of you who have a child or children with a severe peanut allergy – honestly – and not meant to be snide or sarcastic. (If it comes across that way, I apologize.) Iif you could "make the rules," what would you have society do? Obviously, you would want peanut butter banned in schools. But cited above are examples of children having life-threatening reactions by touching a playground slide contaminated with traces of peanut butter, getting breathed on, being exposed to peanut products in restaurants, and of course, the possibility of touching peanut butter on a school bus surface. Okay, so the schools ban peanut butter, but your child is still not safe. I'm just curious, but if you could set the rules, what would they be? That peanut butter would be outlawed everywhere, including the grocery stores? That before entering a playground, all children must wash their hands? That parents must sign a form pledging not to feed their children peanut butter at breakfast so that there won't be any traces of it when the child gets onto the bus and to school? Again, I'm not trying to "start something," but I truly do want to know what parents of peanut allergy kids would like to see happen in society.
Yeah, it's be great if there weren't any allergens out there but I know that is not realistic. Yes I would prefer schools to be nut free. However, in society in general, if less of our food would be processed around nuts, that would be the biggest thing for me to see happen. There are so many items out there that my son can't eat because it was processed in the same production plant as peanuts. Even buying a loaf of bread is a huge ordeal because of where most of them are processed. I have to carefully read and analyze every single food item I purchase and even then, it doesn't mean a product is safe because some companies do not post warnings on their food if a product is produced in the same plant as allergens.
My son can't have barbecue sauce because one of the "secret" ingredients in most of them is peanuts. However because it's a trade secret ingredient they don't have to place that on their label. Those companies won't even tell you if peanuts are an actual ingredient or not, they just tell you it's best for you not to purchase their product. Things like this are infuriating and difficult for a parent of an allergic child.
Actually your scenario is EXACTLY what I would like to see. You would understand if you saw your baby fighting for their life and suffering so badly. I didn't take it as seriously as I should have till I got a verbal tongue lashing from an ER Dr for driving my 2 year old to the hospital instead of calling 911 and seeing my daughter almost die and be admitted to the ICU.
More and more classroom doors are displaying signs that alert all to chldren w/ alergies. Common courtesy requires we all act responsibly . EAch community will have to agree on a common solution. Hopefully, a medical solution will be an answer for all eventually. Alergies can be serious and life threatening. Adults must be conscientious and teach our children to care about one another.
If the school bands peanut butter then they should pay for a lunch for the student who is not allergic . If they won't let me make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich then they can pay for and provide an alternative not me.
Parents and children need to notify and remind food staff/school nurse/ administration of allergies (severe or otherwise) so that precautions can be made. Last I recall, lunch menus are prepared by the month so there's no surprise for what day is PBJ Day. So, on PB & J day send little Johnny/ Suzie to school with an alternative. That's what parents are supposed to do – don't expect teachers, school administrators, school nurses, etc raise your children for you.
I agree with one of the posts that I read about parents notifying the school of the child's allergies and the school keeping a record of it and implementing that. The parent could make sure that their child is aware of all of their own allergies, the school should also be informed and there should be other alternatives for the children who are allergic. There should be a seperate line/menu for kids with these allergies on those particular days. Not all families can afford to send sack lunches with their kids everyday, that's the reason for the free lunch program to ensure that kids get the proper nutrients at school.Its not going to cost that much extra for the school to preoare a seperate dish for the allergic kids.And hey our tax dollars will be used one way or another why not make sure we are promoting our educational systems in the best way possible.
I am shocked at how little people who don't have allergy kids know about all this – and how they seem to think they are an authority. Having a kid with a peanut allergy – which I do have – is a constant anxiety. I have to work – therefore she must go to school. YES, they can react from the essence of it. YES, they can react just touching it. GOD forbid they accidentally ingest it. Everything is a nightmare for my kid: birthday parties, carnivals, trips to the zoo, field trips with school and even going to the mall or the movies. Everyone, including her dance instructor, has epi pins. IS it controllable. YES. But would it be nice to have the one place she spends most of her week at – school – be safe? Sure would. To all of you intolerants and ignorants – I hope you all have 10 kids with nut allergies and you will see the hell we live.
If someone is so allergic to peanuts that merely breathing the fumes brings on life threatening attacks, how do you get thru life? Any place you go, anything you touch (stores, restaurants, playgrounds, friend's houses, etc) might potentially be contaminated with peanuts. You don't know if the person next to you just ate a peanut product, and might be breathing peanut breath on you. Or if the kid next to yours ate peanut butter for breakfast and then touched the railing on the bus just before your kid touched it. Some restaurants use peanut oil – does passing by potentially threaten your life?
It's not just in school that someone might be exposed to peanuts.
It seems that the only safe approach is to teach your child to avoid exposure and what to do when exposure happens. Because if someone is that allergic, exposure is inevitable.
Well as far as the Federal Government is concerned, life-threatening allergies are considered a "disability" meaning that these children with food allergies are covered under the American with Disabilities Act...therefore the schools must accommodate them.
If banning peanuts from school is a step towards protecting these kids then I'm all for it. My son has nut allergies and I am so thankful that his preschool is a nut-free school. Those of you who don't have children with food allergies don't know the stress us parents go through when everywhere you go is a "war zone". You can't take your child out to dinner without thoroughly researching the place, the food, the preparation of the food, and etc. When you grocery shop your time is consumed with reading labels, researching companies, and etc. It's exhausting and to be able to send your child to school in an environment that bans one of your child's major allergens is a blessing.
The public school system is there to provide education, not to pander to every little concern parents have. Parents need to take responsibilty for once! If your child has a special need then the parent needs to do something about it! God forbid someone takes responsibility for themselves for once instead of crying and screaming no fair while pointing at someone else.
I'm fairly liberal but there is a point when the school system should tell the parents to perhaps parent. If the parents know of a risk they should act accordingly. My children's safety is not everyone elses responsibility. I have not lobbied to ban forks in school cafeterias because I have taught my children not to stab themselves in the head. I have not sued the manufacturer of my stove because my children might burn themselves. This is my responsibility as a parent.
I suggest a supervised lunch table for everyone who wants to bring peanut butter sandwiches. After they eat they can be escorted to wash their hands and mouths. If kids and parents really want peanut butter, and can't afford anything else, a separate table shouldn't be a big deal. And the nut allergic kids around them won't face injections, emergency room visits, and death. I am astonished at the ignorance and anger on this thread. May God bless you with compassion and wisdom.
When our school nurse thought we were totally nut free she wanted to take the PB kids out of the lunchroom and have them eat in her office. That is a problem....wouldn't have minded a table in the lunchroom. The alergic kids had airborn allergies she said so they couldn't be in a room with PB. But, what about spagetti sauce...many have peanuts secretly addded as an emulsifyer...couldn't that kill those poor kids. In their case I think going out into the world is a huge risk if their allergy was as bad as the nurse portrayed it to be.
As the mother of a two-year-old who eats peanut butter and has no problems with it, but also someone who understand the difference between my child's allergy to cats (which is mild and controlled by two prescription medications and keeping our 3 cats out of his bedroom) and someone like my friend's son who goes into anaphylactic shock if peanuts or peanut products are in the home, I feel like we have an obligation to provide a safe environment for all children to learn. A child who is separated from others because they have a peanut allergy who is not being taunted because of that is like the child who was forced to wear a dunce cap! First of all, the offending child should no longer be allowed to bring any peanut products to school AT ALL. No ammunition for them to use. Then the school needs to look at the severity of the allergy in that particular child. Two counties over from where I live, in a more urban area, they HAVE banned peanut products of ANY KIND in schools. If there was a child in my child's school, I would wholeheartedly support a ban at that school or even the county, or all tree nuts, or milk, or whatever. I can still feed those things to my child in my own home, I don't have to send them to school with him. I think we have an obligation to educate all children in the community who want a public education.
I'm a teacher, and I've brought my own peanut butter sandwiches for lunch for the last ten years. It has saved me hundreds of dollars in expenses and is more nutritious than any hot lunch served in a cafeteria – I'm able to compete as an amateur triathlete, while your children are fat because of their 1200 calorie lunches. I have no intention of stopping, regardless of whether or not someone decides it's "not allowed." What I choose to have for lunch is not your business, sorry.
In my opinion, this is what happens when people with weak genes get together and raise their children in sterile, HEPA-filtered houses. Everyone is increasingly incapable and allergic – why should the rest of us have to pay for it?
You are disgusting – a total loser. You are a teacher. you should be ashamed of yourself – you selfish pig. You are an employee of your municipality – your wages are paid by the people you teach – you are what is wrong with teacher.
Good for you, Teacher Tim. It's an insane notion to ban food. It's one thing if it's a drug or pornography or something, but food? Keep on eating your sandwiches and hopefully one day we'll figure out what the real cause of all these allergies is. I assure you it's something man-made, not the food itself.
Too bad many of you are hating on poor innocent little kids. While I don't believe I should be restricted from providing my son PB&J sandwiches I also think it is my responsibility to do it in a responsible manner. The school is the one who needs to provide separate lunch hours, classrooms, etc. to assure these kids with allergies are not exposed to things that can kill them, whether it be peanut butter or anything else.
By the way, natural peanut butter is one of the most nutritious things that kids actually will eat. You cannot take that away from them. Good proteins and good fats.
If you're concerned about the fats then get physical education back in the schools. That is where the problem is.
Banning peanut butter or obvious peanut products would not go far enough in preventing issues. When I was in the process of opening a preschool, I made a comment how I was going to place peanut butter on the "do not include" list regarding packed lunches. I was told by a mom (who complained about every issue that came down the pike) of a huge list of products that I also needed to include because they either contained peanuts, peanut oil, or were processed in a plant that also processed peanut products. Her do not allow list exceeded the list of permitted foods. It was truly ridiculous. I decided to not bother with a list at all, but have a peanut free table. Of course she moaned about that and how her kid would have to eat by himself. Some people you can never, ever please. Don't even try. But, we can all make some concessions that will help out – especially the youngest of the students who are the most vulnerable in that they may not realize what may be "contaminated".
As for those who are against a ban (and I am one of them) I believe their irritation is not at the fact that peanuts may not be welcome at school, but at the fact that government has no business telling us what we can or can not eat. It is just one more example of a forced loss of freedom. If every one who has posted above were seriously asked to refrain from sending in peanut butter due to a particular child's condition, and were not forced through a ban, I am fairly certain that out of the goodness of their hearts toward all children, they would. When you ban an adult from doing something, you are looking for and will get a fight. Asking for cooperation gets a much better result.
In medical circles, it's becoming increasingly apparent that most allergies are caused by the "hygiene hypothesis', which essentially says if you deny a substance, you become sensitive to it. Live in a dust free home, you become allergic to dust. Limit social contact, you become anxious in social situations. We need to accept responsibility for our ailments and learn to avoid and deal with them on our own. Open your windows, get out of the house, do stuff, avoid chemicals and toxins, embrace all that nature gives us and avoid artificial substances, and god willing, we should be, and stay, healthy and happy. Coop your kids up, feed them processed crap, buy new plastic crap that they whine for, live your lives in your car, expect others to solve your problems, you'll become a neurotic, allergy prone, pale, unhealthy, unhappy, fat person. aka,your average American.
Agreed. You also shouldn't discount genetics, though – years ago, people with severe allergies wouldn't have survived childhood. Should we set our societal rules to accomodate the slowest, weakest, least-able individuals? It's getting that way.
your research is out of date, the hygiene hypothesis may play some role, but it is certainly not a major causation of allergies. Most informed allergists instruct parents to avoid peanuts and treenuts until after they are at least 3 years old specifically because the avoidance theory has been debunked. I hope for your sake the medical staff don't take a survival of the fittest approach at your next ER visit, I don't think our schools should be a return to the Lord of the Flies either.
Believe me you would all change your tune very quickly if you had to watch your child almost die at 2 years old from just touching a playground slide that had peanut residue on it. You people who think that it is OK to bring peanut products to school and other public places it is the same if my kid brought a loaded gun. It probably wouldn't hurt your kids but you never know, try imagining dealing with the anxiety of living with your life and keeping your child safe with loaded guns (peanut products) everywhere. You you just like all of us peanut families to just stay at home all the time no school, playgrounds, or outings what so ever. You are all really compassionate and understanding.
This is a serious question - honestly - and not meant to be snide or sarcastic. (If it comes across that way, I apologize.) You have a child with peanut allergy, and I sympathize with you ... but if you could "make the rules," what would you have society do? Obviously, you would want peanut butter banned in schools. But you cite an example of a life-threatening incident regarding peanut butter on a slide. I'm not sure what you're proposing ... so if you could set the rules, what would they be? That all peanut butter would be outlawed everywhere, including the grocery stores? That before entering a playground, all children must wash their hands? Again, I'm not trying to "start something," but I truly do want to know what parents of peanut allergy kids would like to see happen in society to keep their children safe.
The fact is there are more chronic diseases and illnesses today than there were even 20 years ago. Tons of kids have allergies; we are looking at a little more than 1/2 of all kids today. Why not have lunch hours that address this. I don't think showing a little compassion for others teaches kids to be weak. The problem is we don't practice it with each other as adults.
I feel bad for kids with allergies, but I don't think a ban is required. Just teach your child that they cannot have peanut butter. I mean, c'mon, peanut butter is a good source of protein and makes your child a healthy snack. Unless, of course, your child is allergic. But I will state once again, I do not think a ban is required.
I feel bad for kids with allergies, but I don't think a ban is not required. Just teach your child that they cannot have peanut butter. I mean, c'mon, peanut butter is a good source of protein and makes your child a healthy snack. Unless, of course, your child is allergic. But I will state once again, I do not think a ban is required.
Trust me, I can't imagine that any parent of a severely food allergic child has not taught their children not to eat someone else's sandwich, even if the other person is offering them a bite. Peanut allergies are much more severe than that, and kids tend to get it all over their hands and mouths, and then not wash their hands. Ultimately, there is peanut butter on the tables, chairs, doorknobs, etc. and that gets onto the hands of peanut allergic kids. I wish that it were as simple as teaching my daughter not to eat peanut butter. Life would be much easier and much less worrisome. Obviously you are free to have your own opinion, I just wanted to make sure you understood that the facts are a little more complicated than you implied in your post.
There seems to be an inordinate amount of mean spirited comments here. I picked "Other" as a solution because there is much that I do not know about peanut allergies. I don't like jumping to conclusions based upon incomplete information. The issue seems to be a complicated one. Why, for example, are there more of these allergies? How far away from peanut products to those with allergies need to be? How sensitive are some children to them? How many are highly sensitive, somewhat sensitive, barely sensitive? I want information, not meanness.
There are many possible reasons for the increase in peanut allergies, some relate to how peanuts are processed in the US (roasted for peanut butter) some relate to Vitamin D deficiencies, others might be related to toxins in our environment. In short, we don't know, but the US has MUCH higher rates of peanut allergies than other countries. Some nut allergy people are allergic to eating peanuts, others react to airborne particles or nut residue left on playground equipment, etc., and many of those people are almost housebound, can never travel on public transportation, the kids can't go to camp, go to school, etc. without fear of having a severe reaction and DYING. I don't know the breakdown of how many nut allergy sufferers can't eat nuts/can't be around them/etc., but it seems that some common sense ideas can help keep people safe and not infringe on the liberty interests of those who have to eat their PBJs. A nut free table is one option, a nut table is another, depending on how many people have to have PB, how responsible they are (can they be trusted to wash their hands and not endanger others), how many nut allergy sufferers there are, and how severe those allergies may be.
When my nut allergic daughter started school, I talked to her teachers about her allergies, I was very concerned about the possibility of her being exposed to life-threatening situations when I wasn't there to take her to the hospital. The school, without my urging, decided the best thing for the teachers, the students and the several nut allergic children, would be to be peanut free. All of the parents have been amazing at finding alternatives to PBJ for lunches. Thankfully, the school is now able to focus on teaching the kids, rather than on which teacher will have to inject my daughter with an epi-pen and who would accompany her to the hospital. And my daughter can learn, spend time with her compassionate classmates, and not be fearful about having an allergic reaction. I think it is better for all of the kids, frankly. Who would want to cause one of your classmates to have a life-threatening reaction?
Why is this an issue? My son is allergic to peanuts. My son also knows to stay away from peanuts. He is also only three years old. If my three year old can know when to stay away from things that make him hurt why can't other children. My daughter on the other hand loves peanuts and peanut butter. I wouldn't deprive her of something she likes because her brother can't have it. So why would I want to deprive other children at her school? Parents need to step up and teach their child about their allergy and what to stay away from. Not have the school ban the product.
Your sons peanut allergy is obviously not severe. How many times has he suffered acute anaphylaxis? Thank God you don't have to suffer with a very severe allergy and have compassion for those who do.
If you have peanut butter in your home for your daughter while your son is allergic you are an idiot. P.S. you better get a little wiser on the whole subject or I am afraid for your son.
I am a 40 year old, mother of five... who has never suffered from an allergy or had a child who suffered from an allergy. Until three weeks ago, that is.. when I suffered a near fatal reaction to a medication, containing peanut oil. I must now carry an Epi-Pen, watch my every consumption of peanut related products... and in the name of self-preservation... have banned all peanut products from the home. Before this... I was the mother who packed peanut butter and peanut products every day for my children.... wishing those who suffered " the very best" and (essentially...) too bad for them. It's funny how your perspective changes when you are hit head on, with a life-threatening peanut allergy of your own. Why is there a rise in peanut allergies in our children? Who cares. A seven year old shouldn't have to worry about such things, on his/her way to an education in our country. Ban all peanuts & peanut products from our schools. For those of you who feel differently.... I say again.... I never suffered any allergies in my life until three weeks ago. You can develop a life threatening allergy at any time in your life... to anything. Be thankful you do not suffer and have mercy on those who do.
@Robyn...this is what is wrong with this country and why we are witnessing the downfall of society...there is zero expectation of personal accountability. The peanut allergy argument doesn't hold water as far as I'm concerned because it isn't a widespread health problem of such numbers that it should affect the entirety of society, in this case school districts. Car accidents kill FAR MORE children than allergies in this country but am I supposed to demand that there be a ban on motorized vehicles to protect my child?? In the past couple of years there have been at least 4 children who were hit by cars while walking home from school in my city...all accidents were technically 100% preventable. Guess how many children were injured in the same amount of years because of peanut allergies in my school district? Try ZERO. So how is the ban in our district even justified?
I agree with the poster who stated that this is a free country based on the belief in the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
And maybe the people here wouldn't be thinking of this peanut allergy biz as a joke if it wasn't being forced down everyone's throats the way it is...
Kosher diets, lactose intolerance, sugar issues; there have been so many different food issues in American daily policy from Day One that this cannot be seen as other than another. Are they meaningless?
Of course not. They are real issues of physical health and perceived religious purity. These matter.
But....did public policy mandate for no-pork, no-milk, no-crustacean (for kosher AND sulfate allergy concerns) regulation in schools?
No.
Peanut butter has been demonstrated to cause problems in some individuals. So has cow's milk. So has shrimp. Cease and desist with the mandates; tell your kid not to eat the stupid peanut butter.
I can agree with both sides of the issue. I know that financial issues and kids just being picky eaters can limit a parent's choices of what to pack for their kids lunch. For many, PB&J is a staple lunch food. However, it is also reasonable to expect schools to provide a reletively safe environment for kids, even those with severe allergies. Perhaps the best solution would be a compromise: use a classroom or a smaller cafeteria as a peanut-free room and the regular cafeteria for everyone without food allergies (and enforce that they use that room, since some allergy sufferers are sensitive enough to it that stray peanut dust in a classroom can do severe harm).
OK – I haven't read each and every post but, has anyone considered the tact that unlike the mall or a ballgame or even a birthday party, children are REQUIRED to be in school – BY FEDERAL LAW. Therefore, there is an obligation to protect their health as much as possible. Sure, it's a never ending thing, but my understanding is that a peanut allergy can be pretty darn serious and I wouldn't want my child's PBJ to be responsible for another kid's illness. I'd just feel bad. Besides, PBJ's are wonderful AFTER school snacks!
Actually there is no evidence that PB bans are in any way helpful. There also is an almost complete lack of documented cases where an allergic child has a reaction from another child's lunch. Many parents of allergic children react in the extreme esp if they have seen an anaphylactic reaction, wouldnt you? The fact is that the large majority of cases of peanut allergy are actually unchallenged by allergen challenge testing because of the fuss that is necessary in case of an anaphylactic reaction. It is just easier to identify a child based on the parents supposition that peanuts were the cause of the initial reaction. The is good evidence that desensitization using peanut flour is an effective treatment for this allergy but most parents are too frightened to try it. Lets have this problem resolved with some real research into the risks. The peanut and now any nut restrictions are just going too far and is largely driven by the fear of litigation.
Schools have emergency drug kits that contain epinephrine pens (Epi-Pens) for use during an anaphylactic reaction (bee sting, peanut allergy, etc). This would stabilize the child while 911 arrives for further care. However, this would be such a rare event. I mean children have been taking PB&J to school for years without any huge catastrophies. Why the worry now?
- Pesticides used in plant foods, including peanuts.
- The run-off from nearby farms–antibiotics, hormones, pesticides.
- The way peanuts are stored before shipment–mice feces and urine soaked peanuts does not sound too pleasing, mold spores penetrating peanut shells.
- What the mother has been exposed to BEFORE pregnancy and what she eats while BREASTFEEDING.
- Cleaning products used to keep the house clean.
If the allergy will cause death, perhaps it's advisable to keep the child away from other children.
But if the allergy is mild in comparison to a deadly allergy, then a peanut-free table should suffice.
I'm a young adult with severe alleriges to tree nuts, milk, eggs, etc. As a kid, I was encouraged to read food labels when learning to read, was taught to ask about everything, and it was my responsibility to feed myself. I made it through six years of summer camp, youth group trips, hiking expeditions, family vacations, and two overseas trips to Japan. I've never had to use my epi-pen. I once came close though due to a mislabeled bakery product in the grocery store. That's it. Banning PBJ is stupid. I lived off of PBJ – I ate one today even. If I'm sitting next to someone who is eating something to which I'm allergic, I move. I don't punish everyone else.
When I was on a US Forest Service hotshot crew in 1951 they used to drop us pineapple juice, grapefriut jiuce, and PB&J sandwiches by helicopter. That food was THE BEST!!!!!!! But we had to make sure we drank the grapefruit juice before the pineapple juice.
Looking at the link above people can be alleric to eggs, milk products, wheat, meat, fish, potatoes, assorted spices, fruits, vegetables, rice, condiments and cooking oils. What would the cafeteria be like if everything was excluded?
I think the reason peanuts get special attention is because the allergy can be fatal. I think that for kids with severe or fatal allergies to food, it would be best for the parents to contact the school and make arrangements for a safe room (like having a classroom set aside as an allergen-free room at lunch) so that those kids can have lunch without having to worry as much.
Maybe different colored bracelets – red for peanuts, brown for wheat, white for lactose, etc. That way the lunch ladies could spot them easily, and so could the folks minding the playground.
If your child died of a peanut allergy for sending them to a PUBLIC school, it would be YOUR own fault for being stupid and nieve enough to think that no one would bring any peanut based item to school. Schools would be stupid to institute such a ban as they are setting themselves up to be liable if someone has an incident.
I can see it now! It is lunch time so bring out the peanut patrol and everyone prepare your lunch for inspection!
Peanut Patrol: "Son, this appears to be Peanut Butter, I have a code 19 a code 19!".
Student: "No officer, my sandwich is sunbutter and banana, not peanut butter and banana! Please do not make me throw it away!"
Peanut Patrol: "Tough luck kid, it looks like peanut butter, so you are to go without lunch or I will expel you and put you in peanut jail!".
From what I can determine, peanut allergy affects less than 1% of the population. If there are say 1000 kids in a school, then less than 10 will have the allergy. So the question is do we ban a staple used at lunch for those 10 kids? So what about the kids that are allergic to wheat? Allergic to lactose? Allergic to this or that...where do you draw the line? I think instead of banning peanut butter or whatever, lets do something smart for a change...we are a smart nation, lets put our educated heads together and come up with a brilliant solution. Maybe those kids have lunch in a different room, or at a different time, or at a different table. I also think we need to educate the rest of the kids about different allergies and just how harmful they can be.
WTF is the deal with all these kids with allergies? No one, absolutely no one that I ever knew in elementary, high school, or college had any food allergies. No one that I know at any of the places I've worked have had food allergies. IMHO, this is the legal system making a mountain out of a molehill. No food should be banned from public schools. If a kid has a real life threatening allergy, the parents shouldn't have the kid in public school in the first place.
We have more than 3 million Americans who are allergic to peanuts and/or tree nuts. Everyone acts like this is joke. This isn't a joke. Almost half of the deaths caused by food allergies each year are caused by peanut allergies. From the time of exposure, for a child that has a deadly allergy to peanuts (which could cause anaphylaxis), you have less than 3 minutes to administer epinephrine or that child will die. THREE MINUTES. I see people's remarks where they are scoffing at the idea that a child can react to the smell of peanuts and become sick from that. Please, instead of making fun of people with these allergies, please educate yourself about food allergies and the actual biochemistry of the allergic reactions. There is a good chance somebody you know already has a food allergy. Making snide comments about natural selection doesn't make you intelligent. It makes you appear callous and quite frankly uneducated. There are more than 25 million Americans with some type of known food allergy. Those are just the ones we know about. For those of you who wish to be snide about this, keep in-mind that someone close to you could have an undiagnosed food allergy. Will it be so amusing to you then? Will you make snide comments when you find out that someone you love could die from a food? Will you smirk and mention "natural selection" or will it suddenly get through to you that this is not a joke?
That said, of those 3 million (double that what FAAN lists @ 1.5 million), the incidence of fatal, anaphylactic allergy in that group is less than 3%... making that grand total less than 70k (liberally) to under 30k (more probable).
Don't fail to mention the difference next time. The vast majority of those with the allergy are not going to die from it.
Some people don't view life as precious. If you interfere with the way people want to live, those people don't care if you live or die. If you can die from food, then you are lucky to be alive. Assuming people need to care about preserving human life, when survival of the fittest is a point of view of so many, is arrogant. No one needs to be protected, we have 7 billion people. If you think someone shouldn't eat peanuts when they want, because you might die or someone else might die that's fine. Most people don't feel that way. Can't survive the environment you live in? Why should anyone else care? We all have to worry about keeping ourselves alive. If we were Spartans we would be disgusted by these people with food allergies and the fact we let them live. My point is not everyone has this moral desire to preserve human life at the risk of their own lifestyle. If my drinking milk is dangerous to someone, and they cause me to not be able to drink it, I would eliminate that person. Wanting to be normal, does not make it so. Learn to live with your deficiency, without upsetting the status quo. Who cares if 1% of people die from food. Only those people and their parents.
So, Educate – by your reasoning, we should tally up the foods that those 25 million people are allergic to and ban those? It seems that those of us trying to provide an 'allergy free meal to our children' will be quite challenged to do so.
This is yet another symptom of the problem we have in this society of people not taking responsibility for themselves and their children. Something can cause an allergic reaction – ban it. Child is misbehaving in school – it must be the teacher. Trip over a crack in the sidewalk – sue whoever owns the building in front of it.
If your child has a severe allergy, i feel sympathy for the child, but I have much disdain for the parents who don't empower the child to take charge of their condition, and take appropriate measures to be safe. If your child goes into shock at the smell of peanuts, it might be a good idea to provide them a surgical mask.
I am a 17 year old who has a peanut allergy! For all of you who are ignorant enough to say "Tough Luck" i hope one day while your eating that peanut butter cookie you choke on a shell. Sorry bout my temper but im so beyond pissed at the moment! I have been to the "NO NUTS" table and back and guess what? I have been made fun of ever since then! To a child its not worth having your whole life being a downer just because some ADULTS raise their children to be insignificant peices of trash! Peanut Butter was my torment growing up... Being chased around with Peanut Butter cups is not the highlight of my day just to let you know! Oh and yeah the school never did anything bout any of that besides going no no (Insert Bullies name here) thats not nice. Im That Peanut Kid and i VOTED to BAN peanut butter from schools!
But adults don't have to be involved for kids to be pieces of trash. Did you expect segregation to incite anything more than being singled out, regardless of the cause? That's people. It sucks, but that's people.
There is alot more to life outside of school so I'd hope it wasn't all a downer. I wasn't the most popular kid either and had my fair share of getting picked on for being in music and science, but you know what, that didn't make my school days a downer. Sure, if you have the peanut allergy, there's a risk, but EVEN WITH incitement, you didn't have a reaction. You're alive. Why ban peanut products from all schools if even direct teasing didn't do a thing besides just show that kids are still going to act like kids?
First off take a breather and calm down. Second, kids are teased and bullied about many things. I guarantee that not even five years down the road you're not even going to care. Granted there are some that take the ignorant route of saying 'sucks to be you," but don't take it out on everybody. Think about if a kid couldn't eat meat for some reason, and peanut butter is a great supply of the protein lost due to their inability to eat meat. You wanting to ban peanut butter in school is doing the exact same thing to another kid somewhere else in the world.
I do feel bad that some people are born with an allergy to certain things, but there are too many allergies out there. I went to school with kids who were allergic to milk, so they did not ingest any dairy. If your child is allergic to peanuts, make it known to them, without a doubt, that they are allergic. If the child is at a younger age that you don't believe they are responsible enough or capable enough yet to know and understand what the allergy means, then I feel that allergies of this nature should be annotated on a form signed by the younger child's teacher AND administration, and monitored by the teacher. Don't let one spoil it for the the whole.
There are kids who could die from eating a slice of bread, others from drinking a glass of milk. Actually, there are about 100 times as many of them as there are with life-threatening peanut allergies. But I don't see any of those hysterically screeching about peanuts standing up for those other kids, asking that milk and wheat be banned from schools.
I think peanuts, peanut oil, or any other form of peanuts, including peanut butter, should be banned from any schoo caferteria or food program. Unless the school agrees to test all children for allergic reactions, and pays all costs involved with the testing
To Ian:My kid refuses to eat anything but BP&J for lunch at school. Oh yeah, she's got a BMI around 6 and is a young athlete. Basically, because I'm being a dick and not allowing my child to starve in school because she WON'T eat anything else except her daily carrots and granola bar, I should be ashamed?
TO:TWM – peanut butter a staple to your kids diet?
really? learn how to cook a meal! I bet you guys cook a separate meal to accommodate your fuzzy little eater! what a bunch of crap! Seriously, you should be ashamed! If your kid only eats carrots, granola bars, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches you should totally be ashamed. Sounds like your kid is already starving. Those poor kids don’t have a chance to develop a palate. Buy a f**king cook book! You should also show a bit of compassion for those with food allergies. I don’t think we should ban peanut butter in schools but we can be accommodating for another childs well being. It sounds to me like your both heartless and selfish human beings!
I encourage those willing to entertain the thought: read up on the "hygiene hypothesis"
Why do 'more' kids in the US have peanut allergies in 2010?
*** First off, this is simply because there are MORE children around in the US in 2010.
*** According to the hygiene hypothesis, children over-protected from immune-stimulating infections as infants and young children have a higher risk of developing hypersensitivity to otherwise inocuous substances... such as foods, minerals, dyes, etc that do not really affect the vast majority of others.
*** In summary, your immune system NEEDS something to work against in early development and even on through the adult years. If this system is spared the normal load of infections (let your kids play on the floor and in the dirt outside !for crying out loud!) and other exposures, what ends up stimulating immune responses are the 'other' less stimulating but common potential immunogenic compounds in foods and other substances given to the body.
As far as this goes, I say it's up to the parents of the sensitized child. They should have already told the kid what to avoid in terms of their anaphylactic reactions, much less the kid probably already knows what one of those reactions feels like. You hear HORROR stories about 'airborne food particles' and the like, but these are the absolute rarest form of anaphylactic triggers. If one kid died of a peanut allergy due to airborne exposure at the school cafeteria, I would chock that up to sheer bad luck rather than the school's fault for allowing peanuts to be present. These kids are ALREADY bringing their own lunches to school! This isn't an infectious disease that could be spread to many kids and potentially kill large numbers of people from a single source and subsequent transmission, this is a 1 in 5 million chance of somebody have a severe reaction to peanuts... Somebody who ALREADY knows they have this allergy, anaphylactic or urticaric type, and whose parents should have already been well instructed and informed on how to minimize exposure and handle any emergency event.
It's on the parents and the allergic person themselves. If the person is young, it's totally up to the parents. Anaphylactic allergies cannot currently be cured and are never fully preventable. The best method is to reduce exposure, but at what expense? It may seem trivial to rant on and on about peanuts but there are a few simple facts that can be looked up on the CDC website and NCBI databases readily that do not support the need for public intervention.
#1 the human factor- no matter how 'policed' antigen exposure is at a production level, even limiting the exposures in a communal dining setting cannot reduce the chances of exposure due to "airborne" peanut allergens that are already going to be on somebody's clothes and skin that can just as easily (and perhaps even be MORE likely to be the actual cause of the airborne source... think about it) be brought to a sensitized person, whether or not the food is being eaten in front of them
#2- the true incidence of anaphylactic peanut allergies is SEVERAL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE LOWER than urticaric allergies. parents that have even bothered to have peanut allergies diagnosed even confuse this to say that any peanut allergy is an anaphylactic allergy and go beserk over the 'protection of my sensitive child who could die at any moment because of their allergy'. For those that truly do have peanut allergies, the rest of the community is ruining it for you
#3- Liars, while this seems harsh to say, some people will say anything to make themselves feel like their kid is special compared to others... It's called Munchhausen's syndrome in the case of illnesses or 'special conditions'. Yes, this is an actual, documented, analyzed, psychiatric condition. It's literally lying about the child's disease in order to receive attention or special treatment. The child typically comes to believe the disease is actually present if the factitious conditioning is started at a young age.
#4- Emergent care preparedness is ALREADY in place in national public schools. I'm not getting into an argument about quality but somebody that truly has an anaphylactic allergy (and their PARENTS) KNOWS how to handle the situation if it comes. If they are not ready, that is entirely their fault. Know the signs, know the immediate treatments, and know how to get ambulatory EMS!
#5 Incidence is exaggerated by ignorance. If you don't have a doctor's diagnosis of anaphylactic peanut allergy and yet you say that such and such has one, you should be ignored. Self-diagnosis is unreliable, even amongst physicians' families, because of bias!!! Go see a doctor who will be skeptical about your claims. It can be MUCH better to hear that, in fact, your child has a minor allergy and NOT a life-threatening one whenever an objective eye takes a look and doesn't get skewed by knowing the family or knowing the kids ahead of time, making them more likely to follow the loudest mouth in the room (the mother!!!!) rather than their own judgement.
Wow, it is truly amazing, and sad, to see how many people are not only uncaring, but downright mean. I can only hope that you people never have some type of issue hit your child which requires help and compassion from others.
I'm also amazed at the extremes people migrate to vs trying to actually arrive at a solution. Yes all allergic children should be taught what they can and cannot have and how to keep themselves safe. However that lesson can only be effectively taught at certain ages so we need age appropriate solutions. When my child was in K-3 we had a peanut free table. All the kids in his lunch period with nut allergies sat there and were allowed to bring a friend who had a safe lunch which was checked by a luch staffer. The school also had pre-made peanut butter sandwiches vs a peanut butter sandwich making station to help keep the mess under control with this age group. In 4 & 5th we asked for a corner seat at a lunch table instead of a nut free table. We felt he was responsible enough to monitor what type of meals were being eaten around him, and the school empowered him by allowing him to ask anyone with unsafe food around him to move a few seats down. He did that for 2 years, without abusing his power to send kids away, and without kids arguing that they have the right to sit were they want to. You see, parents, your kids are really good people and want to be nice, despite how some of you are raising them. No one ever felt their rights were being violated, they were logical and simply moved a few seats down – all was good. In middle school, he still maintains his corner spot with the right to ask kids to move. The school provides ingredient labels so my son and I can review them and select safe meals (he usually brings his lunch, but some days he just wants to feel normal and eat like the other kids.) The only thing we have asked the middle school to do is to make the peanut butter sandwish making station its own station vs being on the condiment line where my son had to go to get condiments and utensils. You see, the solution doesn't have to be all or nothing. It just has to be age appropriate. And people need to show a little compassion for those that are not as fortunate as them. I have never asked that a child not eat peanut butter, I only ask that they do not do so around my child, and that they wash their hands after lunch to stop the possible spread back into the classrooms and onto playground equipment. It should be noted that all the crabby, mean comments that are being posted are in the minority. We have been living with this allergy for 10 years and my son is very active on sports teams, scouts, plays, ski groups. i.e we have encounterd a lot of different people that we needed a bit of understanding from to keep our son safe. Not one of these hundreds of people ever batted an eye or spoke meanly about our requests. Their reactions have always been 1) how can we help, and 2) thank God my child doesn't have that allergy because it must realy suck. (and yes, it does really suck.)
This whole peanut butter ban in schools is so ridiculously blown out of proportion! Because one or two children are allergic to nuts shouldn't constitute a district-wide ban on the stuff! C'mon parents! I went to school from Kindergarten to 12th grade and I never heard one story of a child dying from their peanut allergy because I brought pb & j for lunch! I just can't believe how sensitive this country has become...no pun intended. I have many allergies, food allergies included and do you know how my parents kept me from going anaphylactic in school?? They taught me to avoid the things I couldn't have and were truthful in explaining the consequences of what the outcome would be if I didn't listen! That's why they make epi-pens. Parents need to stop trying to make everyone else accountable for the safety and well-being of their children and be responsible for a change, as generations of parents were before us. Seriously folks, GET A LIFE!
A Public school may want to consider a ban because it's a public school and they carry a liability issue and I would suspect they would want to protect themselves from litigation – serious litigation. At a private school I would suspect the educated and well off parents would rationalize and agree that a peanut anything ban would benefit all invested parties in the school because as they would be taking preventative measures to prevent an accident or death. My daughter who is 3 developed the allergy at 2 and a half. Is she weak? No. She is 3 c'mon. But should peanut butter be banned from schools? Ugh...I hesitate to say yes but if it is to protect any kid from serious illness and or death then yes. To the parents of children who didn't or don't know how to provide food options other than just peanut butter and or if you can't afford better food – tough. If your kids are denied peanut butter at school, so what big f**ing deal. It's not our fault your kid only eats it and if you can't afford good quality, expensive, organic food – good. (sarcastic tone of voice) Survival of the fittest – Natural Selection because I can throw money around to provide good food and provide various other healthy options for my child. The only difference between my child and yours is that mine can die from just touching it if not addressed quickly.
If you can die from eating food. That is a weakness. Not wanting it to be a weakness, doesn't change the fact you are weak enough to die from food. Weak isn't a swear word. We all have weakness'. Food allergies are a weakness, alcoholism is a weakness, stupidity is a weakness, inability to withstand sunlight, also a weakness. Call a Spade a Spade. My childs weakness should not affeact what your child eats. I can die from certain anesthetic, it's my weakness.
I understand the seriousness of the allergy. However, the child needs to learn how to deal with these situations the same as other aspects of their lives. I thought about the peanut free table idea, but that would just make those kids a target. Then, when you go out to eat, you don’t tell the restaurant to clear out until all peanuts can be removed – you deal with it, and teach your child how to avoid issues. That is the only real solution – this time of their lives is for teaching them how to deal with life on their own, and sterilizing their environment is not going to do it.
Lets be a little practical. There are a great number of people with life threatening allergies to various types of food, bees, perfume, cleaning supply fumes, etc. Shall we disallow all of these foods into the school? Maybe we should forget about recess. How about not letting teachers wear perfume? Maybe maintenance men should wash the floors with water. Parents need to teach children not to share food. Maybe a list of class allergies should be made and birthday snacks to share should accomodate this list. I understand that parents are concerned, but simply taking this out of schools does nothing to teach children how to manage their health. Peanut butter and peanuts can be contacted anywhere at any time. And what happens when they leave school? These kids can't live in a bubble forever.
To @Host-Anaphylacticallergypodcast, 1 in 17 equals 5.8% of children under 10 have "life-threatening" allergies? Perhaps you could substantiate this number? Here is a fact: CDC statistics state that more die each year from bee stings that die from peanut allergies (notice I said die, not have a reaction to). So, as many have pointed out, if peanut allergy deaths are a tragedy, then all bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, etc should be destroyed regardless of the cost and inconvenience to society at large. Also, the traffic fatalities in America dropped last year to the lowest in some time, around 40,000 total (last year stats avail) Obviously only some are children but I guarantee that it was waaaayyyy more that died from peanut allergies. So if your arguments are about child safety above all else, you should never put your child in a car again. That is the LOGICAL extension of your arguments, devout of parental angst and emotion.
BTW, I am allergic to molds, mildews, cats, dogs (essentially anything with fur), numerous mild food allergies and a "life-threatening" allergy to bee stings. An allergy that I have lived with for longer than many of these posters have been alive. And if you don't believe that then take it from me, no line of coke or hit of speed will amp up a small child like a shot of adrenaline to the chest wall. Neither I or my parents ever expected anyone to be responsible for my welfare except us.
BTW, both of my boys are also allergic to bees, so don't tell me that I don't understand the sense of gnawing, endless worry of a parent for his child's challenges – every time they go out to play in the grass or a field.
Ban this, ban that!! When is it going to stop? If you have allergies it is up to you to take care of yourself and/or your parents to take care of their child. All of this coddling of society because people can't take care of themselves is pathetic.
Food and venom allergies are all serious business, and certainly, they are things of which we should be aware. True, we could eat healthier, and probably should, but I've seen the "healthy" lunches supplied by the public schools. I've seen first hand what parents are packing in their kid's lunches; frankly, it makes me worry about our literacy rates. My grandson has corn allergies so bad that he cannot even take medications which use corn byproducts (which is most of the OC drugs). He will be restricted from most commercial food products his entire life, but he will not blame the world if he is one day accidentally exposed. He knows that he is different, and though he wishes he could eat what he sees other children eating, he does not begrudge them that experience. Maybe he'll change his mind when he gets older. He has friends, and they are alert to his needs, and are careful in his proximity. They remind other kids and nearby adults without being mean or bossy about it. In my opinion, he has the right of it: it is up to us to adapt to the world, not to force the world to adapt to us. That's what being human means, that's what life is for, that's what makes life possible and worth living.
I think what usually happens, is a kid breaks out in a rash, and the parent decides that it might be a peanut allergy because he had a PB&J sandwich that day. Before long, the words "life-threatening" get tacked on to it, as they rationalize that all peanut allergies are potentially life-threatening. All this without ever even seeing an immunologist for proper testing to see what the allergy is to, or how severe it is. But that doesn't stop the parents from demanding that the entire world change to accomidate their poor "life-threatened" child.
Personally, I think that any parent who actually believes their kid has a life-threatening allergy, but hasn't taken him/her to see an immunologist for proper testing, should be stripped of their parental rights, for the good of the child.
"the dramatic uptick in frequency of nut allergies and more particularly the measures taken in response to the threat show elements of mass psychogenic illness, hysterical reactions grossly out of proportion to the level of danger." – from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Don't forget Munchhausen's syndrome (factitious disorder by proxy) where these kids are being TOLD they have the allergy by a parent who is intentionally lying. I think this is more common that some are willing to admit.
I'm glad to see the actual group say something about hysteria and psychogenic illness... People must be selectively ignoring that part of their statement on peanut allergies!
im a middle schooler and all we do is always leave seats open at the end of the table so that anyone with alergies dosent have to worry about being exposed to whatever it is they're allergic to.
So if I was still in school, well kiddy school since I go to College, I wouldn't be allowed to eat peanut butter because my sandwich could kill another student? Do you have any idea how much I would rebel against that. Peanut butter is amazing, I love it on bread, in cookies, cakes, brownies, you can make peanut butter muffins, peanut butter cupcakes, peanut brittle....That's about all you can do with peanuts. Once again the select few are trying to tell me what to eat. I cant order a super size McBurger with the bucket of fries and drink that puts small lakes to shame, because some fatty decided to sue McDonald's for making them fat. I'm not fat, I will never be fat, far too active. Yet I have been denied my McBurger with the giant ass fries and drink. I just get a McBurger and fairly large fries. I don't want fairly large, I want the bucket. Now you are trying to take peanut butter from me? Who do you think you are?
You cant just walk in with your child and his/her/it's peanut butter allergy and demand I stop my consumption of peanut butter. The world is a harsh place, the buttery peanuts lurk in the shadows just waiting for their next target. So of course schools are just the beginning. Next it will be Colleges, offices, job sites, shuttle launches and maybe even the moon. We have to stop this peanut butter ban before it gets out of hand. I totally forgot to mention peanut butter smoothies. But nevertheless, you cant tell me what I can and cant eat. This is America my friend, we have basic freedoms, outlined in the Bill of Rights, you should read it sometime. In there it states clearly that I have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. My pursuit of happiness involves food. I'm skinny, so I can enjoy said food without worrying about getting fat. Comes with being an active person, you should try it sometime. Back off of my peanut butter, your genetically weak child cant be coddled forever.
Understandably so, it can be frustrating to protect children from allergies, especially food allergies. My husband had severe digestive problems that limited his diet from certain foods. It was difficult and time consuming coming up with new recipes and foods he was able to eat. With that said, I could never imagine burdening the general public with the same restraints. Today we ban peanut, tomorrow who knows? If we ban peanuts because of children's allergies than we it would be fair to say that we should ban other foods children have mild to deadly allergies to. Could you imagine hundreds, even thousands of parents trying to come up with cheap, easy recipes for their children to take to school with so many rules/regulations? I'm sorry for your child's allergies, I know from personal experience it is very frustrating. But this sadly a burden that must be on the child's parents, not parents of ALL the children.
Keep peanuts in our diet. Everywhere.
I am 53, attended many schools, and have never known anyone to die of peanuts. I have known people killed by cars, guns, falling, electricity and sickness. My nephew was killed by a table lamp.
Are we to stop living so we won't die?
Kids should be eating more spinach and less sugary sweets. Peanut butter is served with what? Some sort of sugary topping. So eat more spinach and less sugar.
As for kids with peanut allergies, we can put the allergy blame on the parents who helicoptered over their child and didn't let them get a spec of dirt on their bodies. These kids who have peanut allergies are seriously bubble brats. They have been raised in such a sterile environment their immune system is totally out of whack. Neither a whole school or class should have to ban a food product because of one child. Instead put that child with peanut allergies on the bubble bus to the bubble school where every desk has a hand sanitizer dispenser and the class rooms can be sorted by food allergies.
I raise my box of Cracker Jacks to all the kids in the world that are allowed to be kids, get dirty once in a while, and be able to eat all the peanut brittle, peanut butter, peanut M&Ms and peanut soup they want!
It's hard enough to get good proteins in our children during lunchtime so banning PB only limits the options. I would not adhere to any ban on a food item, as it is my responsibility to decide what is healthy and appropriate for my children. If it's a natural-grown food, it's fair game.
One of my children is allergic to tomatoes but I don't expect the school or anyone else to keep tomatoes away from her. She manages her own allergy and bothers no one in the process.
The easiest solution to this is to set aside a small area for kids who eat pb (or have allergies to it) and have those who eat PB wash their hands/ rinse their mouth out with water (or brush their teeth) after they eat. Or better yet, have all kids do this as just a general health thing (some places consider it child abuse if your kids get cavities). However, we should never ban something from somebody just because it might make them sick. If we did that, we’d have to ban tobacco from all public areas, make cars that produce no pollution and so on. The country is trying to become way to politically correct and in doing so we’re losing a lot of our moral values. The needs of the few should not hinder the many, but the many should not trample the few.
I can't help notice that many of these comments were made during working hours. Either people are wasting time at work, or I finally know what all the unemployed people in this country are doing: Not looking for jobs, arguing with people on the internet over peanut butter. I'm glad my tax dollars are paying their unemployment checks!
You do realize that not working does not = unemployment. Not everyone works 9-5, nor Monday thru Friday. Then others of us get vacation days. Relax we are not stealing your tax dollars.
Wow didn't now PB was such a hot topic.
How about parents being the child's advocate .
If your care about the diet prepare their lunch!!!!
Oh and teach the child to keep their hands to themselves.
i swear to god i didnt and he fully regrets posting it lets get that strait so my mom doesn't kill me because i'm innocent and dont deserve to be killed im just ventilating the talent i was born to do, forensics, sign up isn't for another month and i've been waiting since fourth grade to however i meant everything i said in my typing i cant control asher's typing.
This is an easy problem to solve. Schools should send lunch menu's home every friday so that the parents will know what they will be serving the following week. The parent can then just let their child take their lunch on the days that they serve something their child is allergic too. Problem solved.
Ahhh yes, let's kick back, relax, visit a reputable news source such as CNN, and read what the intelligent people of the world think about the deadly risks of an American epidemic; the old stand-by, poor man's sandwich - the Peanut Butter and Jelly.
And I wonder what's wrong with kids these days. After reading these posts, it's the outstanding parenting they are receiving! We have a world of ME first self centered kids that couldn't care less about their fellow man because of these solid role models. I don't think you'd allow your kid to be around poison, that's what peanuts are to those with the allergy, poison. It's deadly. Kids have to go to school and I shouldn't be afraid of my child dying at school because some uneducated parent insist that their child have PB. I couldn't care less about the bullying, that's part of life, but when it's a threat to life...You wouldn't want it to be around your kid either if they had the allergy.
I really feel sorry for my brother-in-law. He's never been able to eat peanut butter, and has never savored a peanut butter pie, a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, or a Reece's cup. His allergy to peanut butter is very severe. There have been times when he nearly lost his life because of a reaction after being mistakenly exposed to peanut butter, or to (or near to) someone else who ate it. Peanuts should be banned from schools, and from airplanes. Peanut allergies are no simple, every day food allergies. In any regular allergy, people should be responsible for their own food choices. This one though, is deadly. Of course, they should stop serving peanut butter in schools. I can't believe they serve peanuts on airplanes, knowing what can happen if the person in front, beside, or behind the person who they serve could have the allergy.
While I'm not in favor of banning peanut butter, I think it's time to stop invoking the protein content of peanut butter as a mark in its favor. Across the board of peanut butter subtypes, for a 2-tbsp serving (32g) there are 170-210 calories, 15-17g fat (3g saturated), and only 7-8g protein. Try calorie count dot com for a range of peanut butters' nutrition content.
There are hundreds of foods with a far better fat-to-protein ratio. Here are 5 choices that a lot of kids like:
Yogurt (0-3g fat and 8-10g protein per 8oz cup)
string cheese (6g fat and 7g protein per 2oz stick)
hummus (1.5g fat and 1g protein per tbsp)
turkey breast (0.5g fat and 7g protein per 2 slices)
bean dip (0.5-1g fat and 2g protein per 2tbsp)
I don't say this because I don't like peanut butter. I agree with the sentiment that legislating to the extreme minority here seems like overkill (one child is allergic to pet dander! You must all undergo a biohazard level4 chemical shower before setting foot in the classroom!). But peanut butter is not the health food it's touted as, and PBandJ (especially if we're talking white bread and grape jelly), while delicious, has virtually the same nutritional value as a hefty slice of chocolate cake.
If your kids love the ol' PB, send it along with some carrot sticks, and tell them not to smear it on their neighbors.
peanutbutter is cheap. The amount of protein in a jar calulated against cost. Also kids need fat. A serving of 7 to 8 grams of protein is reasonable. And when the cost is pennies, well that's why peanutbutter is so good. Like a jug of milk it is full of inexpensive nourishment. No need to spend more money because the kid next to yours in class has a deficiency. The deficient child needs to adapt or perish. Like the real world, where he lives. No one needs to spend more money to accomodate the weakling offspring of another. (Yes if food can kill you, you are a weakling.)
I totally agree that no one should have to spend more money to accommodate another kid's allergy. But there are lots of higher-protein, low-fat foods that are as cheap or cheaper per protein amt than jarred peanut butter. The milk you invoke, for example. Cottage cheese. Plain yogurt. Dry beans or lentils. Whole frozen poultry.
And while healthy kids certainly do need fat (but not twice as much by mass as they need protein!), I think you'd probably agree that, especially for American kids from poorer backgrounds, obesity is more likely to be a concern than getting enough fat.
Again, I'm not saying PB's bad, or advocating a ban on PB or any other food allergen. Just pointing out that PB is far more notable for its calorie density than its protein content.
Banning things people are allergic to means banning almost everything. "Kid, if you eat peanuts, you will die." Is enough. Someone doesn't need to go buy a more expensive source of protein because your kid is not bright enough not to eat something that kills them. No one cares how special your allergic child is, so long as it doesn't mean modifying the lifestyle of the kids who can eat the foods provided. Make sure they are smart enough to not eat peanuts BEFORE sending them to school. It's not everyone elses problem. One of my good friends is allergic to peanuts, his parents told him no to eat the stuff, and he didn't so he is still alive. What's next, all the kids who can't eat wheat, (or their parent's THINK they can't eat wheat) as so many parents like to imagine their kids are not able to eat things based on trend and not on what the docotor said. What about Beef and Pork, you know the foods some kids aren't allowed to eat. They could condemn their soul if they trade for these foods afterall. No one cares about peoples weakness' it's human nature. Keep the frail and infirm and allergic at home, if you are scared.
This is a joke right. I grew up in a world where peanut butter was served at lunch in schools and at home. Maybe instead of banning peanutbutter the government should figure out what innoculation is causing the allergy
vaccines don't cause food allergies. Their only recorded side effects are injection site irritation and sometimes a slight fever. Whoever told you allergies were caused by vaccine is not a medical researcher. Autism is also not caused by vaccine. And in fact people who have been making claims about vaccines that are unfounded have been stripped of their right to practise medicine. Well now you know.
"Dr. Christakis notes that while it’s reasonable for schools and parents to take basic precautions, there is no scientific evidence that nut bans are particularly effective at protecting children. But more important, he argues, is that limiting widespread exposure to nuts can make things worse. The “policy of avoidance” means that fewer children are being exposed to nuts, likely increasing their risk for developing an allergy. A 2008 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of 10,000 British children found that early exposure to peanuts lowers risk of allergy, rather than increasing it."
Now take responsibility for your allergic kid and leave everyone else alone.
I voted other because I think each child's case must be considered individually. All peanut allergies are not the same. Some people are mildly allergic and some have severe allergies. When our school has students with mild allergies, we ask students to not eat peanut products around the child with the allergy. That seems to be sufficient. The worse reaction we've had is hives or a stomach ache for the student with a mild allergy who accidently ate food with trace amounts of peanuts. Definately not life threatening.
We currently have a child that is just starting at our school who does have a severe allergy. If someone ate a PB sandwich and did not wash their hands and touches them, they will have a severe, life-threatening reaction. In this case, our school has decided that PB should be banned. We've also asked parents to make sure their children wash their hands after eating peanut products at home. The consequences of being exposed to peanuts is too great to take chances in this case. This child's accidental death due to peanut exposure would not only be devasting to the family, but would affect all the students and staff who knew him. I would also think that the child who did expose him to peanuts would have to bear that burden for the rest of their life. Not something I would ever wish on my child or anyone else's.
Allright, let's get this straight: this is going out of hand. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the show... the parents are mother(beep)ers who were born in hell. Their mom was a jack(beep) who looked like a (beep). They be (beep)ed! That is all! I'm Asher Zaitz and I approve this message!
It is up to parents to take care of their kids medical needs and make sure their kids stay away from food not packed for them. It is not up to society, other kids, parents, teachers to have choices taken away because of someone's allergy. Pack your child's lunch, advise them not to eat from other children, have medication in the office. Do not even think of taking away your neighbor's kids peanut butter sandwiches. These days people think the world revolves around them and their personal needs. It does not.
In any normal situation where soy, wheat, milk, etc are concerned, I would say "no", that food should not be banned; that the responsibility and accountability for a child's diet restrictions should fall on careful monitoring by the parent and the child (if old enough). The case of peanut butter however, is quite different. Some people, really don't understand the severity of food allergies, and the dangers thereof. We're not talking about a matter of convenience with peanut butter. This stands apart from other food allergies, becuase this one is deadly. It's not just a matter of eating it. My brother-in-law is allergic to peanut butter, and has been since he was a child. There are many times when he nearly lost his life because of anaphylactic shock after being mistakenly exposed to peanut butter. A person who is severly allergic to peanut butter can die, from even the smell of it - like for example, being near someone who has it on his-or-her breath. This allergy is far too deadly to be allowed in schools.
My daughter IS allergic to peanuts and I would never ask that someone not eat peanuts around her. She is only 3 1/2 and she knows that she cannot eat peanuts. My husband and I have been proactive to educate her so that she can remain safe. She knows to tell her caregivers that she is allergic to peanuts and even smells cookies, candy, etc before eating it to make sure it is peanut free. If you educate your children and those around your children, this shouldn't be an issue for non-life threatening peanut allergies.
Now, if your child does have a severe peanut allergy, banning peanuts is not the answer. I think banning peanuts would create a false sense of security. A young child might have peanut butter on toast before school, forget to wash his hands and pass the peanut residue to a child with an allergy. When I took my daughter to an allergy specialist, the doctor told me that people can build up a tolerance to peanuts. This is something that needs to be done under a doctor's supervision, of course. I think this is the answer to the problem.
We cannot always be there to protect our children, so I think it is important to give them the proper tools to protect themselves.
I can honestly say that I don't have an allergy to anything that I know of, thank goodness. I'm into my 40's now and knock on wood I doubt I will ever develop an allergy to anything that my immune system cannot fight off. If I became allergic to peanuts or peanut butter, I would be seriously upset!!!!
I am always appalled at parents with special needs shoving it down the throats of others. Guess what? The world doesn't revolve around you or your child, so don't expect the world to change for you. There are people who are deathly allergic to perfumes, to shellfish, to cat dander etc. etc. etc. So what would you parents with allergic kids have the rest of us do? Stop living life to satisfy your over-reactive protective urges? Get a life and grow up. If your child is that sickly, keep it at home and home school it, and please do us all a great big favor and don't make any more if you know this runs in your family and encourage your child to follow suit. With 6+ billion people on the planet, I assure you a few less folks will not be frowned upon my good old Mother Earth.
"Anaphylaxis" reactions are very sever and it will kill the kid in few minutes if not treated on time. Peanut is one of the common allergen to causing this very sever reaction. Please be considerate to people having this problem.
Ok, how exactly are WE supposed to be considerate of people with allergies. People can have very severe reactions to peanuts, milk, perfume, bee stings. On and on. I don't see them walking around with a sign on their chest offering a warning. How can I go around being concerned about other people's allergies, of which there are hundreds if not thousands. Sure, if I go visit someone's house and am asked not to bring peanuts I would certainly comply. But what about trains, plains, buses, crowded concerts, public places, sporting events. The onus has to be on the sufferer in this case. People allergic to bee stings bring an epi pen, same with food allergies. In a school of 1000 kids, maybe 10 at most will have a peanut allergy, you really want to limit the peanut intake of the other 990 kids. It's completely unrealistic and selfish.
My son has multiple life threatening food allergies. Banning peanuts won't do a thing for his tree nut, sesame, fish and shellfish allergies. Allergen-free zones helped a lot when he was in grade school. Other students wanted to keep our son safe. The parents had to be educated about food allergies, and told we weren’t looking for our son to “get more attention” as some of them thought. Our allergist wrote a letter to the school outlining the accommodations our son needed to attend public school and to remain reaction free. Thankfully our school district has been on the forefront of education and awareness with food allergies creating a Food Allergy Task Force to ensure all children with food allergies come home safely from school every day.
Can we all agree on one thing? Peanut Butter needs only to be banned in situations where there is a child with a severe peanut allergy in the classroom or lunchroom setting? If so we can cut past all of this to the heart of it. Most people aren't saying ban it all...most are saying ban it only when needed or don't mess with my rights. With a few exceptions. So those of you who keep arguing that we shouldn't ban it all are really not listening to many of us who say only when needed. You lump all together to make yourselves sound more rational, how about compromise...are you willing to see any compromise? what about a ban only when it is determined by a doctor that this the level of severity of a child in that situation? Most parents who are requesting such a ban have medical documentation to their situation! So why can't there be compromise?
That makes sense as long as the same type of accommodation is made with any child that has a severe food allergy in a particular school. The bigger issue with peanut allergies in particular (and a handful of other severe allergies for some individuals) is the risk of unknowing contamination... such as something fried in or made with peanut oil or another nut that was processed at a plant that processes peanuts or even an otherwise safe cookie that became deadly because it came in contact with a peanut butter cookie (or even just a spatula that came in contact with a peanut butter cookie). If a child has a severe enough allergy that peanut butter needs to be banned from the entire school, then there needs to be a much more extensive educational outreach and restrictions on other items or else that ban on peanut butter was pretty much useless (especially since the child probably knows he/she can't eat peanut butter and is more likely to come into lethal contact with something containing peanut products that are hidden).
Seriously, this is a waste of time. I don't know if some kid traded his balogna sandwich for a pb&j without knowing they were allergic or what but this is the dumbest attempt at imposing a ban of any kind that I've ever heard of. Somebody apparently has WAY too much time on their hands and is a selfish, self-centered idiot to even suggest taking this seriously
Wow some of the posts here just blow me away with what little feelings people have for others.. My daughter has a peanut allergy and if I could do something about it I would, however there is no cure today. There are a number of studies being done but unfortunately my daughter will have to deal with this through out her life. Her school does provide a peanut free table and she wipes down the area prior to eating. Unfortunately not all kids are that lucky they are more sensitive and can have reaction just smelling it. I don't think banning it is the right option but the schools need to address a way to accommodate the individual. Our biggest problem to date have been with kids bringing there sandwiches and sticking it into my daughters face asking her to take a bite. Obviously some here don't want to be tolerant of anything. Be careful, one day you might find the shoe on the other foot and will not like the end results.
Food allergy is an abnormal immune response to certain food(s) that the body reacts to as harmful. An estimated 3.9% of children under the age of 18 and 2% of adults have food allergies.1,2 Though reasons for this are poorly understood, the prevalence of food allergies and associated anaphylaxis appears to be on the rise. Risk factors associated with food allergy include: family history of asthma and allergies, genetic predisposition to allergic disease, elevated allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin levels (IgE concentrations), and being younger than 3 years of age. There are eight foods that account for 90% of all food-allergy reactions cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts (for example, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and cashews), fish, shellfish, soybeans, and wheat.2,3,4 While 3.3 million Americans are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, 6.9 million are allergic to seafood. Combined, food allergies cause 30,000 cases of anaphylaxis, 2,000 hospitalizations, and 150 deaths annually.2
While we're banning PB, how about the others on that list? Simple. Ban wheat, no PB sandwiches.
Seriously, for folks with kids who have severe food allergies, do you ever take them to a restaurant or the grocery store? How about the ball game? The beach?
I know first hand all about food allergies. my son was diagnosed when he was 6 months old. He is SEVERELY allergic to milk, eggs, dairy, amoxicillin and penicillins. I DO NOT believe that peanut butter should be banned from schools. Our school, as well as others, have assigned tables for kids with peanut allergies. I, too, know first hand that some food allergies ARE severe enough that all the child has to do is be around the allergic food (not touch it, just inhale it) and can still break out into hives. My son is like that when it comes to dairy. Therefore, should Milk and Dairy products (which would include ALL cafeteria lunches) also be banned from schools? that would be absurd, wouldn't it?! i have to provide my son with his lunch and snacks EVERY single day. For the most part, he takes a peanut butter sandwich, which HE asks for. This is mostly in part because the school will not allow him to bring something in that has to be heated up for safety reasons and for the sole purpose of not wanting to be sued if they were to make it too hot. Is this fair to my son?
We need to look more closely at this matter. I am a peanut allergy sufferer. I even react to the smell of peanuts in the air. Natural selection or not, I have a right to breathe. Schools need to take this into consideration, and ban peanuts.
I have no problem with banning peanuts if a child is severely allergic.. but then you have to also ban any other food to which any child in that school has a severe allergy. Peanuts are NOT the only allergy that can be fatal. More kids are allergic to seafood than peanuts (at least in the US, I don't know about other demographic groups). Milk, while more commonly a case of intolerance, can also be an actual allergy and children have died from it... so if you are banning those peanuts for the safety of the children allergic to them be prepared to bar milk and any milk products if a child has a severe allergy to it. And then there are other nuts and seeds which are frequently the cause of severe allergies. More rarely, there are cases of lethal allergies to various fruits, including tomatoes and peppers (I personally know people who have severe allergies to both of those that they have been hospitalized for) and mushrooms (again I know somebody who has been hospitalized for this one and cannot even be in a room where mushrooms have been sliced let alone exposed to them in food). Any accommodation you expect the world to make for your peanut allergy, you better be prepared to make for another person's potentially life threatening allergy.
TIME magazine did a great article about this very subject. As a previous EMT/Firefighter, I've seen food allergies in action, and yes it's scary. But, whilst it has the potential to be deadly, so do so many other things we do in our lives. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1881985,00.html
The amount of "CYA" labeling that manufactors is doing these days is borderline ridiculous. I really think that there is a limit to what can and cannot be done. As a parent, I am the SOLE PERSON RESPONSIBLE for the health and well being of my children. No on else. So, why in the spirit of "neighborly love" do we burden millions of people to avoid an incident for a few?
Teachers at my kids' school use Peanut Allergies to indoctrinate the students with PC nonsense. It's all about teaching 'compassion'. If kids bring peanut butter to school, it's taken away from them and the student is called selfish and shame the kid that the simple act of eating a PB&J sandwich is such a horrible thing to do to the peanut allergy kid. It's all this socialistic liberal nonsense being taught by all schools now a days, whether public or private. All parents can to is tell their kids it's nonsense and do their best to counter this indoctrination at home. Feeding my kids nutella sandwiches before school is my favorite thing.
My cousin (4 years younger than I) has a severe peanut allergy. The issue with his allergy was not that kids in his class were bringing peanut butter to school. The issue was that once the kids found out about the allergy while some students would understand and refrain from exposing him to the substance, others would begin to bully him and chase him around in an attempt to get peanut butter on his face or harm him in some other way. Unfortunately, his allergy was severe enough that physical contact of any form would require medical care. I think the issue here is not should kids be allowed to bring nut products to school, but what can be done to compensate for the immaturity these kids possess which threaten the lives of others.
I can't find the research quickly, but I'm pretty sure that I've read research before that eliminating peanuts to such a degree in schools would actually contribute to more peanut allergies. As mentioned before this problem effects a very limited amount of children to a severe degree. Therefore, there shouldn't be a one size fits all elimination of peanuts. As others have mentioned if you start banning every food that some child is severely allergic to then your options become extremely limited. Possibly alternative arrangements should only be made in the very few situations where a doctor documents that life threatening reactions may occur. Then those accommodations should only be made in the most limited of groups, for example the child's table.
while I am sympathetic, I do not support a PB ban. It is the cheapest healthy lunch I can make for my kids and they eat it. Given that they are extremely skinny, good calories are important. I also eat it because I can't eat much carbohydrates without problems. Nuts work perfectly with my system. Allergic children are going to have to learn what they can and cannot eat because the world will not be nut free. Awareness of allergies should be taught to all children so they understand not to share food and separate lunch areas would be as far as I would go for a 'school' solution.
I think it's ridiculous to ban PB because some kids are allergic to it. What about my kid, who is allergic to wheat???? Yes, that's right, he cannot eat bread. IF WE BAN PEANUT BUTTER, TO BE FAIR WE NEED TO BAN BREAD IN SCHOOLS too, in case my kid contacts it. Obviously I can't expect that of everyone, so I don't think peanut butter should have any priority over other food allergies.
so many kids have other allergies like spring alleries so how are we going to get rid of that, BAN FLOWERS? I have tons of allergies what do i do when they act up? I TOUGH IT OUT INSTEAD OF BEING A BIG SISSY. I'M ALLERGIC TO MILLIONS OF THING THINGS I'M EXPOSED TO OR COME CLOSED TO TRIGGER AN ALLERGIC REACTION WHAT DO I DO I AVOID IT INSTEAD OF MAKING A BIG HAIRY DEAL. INSTEAD WORRY ABOUT OTHER UNHEALTHY STUFF LIKE 200 HOUR A DAY SCREEN TIME ADDICTION TO OREOS AND OTHER JUNKFOOD THAT'S RIGHT I'M TALKING TO YOU CHRISTOPHER. YOU COULD SAVE THE MONEY AND GET A FLUE VACCINATIO0N CAUSE COLDS FLUES SMALLPOX STREP AND OTHER DISEASES KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO AT SCHOOL ARE A HELL OF A LOT WORSE THAN ALLERGIES.
I agree with what others have been saying. If we ban one allergen at schools we'd have to ban all of them. What i suggest is that if there are students with severe nut allergies, why not have them eat lunch in a separate room?
This is not a tough issue when you compare it to something very similar. Many of us who are younger probably grew up knowing one or two kids who were severely, deathly allergic to bees. Did the school administrators then ban outdoor recess because maybe two kids out of 200 were allergic to a stinging insect? Of course not. Instead, the parents of those kids who were so allergic to bees made sure their children carried some kind of emergency hypodermic in case a bee should ever sting them. That, or the school kept similar medicine on hand in the nurse's office. That's how it worked with bees and that's how it should work with peanut butter: if parents are that worried about their children, they should take the necessary precautions to protect them by ensuring they have access to emergency medicine. Because at the end of the day, the person who should be looking after a child's safety is that child's parent, not the rest of the world.
I believe what we are dealing with here is a simple case of misunderstanding. Perhaps if everone here truly understood the significance of a peanut allergy we wouldn't be having this conversation. Or at least we could have it in a respectful manner. I myself am extremely allergic to peanuts, so I think I can claim to be an expert here. Some kidsand adults have airbourne allergies, if this is the case they simply can't be around peanuts, they can't even smell them. Some kids don't, a seperate lunch table will be fine for them.
But what I think we are talking about here are the kids that have this very severe airbourne allergy. I know personally if I can smell peanuts, my lungs close and if I'm not at the hospital in a very short period of time, I'M DEAD! There's not much you can do for a patient whose lungs have swollen shut except try to keep it from happening. I can guarantee you from the times that this has happened and they've been able to save me, it is extremely painful and it isn't short lasting pain!
So, before you respond harshly or say that those with peanut allergies are weak I ask you to think twice. I run marathons, and survive this nasty allergy. Am I weak? Do I deserve to die because you are unwilling to make a tiny concession to potentially save my life? Just think about it...
I don't think it's a misunderstanding. I think people are getting tired of being told to always make accommodations for the minority. You lay the groundwork when you say you run marathons. Do you demand that the other runners not brink energy bars with peanuts due to your allergy, I doubt it. It's a serious allergy, but you can't expect the world to go around concerned with other people's food allergies. Statistically there are very few casualties from food allergies, especially compared with driving or other activities. Certainly parents can request that other children in classroom not bring peanuts, but we're talking about a very, very common food product. People have terrible allergies to milk, perfumes, bees so it is completely unrealistic to place the onus of protecting an allergy suffer on the other people in the room.
You are a hypochondriac! Medical science has proven that there is no such thing as an airborne food allergy. Some foods can cause mild reactions if touched. Some can be fatal if ingested, but food odors CANNOT cause allergic reactions. So, either you had self induced episodes (the mind is a powerful thing) because you had been conditioned to believe that you were that allergic, you had a reaction to some other environmental toxin, or you are a liar.
Simply put, my child's nutrition should not suffer as a result of another child's allergies. While I am sympathetic to the needs of others and other people's children–(I send as MANY peanut-free snacks as I POSSIBLY can to school with my 10 year old) I am also sympathetic to the needs of my child. Recently, he came home with a note that said, "No more strawberries, kiwi or raspberries. Furthermore, NO more treenuts of any kind. How am I supposed to provide not only a nutritious meal for my child but a lunch that he will eat?!? I would NEVER ask the school to make sure that there is NO hand sanitizer in the school because my son has an allergic reaction to it! I recognize, that hand sanitizer is sometimes a necessity and he is to stay away from it. As a parent with a child who has allergies–we must teach our children to be vigilant & responsible for their well-being when we can't be there to watch them. I have many friends who's children suffer with peanut allergies and 99% of them are ALL for segregated lunches–if it means their child will not suffer a reaction to someone's lunch products. If I were to comply with my son's school's requests–I'd be sending him with a bloody celery stick and a bottle of water everyday....There has to be a solution that works for everyone–not just for a portion of the children. What's next??? No dairy products??
I have read all the comments...yes all of them. Sadly, there is no perfect solution but there sure are alot who believe if it could kill the kid, take it away–don't have it around..so I say let's ban cars: Kids get killed by cars that don't stop or they run in front of on their way to and from school. Let's ban bicycle riding to and from school because many kids have died from injuries on bikes. Let's ban baseball and football at all schools because a hit to the head can kill the child. At home we should NEVER have any prescribed OR over the counter medications because any of them have the potential to be life threatening and kill a child who finds and takes them (of any age). STOP and THINK...anything has a potential to kill a child–but DEMANDING that everyone should stop an activity or not have access to a certain food because it has a potential to end another's life is just pure insanity!!! Protect these children as best you can by knowledge,by educating the other children about the problem, by the separate food tables and the allergy bracelets,by an open awareness that everyone needs to be watchful and mindful. But come on..what does a ban do? Often it creates a hostile environment that creates other unforeseen problems and severe consequences.
Just imagine this scenario: The school bans peanut butter ,maybe all nuts. One day a kid gets into a fight with his/her parents and wants to defy them (those of us who have kids know that none are perfect, none mind ALL the time, and some think of creative ways to be defiant...not bad kids...just kids learning, testing and impulsively reacting to their environment). So he/she brings a hidden peanut butter sandwich or a bag of peanuts to school, sits down next to a kid who has an allergy (which is not known to the offender because there are no separate tables, there is no information, and no one is looking for any of these products) eats the offending product which creates a hazardous dust, or is on the table and the other child unknowingly breathes in or touches it. The other kid leaves before anything happens. The allergic kid goes into shock but no one knows why and you guess the rest...so what did the ban do ? NOT WHAT WAS EXPECTED and, possibly even more harm than good.
Did prohibition stop alcohol production and consumption? Not in the least. Did banning drugs stop the influx and ingestion of them...hardly. In fact the 70's hippies openly stated they did drugs in defiance of the government's stupid laws on marijuana. And we are talking about adults here. SO what makes any of you believe that a ban of food products will prevent a child from sneaking such in? Or secretly eating such just before entering school or at lunchtime? Or prevent exposure from such. IF you want complete control of your child's safety and environment, please for everyone's sake, keep the kid home. School's are NOT a safe haven from detrimental and life threatening conditions., and no matter what will never be.
We don't ban cars because kids get killed by cars. We put in stop signs and cross walks and such. Right? Do you get that? It's not about completely eliminating the source of the danger, it's about reducing the risk. Any reasonable person knows that you can't get rid of cars.
But it's not reasonable to say that peanuts and peanut butter are as important in their context (kids' meals) as cars are in theirs. Banning peanuts is not analogous to banning cars. Banning FOOD would be more analogous to banning cars. Banning peanuts is more like banning, say, extremely fast cars with inherently long braking distances. We can't do without cars, but we can do without the FAST cars. Similarly, we can't do without FOOD but we can do without peanuts.
I'm just making the point here. My kid's allergic to peanuts but I'm not saying we should ban peanuts. I just wish so many people insist on drawing analogies that don't really represent reality.
...The problem that isn't being addressed is *why* cases of peanut allergies are on the rise. The first time I'd heard about people having potentially fatal allergies to peanut products was a CNN story back in 1994, and that was limited to people confined in airplanes who came into contact with peanut particles from the stale bags the stewardesses gave out during the flight. Now it's gotten to be almost an epidemic, with some people taking a hypochondriac stance and demanding that peanuts be not just banned from the lunchrooms, but exterminated as if it were a pestilance. I've actually heard some whackjobs claim that being within ten feet of a sealed jar of peanut butter will trigger their allergies.
Sorry, but peanut butter is *NOT* Kryptonite, people. If you or your kid can't tolerate it, you've two choices: avoid it, or seek medical assistance. If you feel you have to demand that "something" be done, then demand that research be conducted to find out why in the past 25 years an allergy to a foodstock that's been a staple to American society for over two centuries is now, all of a sudden, this "toxic allergen" that "threatens to kill all our children and should be banned". That's the problem that needs to be addressed – find the cause and the cure, not just resort to some legal retardation.
For a school to ban peanuts is opening them up to legal action if they do not police everything brought in. Should someone import peanuts, even if innocently done, makes the school the scapegoat. It would be better for the school to suggest that parents limit use of peanuts, and have the affected child be aware of those around them. I'm aware that some kids are so sensitive that the scent of peanuts makes them ill. It's just common courtesy to not make someone sick.
I wish I had never read this page. My heart is breaking from knowing that a peanut butter sandwich is more important to some parents than the safety of my child. I am a right-leaning conservative, all about personal responsibility, but my child is four years old and cannot police himself 100% yet and will never be able to police his friends. I will never trust his friends now, knowing that one of yu haters who thinks he SHOULD die might be their parent.
Peanut butter is already banned at my kid's school. I'm a medical professional, and understand allergies, and know how severe they are and can kill you, but because the minority of people are allergic to peanuts shouldn't be a reason to ban the product altogether. Either have the allergic kids eat in a separate room, and have the emergency shot ready, or allowed those kids not allergic to eat their peanut butter sandwich in a different area or room. My kid only eat peanut butter sandwiches, we tried the sunflower butter and the hazelnut spread, and he won't eat it.
I'm a firm believer in natural selection, and survival of the fittest, and if it wasn't for antibiotics just introduce 60 years ago, lots of people would die because of infections. That is why our grand parents had so many kids, and some time don't even named them or recorded them at birth because they would die. Read american history and you will see that settlers had 10 kids or more just to have 4 to 6 survivors, and wait until they turned 2 or 3 years old to name them because children didn't survive. That is life.
My son is allergic to Peanut Butter it took an allergic reaction in preschool to find out. Good thing that it only took one look from someone in the office to call 911 and realize what was going on. The next day when I went into school I remember that the comment was made are whole snack program for the year includes peanut butter now what do we do. My son is lucky that he is not as allergic as some kids but do I want to find out if it will kill him because the school doesn't want to implement a no peanut butter rule? It's like driving a car while intoxicated until you get caught or kill someone why worry it can't happen here or to me. All I can do is remind the school every year make his teacher aware every year and hope it doesn't happen again. They still talk about his reaction in preschool so I know made them aware and that every year when a new group of kids come in they watch for a peanut butter reaction from the kids.
You know, contact with the bumper of a car is potentially fatal too, (particularly the airborne its of one) yet I see no one calling for a ban on cars etc. What do we do with little kids and young people to keep them safe from cars? We supervise and educate them and teach them of the danger to themselves if they make improper contact with a car.
The key is not to expect the whole world to change to keep your kid safe, rather you should be diligent and teach diligence from an early age.
Great googly moogly....we've become the most overprotective society in the history of mankind. I'm surprised half of you helicopter parents don't wrap your little darlings in bubble-wrap before they get out of bed in the morning.
If you are a CARING person/parent you should CARE for your/other child.
Therefore penuts should NOT be allowed in schools, for safety reasons–FOR ALLLLLLL.
Children can eat them before and after.
-- simple, and safe.--
If one doesn't kow about allergies, they should learn, and consider–because u never know u might develop one TOORROW!
people with kids need to just stop. the world doesnt revolve around you and your kid. you keep raising these weaklings who can't even handle simple confrontation without breaking into tears. if you wanto dictate what people can and can't feed their kids, how bout you pay for it? on 2nd thought, screw that, youll just whine like your kids do when they dont get their way. send your kids to private school, but dont try and control public school lunches. todays parents suck.
I am 53 years old and have lived with allergies my entire life. I was allergic to peanuts as a child, and learned to avoid them in camp and at school. I ate a lot of cream cheese and jelly sandwiches! Fortunately, I grew out of my peanut allergy by the time I was 18. (Some, but not all, kids will lose their allergies as their bodies mature.) I was also allergic to most beans, but with the help of a chiropractor practicing the NAET method, was desensitized a few years ago and can now eat all beans with no allergic reaction. I am still allergic to most nuts, coconut, and sunflower seeds. I read labels and am careful to avoid foods I'm allergic to and am cautious when presented with an unfamiliar prepared food. Despite my many allergies, I've managed to be careful and have had only 2 moderately serious incidents in my lifetime, both very uncomfortable but not life threatening, one due to a mislabeling of a prepared food.
I share my story to give background to what I want to say: I empathize with parents of children with severe peanut allergies and wish them and especially their children good health and good luck, but I don't think banning peanut butter from schools will solve the problem. In fact, I think it would be to the long-term detriment of the allergic child. Most children with allergies are well-trained to avoid the things they're allergic to and those who aren't trained by their parents should be so they can deal with situations both in school and elsewhere when they don't have control over what foods they're offered or what other people are eating. Since school is a place of learning, they can practice avoidance of allergenic substances with their friends and on the lunch line. As a child, I simply knew to avoid foods I was allergic to, and overcame my shyness to ask the lunch lady about ingredients when I wasn't sure–skills that have helped me keep safe for my entire life.
In addition to using the presence of allergens at school as a way to train allergic children on how to stay away from danger, (along with making sure the school is aware of the health issue), I urge parents to stay on top of research and new developments in the field of allergy medicine and research, and to keep an open mind. My experience tells me that in many cases, there may be options available that will reduce the severity of reactions or eliminate them altogether.
I went to elementary school with two friends with severe peanut allergies in the mid-90s and these kids were good at self-patroling. We were all aware that we could not sit with these students on days when we had peanuts in our lunches, and they were quick to enforce it. Kids are more than able to take care of themselves and banning a staple of school lunches is certainly not the answer.
It's a shame that so many people are ignorant about the Peanut/Tree Nut allergy. It shouldn't be considered an allergy actually, but a life threatening condition. My son, Hunter, is about to turn 8 years old and we don't just celebrate his birthday, but celebrate another year of us making it this far with surviving his condition. We carry EPI-pens everywhere we go, since this isn't an accommodating allergy that a tissue can help with. My son's first reaction at 2 years old was terrifying when we discovered his condition. Thankfully the doctors at the hospital reacted quickly, because the harder he cried the harder it was for him to breathe. For those who commented like Joe I feel sorry that you do not understand that for their few minutes of satisfaction eating a peanut butter sandwich (for ex.) could be a life time of sadness for me as a parent if I lost my child. We try to be prepared for any accident that may occur, but to lose my child to someone's ignorant attitude will be unbearable like Joe's. Holidays are hard to celebrate, but we do it especially when it comes to Halloween or Easter. We pay the higher prices when we can for items from companies that specialize in Peanut/Tree Nut Free. Again, far from your cheap little life involving your $2.00 jar of peanut butter. Family and/or friends, even co-workers, often bring the container of anything they made to show it is ok for him to eat. Does that ask a lot? No, that means a lot! Those who hang around Hunter don't treat him any different than their own kids and if they want to eat something that could cause him harm they know they can wait until they get home. My son understands as best as he can at 7 years old that he cannot enjoy a classmates birthday at school because a parent didn't take the time to just simply talk to us about the cupcakes they bring to class. My son doesn't get a simple doctor's visit every 6 months, because he cannot be tested in an allergy office he has to have blood work almost yearly to see if his blood levels have change. There will be not be an allergy shot in the future to help him against any effect. This is his life and we embrace all we have to do. So, if you believe your simple spending of $2.00 for a jar of peanut butter is a simple fix for your family since that is all your child will eat because you may see them as a picky eater than you should put yourself in my son's shoes, his family, his dad, his friends families, our wonderful friends, and co-workers and his mom. We check everything!!! It is in so many things you have no idea. But we gladly do it to see his smiling face each day when he comes home from school. So, go in your cabinets and check your shampoos, lotions, seasonings, sauces, cake mixes, ice-cream, cookies, snack foods, chips, dog food, candy, and everything else you will find and see if it has a Peanut/Tree nut or say "processed in a plant" that has contact and see what we do every single day. The school doesn't have the responsibility to watch only your child, but they watch my child. Our food manager at school contacts me on any concern as does his teachers. They care whereas all those ignorant people who comment negatively do not. I could be ugly and hope my child doesn't sit next to your child if they have the same beliefs as you or I hope you don't have anything to do with him in his future as an adult. My son will continue to enjoy school, sports, field trips (esp. ball parks), playing his guitar, and anything else he puts his heart into it without being held back by people like you Joe. Until he has a voice in all of this I will stand up and fight for his rights and nothing will get in my way of that. We have 10 minutes to assist my son with his EPI-pens and this isn't a complete guarantee of him recovering. We don't let this hold us back and just go on educating ourselves more on more on how to prevent him having a reaction. My son didn't ask to be born with this condition, but he talks about it and teaches people about it as best he can at 7 years old. I thankful for every day to have a son like that! So, why don't all the negative people take the time to check out the FAAN or other food allergy networks to learn a little bit more than trying to save the peanut butter sandwich. Happy Birthday Hunter! I wouldn't change a thing about you. Love, your mom..
I would guess that those in favor of any sort of PB regulation are democrat, while those in favor of personal accounabilty are republican. This is such a simple problem with a simple solution. If you have an alergy, be extra sensitive to avoid that which you are allegic to. On that same token, be aware that others may be allergic to something that you are not, so don't douse the person in anything. Stop with the lunch time PB&J brawls and don't douse people with water.
And yes Dave... there are some people allergic to water.
Regarding non -ingestion allergies. You can die! My daughter has had 4 airborne reactions from peanuts in the air in the last 10 years and one was on a plane and two were at school. I have a friend that lost his adult son from an airborne shellfish reaction in Spain to a seafood soup that was being cooked in a market he walked through. He didn't eat anything but passed out and went into coma. It was too late to get enough meds in him and he died a month later on Christmas. He didn't know an airborne allergic reaction could kill him. I helped a fellow Dad on a field trip anaphylactic allergy allergic to coconut. A girl walked by wearing coconut based sun protection and we had to carry him away from the area so we could administer his medicine and try to breathe. The Teen Ambassador for our local FAAN "Walk for food allergy..." has had several anaphylactic reactions from non-ingesting. Those Doctors that do not believe that you can have an anaphylactic reaction from airborne allergens need to listen to their patients. Every thing we breathe goes into our bloodstream-duh! It's not like asthma-It's a whole lot more immediate and deadly.
Got a big ol' BS!!! for you. It has been proven by actual science that peanuts do not "go airborne", and that allergies are NOT caused by odors. The DOT recently refused a request to ban peanuts on airplanes because repeated studies conclusively proved that there is no potential for harm without ingestion. Your story is a complete fabrication.
I, as a kid as well, must say this is rediculous! For one, it's just butter mixed with peanuts. What's wrong with that? Two, if kids are allergic to peanut butter, go (beep) yourself! That's their own problem! Three, these so called "parents" aren't doing anything about it! Four, this doesn't make any sense! Five, go tell that to Favre! And six, in the next 30 years, at least someone will die because of WATER ALLERGIES! You see what I mean?!
I dont think the school should ban peanut butter but the schools are more likly to cave because of possible law suits. The parents need to tell their children how important it is for them not to eat anything that contains peanuts and take appropriate action by having there children carry an epi-pen just in case. Parents raise your kids and stop expecting other people to do it.
I work in an elementary school. There are far to many products that contain peanuts, or are made in a facility that also has peanuts in it, to be banned. We have a few kids with severe peanut allergies and we have these children in a NUT/PEANUT FREE classroom. However, any child who can eat peanuts is welcome to bring peanuts for lunch. We have a peanut table and a peanut free table. This has taught compassion for others at an early age and works well for us.
Knowing that some child has suffered for my peanut butter just makes it taste smoother, creamier, happier, better. What about the children? Let them die.
I grew up in a home where my brother was deathly allergic to peanuts. Then I raised three daughters, one of whom has an eating disorder and the only thing she would eat is peanut butter. My brother now carries an epi pen. My daughter, thank God, still has access to peanut butter. If she didn't she may not be here today. The solution, I think? Everyone take responsibility for their own needs. Be as considerate to and as conscious of each other as possible. Stop bickering. We've got bigger problems to worry about–like the health crisis are for example. Now that would cost lives.
PB should not be banned! Children who are allergic need to understand that the world has products in it that may cause them harm. I see this on a dialy basis at school. Teachers and school nurses are educators, we help children learn to be safe. I have 2nd grade children in my school calling out "I have peanut butter in my snack, don't come over to me until I've cleaned up. Younger children are asking thier parents not not to pack Pb , so they can sit with an allergic child.
If Pb was not allowed in school, allergic children will have less opportunity to learn about food saftey and the social aspects that go along with having an allergy. I feel it is much better to learn to say " I'm sorry I can't sit with you because you have PB" when you're 5, than to try to figure it out when you are hormone struck, going through puberty, with peer pressure all around you, when none of your friends know you have an allergy, because its been hidden for years.
Make everyone aware of the allergy. Do not ban PB. Help the allergic child learn how to manage their life. Celebrate the diversity in our classrooms.
who in their right mind would ban something just because a certain part of the population is allergic to it? if your kid is allergic to peanut butter then dont give it to them. inform them that its bad for them and to never eat it or use any products made with the ingredients. blah blah. whatever.
You never hear about poor countries having these food allergy problems. I have never met someone from a third world country with lactose intolerance or peanut allergies!
But what about everywhere else? I pack snacks for my kids on long plane rides. The pre-packaged frozen peanut butter sandwiches are great for long plane trips. Or giving my kids a granola bars with peanuts for after karate class or swimming lessons. Bans at schools work because parents can bully schools into doing whatever they want, but there's no way to make the world peanut free, but I suspect that's what many of these insane peanut allergy parent want. They want to make parents feel guilty for feeding their kids anything with parents, so it's just unexceptable for kids to eat anything with peanuts ever, whether it's at school, at home, or anywhere else.
My son attends a peanut free preschool. We are told we may 'replace' peanut butter with sunflower butter. It is delicious and even creamier than peanut butter. Peanut allergies are dangerous for those allergic......and, really, when it comes down to it, would you want your kid to be the cause of an allergic reaction of another child?
I'm surprised your kid's school will allow any peanut butter replacements. My kids' school banned any nut butters or anything that resembles peanut butter because they can't easily tell the difference. The rabid peanut allergy parents at the school insist that parents will send their kids to school w/ peanut butter sandwiches and claim it's sunflower butter or almond butter, so at my kid's private school, anything that looks like peanut butter can be confiscated. The threat is always that if you pack your kid's lunch, the teachers can take it away from them and your 6 year old might not get to eat lunch. It's a good threat, no one wants their kid to go hungry, so they take the peanut butter bans seriously.
how absolutely ridiculous...What kind of idiocy has our society enetered into where we are expected to espouse banning something to everyone just because a couple of people have allergies?
I as a kid fully agree with john and think that you should all forget it and figure out a different solution instead of ruining it for everyone thats how airport security got so --ing tight solve your cruddy problems in your own way. and trust me if peanut butter gets banned you have some strong ------------------------ing opinions from my sister and me and i'll use such such strong language ill be banned from this website until i'm 3000 years old. and as for you kittyman why dont you look at bretts comment
Peanut butter was always my Dad's favorite snack. When I was 4, he made me a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Stuff started happening in my mouth and throat that I didn't understand, so I started to cry and refused to eat any more of it.
My dad sent me to my room in disgust, and every so often, for years afterward, he'd sit me down with another sandwich and say, "You're not going anywhere 'til you eat that!"
It wasn't until I was 12 that I got allergy tested, and peanuts & walnuts were at the top of the list.
I wanted my dad to apologize for traumatizing me all those years, but apparently he'd forgotten.
Every time I get a whiff of peanuts, I duck and run.
Is PB an illegal substance? No! So then why ban it? It is absurd to keep accomodating all these "special needs!!" How about they (or the parents) deal with it. How about for those who are lactose interolerant? Perhaps someone is hyper-sensitive and cannot be near lactose? I guess we'll have to ban lactose products as well! Oh wait, there are those who are allergic to various seafoods...let's ban tuna and salmon, etc.! Hmm, what else...hey, I know someone who is allergic to soy-based products...let's ban them!!! Of course not! It is pathetic that the majority must accomodate the minority in this way. if you have a problem, then deal with it like an adult...it is childish to expect the world to accomodate you!!!
As for the person (Matt) who claimed PB is making ppl fat because it has junk in it and it is the "lazy parent" who uses it for quick lunches. 1. Yes, your standard Skippy or Reeses PB is filled with "junk" – that is why I only buy the PB made with peanuts ONLY! 2. Sure, I'll bet many parents use it as a "quick" fix for lunch...but not all! Personally, I often enjoy a nice (natural) PB and (natural) jam sandwich. Sometimes my children ask for it as well! It is not relevant to the issue anyhow...
Enough catering to those with special needs, learn to deal with it!!!!! (**Maybe** an exception should be made for very young children who have not yet learned how to deal with their deficiencies.)
I'm starting to get the feeling there are a small group of people putting out all of these repetitive "comments" using new scenarios... Seriously. This looks just like a spam-bot attack on any other message board.
In public schools there are no nurses or enough supervision on the playground for this disability. Unless allergy kids are allowed to run around with loaded epi-pens then I suggest we leave the sticky substance at home especially at the elementary schools. 1 in 17 kids under the age of 10 has a life-threatening allergy to a food. Most of these are to peanuts and less than 20% ever grow out of it. My child has a "right to life"-and this is a right to life issue. My choice is to protect her and stay involved. I can not do it alone.
> In public schools there are no nurses or enough supervision on the playground for this disability.
Since when did an allergy to peanuts become a disability? Next thing you'll be wanting is government approved monetary compensation because your kid has an allergy to peanuts. I would hardly call an allergy to peanuts a "disability".
Let me enlighten you. Anaphylaxis (due to a food allergy) affects you ability to breathe. Breathing is a basic life function which is required for one to live. Which under the law defines it as a legal disability. If you don't believe me, check with the Federal Government.
My son is allergic to nuts and has had an anaphylactic attack. He is 6 years old and we have epipens everywhere (including school). There is a wonderful alternative to peanut butter called sun-butter. I guarantee your child will not be able to tell the difference. You can find it at your local supermarket and it is actually healthier than peanut butter! My sons school does a great job of keeping a safe environment and he still is eating with his friends.
On another note, IF my son was exposed to nuts as an act of bullying (as referenced in the CNN article today) I would press charges against the school, the school district, and of course the parents of the child who tried to murder my son. As well as get a restraining order against the child. You may think this is drastic, but to me it is like bringing a gun to school and pointing it at my son.
Why should ANYBODY have to prove themselves to you? But ok, since you asked SO nicely, MANY people on this thread posted that their kids have had ANAPHYLACTIC reactions to peanuts. Look it up, it means "about 30 seconds from death." And my kid was diagnosed with the allergy from one of the leading pediatric allergists in the country.
All I'm saying is that a) people are lying on this comment page to lie, b) people are claiming allergies that are not truly fatal, c) people are taking a urticaric allergy and claiming it as fatal, d) people are just LYING, e) a small number of people are falsely generating paranoia about peanut allergies just to incite press and argument
Jay M. Portnoy, MD
Chief, Section of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
The Children’s Mercy Hospital
2401 Gillham Road
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 234-3097 (voice)
(816) 346-1301 (fax)
Jay.M.Portnoy (Skype)
If you don't have a diagnosis from an immunologist, then you have absolute NO right to demand anybody do anything to accomidate your suspicions. Furthermore, if you believe your child does have a life threatening allergy, but won't take them to an immunologist for proper testing, then that child should be REMOVED from your "care."
Many of us have children who have been tested and tested positive. All liars...I doubt that! Many of these entries have been offensive. What if I told you someone you loved deserved to die because they have an illness or a personal health challenge. Chances are you would find that offensive. Many of us don't feel a peanut butter ban is the best answer for all situations, yet here you call us liars and others tell us our children deserve to die. What do you really expect from us?
I have a 14-yr old, peanut/nut allergic son who has been attending school since he was 3 and 1/2. I've read many of the comments and very few mention how the allergy can be triggered by touch. Yes, it is easy to teach my son what to eat and what not to eat, but we also need to worry about him sitting at a table where peanut butter has been wiped on the table by someone previously. my son has broken out in a rash on his legs at a restaurant where someone must have left PB on the bench where he sat previously. we were lucky it wasn't worse in that instance.
that's the reason I chose "a peanut-free table should do the trick" because it seems to be the safest solution for both sides of the argument.
and for those of you who really believe the bigoted, self centered comments you have posted here, please remember that we all share unalienable right to live "safe from harm" and it is the same US Constitution that allows you to voice your uneducated, thuggish and remarkably uncompassionate opinions freely in this forum. gyhooya
Please explain how a rash is a life threatening reaction that should allow you to inconvenience everybody else? At least you don't try to claim that peanut butter can somehow become airborne. Parents like you are the reason for all the vitriol and invective on this forum. Your child may have a mild reaction when exposed to peanuts, I get it. But a rash isn't going to kill him, so leave the rest of us alone.
Howie,
it's people like you, who speak before you think, that are the problem. You'll notice I chose "peanut-free table" since this is an easy compromise that in no way affects the non-allergic children. It just gives the allergic children a relatively safe option, unless you have a problem with that too?
is that simple concept finding its way through your thick skull?
While I sympathize with people who have these allergies, I don't think that we can eliminate all allergens from any public place. Peanuts are used in so many different manufacturing processes that it would be all but impossible to eliminate all peanuts from any public space that serves food. Children with peanut allergies must be well trained in what to do in case they are exposed to allergenic substances so that they can live safely for the rest of their lives. The adults around them must also be trained in recognizing symptoms and in identifying those foods to avoid. A simple fanny pack with a dose of pseudopherine and a shot of epinephrine in it should be worn at all times by children with nut allergies. Both the child and the adults in charge of them should know how to administer these in case of emergency. Asthmatic children have been self medicating with inhalers for decades. There's no reason to think that they can't learn to take care of their own allergies in the same way. Even if peanuts are prohibited in schools, peanut residue will get in on clothing, in candy, in cakes, cereals, etc.
You have got to be kidding, is this going to be yet another example of how the troubles of the few effect us all?? It seems that everyday in this country is filled with Mass Media excercising it's "intelectual" muscles over the most microsocpic items. While completely ignoring the true issues, yet another distrationary tactic to keep our heads spinning. And, truth be told this item effects such a small precentage of the entire populace that it's almost like pointing out that there is a needle in this haystack!!! Let's make sure that we ban hay?!?!?!?
and where do the bans stop? I have CAT allergies. If I shake the hand of someone with cats, I know to wash my hands. I manage hugging my kids after they come home from their mom's house because she has a cat. WAIT!!! this logic can really work for me. Ban all cats. Then I am sitting on easy street. While this BS radical logic works well for me, it doesn't for everyone else...SO I JUST SUCK IT UP...will the PB allergins and their parents just deal with it. We are all different and all have our own challenges. I can't jump like Michael Jordan and I WILL NOT ASK THAT THE REGULATION BASKETBALL GOAL BE LOWERED TO ACCOMODATE ME. I will just accept that I am not as goot at Basketball as he is, and if it is that important to me, I will lower the goal in my own yard.
Many of us who have allergic kids don't promote a total ban of peanut butter, but suck it up...really? Why don't I tell that to my kid who goes in to anaphylactic shock? I'm sure that advice will be helpful at that moment.
as the parent of a child with a FATAL allergy to peanuts, i say you can't ban them from schools. that's not American and it doesn't really solve the problem. education does.
I also say to these fine folks who have posted these illogical, idiotic and mainly inaccurate posts here spouting intolerance and hatred, not a day goes by where i don't worry about the safety of my child and how he interacts with YOUR child. the one thing I can't control is how well educated and tolerant YOUR child is and given the responses here, that's a pretty scary prospect.
I think more needs to be done to figure out what is causing this explosion of food allergies. They weren't really around when i was growing up. It seems like it has more to do with the processing of foods than the foods themselves. In the meantime, I don't think it is such a big deal for kids to abstain from peanut butter at school. Parents could reward their peanut depraved child with PB & J shots when they get home.
I do have a question...as a parent whose son is wheat allergic and under the care of a pediatric allergy and asthma specialist...people really think there is a cure for allergies? Some kids do outgrow some allergies...that is true, but mostly care for food allergies involves education of child and family regarding food allergy avoidance and dietary considerations, epi pen, and asthma or related issues treatment. The idea that they are curable is really a misunderstanding I believe for many of the food allergy kids out there.
I think we all wonder about the parent who is oversensitive out there, but most of the time if the school is involved enough to have a plan from a doctor the diagnosis is well founded. There may be some exceptions, but usually school nurses ask for basic allergy and epi pen info from doctor. If they don't have an epi the school response is typically not as involved.
You people are idiots. Most kids get these allergies because of the super low quality of food they eat day in and day out. To ban PB isn't the issue. Its why are food allergies and childhood cancers are exploding in the US. The issue is why are you low brow morons feeding your kids chemical laden foods with hardly any nutritional value. Whatever suffering you and yours incur because of this you deserve.
My sympathy goes out to those with peanut allergies, but banning peanut butter in public schools isn't a viable solution. It's been tried before and parents simply disobeyed the ban. Peanut butter is also a much cheaper and healthier food than many alternatives; the majority shouldn't have to switch to a more expensive or less healthy food because of the ailment of a minority. My suggestion: if you have peanut allergies, stay away from peanut butter. The lunch room does not encompass the entire school and it should be very easy to set a room aside for those with peanut allergies. Everyone wins this way. The majority gets to eat their cheap, healthy peanut butter while those who are allergic to it are kept safely separate from the thing they're allergic to. Granted, this does mean little Timmy will be separated from his school friends during lunch while he eats in a peanut-free environment, but I really can't see a 45-minute separation during lunch for the sake of his health being labeled as unreasonable.
I have a friend whose grandson has a severe peanut allergy, which was only recently discovered when he was rushed to the ER with a severe reaction. Since that time he has had three other episodes where he had great difficulty breathing, was injected with an epi pen and then rushed back to the ER. One of those times happened after eating at his aunt's house. His 8-year old cousin had eaten a peanut butter sandwich three hours earlier. His mom thoroughly cleaned the table top and made sure that the peanut butter and all used dished were cleaned up and put away. As this five-year old sat eating his sandwich, he touched an area underneath the table which had previously been touched by his peanut butter-eating cousin. He immediately fell to the floor and started turning blue. It wasn't until several hours later, after one more trip to the ER, that they discovered what had happened.
As a friend and mother, I found this story terrifying. My kids are grown now and got through their childhoods with only mild allergies. One of my daughters went through a phase where peanut butter was a daily staple. Armed with the knowledge of severe food allergy potential, I'm not sure what my opinion would have been then.
I do think that parents of allergic children should do all they can to educate their children on their allergies. It's also important to notify teachers and school officials and make sure that they all know how to react in an emergency. I don't think it's fair to ban peanut butter from a school entirely, but I do think that compromises can be made to help increase the child's likelihood of exposure to a minimum. Perhaps offer the option that they can all eat together at the same time of day in a small room set aside for this purpose? Then it would be up to the child and his parents whether to segregate him/her at lunch every day. I also think that other parents should comply with a request to be sure they don't send in extra classroom snacks containing peanut butter or peanuts. It doesn't hurt to have all of his fellow students and their parents aware of the problem.
I think you should just try to set up the environment to be as safe as possible, but understand that we're all human and mistakes can happen, no matter how careful we try to be. The best course of action is for the child himself to be given the knowledge to help him get whatever immediate help he may need. Try your best to be preventative, but be prepared in case the worst happens.
I'm sure there are legal issues involved too, and schools are worried about negligence. I have no legal background and can offer no opinion on this. I do think that anyone who knowingly exposes someone they know to have a severe allergy should be punished strongly enough to deter others from future behavior.
I am really appalled by the number of you who think it's ok to weed out the weak ones and let them die! Frankly, I'm shocked and sickened to see the things some of you have written. Where is your mercy and empathy? I can't believe are speaking this way about sweet, innocent children!
If my child was so allergic to peanuts that he would die because of particles in the air, I would NOT send him to public schools. How selfish and irresponsible these parents are to send their children to public schools where peanut butter is a healthy staple food!
Not to mention that WIC provides peanut butter to low income families. My children do not eat peanut butter, but I know a lot of families who have lost their jobs over the last year that rely on the stuff! If the government is going to provide it then they better not ban the product.
The needs of some do not out weigh the needs of many.
I'm sorry? Did you say it was SELFISH and IRRESPONSIBLE for the parent of a food allergic kid to send them to a public school? Really? What is the alternative and are you going to pay for it just so your kid can smear peanut butter wherever she wants to?
If my child was sooooo deathly allergic to something, I would not expect anyone but myself to care for that child. I have been in school lunch rooms and I do not see anyone smearing anything anywhere, so I am not sure if that is normal behavior for your children, but mine do have manner and good hygiene.
Basically your statement about wanting someone to provide your child alternative education is EXACTLY the same as everyone else saying, YOU should provide alternative lunches for people who depend on peanut butter to feed children. Get real, your standards demonstrate that I was correct when I used the word "selfish" to describe you nut cases... and by the way, there are many free home school programs.
There are children that are too allergic to attend school. Having an airborne allergy is very hard to manage. They can never fly on a commercial airplane among many other things. One could hope for a cure. But, the government is still responsible for educating them. I know of a family that has private tutors and teachers (funded by the school district that they attend) that teach them in the safety of their home. Thankfully their are laws that protect these children. They aren't banned from school, but given an alternative education.
My 14 month old son was just diagnosed with a level 4 Peanut Allergy. I am new to this whole world of food allergies and never in my life could have imagined a peanut could harm a child like it can. I had never heard of peanut allergies and never really gave thought to food allergies at all. I would probably be the first to run around the house chasing my best friend with a lobster if I knew she were allergic to shellfish….
This has been a huge learning experience and I now know there is a need for information and compassion. The peanut allergy is life long; my son will never outgrow it! Exposure for him means a severe reaction. One of which is Anaphylactic shock, a severe, whole-body allergic reaction. He could die! Our immunologist told us that peanut allergies have quadrupled in the US in the last 10 years that he believes it has to do with the way peanuts are processed in the US, (Dry Roasted). Other countries process peanuts by boiling them and they do not have the peanut allergy issues as in the United States. He also talked about what he called “germ phobia” and over use of antibiotics that has weakened our immune systems. He believes all have given rise to food allergies. So on to the “Peanut Free” schools. I believe educating the public about these food allergies is what needs to happen! Why is there a rise in the allergy, why are food allergies so dangerous?! Let’s educate each other and out children so that there is compassion and understanding about the issue. Keep in mind however; Schools have removed soda machines because soda is not healthy. Peanuts can actually kill!
Viv – time to get a new doctor! It is absolutely untrue to state that your child will "never outgrow" the allergy. Most kids have reactions to certain foods when first introduced. If you continue to re-introduce the food, the reactions usually go away. There has been no increase in actual diagnoses of peanut allergies. The increase has been in SELF-REPORTS of allergies. Hypochondriacs are on the rise. Many many people have a one or two time reaction to peanuts – myself included. I kept eating, and the problem went away. Just because a 14 month old had a rash, some hives, or even a little chest congestion is not a reason to freak out. Any doctor who tells you otherwise should not be practicing medicine.
My -ex is 57. He still hasn't "outgrown" his peanut allergy which he has had since a small child. Peanut allergy is the ONLY one allergy someone cannot outgrow. Now we have a grand-daughter who has this same "allergy".
I am allergic to: Almonds, Oats, Wheat, Dairy, Whey Protein, Eggs, Tomatoes, Strawberries, all other berries, Citrus Friut, Spinach, artificial colors, artificial flavors, beer, wine, eggplant, and several other things. There is no way on earth anyone or any restaurant or school could cater to something like that. I believe it is the responsibility of the parents to pack a nutritious and allergen-free meal for thier children. It is not the government's job to ensure that your child eats a balanced allergen free meal. It is the school's job however to be aware of any such allergies, so they know what to do if an allergic reaction should happen. The best thing that could happen would be for schools to stop providing lunches to children. They are not nutritiounally balanced and are made with all kinds of cheap, low quality, "imitation" food, which is contribution towards the growing rise of obesity and other related health problems. I have taught my kids that if they do not know where something comes from, then it's not good for you. Corn Dogs and curly fries are NOT a food group. Sadly, this is what kids eat at the school lunches. The only way I would even consider letting my children eat the school food if it was "Clean", which schools cannot afford to provide (sadly). As the only other option, kids need to bring their own lunch, and stop asking the 98% to accomodate the 2%. Manage your own issues for yourself you can't expect others to manage your ailments for you. I manage mine just fine – I pack my lunch and inform those around me of my allergies.
I can't read that list and not snicker. You are a bad liar or have never seen a doctor and had this documented. Even then, you are not going to have fatal reactions to every single thing you listed. It just screams hypochondriac. That, or mild skin reactivity to a allergen panel (which would mean you're not at risk for much of anything but an itchy day). Or perhaps you are just making the whole thing up.
If you had one actual medical problem, my guess would be gluten enteropathy.
You've got to be kidding me. Granted, I haven't been in school for a long time but I don't know why all of these PC advocates out there have to be so nit-picky about every little thing. If your kid has an allergy to peanut butter, take the peanut butter away from the kid, don't take it away from *every* kid. I happen to love peanut butter and I know at least one other person who has an allergy to peanuts but I respect that about her and she respects my love for peanut butter. This has just gone too far and it's about time someone said, "NO!".
The relative number of 'parents' here claiming their 'son' or 'daughter' have anaphylactic peanut allergies far outstrips what the reported number of cases nationwide... Is it people lying through their teeth (probably) or selective collections of people?
Folks, stop lying about your kid with a food allergy. If you think they have one and have never seen a doctor, you cannot honestly claim they do have the allergy. These reactions are very well defined... and kid 'climbing up the walls and get getting violent' isn't an allergy.
When every other person in this round robin claims to have a kid or friend with a food allergy (FATAL, ANAPHYLACTIC, DOCUMENTED), I say people are just lying.
I'm shocked but not surprised. Peanut allergy can be serious. Those without peanut allergy should be grateful that they don't have it and sympathize with those that do. Kids can surely live without having peanut butter for lunch! I'm so disgusted that it is the parents commenting and voting here who will be teaching life's lessons to their kids. This is such an intolerant and spoilt society. I blame suburban culture for this. Too much personal space! Too little diversity! It is not like this in other countries I've lived in! Really!
lETS BAN PEANUTS AT BALL GAMES... IN sTORES, AT PARKS , HELL JUST JUST BAN THEM LIKE CIG'S... COME ON i REALLY LIKE PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES!!! AND SO DOES MY SON!!! OH AND DON'T FORGET THE JELLY!!!
Since only 1 in 2 million kids have a life-threatening allergy to peanuts, but 1 in 20 parents claim their kids are miraculously one of those 1 in 2 million, obviously 99.9% of those kids have never received such a diagnosis from a doctor, or the parents are flat out lying.
Peanuts are full of mold, aflatoxins that can cause severe reactions in children less than 1 years old. We all know that, after having children, but we do not fully understand how exposing ourselves to these aflatoxins affects our health as growing children and adults. Peanut butter is very high in fat and one of the worst forms of protien. Allergies are on the rise and immunologists do not know why. Some theories are that our children receive three times the amount of vaccines than we used to, born in the 70's, and therefore, some children's immune systems may be compromised. Another theory is that since we have less exposure to microbes, high use of anti-biotics, sterile environments, non-cultured foods (lack of firendly bacteria) our immune systems are not developing as they should.
More children have severe and/or life threatening reactions to tree nuts and until we find out what is causing this increase we can choose to be adapt or complain.
@Zanatos I mostly agree. Steps have to be taken to protect the few vs the many, just as a matter of practicality. However, and though I'm no expect by any means, peanut allergy seems to be a particularly violent reaction to a tiny presence of allergen. So though it's true that there are no end to the number of allergens, I think the benefit of avoiding the problem probably outweigh the cons of people having to avoid peanut butter.
It's not a non-concern for the rest of the parents though. Peanut butter is cheap protein that doesn't need to be refrigerated. Still, this isn't a "if you're allergic, don't eat it" situation.
The bottom line is it's not as black and white as either side is making it. It's a thornier issue than "It's my right to spread peanut butter on everything and the hell with you!" vs "If you make one PB&J you are consciously choosing to murder my baby"
Also to the "it's not a powder therefor it can't be airborne" people, what do you think smells are?
In recent years we have seen such a tremendous increase in the number of people with these serious allergic reactions, just as we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of children with mental problems of various kinds including autism. Imagine for a heartbeat that this was a biological attack; how intense would our national reaction be? But if it's just because the food and cosmetic industries are able to release products without major testing, well, that's just the American way.
We don't want big government, and we don't want government interfering in our lives or in our business; but we also want someone ready to step in after a natural disaster and we want someone watching that eggs are safe to eat and we want someone to keep the banks honest. One would think there must be a COMPROMISE that most of us could live with; except this very subject – fatal anaphylactic shock allergy reaction – shows that on some things a compromise isn't attainable. So it still falls to us as good human beings to find ways for everyone to live well, rather than yelling at each other from opposite sides.
I used to be one of these people who couldn't figure out what's wrong with kids today and their allergies...and then I had 2 kids with peanut allergies. The difference between peanut allergies and some other allergies (e.g. shellfish) is that peanut oil gets all over the place and there is a much higher instance of cross contamination. My kids' school didn't ban PB, but they do have a peanut free table and we've asked our kids' teachers to have the class wash their hands when they come to school in the morning and after lunch. (We even provide the wipes). I don't find that this is such a hardship for the non-allergic kids and a side benefit is that one teacher told us that her kids had fewer sick days which she attributed to the hand washing. Nonetheless, there are always going to be these virulent people who think that kids are somehow weak because of allergies. At one parents' night a parent actually stood up and said her non-allergic kid "feels bad" because he can't sit at the peanut-free table and he feels like he is being punished. My kid can only sit at one table...yours can sit at the other 29 tables...but somehow your kid is being punished? Who is the weakling now?? For whatever reason there are more and more cases of allergies these days. It's a reality we need to deal with.
Of course we can't ban something for the few. That's not the way life works. If you need to stay out of the mainstream for your safety, then that is what is best. If I didn't have peanut butter when I was in school I would have had to go without. Even now I frequently take it to work for lunch. It's nutritious and afforable.
When did so many kids develop peanut butter allergies? I had never even heard of this until a few years ago. I'm not saying it isn't serious or doesn't exist - but just wondering why all of a sudden it is such a big issue. Are there any statistics on how many kids suffer from this allergy?
This is just more Liberal nonsense brought to you by the people who brought you global warming. Peanuts are harmless. No one has an allergy to them. I don't have any allergies to anything, and I think that so called "allergies" are all due to overdosing on antihistimines and other junk-science medications. All you need is a kleenex and a little will-power and you will shake your antihistimine addiction.
That's absurd, wrong, and irrelevant. Let's say for the sake of argument these insane ramblings of yours are the truth, what difference does that make? 7 peanut molecules still kill these kids. No matter how you feel about the bans, what difference does it make how they get the allergy? They have it. It's real.
My child is bright, smart, energetic and allergic to peanuts. I don't see why this topic is even being debated. Allergies to nuts can be and are deadly. To not ban them in schools is essentially like handing a loaded gun to a child. Children do not make the best of decisions, and to allow them a chance to bully another (which in this case could be a life or death situation) is irresponsible. My child goes to school equipped with an epi-pen and a packed lunch each day, but I'm essentially waiting (on eggshells) for the day that an accident happens and I'm contacted by the hospital and school officials. We've already had 2 of those accidents while he attended a child care center, and a preschool that refused to ban peanut products. Basically, feed your child whatever you want to in your own home, but please keep it safe at school. My boy isn't an outsider, and doesn't need to be singled out to eat lunch alone in the classroom.... stop serving nut products in school so all children can experience a safe environment and remain included.
For you to suggest that the only way to protect your child is to dictate what my child can eat in PUBLIC is (a) ludicrous (b) egotistical (c) self-centered (d) manipulative and, most importantly (e) rejects YOUR responsibility to teach YOUR child to take responsibility for their OWN limitations and act accordingly. Go teach your child what needs be done, or not done, as the case may be. I don't care who eats PB, or or who doesn't. I do care when self-centered egomaniacs like you presume to tell my children and grandchildren (two of whom DO have peanut allergies, by the way) what they can and cannot do. Good luck with that. Not happening. I taught my children to deal with their limitations, and they taught theirs. No one dead yet, or seriously ill. Teach your helpless victim, I mean your child, the same lesson, and your child will survive. In the mean time, leave mine alone.
Believe me, my child knows what not to eat. He knows not to go around children eating peanut butter or granola bar type snacks. The reactions go beyond what enters his mouth! If he touches something that another child with peanut butter on their hands has touched he will have a reaction. You should know this from your own experiences with the allergy. We've attended peanut free preschools and there wasn't a problem presented by the parents of children without allergies, so I doubt there would be that big of a problem deeming schools as peanut free. My house is peanut free, its not like its that hard to remove peanut and nut products. Not the end of the world for those without allergies. Less impacting than the current bans on smoking in public. I'll Im asking for is for you and your kids to go 7 hours a day without peanut butter.... but that's too much to ask. I'll let you get back to watching Fox News.
Maybe? We should be more worried about why "food?" allergies are on the rise! Ah, could it be something as simple as greed? By the handful of mega companys in control of most "food?" offered , But are the same companys behind all the chemicals from the farmers fields to our doctors "cures?" Please! just take some time to look into it before making More rules to limit personal freedoms.
I wrote about this debate on Helium.com and my article is number 3 out of 62. Here is the link with my side and another writer's POV on the opposite side. http://www.helium.com/debates/69622-school-districts-should-anyone/side_by_side?page=3
I am allergic to fish – emergency room allergic. I had to learn to stay away from fish, things made with fish, fried foods that were fried in same oil as fish, etc. Fish was served every Friday in my school and no ever thought to ban it because of my allergy. It is my responsibility to stay away from what will harm me, not the responsibility of others to not eat fish because I am allergic to it.
If your child is allergic to wool, should we ban that? If the child is allergic to dairy products (my grandson is) should we ban that? If your child is allergic to perfume, should we ban that? If your child is allergic to soap, should we ban that? People have to start taking responsibility for their children. If the child has an allergy, he should eat alone or be taught that he cannot touch the stuff EVER and there should be medication available in the event he is accidentally exposed. If we don't get real about these issues, there won't be anyone in our schools.
As a school food service director, I can tell you that establishing policy regarding peanuts in school is a touchy issue and reading some of these ridiculous comments tells me that whatever policy a school district comes up with is going to be a no win topic because no one will be satisfied. It's impossible to have a peanut-free school but it is possible to eliminate peanuts from the school menu and to establish good hand-washing procedures for kids. And doesn't everyone benefit from good hand washing?
I can't believe the number of people who are willing to chance other childrens health just because they are too lazy or ignorant to change their child's lunch time sandwich! Your kids were born lucky – I'd love to hear your arguments for change if your child was in a wheelchair etc. and needed special access at school.
I have had a life threatening peanut allergy since I was born in the 70's – long before the hype of rising food allergies. I have lived with this allergy for 34 years; I've had scares consuming peanut-containing foods and have had several rushes to a hospital for benedryl drips and adrenalin shots.
Despite this, I actually don't believe that schools should ban nut products. Parents – YOU NEED TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN. They have to live with this problem their whole lives – eating at friend's houses, in restaurants, traveling after graduation. The sooner kids learn that they DO NOT accept ANY food from another person, the better they will be prepared for a real life of taking care of themselves.
School is tough enough. Making kids eat at a separate table from their friends or in a separate room is just mean.
What should be banned is straight peanuts / nuts in the shell or shelled that carry the dust. That is what gets in the air and causes problems for people with nut allergies. I truly believe that as the incidence rate of allergies rises, public places such as schools and airplanes have a responsibility to keep their "customers" safe and should ban those foods. However peanut butter sandwiches, chocolate bars etc. don't get in the air, and don't put other kids at harm unless ingested. If anything, schools should have mandatory hand washing after lunch – that would solve a host of issues!
Parents, it is your responsibility to educate your kids for their own good. Their college or workplace won't ban peanuts for them, and they need to learn how to manage their environment.
However, to all the other parents who make comments like "I bet the kid doesn't even have an allergy" or "the parent is just dramatic" – just wait until your kid has an accident and is in the hospital and you are worried sick – I hope someone comes up to you and says "I bet they aren't even hurt and you are just looking for attention".
Is this even a problem? Shouldn't we wait for an allergic reaction or an issue to exist before we start over-reacting and taking a brown-bag staple lunch away from kids?
The problem here isn't in the nuts, but in the lawyers. The schools are afraid of lawsuits claiming that they failed to protect their children from harm. Most people these days have this sense of entitlement and severe lack of personal responsability. On the other hand, common courtesy has also gone out the window.
Guess what? If there was actually a danger of death – even to a very small portion of the population, there would be links all over this page to validated reports of children dying. Instead all we get are baseless fears and hysteria. No child has ever died in this way. Poster RichP had it right, he offered to pay $50 to anyone who could post a link to an actual validated case. He didn't have to pay up.
I blame the lawyers. The schools are afraid of being sued if a kid dies from a peanut allergy, so they take the heaviest handed tactic they can, ban peanuts completely. That way, even if a kid dies from this allergy at school, the school lawyers can point to the "no peanut" policy and say it wasn't their fault.
I am no expert, and while I am completely aware that *some* peanut allergies are severe, I am also aware that parents have become increasingly reactionary in their thinking about peanut allergies instead of seeking medical advice. Many food allergies are outgrown or can be treated – peanut included. Allergies can be very severe, but most are NOT and can actually be classified as "intolerance". Parents, please seek TRUE medical advice for your children if you suspect an allergy – and reassess that diagnosis from time to time. Simply because your child showed an adverse reaction to eating peanut butter 3-years ago does not mean the whole school needs to be peanut free.
My thoughts are that parents need to be VERY realistic about the severity of their child's allergy or intolerance. I feel like any school that is considering or instituting "peanut-free" policies should be doing so out of absolute necessity for a child, not convenience or fear. There are medical professionals that deal specifically with allergies and I believe they should be consulted to examine children with allergies to determine the severity and necessary precautions.
If I can save another child's life by thinking twice when packing my children's lunchbox, I am happy to do that. However, if I'm spending extra time, money and energy (along with thousands of other parents) to simply perpetuate one parent's unfounded fears, we have all succumbed to the fear mongering.
Families who don’t deal with food allergies on a daily basis may not understand the serious nature of food allergies.
Having a peanut allergy is not the same in each case – symptoms can range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening reaction or anaphylaxis. And for all you who think that allergic kids should be watching their own backs and leave your kid’s lunch box alone… the life-threatening reaction does not only occur when the child himself eats peanuts. If someone with an extreme allergy even comes in contact with peanuts, they can go into anaphylactic shock. Example – a kid eats a sandwich at lunch, gets peanut butter on their hands, and then touches a door handle going into class; then comes along an allergic kid, touches the same door handle going to class, and then rubs his eyes with his hand. Within seconds, the allergic child will begin to have a reaction, which in severe cases can lead to anaphylactic shock and death, even if the proper reaction steps are taken.
In the last ten years alone, the prevalence of reported food allergies has increased to over 18% of children under the age of 18. According to research reported in the December 2003 Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, the incidence of peanut allergies has doubled from 1997 to 2002. In April 2007, this same Journal collected research on 31 deaths resulting from fatal anaphylaxis… nuts accounted for over 80% of the deaths.
For all those out there who have little patience with parents trying to keep peanut butter out of the schools, good luck. With the rate of nut allergies increasing astronomically each year, chances are you will know someone someday that has this allergy. Hopefully they do not encounter ignorant people, such as yourselves, who have no concern for other people’s safety.
So, what is next? Okay, so then, the next kid comes up and has an allergy to HAM. There is one more thing my son cannot take to school. This is the parent's resposibility, not the school and definately not mine. Can I request that you stop using a certain type of laundry detergent because my kid is allergic to the fragrance they use and he comes home congested and itching everyday?
Yes, you absolutely can request that. You can request that, because it's something that's so very easy to change. I would change my detergent if your child had a severe reaction to it. I would make that change because I'm a decent and caring person. Just like peanut butter...it's easy to make a change, but sad that most people aren't decent or compassionate enough to bend just a little bit. So disappointing.
For those that are opposed to accommodations in schools should be ashamed. Schools accommodate for any type disability (yes I said "disability" since breathing is a basic life function and anaphylaxis affects your ability to breathe.)
I would hope that the naysayers never have a child or a family member with a life threatening food allergy. I promise
if you did, you would feel differently.
Also, parents of food allergic children do educate their children about food safety. I have yet to meet a family that wasn't working hard to educate their child on being safe. But, at the same time, these children are entitled to a safe learning environment. Just like any other child.
It would be wonderful if every child could be accommodated, but that is not possible. I have a deadly allergy to fish (I've lived with it for over 50 years) and have to be very careful about what I eat as fish oil, fish based sauces, etc. lurk everywhere. I had to learn to ask questions and keep myself safe. What happens when the peanut allergic child goes out into the world at large – will he or she know how to protect him or herself or will it be expected that the world will ban what they are allergic to? Empower those children rather than teaching them that the world will change for them.
I understand that education is key. Teaching kids to live in a world where their allergens are present is very important. But,
I am referring to kids in school where there are laws that protect them. Each child is entitled to learn in a safe learning environment. Period. If you disagree, contact the Federal Government.
I think we are talking about two different things here. The everyday allergy to foods which is not severe enough to cause trouble for a child if they aren't directly in contact with it. In most cases we will never need to limit peanut butter or other food allergens because the response is not that severe for all people. I speak as a mom with a child with a wheat allergy and a former teacher. We always seem to have a knee jerk reaction as a country to everything. So aiming for balance here. The percentage of the time where the allergy is super severe is smaller. In those cases we need to ask parents and other students to help- compassion is a lost art that we all should rediscover. How often might this be...well most kids will never have another child with that severe of an allergy in their classroom. My son doesn't need everyone to quit eating wheat...he knows what he can and can't eat and has an epi pen...that said we should be compassionate for those kids with severe beyond their control allergies. In 11 years of teaching I never had a student with allergies so severe that they couldn't be in the same room with it, but I know that it does exist. So if your child for one out of 13 years of public education is asked to go without peanut butter would that be the end of the world...no. They would probably applaud the change. I understand that many feel they have rights...don't we all. The first of the rights is to life...we must consider this the most important...so can we give these kids with severe allergies a break on the rights issues. They have a right to life. That supercedes inconvenience. The school is a public place open to all. They have as much of a right to go there as anyone else's child. So let's not have a knee jerk reaction and ban all peanut butter and lets not have a my rights hissy fit that is only focused on the rights of one who might be inconvenienced. Lets keep PB and other allergy foods as options in the school unless it is seriously dangerous to a child and lets show compassion when a child needs us to go out of our way so they can have their right to life honored.
Your exact comment was "If you can't be cured, and are so deathly allergic, then you have no business being out and about in society, anyway." I shouldn't need to repost it since it is only one line up. I fail to see the 'responsibility' you are speaking of, other than, people should be responsible for not inconveniencing you. Thanks for calling me a TWIT, it makes you sound much more intelligent.
My kids don't have peanut allergies (though they do have celiac - another story), but I've seen kids react to peanut allergies and it's scary, even with an epi pen. Sorry, I don't see picky eaters fitting the same life or death category. Truly, how many children spend a week in intensive care because they can't eat what they want for lunch? At this point I don't advocate banning peanuts from schools. Some things that have worked in schools that have students with severe peanut allergies is making the cafeteria kitchen peanut free - no nuts in the banana bread, cookies, muffins, etc. That way if a kid with a peanut allergy goes through the lunch line, there's no danger of exposure to peanuts. Also in classrooms where a child may have a severe peanut allergy, children who bring their lunches from home (pb sandwiches, whatever) leave them in a tub outside the door. Then they wash/sanitize their hands when they get to the classroom. There can be a peanut-free table in the cafeteria, but non-allergic friends of the child with the peanut allergy can also sit there (as long as they're not eating peanut butter that day). These are all simple courtesies that aren't that difficult to put into practice. Yet if parents continue to adopt the my-child-should-be-able-to-eat-pb-no-matter-whose-life-is-on-the-line attitude, someone will get hurt, whether it's through bullying (mimicking the parents' bad attitude perhaps?) or even the death of someone who can't help having a serious peanut allergy. If something so tragic is to happen with any frequency, pb will be banned and rightly so.
this is ridiculous. I don't have kids but i use to be one, and if your kid has a allergy then that's your problem. You shouldn't stop others from eating PB or anything for that fact! i just learned that kids cant play tag, dodge ball or leap frog in my local elementary schools. All because of parents like these that take their childs problems to the next level. And if your worried about your kids weight, then step up and take away their PS3 or Xbox and put their ass on a bicycle or in soccer, AND QUIT CRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING!
To all the people saying peanuts are the only life threatening allergy or whatever, here's a newsflash- it's not.
I have a friend deathly allergic to chocolate. If she touches it, she gets a painful rash. If she accidentally eats it, it will inflame her throat so much she could suffocate and die right away. I remember two years ago, she touched a plate that had chocolate chip cookies on it and got a rash over both her hands. The rash became infected and she was in the hospital for the infection for a week.
I've never ONCE heard her ever suggest banning chocolate from anywhere. Telling a kid to stop eating peanut butter might make a few angry, but imagine having a school ban chocolate. That was not intolerance, that was a deadly allergy she had.
So, before you retort that "Oh, we won't be banning dairy/water/fruit/etc because those aren't deadly", kindly remember that allergies vary intensely by person. I'm willing to bet that you can find at least one person in this world who is deathly allergic to dairy.
IT'S NOT A "PEANUT BUTTER BAN", IT'S A "PEANUT BAN"
No peanut butter, no cookies with peanut butter or peanut pieces, no chip or crackers made using peanut oil, no food made on equipment that processes peanuts.
Regardless of what peanut-parents say, that's not an exaggeration. (Logically, would you allow anyone peanut pieces if you were certain a peanut in the corner of the room would kill your child?) One peanut-parent tried to get our school to ban kids consuming peanut products immediately before coming to school.
Accomodation like a table is acceptable, maybe no PB&J sandwiches in grades k-3, but there must be a point that it stops. In fact, I'm against a ban for this very reason.
That's ridiculous! Make a nut-free table or an allergy table or something and just ban sharing food! People are stupid. Like you can't come up with a better solution than banning peanut butter across the board? Use your problem solving skills that are SUPPOSED to separate us from apes!
Seriously, ban SHARING food? That's just a bit naive. You must not have kids. What do you think is going to happen when you tell kids to not share food and then send them off to lunch? They're going to share food.
Oh right Tim. Banning SHARING is naive, but banning Peanuts is not. Sorry your can't teach your retard of a child not to give his food to others or to eat food from others. Your child has a long life of failure ahead of him.
Personally I don't think banning anything will help, but that taking special precautions like a peanut free zone and having epi-pens on a case by case basis is indeed warranted. Both the child and the staff should be educated on the condition.
I do not have children, but I have encountered many different allergies with varying degrees. I have treated someone in anaphylactic shock before and it is an extremely serious thing. They can indeed die from it without rapid intervention. That said I find it ironic that some people are going to extremes in favor of the ban including saying that others people's issues are not as important or severe as theirs. Comments saying that you can't be allergic to this or that or mine can kill etc. It undermines your cause when you do that and makes you sound less credible rather than the mature adult I know you are. You get emotional because it can be scary and I sympathize with you I really do, but there are indeed allergies to things you wouldn't believe with the severity varying from individual to individual. To those saying you won't starve or no harm can come to a kid if they don't eat PB; the parents are stupid for coddling them etc read on. Two of my cousins both have genetic diseases that result in behavioral issues. They refuse to deviate from their select palates even with professional help called in in the form of doctors, nutritionists, psychiatrists, and special educators. It is like OCD and yes they would rather go without food than eat something else that you put in front of them. It is a disability just as much as the one you mentioned your family or friend has and I assure you not one of their choosing... who wins that fight? I say live and let live and reserve judgement on those around you until you have walked a mile in their shoes.
'According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, as many as 1.5 million people suffer from a peanut allergy. Annually, about 100 people die from a reaction.'
Let's just do the math really quick, shall we?
Earth's population = 6,871,600,000
Percentage of people with Peanut Allergies = .0002%
Percentage of people who die Annually due to Peanut Allergies = 1.45526515 × 10(-8)%
Chance of winning the Powerball = 1 in 20,358,520 or 100 in 2,035,852,000
You have a better chance of winning the Powerball 3 times before dieing from a Peanut Allergy.
My child will eat Peanut Butter whenever he pleases, whether your kid is allergic or not. Call me what you will, but until you win the Powerball 3 times, I don't care about your child.
Wow Tim, great argument. I'm sure you are up for the Father of the Year award. My kid is a very SMART kid who knows what is right and what is wrong. He knows that the stove is hot, and he shouldn't touch it. He is able to heed the warnings given to him. Teach your kids that eating Peanut Butter or Peanut products is bad, and HOPEFULLY they will know NOT TO EAT IT. Thats not my child's responsibility to ensure the safety of your nitwit child.
Hey JJ, my nitwit kid knew not to eat peanut products. He had an anaphylactic reaction to peanut butter by touching the underside of a table, which wasn't cleaned the night before. not by eating when he shouldn't have. Nice try though.
I don't doubt your kid's looking pretty smart to you. Can he do that really fancy math like you can?
Here's a solution, your child's school can fire the damn janitors that don't know how to CLEAN and get some competant people in there. That, again, is not my child's responsibility.
I understand. I also understand that people like myself must put in extra effort to take up the slack left by narcissists like you and ultimately your child.
Sorry, peanut butter does not release dust or particles from the peanut into the atmosphere. The oil and sugar syrups pretty much eliminate that hazard, so banning it is simply acceding to a very, very small minority of sensitive people. A child so sensitive to peanuts that being in the same room with peanut butter causes severe problems is going to be exposed no matter what – kids eat peanuts, peanut candy and peanut butter, get it on their clothes, and eventually contact kids with allergies. Shall we just simply ban peanuts completely? How about ragweed and pollen (for the allergic) and wheat flour (for the Crohn's disease people)and eggs and milk (for the lactose intolerant).
Sorry. I sympathize with parent of chidren with allergies. I grew up with a mother who took allergy shots for years. You simply need to deal with the problem in a way that does not impose your tiny minority problem and solution on the rest of the world. We do NOT owe that to you.
I find this amusing. I do not support gov't involvement with peanut butter especially if it satisfies a very very small minority. I know the risk of peanut allergies, here at my hospital there are people who come from all over for the clinical trial for peanuts. I think what people are missing is that restuarants should have the right to ban smoking they are a private institution. The gov't shouldn't intervene. I don't smoke and can't stand the smell of it. I do not go to bars if there is smoking, but I prefer customers stop going b/c of the smoke. This applies to peanut butter (and nuts in general) also. But schools for the most part are public and shouldn't be allowed to ban peanut butter. Kids are old enough at 5 to know what they should and shouldn't eat. If mom and dad did their job and explained to them the problem with eating something that can't eat b/c of getting sick.
Peanut allergies can be airborne, got it. But peanut butter isn't a powder and neither are whole nuts. Peanut butter stays on the bread it doesn't fly in the air. Kids should be taught what is right and wrong. I DO NOT want the gov't telling me what is good and bad. If I buy a Prius, it will not be b/c it is good for the environment. It will be b/c I save my MONEY on gas. But hybrids are not a good investment so I choose not to buy one. Instead I buy civics b/c I save on gas money. I am all for helping my neighbor when it makes sense. But peanut butter, come on, where does it stop.
As a young adult with food allergies, I think it's entirely bogus that you would restrict everyone else to what they can and cannot eat. I have severe food allergies to the point where I can't breathe if I'm in the same room as someone that's eating an apple. Does that mean that I don't allow anyone around me to eat an apple? No. I talk to my teachers and let them know that if I have a problem, I'm going to step out of the room. It's simple. Kids with food allergies aren't weak: parents just have to let them deal with their issues on their own. I'm severely allergic to all nuts and most fruits, and I've still managed to make it to 21 without telling my friends or classmates what they can and cannot eat.
To the one who believes peanut butter is bad. I have eaten the stuff for 8 or more meals per week for the last six months and I'm healthier than the vast majority of men my age with sub 10% body fat. Foods with unsaturated fats are energy foods that are perfect for kids. All natural peanut butter is all the better. Bottom line, kids don't get fat simply from eating wrong. They become obese because of the unrelenting phobia of getting off your tail and doing something. When I was small we played outside and ran and played. Kids with allergies have an obstacle to deal with. If we deal for them in any other way than rational encouragement it only compounds the growing number of young people in this country with absolutely no idea what it means to be a self improving and self sufficient American. People have got to man up and stop all the whining.
If they are going to ban peanut butter they better ban all the other things that make people ill. My neighbors daughter has Celiac and she can not be exposed to flour (gluten) in any form. That not includes ingesting it which she has control of but she can not be in a place where it would even be in the air. So, get real. Peanut butter?? No – it is not peanut dust in the air. It is contained in a jar.
Peanuts can cause an immediate fatal reaction in some children, even just breathing it in and I'd hate to be responsible for a little child's death because I was selfish and wanted to make a point. Peanuts should be banned from schools. If you want your child to eat peanut butter, give it to them on the weekends. It's really not that hard of a decision.
I don't really understand the attitude of those who would put other kids' lives in jeopardy just so their kid doesn't have to give up ONE food. Really, is your kid's "right" to have a peanut butter sandwich worth another kid's life? Is that what it's come to?
I think peanut free tables are usually sufficient to protect kids, but as we've seen, it will NOT protect against a bully who walks over to the peanut table and waves nuts at the allergic kids. These kids need to understand that their action can be DEADLY and that knowingly exposing a peanut allergic child to nuts will be DEALT WITH no differently than if the child had waved a knife or other weapon. And parents need to understand that their children will be treated as such, with the added potential of CIVIL liability for injury caused by their children's aggression.
Peanut allergies are a DISABILITY that is becoming increasingly common in society, and experience with ADA has shown that only hard LEGAL protection will result in action to assist this significant minority. For example, disabled parking would never work if there weren't STIFF PENALTIES for parking in a disabled parking space. Similarly, for schools, tough liability laws need to be passed, and schools need to inform both children AND their parents of the potential LIABILITY they will be subjected to if their kids intentionally expose allergic kids. Unfortunately, only then will the ridiculous "peanut butter is my right" faction be swayed to respect the needs of others.
Note, this is not about accidental exposure - even with diligence, mistakes will happen, and I'm not suggesting that people should be punished for an accidental exposure. But for intentional acts, there needs to be a deterrent for the kind of life-threatening bullying that is becoming all too common in schools
But the reality of it is that it is not really one food. It is peanuts in all their incarnations. Sure it is the good ole' PB&J, but it is also any cookie that has peanuts in it. A favorite granola bar in our home is chock full of peanuts. Or frequently, I will pack a snack bag full of trail mix, which has peanuts because it is a good, healthful, protien rich snack. Reeses pieces for an after lunch treat, nope can't have that anymore. There are tons of examples I can give of foods contining peanuts that would fall under a ban. And that is one of my issues with such a ban. I am not insensitive to the issue. We have severe allergies to certain substances in our family, but I just don't think something like this is fair to the majority.
Yes Mike... it is my kids "right" to have whatever the hell he wants to eat. He is a citizen just as you are. We have freedoms in this country and I am sick of control freaks like you that want to dictate what others eat... just because your kids health issue. Have them sit in a special peanut free room during lunch.... go and sit with him daily so no other kid can smush a PB sandwich in his face...
I have an allergy to fish. Tuna, salmon (lox) and similar types of fish. I made it through school and i was not given my own table or anything special. i probably sat next to kids eating tuna at lunch regularly, but here I am. My concern as an adult though is going to places such as Subway where there might be cross contamination. knife in the wrong bin. A bit of tuna falling in another container. I just avoid them when and if I can.
My son does not eat meat. Peanut butter (natural) is one of the only protien rich foods that the eats. I do not tell anyone else what to eat or how to keep thier kids healthy, so please do not tell me what to feed my child. Someone needs to do a study on why this issue has come about recently. It seems that it is a recent development or maybe parents have become too dramatic, not sure.
It's not just schools. There's a Peanut Allergy kid in one of my kid's classes. Invite the kid to a birthday party and the entire party has to be peanut free. Special expensive bakery cake from a peanut free bakery, all the food has to be peanut free etc. My kids' school has a policy that every kid has to be invited to a classmate's birthday party so you have to invite the peanut allergy kid and his overly pushy mother. It's crazy. I bet the kid doesn't even really have allergy, his mother just gets off telling people what to do.
This of course ridiculous. Again, using our son with the milk protein allergy, we bring him his own dessert to parties just in case he can't eat whatever is being provided. If we are good friends with the family and they are familiar they might offer an alternative to the pizza or whatever, but we would never request it. We would buy something on our own and provide it for him.
This crazy peanut allergy mother insists her kid could go into anaphylactic shock if exposed to the breath of a kid who ate cake from a bakery that uses peanuts even if there are no peanuts in the cake. Nothing at the parties can have peanuts in it or not have packaging saying the food was made in a peanut free facility. Thankfully the school policy ends at 2nd grade, but until then, many parents in the class don't invite any kids in the class just to avoid "The Crazy Peanut Allergy Mom".
I swear much of this is helicopter parenting gone to extreme. It's about controling all the parents around you. This crazy mother isn't just into the whole no-peanut thing, but kids shouldn't have artificial coloring in their food, everything should be organic. She wants to tell everyone what to feed their kid, and she's got many of the parents competely freaked out that if they ever feed their young kids peanuts, they'll develop deadly peanut allergies.
'the school has a policy where you have to invite all classmates to a birthday party'
What happens if you dont... What if your child doesnt like one of the other kids... you have to invite them anyway?
I would do it just to annoy the powers that be. This is the most absurd things I have ever heard. A liberal must have come up with this ... cant hurt anyones feelings now... JUST SAY NO to this crap. People.. your freedoms are being eroded daily by these control freaks!
Perhaps this could be an age based decision? I understand wanting to ban PB from daycare and possibly kindergarten, but when a child is older, he/she and parents need to accept the responsibility and.
Ignorance and intolerance are a scary combination. I almost hope some of these insensitive people posting eventually have a child or loved one with a life threatening condition that is misunderstood and trivialized.
It seems to me that the problem is that any contact with peanuts causes a reaction in senstive kids and adults. However, kids touch each other all the time. Banning peanut products from the school lunchroom will not solve the problem since a kid with peanut butter residue on his hands can - and most likely will - touch a peanut-sensitive kid. Furthermore, it is simply impossible to monitor. Parent's of peanut-sensitive kids must train their kids to be aware of the potential for contact and how to avoid it. And, what to do if the kid does get exposed.
My child is allergic to artificial colors and flavors. It makes him climb the walls and get some what violent. Should we ban artificial colors and flavors or should we find a suitable way to work around the allergies. I send his lunch with him. Which by his choice is usually a PB and J sandwich. I find a work around that works for my son. If necessary the school should find a separate table or even a separate room for kids with peanut allergies to eat lunch. I have enough trouble as it is finding suitable lunch material that my child will eat as it is.
I must have missed something. Have peanut allergies suddenly become more common and severe than ever before ?
Or have attitudes changed where your problems became everyone's problem?
I would venture to guess that the people who are pro-peanut butter ban are either one of the parents of the few kids in the school with allergy or have never parented a picky child. Sorry to the first and thank your lucky stars to the second.
Im sure mine isn’t the only child who for years during elementary school ate only 5 foods, peanut butter being the most nutritious. Sure we tried putting other things in his lunch – he came home starving and we soon discovered he had been tossing his lunch for days at a time.
There is no middle ground. Your kids, your problems, if they have allergies make arrangements for your child. I have been a teacher in the past and have seen the hyper vigilant parents helicoptering around, thinking their concerns were of the highest priority. Over half the time the "whatever" that was so important was a figment of their imagination.
My instructions to a parent with these concerns then and now are, "Have them checked by a doctor, bring the diagnosis and two epi-pens to the school, one for the teacher one for the school nurse. We will be as vigilant as humanly possible and still do our job which is to teach and care for 24 other students and your child. Be sure we have all your contact information and emergency numbers. Please try to stop making your child any more neurotic than they already are, many children out grow these allergies.
No matter what arrangements you make with the school believing that your needs out weigh the needs of others is a symptom of the greater problem. The fact of the allergies can be dealt with in a reasonable manner.
I think the school can make reasonable accommodations. At my sons school they have numbers they use to purchase their lunch. This can be used to raise a red flag if they put in the system what child is allergic to what and than if they try to purchase that item they would be prevented from doing so.
Some peanut allergies are sensitive to just a few ppm of peanut in the air. An optional peanut free lunch room should be provided or conversely, a room provided for those who want peanuts.
For some of us it is not a matter of nutrition or even whether or not the child next to my son has an allergy....it is economics. Some of us fall into that category where we do not qualify for reduced or free lunches so we save where we can......this usually means the WHOLE family has to brown bag it. This also means packing a dollar stretching lunch and pb&j goes a long way. Recently a parent informed me I was attempting to "kill" her child by packing pb. At which point MY child was sent to the office to eat lunch ALONE. He already has sacrificed certain luxuryies because of a situation he has no control over – now he is being sent to the office thinking he has done something wrong. Not sure what the answer is but I dont want my son or anybody elses child to fell ostracized because of a small percentage of children that suffer from an allergy and the fact that I as a parent can't afford anything different.
So, parents of peanut allergies, once there is a ban are you going to tell your kid, "Kid, no more having to think twice about what you eat at school. Please feel free to lick every doorhandle, table, or anything else you want. And at lunch time I encourage you to stick you face in every other kids lunch box and breath as deep as you can, because there can't possibly be the slightest trace of peanut product anywhere in your new peanut-free haven."
Does that sound a little extreme? Now you know how a total peanut ban sounds to normal people. You and your child would still have to take all the same precautions you do now, only everyone else would be deprived of one of the most staple of foods found in school lunches. There's no point to it.
Hell, kids don’t even have outdoor recess anymore to burn off that extra energy they get from those PB&J sandwiches… which is something that would benefit all of these fat assed little snots… now you want to take away the PB… next we’ll find out that these kids cannot go into the gym because it doubles as the lunchroom and PB&J sandwiches were served for lunch…
According to the CSDC, which tracks all causes of deaths in the United States, 11 people (adults and kids combined) on average per year since 2000 die from ALL food related allergies. That's less than the number that die from lawnmower related accidents. So, this claim of allergy related deaths, perhaps seems to be being blown out of proportion.
My son has an allergy to a milk protein called casein and may also go into anaphylactic shock and have his throat swell shut. When he was young, we had to rush him to the hospital because of just such an encounter. However, we have never required his school to be milk free or for no one to bring milk to school. He has the same issue, if he is kissed by someone with milk on their lips, he will have a reaction. We would never consider requesting PUBLIC schools to adhere to such rules.
I think the conversation is about peanuts since each year (per FAAN), 92% of all anaphylactic deaths are from peanuts. That includes all food allergies and allergies to bee stings, etc.
The UK has 13 million children under the age of 16. In the last 10 years, 4 have died from milk allergy, and NONE from peanut allergy.
Yet here we have see these hysterics, brought to you by people who fraudulently claim their child has a life-threatening peanut allergy. And I'll bet 99% of them have never even tried immunotherapy.
Hey, wow! My seven year old has a severe peanut allergy. We've been waiting with baited breath for the immunotherapy you're talking about. Please send a link. I assume this information will say that 100% of children with peanut allergies will benefit from this immunotherapy. You seem to want us to think you're a smart person. Put your money where your mouth is.
If your child really does have such a severe allergy, then he should probably be removed from you care, since you waited to ask ME, instead of your doctor, or even just Googling it. Talk about negligent parenting!
The therapy was developed at National Jewish in Denver, almost 2 decades ago. It involves, in the first treatment, of giving an initial dose of 0.1mg of peanut protein by mouth. Observation, followed by increased dosages every half hour or so, until by the end of the day the child is tolerating 50mg – or approx the amount they would get from one peanut. The child is observed throughout this time by a nurse, who also provides activities to relieve boredom. At the end of the day, the child is sent home, with a bottle of pills containing 50 mg each, to take twice a day for a week. The second treatment brings them up to 300 mg, or about what they would receive in a Snickers bar. After that they can just raise it up themselves, starting with a tbsp of peanut butter, until they can tolerate an entire PB sandwich.
It is YOUR kid, why the hell aren't YOU finding this stuff out?!?! Some parents SICKEN me with their negligence!
But I asked for a link. It's pretty easy for you to accuse me of being a bad parent while you're spouting a bunch of technical data you don't really have a handle on. What capacity confers you with the authority to tell me to use this therapy on my kid when there are many, many people in the medical field who actually give a crap about childhood food allergies telling my wife and I that the therapy that would benefit my kid is still several years off?
So again, I would LOVE to see the literature that tells me I can do this with my kid. All sarcasm aside, I would thank you to the ends of the earth if you show me where it is and it turns out it's efficacious.
My response to all of you "slippery slope" folks who are afraid that if we adapt to this, oh no!! What's next??? The world adapts to the blind. And to the deaf. And to the developmentally disabled. And to the physically disabled. And to the poor. And to the sick. And to the vulnerable. And to unequal gender (see sexual harrassment). And to pregnant women. And to women who have recently had babies. And to the unemployed. And to the sick, both temporary and chronic.
Adaptation is why this country is so awesome. Look around you. Open your mind. If you don't like the idea of inconveniencing yourself a little bit for the sake of someone who might die for your convenience, think about what it COULD be like for you an hour from now, a day from now. When you're suddenly really sick, or laid off, or recovering from a traumatic accident. I would adapt for you. I do adapt for you.
Ok, I'm sorry, but what about when that kid grows up and they end up working in an office with people who love to bring in peanut butter sandwiches, or peanut butter cookies or anything else that can be made with peanuts or any other nuts?? They will have to learn to speak up for themselves at some point. Now, I will be teaching my son to be a bit more sensitive about a person's allergy should the case come up. My friend has a peanut allergy, and we just pay extra attention to what we make and serve at parties or get-togethers. All she did was bring it to my attention and I understood, and this is what we need to teach our children. Not ban it completely. Use this as a teaching tool for everyone involved.
Yeah, my parents raised me with that old-school mentality. Especially my Dad. He couldn't understand why I couldn't just figure it all out. Lots of adults unfortunately make the mistake of thinking that a kid should just be able to work things out like an adult does.
The problem with that is this: A six year old CANNOT learn how to be an adult. My six year old can't learn how to be careful when he's at the office. You know why? He doesn't have a job yet. He's six. It's not his job, nor is it within the realm of his capability, to "learn to speak up for" himself. Yes, we're doing our best as his parents to help him learn to do that. But he's not doing it yet - because he CAN'T. He's SIX. He also can't drive a car. But by your logic, well hell, he's going to be driving a car some day so why not teach him now?
I didn't say that they need to learn how to be adults at a young age, but that they should be taught starting from a young age consideration for another person's well-being. That's what is lacking with most adults today. If they can't learn it, then maybe peanut butter should be banned until they learn. Again, this needs to be used as a teaching tool for everyone involved (parents, teachers, students).
Generally speaking, peanut butter is crap and is full of sugar. Can't believe how parent buy this stuff and feed it to their kids. Better to eat almond or cashew butter, *without* the sugar.
Thanks for your 'expert' opinion Beth... My... how judgemental you are... just because you do not like peanut butter... or think it is unhealthy... You can keep your almond butter or other crap.. I think it is disgusting. You really sound like another elitist trying to dictate to everyone else what we 'should like' and 'should eat'. PLEASE... go sit in the corner and eat your edamme
Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a bigger threat than peanut butter. It's a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. I'ts abundant in schools nationwide. Each year, Dihydrogen Monoxide is a known causative component in many thousands of deaths and is a major contributor to millions upon millions of dollars in damage to property and the environment.
I think that people need to realize that the current situation for children is vastly different from the eras that they and I came from. Older generations grew up on peanut butter and want to impose their own experiences to their children. However, it is NOT the same world and for reasons speculated but not known, there are children that could DIE because of peanut exposure. It is really hard to imagine people so callous as to advocate for "survival of the fittest" mentality here. I would bet that if their own child or grandchild suffered from this they wouldn't be spouting such vitriol! And really...how hard would it be to have a school sans peanut butter? Now, if you packed your child a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, I don't think you should be stopped, providing a peanut free table for allergic kids should do it. Kids should wash their hands frequently as taught in most school environments.
Are people really this ignorant?
Peanut allergies are life threatening, not strictly through digestion. It is also an airborne allergy and can kill by being near someone who has eaten peanuts.
People who insist upon threatening to kill someone with a severe nut allergy, should be held crimally negligent.
In the schools, there seems to be a Malicious Intent to cause bodily harm to a minor.
I encourage those willing to entertain the thought: read up on the "hygiene hypothesis"
Why do 'more' kids in the US have peanut allergies in 2010?
*** First off, this is simply because there are MORE children around in the US in 2010.
*** According to the hygiene hypothesis, children over-protected from immune-stimulating infections as infants and young children have a higher risk of developing hypersensitivity to otherwise inocuous substances... such as foods, minerals, dyes, etc that do not really affect the vast majority of others.
*** In summary, your immune system NEEDS something to work against in early development and even on through the adult years. If this system is spared the normal load of infections (let your kids play on the floor and in the dirt outside !for crying out loud!) and other exposures, what ends up stimulating immune responses are the 'other' less stimulating but common potential immunogenic compounds in foods and other substances given to the body.
As far as this goes, I say it's up to the parents of the sensitized child. They should have already told the kid what to avoid in terms of their anaphylactic reactions, much less the kid probably already knows what one of those reactions feels like. You hear HORROR stories about 'airborne food particles' and the like, but these are the absolute rarest form of anaphylactic triggers. If one kid died of a peanut allergy due to airborne exposure at the school cafeteria, I would chock that up to sheer bad luck rather than the school's fault for allowing peanuts to be present. These kids are ALREADY bringing their own lunches to school! This isn't an infectious disease that could be spread to many kids and potentially kill large numbers of people from a single source and subsequent transmission, this is a 1 in 5 million chance of somebody have a severe reaction to peanuts... Somebody who ALREADY knows they have this allergy, anaphylactic or urticaric type, and whose parents should have already been well instructed and informed on how to minimize exposure and handle any emergency event. It's on the parents.
Finally, a voice of reason. Those are great, valid points. I have a nephew with a severe peanut allergy. He is home schooled, but goes to football practice, church, the grocery store etc. You just have to be as vigilant as possible, but you can't wrap them in bubble wrap. The world will go on and we all need to adjust accordingly.
how about instead of making the school deal with all of this extra baggage, have it deal with its main focus: actually teaching children. Some schools already cannot figure how to make their students smarter or how to make them study more, how can you expect them to deal with what some extra problem when they cannot solve their main one. A suggestion: How about two sessions in a school day, split up by lunch, in which student go home, eat whatever they want, and then come back for the second session. Students would be more focused and productive.
Something important that I feel people are overlooking is the fact that peanut allergies can go airborne in children without notice. A peanut allergic child can walk into a room with a peanut butter sandwich and go into anaphylaxis without notice. We are raising a generation of self-centered people. If we can't sacrifice our daily peanut butter to keep our neighbor alive and healthy there is something seriously wrong with us as people.
Most children with severe allergies carry an EpiPen as a life saving measure. What most people don't realize is that the EpiPen buys the child maybe 20 minutes of time to get medical attention, it is not a cure.
Let's do more "do unto others as we would have done to ourselves" as a society and see how that goes.
Not to be harsh, but the ridiculous rarity of airborne anaphylaxis does not mean people should ban a food from being brought to school. Every single kid in school is thousands of times more likely to be killed by a complicated infectious disease, die by trauma, or be diagnosed with cancer than die from anaphylaxis due to peanuts.
This goes for any allergy, not just peanuts. I am allergic to dust, pollen, animals, and a host of other environmental allergies that are airborne, but I don't live in a bubble, though my mother was told I should. I had a friend growing up who was allergic to citrus. So much so that if someone across the room peeeled an orange, her whole face would swell up. The remedy? Benadryl and fresh air. No one banned oranges just for her sake.
We should ban peanut butter because most of your kids eat too much in the first place, and it's an easy way to cut down calories since so many people just gobble that stuff up. Chunky Peanut Butter? We don't have to personify it.
And accommodating other children's potentially fatal food allergies is about being a considerate person. So, if you're an asshole, it might be a problem trying to be thoughtful of those around you.
I didn't realize what a hot topic of debate this is. TONS of comments. I actually just found out last week that my 16 month old is allergic to peanuts. I have 2 older kids, both of which eat pb sandwiches and one who takes a pb sandwich for lunch 3 times a week to 1st grade. As I've been thinking a lot about my daughter's allergy, I have realized that it doesn't matter what anyone does, it only matters what I do. Nobody loves my daughter as much as my husband and I do. Therefore it is my responsibility to teach her that she can't have anything unless I give it to her. I have to constantly out loud and in front of her (as she gets older obviously) read labels and make her very aware of the effects of her allergy. Now, the allergist has not said anything for me to think that my daughter is so highly allergic that the mere presence of peanuts will cause her to go into anaphylactic shock. However, if that were the case, then I would need to decide if the risk was worth sending my child to school. I am already well aware that the chances of keeping my child completely away from peanuts are slim. I won't be with her every day and night for her life. I personally do not think that having peanuts banned from school is the answer, although I think it is great for there to be precautions taken since food allergies are becoming more and more common, and it is a matter of safety. The point is that the parents are the ones that have to take the measure to protect their child. Even if a school is deemed "peanut free", a kid could sneak a snickers bar.
About 100 Americans die from peanut allergies each year. In contrast, about 10,000 children are hospitalized annually with traumatic brain injuries from sports, 2,000 children drown each year, and about 1,300 die in gun accidents. Are peanut allergies really something that we should be paying that much attention to? Ironically, the media hype around peanut allergies has caused some parents to not give thier young children foods with peanuts in them, which has partially fueled the rise in peanut allergies since early exoousure to peanuts is key to developing an immunity to allergies.
both my kids have peanut allergies, yet we always have peanut butter at home. My kids (8 & 6) are well aware of their allergies and know not to touch any food item that has not been packed by their parents or has been verified to be peanut free by a responsible adult. I don't think a school should ban peanuts. Some parents are shocked that we allow peanuts in the house – but life must go on and kids must learn to be aware of their allergies.
People are so coincided and we wonder why children in our country are becoming teen mothers/fathers, ending up in prison, or living off welfare. There is no caring anymore, no understanding. Personally, my 5 year old is allergic is severely allergic to peanuts, to the point that anything containing peanuts are not allowed in his classroom because he could die. Sitting at another table or another area of the room is not an option. He also has other severe allergies so he does not eat the snacks brought by the other parents, we provide them for him. He also does not eat school lunch, but we worry every day that he will come into contact with peanut butter during lunch. I understand that many feel a need to defend their children and their rights, but a child should not have to die to prove a point. If a friend of your child's or a friend of yours child died due to a severe peanut butter reaction, would it change your opinion. I'm sure it would, but for a lot of people it would take something impacting them directly for them to understand the seriousness of this issue.
I went to a state-run workshop yesterday and was a bit irked by the sign at the front check-in desk telling all and sundry to not wear perfume to the class. I thought, "Who are they to tell me what to wear. Harumph." Then, when sitting in the class, I started smelling something kind of sickeningly-sweet - some kind of perfume or lotion. It was NASTY to me and within about five minutes I started getting a serious headache from it.
I'm still laughing about my "instant karma". I've only had this kind of strong, negative reaction to a perfume once before (twenty years ago) and I'd forgotten all about it. Now I was getting an instant lesson in compassion for those who are chemically sensitive in general.
Thank goodness I am neither chemically sensitive in general nor allergic to peanuts or other common foods - but if I were, I'd appreciate all the help I could get in avoiding these irritants. If children can be protected from peanut-wielding bullies, fine. If not, then banning extreme allergens makes sense to me. They can have PB&J for dinner instead.
Eventually we will reach a point where because we cater to every single allergy, affliction, ethnic/minority/religious/racial/special interest group, we will not be able to do anything but stand in a darkened room for fear of offending someone, risking their lives, or violating their civil rights. When does it stop? It's not and can't be a perfect world for everyone. The needs, wants, and desires of the many outweigh those of the few.
Someone mentioned Darwinism, and I agree. The world cannot to adapt to a few people. The few people must adapt to the world.
This is another example of Big Food corporate America trying to steer us one step closer to whatever product or products they want us to be eating. Students could easily be accommodated with a separate table and a stern reminder to other students to carefully clean up their peanut butter lunch with a wipe of a paper towel or wipe. I know for a fact that my children, neither allergic to pb, have been scared to death by the prospect of a child's trachea sealing closed and their dying from touching anything with peanuts. Besides the idea that we are now telling our kids that they should keep this kind of food at home due to the danger it poses to others, is it really a good to provide yet one more factor to increase their anxiety of the world around them and strangers?
Making rules for everyone based on the exceptions in society is an extremely important message for children...it is empathy and it teaches how to be mindful of others. At what cost, however, when there continues to be exception after exception that only makes a child's job of caring for others stressful rather than an extension of their innate kindness?
This is ridiculous, what it comes down to is RESPONSIBILITY. Nobody wants to be responsible anymore. My friends son is deathly allergist to nuts and what has she done, she has taught him that he does not eat anything that she has not given him the go ahead to eat and wow how crazy is this he follows those rules. While I think the attitude of I don't care about your kid and all that is terrible and definitely shows a major part of what is wrong with our society, the fact that parents no longer take responsibility is the biggest problem.
The country was founded on tolerance but that is no longer the way it is. Now it's I don't want your religion at my school I don't want your bad ideas and ways to intrude on my child's bubble. No competing someones feelings might get hurt. No parents want to teach their children right and wrong and what to do.
Okay so you ban peanut butter but where does that stop there is always going to be someone who can't be around something. Sure we all want the safest environment for our kids but if we don't teach them to not jump out in front of a car then how would they know not to do that. Do you not let your kid go to visit any friends, how do you know they don't have the allergen at their house? Now if a kid is going to torment or chase a kid with a PB sandwich then there is another parents screw up, that kid should be kicked out of the school. Maybe instead of coddling and making exceptions for everything under the sun try making kids responsible for their actions and teaching them what actions have consequences.
As the parent of a 4 year old with a level 4 peanut allergy, I think this is a silly argument. Peanut butter is a staple in American homes, mine included. I have 3 younger children, all of whom eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When they have their PB&Js, my allergic daughter has a simple jelly sandwich and they all enjoy their lunch. To ask schools to remove peanut butter all together is not only ridiculous, it's not fair. This argument comes down to the same bottom line as all the other societial issues regarding children as of late: lack of parenting and responsibility. My daughter knows she has an allergy, knows where her EpiPen is, and knows she can't have peanut butter. How much more simple is it than that? I have never in my life seen a glob of peanut butter "roguely" fly off a sandwich and onto another child so accusing other parents that thier children might be so harsh as to fling peanut butter around is assinine. If they were flinging peanut butter I would hope any competent parent would discourage such behavior, but who knows these days. I think the best in-school remedy is to teach and encourage awareness and responsibility, and to keep the teachers aware in the lunch rooms as to what the kids are doing. I hate the thought of my daughter being forced to sit at a table with a bunch of kids she doesn't like just because of her allergy, but if that is the best solution, and the solution set forth by my school, then I will make sure she understands and adheres to that rule. I don't really know why this is such a huge deal. Teach your kid about his allergy, and make sure they understand the ramifications, and make sure they're responsible. No one's going to hold him down and stuff a peanut butter cookie in his mouth. Take responsibility for your own children, and make them responsible for their allergy. I mean, after all... I have a milk allergy and somehow survived 12 years of public schools wihthout a "milk free" table. Maybe that's the solution? Make kids sit in food groups? Again, it all seems very silly to me.
If only more parents were like you! I don't discount the seriousness of food allergies. A boy I work with is severely allergic to peanuts. But his mother has created such an atmosphere at his school that another mother asked me if it was okay to send her son to school with bread that had whole rye seeds in it! It's going to far!
Additionally, strawberries are a very common allergy. And guess what? Strawberry is possibly the most common flavor of jams and jellies! I guess we'll need several special tables, one for kids who are allergic to peanuts, one for kids who are allergic to strawberries, and one for the kids who are unfortunate enough to be allergic to both.
And woe betide the poor child who is allergic to strawberries and is also lactose intolerant. They'll need to build him a whole new lunchroom just so he doesn't come into contact with strawberry milk.
I developed a shellfish allergy in my 20s. It does cause anaphylaxis and can be scary. I don't think it's reasonable to expect the world to change because I am allergic. I pity the folks who are allergic to peanuts, milk, wheat, and other foods that are consumed around the world. Hopefully, there are a variety of foods available and the parents can educate their kids and provide acceptable lunches. I'll take a PB&J, but hold the shrimp.
Banning peanut butter from the school because a few kids are allergic? You have to be kidding me. I sympathize with parents of children who have serious reactions to the stuff, but face it - if you're kid has any kind of severe physical condition they are the ones who have to deal with it, not everyone else's kid (Sorry, Billy's anemic - no more gym for the whole class!). For the parents of kids with milder allergies - get over it. Your kid should know not to eat/touch the stuff, and a little exposure might just desensitize him/her (yes, this is a way allergies are cured).
That being said, a peanut-free table seems like a fair compromise. Just remember, you're going to also get the kids who are allergic to almonds, or gluten, or whatever else requiring the same treatment, so its going to be a grand hypo-allergenic meal for every one of those kids every day.
I work with a child who has a peanut allergy. I know he could potentially die if he eats a peanut. That said, I have found no evidence that someone eating something with peanuts in his general vicinity will kill him. He's old enough to know he can't eat peanuts, and so he doesn't share his classmates food. But not only are peanuts and sesame banned in his entire school, ALL nuts and nut butters are banned in his classroom. So his classmates (some of whom are vegetarian) can't even bring an almond butter sandwich to school just in case there is a trace of peanut in the almond butter and that some how gets into his body. His mother even managed to get a local ice cream shop to not carry peanut butter ice cream, even though he only gets ice cream there maybe 10 times a year.
I do think it does him no good in the long run to develop the idea that his world needs to change to suit his needs. That's not how the world works.
As far the inane comments about peanut butter in the comments, natural peanut butter is one of the best things you can eat. I have not bought or eaten skippy or jiffy or anything with transfat and that much extra sugar as an adult. But natural peanut butter on whole grain bread is a great source of HEALTHY fat and protein.
I am a mother with a 5 yr old daughter who is allergic to ALL fruit (1 exception blue berries), eggs and lavender; my husband is allergic to melons, bananas and eggs; my nephew has a peanut allergy and I am allergic to lemons. So my family is no stranger to food allergies. Do we let this rule our lives? NO! Do we except not to have a fruit tray at parties, watermelon at a summer picnic, peanut butter pie on holidays and no one allowed to have a lemon in their tea? NO! We just don't eat what we are allergic to and carry epi-pens just in case the unthinkable happens. Some would say that I must have never experienced a severe allergy reaction then. Your wrong. My daughter can't be in the same room with a lavender candle without getting hives head to toe, my husband can't be in the same room with a fresh cut melon without experiencing swelling of the tongue and throat. We take precautions in our home and when we are out. When my daughter started school I spoke with her teacher about making sure there was no lavender products in the room. I understand some people have more severe symptoms than this, but the world doesn't revolve around you. You have to find a way to become a functional human being in the world. Does it make me nervous that my daughter will want some of the juice every other child in her class is drinking or really want a frozen juice pop that all the other kids are enjoying on the play ground. Yes, yes it does. However, I have taught her what she can and can't have, she knows how to use her epi-pen and she knows if she starts itching or having a hard time breathing to tell a teacher. It is up to you as a parent to teach your child what to do if they start experiencing an allergic reaction. It is also up to you to make sure that proper precautions are taken with your child's allergies. Pack their lunch, if you are afraid that they will eat something that they are not supposed to ask for a separate eating space for YOUR child.
I know how scary food allergies are, but I also don't let them rule our lives.
A child in my daughters class has a severe peanut allergy and her school has adopted a careful graduated policy that changes as the child ages. In Kindergarten, no nut (or "may be processed in a facility that also processes nuts") products were allowed in lunches or snacks. This year, in first grade, nuts are allowed in lunches, but a nut free table is provided for the student. Most students bring nut free lunches most of the time so that they can sit with the affected student. This policy protects the student when she is too young to protect herself, but allows her to take more responsibility for her safety as she matures. It seems like the most practical of all of the proposals that the school considered- it acknowledges the danger but also teaches the student that she needs to be aware of her surroundings.
Survival of the fittest? STFU.
Okay, does your kid have glasses/contacts, hearing issues, diabetes and countless other issues that modern science solves??? Fine, consider them dead.
This isn't a primitive society, people!!!
I happened to be eating peanuts at my office desk as I was reading this article. As I read through it, I realized that after I ate a handful of peanuts, I would brush my hand off on my pants or shirt. I do this unconsciously with most foods that I eat with my hands. I'm going out on a limb here and guess that I'm not the only one who does this. The fact of the matter is that there will ALWAYS be peanut protein in the environment. If you are so allergic to something that you can have a life threatening reaction after brushing up against my shirt – I can honestly say that I'm sorry. I hope it never happens – but I guarantee that I can not stop brushing off my hands on my clothes. Likewise my children may escape the house with less than clean clothing on.this mornings peanut butter bagel or apples may very well be smeared on my daughters pants or shirt. Not because we are trying to kill you or your kids, but because that's what kids do.
Ban children. Ban Schools. Ban school lunch time. Come on people! Jump all over the ban wagon. Ban everything.
If your precious has a problem it's YOUR responsibility not anybody else's. Don't expect everyone else to bow down to you. It's pathetic that when 1 child has a peanut allergy those parents expect 2600 other family's to go out of their way to protect that one. Uh, no. Get off your butt and teach your kid about their allergy. Don't rely on the school.
How many kids in these schools cann't tolerate peanut products.
I mean I understand completely that they are allergic. But don't they know this and know that they have to stay away from them. Making hundreds of students stay away from somthing they want an like is unfair also.
Kids that are allergic should not have to suffer because of them but then neither should the other students.
It is ridiculous to ask a school to accomodate for every alergy or special need of the population today. We have to stop putting responsibilities on the education system to parent our children. If your child has an alergy and it could be life threatening, how can you ask an entire school system of atleast 400 students plus faculty and staff to change. The real story behind this article are American parents who lack the nerve to actually parent.
It would help if the schools do educate the student and parent population of the presence of the food allergies in their midst. It always help to raise awareness. In my son's school, they don't ban peanut butter, however, they have asked birthday treats to be non food – which really helps.
This reminds me of a time when I was in first grade and a kid offered me a chocolate bar with almonds in it. At the time I had no idea I was allergic to almonds. I ate some of it and started to feel sick when I was in the playground. I told the monitor and she said "Don't bug me with that I am not a doctor". She didn't even want to send me to the nurse. I felt like crap all afternoon and hard trouble breathing... Well I think it is a good idea to ban peanut butter. Otherwise make sure your school staff are not a bunch of ignorant people.
I find it amazing how the parents of allergic children are in many cases here demanding that the world change to accommodate them. Funny how the bee allergy people don't demand we eliminate bees, wasps and spiders. I had a friend many years ago that had a very serious peanut allergy, but somehow this young man managed to survive school in a very PB&J intensive America. This gentleman now only survived in the American school system, but managed to live and eat in Hong Kong, a place where peanut oil is used everywhere. Unfortunately, America has become a place where the "disadvanted" demand equality and conformity from the masses. Next, milk will be banned, sports, we'll spray for bees. Anything to protect YOUR special child. Some people on this post are demanding an public banning of peanut products, even though your child is far more likely to die on the car ride to a baseball stadium or restaurant than from a food allergy.
Banning something is a foolish response, because bans never solve the problem. Th problem is an allergy likely the result of environmental factors that can be corrected, studies have shown that gradual introduction of allergens to the body helps develop appropriate immune system response. Parents compund the problem by treating their children like lepers where they must be shielded from sight to avoid contamination. A little contamination is a good thing–it builds appropriate immune system response.
The problem is that if you give one "disadvantaged" group preferential treatment, everyone else with an allergy will expect the same. Banning peanut butter is merely the opening salvo of the Nutrition Gestapo. Pretty soon, every soccer mom whose child is allergic to wheat will demand that glutenous bread products also be banned. Then come the advocates for lactose intolerance. It's not fair that the school serves only 2% milk! Everyone should be expected to drink soy milk from now on! But that won't work either! Soy is one of the "big eight", most common food allergies. So are eggs, seafood, vegetables and fruits. Basically, for everything that we know and accept as being a staple of nutrition, a small sector of the population is allergic to it, potentially mortally. We can't up and eliminate peanuts, eggs, milk, soy, glutenous starches, fish, fruits and berries from the school lunchroom menu. They'd be having celery and a glass of water each day. This wouldn't even be an issue if we'd just assume responsibility for our own children and educate them on what foods most commonly contain the things they're allergic to. Instead, we shift the blame onto the schools, expecting them to gerrymander their menus to the specific needs of one, maybe two children out of probably hundreds. It's ass-backwards, and it's no wonder the schools are getting paranoid. Should little Billy accidentally eat a bite of a Snickers bar, it's NEVER the child's fault for being careless; it's NEVER the parent's fault for failing to inform the child of the true risks; no, it's ALWAYS the school's fault for being so negligent as to not have a Brown Bag Inspector at every entrance. The school gets sued for a ridiculous sum, non-core subjects are eliminated, and the students are trapped in some wretched gulag of a cafeteria. Meanwhile, little Jimmy sits alone, ostracized because he (vis a vis, his parents) completely ruined lunchtime. Kids are cruel, man. As a parent, I would expect that the parents of a child with a food allergy would provide the proper lunch for their own child, as I would mine. It's not the school's job to monitor what everyone eats, nor should every other student bear the burden of one kid's problem. If you are so damned worried about your child consuming the wrong thing, then keep him home and teach him yourself.
For the record, I can't eat grapefruit and I'm a chef. I don't demand that the restaurant dispose of its grapefruit juice just because it poses a personal problem to me. That's dumb. Ergo, asking other students to ditch peanut butter, wheat, eggs or whatever just to coddle one child – that's equally as dumb.
I feel like this debate brings up a bigger issue. We are relying too much on the schools to do everything for our kids. Granted, school staff are caregivers and educators to our kids for move than half of their young lives and there is a lot of responsibility that comes with that, but there has to be a collaborative effort on the parts of the parents and the school staff to ensure well-rounded experiences for each student in the classroom and the lunchroom. If everyone were not so concerned with pointing fingers and more concerned with the quality of their own child's experience, a lot of this could be avoided all together.
Your kid should be smart enough to not sit near the kids eating peanut butter if he/she is allergic. Put them all at the same table, and then someone's gonna complain that it's segregation. Same thing goes if you ban it. One of my good friends is allergic to peanut butter. Know what he did? HE DIDN'T SIT NEAR ME AT LUNCH WHENEVER I HAD PEANUT BUTTER.
I think all food should be banned. Seriously, it's dangerous stuff, kids can choke on it, get poisoned by it, have allergic reactions to it, eat too much of it and die a slow death from heart disease or diabetes, or get an eye poked out in a food fight. A school is no place for children to be eating and I think school districts should adopt the same kind of zero-tolerance policy for food that they have for weapons and drugs.
On a serious note, isn't this more of the same extremist crap. There's got to be some middle ground. We're not all the same, some of us have to sit out P.E. because we're asthmatic, some of us have to go to special reading classes because we're dyslexic and some of us have to eat lunch somewhere other than the cafeteria, or always bring a bagged lunch, because we have deadly peanut allergies. We don't all get to have children that have 100% perfectly normal childhoods. Parents need to accept that their children will experience struggles in their life, and it's not always going to be fair but if they're loved and cared for by their parents or dedicated guardians everything else will work itself out. And for those that don't want their children inconvenienced by other kids special needs, SHOW A LITTLE COMPASSION! If you can make a small sacrifice so that others will have a large improvement in their quality of life then why not? If you can't handle that then you shouldn't be a part of society.
My kids are allergic to homework. Should that be banned too?
[I'm allergic to religion - whenever I'm exposed to it, I break out in large patches of rational thought! I say we ban that too, but that's a different thread.]
Seriously, how far should we go to accommodate the extremely small minority of people who have allergies such as these? My elder son (now 11) is allergic to dust mites (a rather common allergy), cockroaches, birch, and elm. Should those things be eliminated from our world or should we just learn to deal with it? Adapt. Evolve.
Better yet, why don't we use our huge scientific brains to come up with WHY some people are allergic to anything to begin with and then find a cure for it?
In a global society of 6 billion+ people, is it reasonable to believe that we can accommodate everyone?
Likewise, in a school of hundreds of children, how far shall we go to homogenize the environment for the unfortunate few? And why should it be just at school? Why not at the grocery store or at restaurants as well? What about the ball park? Don't they throw peanuts around there too?...
I've been reading more of these posts, and am learning that 1) peanut allergies are different from all other food allergies and only need to be present in the air or a trace of dust to be harmful, and 2) that there is apparently no known medical way to combat or prevent theM? So how do people allergic to peanuts fly on airplanes? There is no ambulance to take you to the ER when all the little of packets get opened and the evil nut oils go wafting about the cabin, is there? If this is such a national emergency/life threatening issue then why does modern (or ancient) medcine provide a solution? There must be some old world holostic resolution?? Chinese Medicine?
Are people with these allergies stuck with driving everywhere and never leaving North, Central, or South America? How do they go see Europe or Asia?? This is sounding more ridiculous by the minute!
How do we fly? Not easily – by avoiding airlines that serve peanuts, and staying away from those eating them. Medical researchers are working on a treatment. Yes, travel is difficult. Europe is easier than many places, as labeling laws are good. Asia is difficult, as the allergy is not prevalent there, and PN’s are common. Thanks for asking, it’s how you learn.
Yes, we do drive. Everywhere. Being trapped in a tube with no more than a few epi-pens between us and the idiots like those on this list is all we'd have. I prefer to drive so I don't have to hear the muttering from others as to why my daughter should just die and get it over with.
Truly, you people (not the above poster) should be ashamed. The incredible lack of humanity and compassion on this board has given me chills. I won't argue all the points as to why this is a disability, or why you should care. I'll just leave you with this: There was NO history of this in our family. None. Never even heard of it. And my daughter scores off the chart on her allergy test. She really is one of the few that would end up in the hospital from smelling it. So.... all you so called Darwinists (and you really are doing him a disfavor by even evoking his name), I truly hope you have a child get this allergy. I have never wished it on anyone before. But this time – it's all yours baby! Have fun!
For those who don’t know, by withholding peanut butter from the cafeterias you are actually causing a rise in peanut butter allergies by restricting a Childs exposure to it. I don’t understand how hard is it for the school district to use their brains… if someone is allergic then they obviously should not be eating peanut butter LOL…. So therefore the school should give them an alternative and not restrict a Childs freedom. This is as silly as getting rid of Milk, Meat, and Wheat because 1 child out of 20 might be allergic… even if they were allergic it would be stupid to get rid of meat, wheat, and milk because of them… A more common sense option would be giving them something in its place.
You can also make the allergy worse by continuing exposure. Not only would the cafe have to cut out PB but anything that is processed in a facility that process peanuts. Than the kitchen will also have to have different utensils. As a whole it is much easier and safer for a kitchen to go peanut/tree nut free. Tree nuts/peanuts are the #1 killer and most sever food allergy. Due to the fact eggs and shellfish are in the same family a child will more than likely have those as well
My great niece is 6 years old and is allergic to a number of foods. She knows what she is not allowed to eat. Her mother does not go to the school and try to get the menu changed for hundreds of other students. IF YOU DONT WANT TO FEED PB TO YOUR CHILD THEN DONT BUT LEAVE THE OTHER CHILDREN ALONE. I think their own parents can speak for them without any help from you.
My innocent little pre-k could DIE from peanut butter!!! Not many other allergies are that severe. Is it her fault? no. There are many other lunch choices available. We eat Sunbutter, it is made from sunflower seeds in a peanut free facility. Sunbutter is delicious and any kid who lives on PB&J would love it. As I read more of allergy bullying, banning peanut butter from schools seems like a fair choice to eliminate this life threatening taunting. Especially since grade school children could not possibly understand the severity of their actions by waving a peanut butter sandwich in a classmates face. Not to mention the fear the peanut allergy child must feel on top of the fact that they are "different". This is an easy solution and should not even be up for discussion considering the risk involved.
SUNBUTTER! WTF! Who in the hell wants SUNBUTTER... it even sounds nasty... "come on kids, it's time to eat sunbutter and jelly sandwiches"... really? Stacy, I'm sure that you mean well, but don't ever suggest anything that dumb again...ever, OK. Sunbutter...
Sunbutter actually is good and a nice alternative for some families. However, my problem with stacy's post is that it is so incredibly self centered. That Sunbutter she is advocating because it is something her peanut allergic child can tolerate is just as lethal to some sunflower seed allergic children as peanut butter is to her child. Her child's allergy is not the only severe, life threatening one out there and various seeds actually happen to be another allergy that is on the rise both in terms of prevalence and severity. This idea that the world needs to revolve around the needs of her child but who cares about the risks to other children should NOT be tolerated. Any decisions regarding rules on food allergies should apply to any child with a severe allergy if they apply to peanut products for the kids allergic to peanuts or else we as a society are saying that somehow those peanut allergic kids are more important than the ones with life-threatening seafood allergies (actually more common than peanuts still) or whatever other food some child in her school is allergic to.
My daughter is severely allergic to eggs and ALL fruit ( 1 exception blue berries). Should I go to the school and tell them that they can no longer serve fruit, especially apples, grapes and bananas? I don't think so. My daughter knows she can't eat them and if any waved one in her face to tell the teacher. She is only 5 yrs. old, I found her allergies when introducing baby food. She's lived with it her entire life. Her egg allergy was so severe that she couldn't even touch an Easter egg. As the years have passed we slowly started introducing eggs into her food, I let her start with breads, cakes and cookies. She can now eat a whole piece of cake without getting hives, her throat getting itchy, or her nose and eyes watering. I haven't had this success with the fruit though. However, I have taught her what to do and do not expect anyone to accommodate her. Lavender is also a big allergy for her. Do I need to send a note home with all the kids telling the parents if they wash their clothes in lavender detergent to stop or if they use lavender lotion to stop. I think not. I spoke with the teacher before school started to make sure there was no lavender candles, hand sanitizer or anything else. If she starts getting hives move her to a different table and see if they go away in about an hour, if not give me a call. I don't expect everyone to stop their lives for her, no do I expect her to stop living her life, we just rearrange and adjust.
Get over yourself. What gives you the right to impose your will upon hundreds of parents? Are you willing to pay the cost differential to every one of those parents to buy the Sunflower stuff every meal while your child is in school? If not, you're asking all those parents to incur the cost of YOUR child's medical problems. Figure the difference is $0.35/jar. 1 jar per child every 2 weeks. School year is roughly 36 weeks by my count. Say your school is 500 students. Are you willing to pay the $3150 difference to those parents (total, not each)?
Type 1 diabetic children who produce no insulin as a result of their immune system attacks are in a sense "allergic" to sugars. If they eat some other child's nut-free candy bar, they could just as surely need medical attention or even go into shock. These children need to grow up faster than other children. They need parental education. And they should get used to the fact that others can do things that they can't. It was hard for me, but I am better off for it.
Some people, ok most people commenting on this topic, are not qualified to do so. It is quite obvious they do not possess an education so why would they have a need to comment with their wild and crazy opinions. I pay taxes to send my kids to school; therefore it is the schools responsibility to ensure their health and safety during the school day. Ban peanut butter! If you highly educated people, with your stupid comments, feed your kids peanut butter every day, and it seems that you do, then Lord help them because they are lacking in a proper nutrition and will eventually suffer as well.
not trying to pick a fight but just curious. I'm super healthy eater (all organic, mostly fruit and vegetable diet). My son is super picky and peanut butter on bread is one of the few things he is willing to eat. I don't consider fortified wheat bread + organic all natural peanut butter + carrot stick + fruit to be a bad diet. There is carb + protein + fruit/vegetable. Why is it bad?
The solution is a convenient, common-sense combination: a peanut-free table at school and parents of allergic children providing a suitable diet and instructions (and parents of non-allergic students educating them about allergies). While I realize some allergies can be severely debilitating–even fatal–we begin descending a slippery slope when we make special arrangements for various groups as a knee-jerk response. For example, my daughter's school sent notices home telling parents they must notify the school if peanut butter is in their child's lunch. Unacceptable and excessive.
Well I understand what the parents of kids with allergy go through. However my kid is super picky eater, and peanut butter bread is only of the few healthy items that he is willing to eat. If the school bans it, I will have one less thing to choose from to feed him. Kids are allergic to everything these days. Milk, soy, peanut butter, egg, wheat. I don't think it is reasonable to ban everything because someone could be highly allergic to one. These kids still remain to be the minority and instead of forcing the diet change on everyone, they should have special menu and rooms for those who are allergic.
The kid is not tolerant of milk. Should milk be banned schools? The kid is intolerant of glucose. Should bread be banned in schools? The kid is diabetic. Should all sugars be banned in schools? Why not just starve the kids to death and eliminate the problem?
Pretty soon they'll be outlawing recess due to kids with bee allergies and even ragweed allergies. Then they'll be outlawing dairy products due to lactose and tolerance. What really should be outlawed is the junkfood and soft drink products from our schools. Peanut butter or any nut that someone is allergic too shouldn't be banned. Education should be made available and the kids should voice their allergy to their friends and teachers in an effort to have it being controlled around them. If some kids love peanut butter and want it for lunch everyday it should be their right to have it. I personally dont want to live in a matrix type world where we eat the same glop everyday because foods have been limited or banned due to their nature for causing allergic reactions. Peanut allergies have been around a long time, and people with them should be doing the educating to the younger generations about how to deal with them and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Besides if more and more schools keep closing due to funding problems we wont have to worry about this problem in the future anyways. Point is there are more pertanent matters to be dealt with in this world right now. Peanut butter legislature should be down on the list.
No… I say ban the kids that are allergic to peanuts… why should the kids who are not allergic do without because of those who cannot? First peanut butter, then milk, then eggs, and shell-fish… what next then we start listening to the vegetarians and the vegans… it’ll never stop until all you can do is show up…
It's not just PB&J folks , it's granola bars, cookies, crackers or chips made with peanut pieces or oil. You can also be "counseled" for knowingly bringing in any food "...made on equipment that processes peanuts or treenuts."
Our school went from a pnut table, to ban PB&J, to ban pnut products. We went back to table, allegedly, when the student needing these accomodations left. Actually, I'm pretty sure it was when the idiot parents tried to ban kids from consuming pnut products immediately before coming to school, that the rest of us had enough.
It's s*** like this that makes it hard to defend legitmate liberal causes.
I think many people are missing the point. PA (peanut allergy) is a relatively common food allergy, and can be deadly in small portions. It is different than other food allergens in that it is dusty, and PB is sticky, leaving a deadly residue. Older children need to learn to look out, but younger children need to be protected. A complete ban would be lovely, but a PN-free table, and watching out for the little ones, is likely just fine. Point is, let’s all learn a little tolerance. Yeah, some of you can wait a few hours for that PB snack if it means making a child safer. PA children don’t deserve to be “bred out of existence” any more than anyone else in this world, and the fact is NO ONE knows what causes allergies. We need to teach tolerance, we need to teach compassion – obviously not only to the children, but to adults as well.
Frankly...NO. I'm tired of everything I do in this country being neutered and controlled to protect the little guy. If my kid wants a PBJ for lunch, he can have it.PA, ADA, NAACP, we have so many special interest groups that the rights of normal, everyday people are the ones being trampled upon. I say stand up for the rights of the average citizen for once.
I don't think peanut butter should be banned from the schools. I think schools should show the kids proper hand washing techniques after eating to prevent the spread of the peanut butter. How do you know that door knob/handle/item of clothing in public areas haven't been touched by someone each peanut butter or it product? If they ban it in the schools they should ban it everywhere!
Children with life-threatening food allergies should be banned from public schools. Not only for the child's sake, but also for liability reasons. For the school, but also for the parents of other children, who shouldn't risk liability if they accidentally bring an allergen into the school on their clothing, picked up from a public bus bench or somewhere else. The other parents have just as much right to legal protection as the parents of the afflicted child.
RIGHT!!! While we're at it, let's get rid of handicapped access to the schools, and Special Ed too. Waste of taxpayer dollars!! Who needs all those wheelchairs clogging up the hallways??? Those freaks should stay home with their parents, where they belong, out of society's eye. That way we don't have to see them, or deal with them. That would be nice, huh? And those handicapped parking spots?? I'll bet you're just so lazy you want to yank those away from deserving citizens too, right? Because I'm thinking you just hate everyone and would be much happier if everyone was just "normal."
So, tell me. What makes one disability more important than another? What you are failing to recognize is that
children with allergies are protected by the Federal government and Disabilities Act. They have as much right
to attend school as any other child. If the school fails to accommodate they will lose their
federal funding. So, as you are welcome to your opinions, the law is on the side of the child with the disability ~
no matter which kind they may have. FYI- A peanut allergy is a legal disability due to the fact that anaphylaxis affects
your ability to breathe which is a basic life function. So, please know the facts before you discriminate.
This entire discussion absolutely baffles me. You parents with kids who have this allergy honestly intend to impose your will on hundreds of other parents? Maybe we should just ban peanuts as a product nationwide to make sure the .01% (probably too high) of people who have this serious allergy are never at risk? Gimme a break. Teach your child how to deal with it and make the school aware of the allergy, thats all that needs to be done.
Ok, I'm going to chime in here. My son is 8 yrs old. Due to a medical condition combined with multiple severe food allergies (including anaphylaxis to milk), his diet is limited to 14 foods and he also has a feeding tube. And he goes to public school.
There are three points I'd like to make:
1 – parents w/ allergic kids need to realize that the world is not going to protect their child at all times – they need to be proactive and teach their kids how to survive in the real world
2 – schools need to provide a safe environment for ALL kids – that is the entire point of public education
3 – if parents and schools keep an open mind, they can come to a mutually agreeable solution in almost every case – in our case, our son eats lunch in the cafeteria with his class but he sits at a desk pushed up to the end of his class's lunch table. To prevent cross-contamination, we provide the school with Clorox wipes to clean his lunch desk, plus paper towels for him to use a a place mat. We also provide his classroom with extra bottles of hand sanitizer (in addition to the 2 bottles the teacher asks all students to bring in) so that there is less chance of having food residue on the kids' hands. We don't ask the school to restrict the foods other kids bring in for lunch, we just ask that they do their best to keep our son safe. And they do.
If we are going to ban peanut butter, we should be reasonable and ban everything related to common allergies. So no :
milk (including Au gratin foods, Cake and cake mix, Chocolate and cream candy, Donuts, Coffee creamers, Creamed or scalloped foods, Mashed potatoes, Custard, Nougat, Ice cream and sherbet, Malted milk, Margarines (some, check the label), Pudding, White sauces, Salad dressings, yogurt, cheese)
eggs (mayonnaise, breaded foods, battered foods, ice cream, foods that use egg as a thickener or binder, often ,
nuts (tree or ground) (pesto, marzipan, Nutella, baklava, pralines, nougat, gianduja, turrón, and possibly cereals, crackers, cookies, baked goods, candy, chocolates, energy/granola bars, flavored coffee, frozen desserts, marinades, barbecue sauces, and some cold cuts, such as mortadella),
wheat (including bread, waffles, pancakes, rolls, biscuits, cakes, cookies, crackers, pizza, buns, many cereals, pretzles, muffins, et al.),
fish, shellfish,
soy (edamame, miso, natto, shoyu sauce, soy (soy albumin, soy fiber, soy flour, soy grits, soy milk, soy nuts, soy sprouts), soya, soybean (curd, granules), soybean butter, soy protein (concentrate, isolate), soy milk, soy sauce, tamari, tempeh, textured vegetable protein (TVP), tofu, also possibly :chocolate, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), flavoring (including natural and artificial), canned chicken broth, vegetable broth, gum, protein, and starch, bouillon cubes (beef, chicken, vegetable, etc.), lecithin, caramel color, mixed vegetables, vegetable oil, methylcellulose, vegetable fat, vegetable oil, "natural" flavors, mono- and di-glycerides
Lunch today will be leaf lettuce and water. Tomorrow we'll be bold and have steamed rice.
By the way, we're also asking that you keep no cats, dogs, rabbits, or horses, flowers, grasses, molds, or perfumes in the houses of school children, as they will invariably bring some of this to school with them. It is possible that some of the other children are allergic to these things, and we cannot have any of that.
The most common food allergies are: Milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish, shellfish. There are also allergies to wool, latex, certain metals, grass, and dust among many others. Where is the logical place to draw the line? Do we allow allergens that cause only mild irritation, or nausea or slight difficulty in breathing, or do we eliminate all known allergens out of fairness? What happens when the child becomes an adult? Do employers, banks and grocery stores have to ban the allergens as well?
It's unfortunate that illness and allergies exist, but they do. It's not practical, nor logical, nor ultimately beneficial to the allergic child to force all others to adjust to the needs of one. The child must adjust to the world. We don't turn off the lights for blind people or stop talking for the deaf. There are only two options: those with disabilities adjust or those without disabilities adjust.
I say we ban school all together, and work, social interaction. We can build giant bubbles that only those we trust can live in. We will be a society built on the principle of "Saftey First", no allergies will get us!!! True we will eventually kill off our population, but good riddance. We are no use to this planet at this point. We are given a food like peanuts, which can fullfill your daily nutritional needs, and we want to ban it because some little kid has an allergy??? Turns out I am allergic to kids, when I am around them I feel annoyed and stressed. I say we ban kids.
Wow, I really feel sorry for the kids with severe food allergies. But I think the real issue here is the bullying. Schools and parents need to address that – and schools should not need to dictate what parents feed their children. If schools can't afford adequate supervision in the lunch room, then maybe parent volunteers are the answer. Parents and teachers alike, please educate the children to understand the allergies that are becoming more common each year and to have a little compassion for those who suffer from life threatening allergies of any kind.
Banning peanut butter in school? Really? Who cares? On the list of things we have to worry about in this nation, I believe whether or not we should ban peanut butter in our schools belongs on page 9 after "are we eating too much garlic as a people?". I'm only 17 so I don't have kids of my own but if I were a parent I'd make sure my kids knew to avoid peanut butter at any & all costs provided they were allergic to it.
really? WHEN you do have a child and he/she is "blessed" with a peanut allergy, how do you plan to ensure that he/she does not share/swap food with other kids at kindergarten?
The reality is that only about 100 people per year die of peanut allergies. Banning is overkill- have a different lunch period for kids with the allergy if they feel they really need it. There are people with seafood allergies, wheat allergies, soy allergies, nut allergies, etc, but you can't start banning foods because one or two people in a school of hundreds or even thousands of children have a sensitivity or an allergy- it just doesn't make sense.
Peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches should be a regular staple in schools nationwide ... as long as you don't have allergies, that is. It is the BEST, bar none.
I am not writing this out of anger, but out of a deep sadness to what I've read here. I am a father of four, two of which have severe food allergies to multiple foods. I've read most of the comments on this page, some of which I cannot even fathom that a human being would write. Would you be that callous with me face-to-face? I can assure you, that if you had an allergy that could kill you within minutes you would be singing a different tune.
Take a minute, think, then try to see with different eyes.
We've come up with coping strategies and have educated anyone we come in contact with (school, parents, etc.). What I have issue with is people's flippant attitudes about the whole thing. Would you have your child treated as a leper, segregated and shunned? I think not. These are normal, loving, feeling human-beings who just happen to have a food allergy.
I agree, life is not fair and we've made peace with that. But the indifference and cold-hearted comments speak volumes of this society we live in. I feel sorrow and pity for you, not hate.
there are wasp and ants and drugs around schools that needs to be eliminated
a lot of people have reactions to stings, bites, and bad drugs...
JUST A ADULT THOUGHT.. I MIGHT GET A "D- " FOR THIS COMMENT
Children with allergies need to be educated by the parents about those allergies and the consequences if they eat, get stung, etc. To ban a food at the school is not teaching the child to be responsible for their "problem." You ban peanut butter because of nut allergies... what about someone allergic to tomatoes? No spaghetti, ketchup, tomato soup, green beans in stewed tomatoes (should definitely be outlawed). The child should wear an alert bracelet if the problem is real serious, the school should have it in their records. A ban in the cafeteria.... no way!
I think our children can decide on their own. When my son was in 2nd grade, he made friends with a child that has peanut allergies. Joey said he couldn't bring in anything with peanuts or peanut butter, or cooked in peanut oil. His school never told him this, he told me that it was not fair if he ate things in front of his friend that his friend couldn't eat. Our children have more empathy about this topic than we give them credit for.
Sorry if this sounds bad but take care of yourself. It's like saying that if one child is afraid to take the bus that we should ban all school trips. Why should all suffer because of one.
If your child could be killed by a peanut, then you are one sick parent for sending your kids out into society where they could be so easily killed. Instead of demanding that everyone else take care of your kid, you should grow up and do it yourself.
I am sick of the "My kid is allergic so you everyone has to change things to suit us" Nazis. If your kid is that damned allergic keep him at home and home school him. Why on earth, if you love your little spawn so dearly, would you risk sending him to public school?
dont ban peanut butter because of a couple of wimpy / pathetic / panzy kids whoose parents baby them. kids have ben having / eating peanut butter in excess for decades. it is not the peanut butter that is fattening or bad for t hem it is the laziness / lack of any kind of stimulation that makes kids the way they are today. i mean come on a dumb kid 20 years ago would be a genius today
Wow, pretty depressing that so many people are missing the point. And you call yourselves parents? These are CHILDREN we are talking about. They are LIVING, BREATHING, YOUNG and VULNERABLE people. I can't believe that everyone wouldn't want to keep these children safe. This can be a very serious allergy and I can't believe how many people would so selfishly, proudly and knowingly put a CHILD in harms way. Really sad people. Just very sad. I have children without any allergies and I would GLADLY restrict peanut butter to my house alone if just one child at my school had an allergy of this nature. Is it really worth the risk to the child with a possibly deadly allergy? Do you need a child to die to understand the tragedy? Why don't you take just a moment to figure out how grossly backwards and uncaring your priorities are. Suck it up, teach your children some compassion and find something else affordable and nutritious for your child to eat... FIVE meals a week is all we're talking about people!
Well said, I am amazed at the callous comments. I think people forget these are children, like their own fathers-mothers-sisters-brothers...they just happen to be deathly allergic to some foods.
Our solution has been sending our kids to private school. We've worked with the teachers and faculty one-on-one to help make their jobs as easy as possible and at the same time make our children as safe as possible @ lunch/snack time. Most have been VERY understanding, unlike many who have posted here.
Charles, you are a disgusting piece of white trash. You should be smoking marijuana and beating your children instead of posting here amongst the real parents and regular, hard-working people who are trying to support their family.
I have a son with a life-threatening allergy to peanuts. It is an airborne allergy, so we have had to make many adjustments in our lives to keep him safe. His (public) schools have been wonderful–they worked with us for nine years to come up with a safe place for him to eat and learn, and yes, the kids in his class have had to make some adjustments. However, In all of this time I have never heard or "heard of" a child having a problem with accommodating his allergy–it is ALWAYS the adults. The kids are empathetic, supportive, compassionate and understanding. They have willingly given up peanuts to eat with my son. Parents have told me that their children have them read labels on their schools lunches and snacks as early as kindergarten so they can help keep my child safe. One parent said her child, who previously only ate peanut butter sandwiches, happily gave them up so he could be with my son. It's been a tough but eye-opening experience and I couldn't be prouder of my son and his friends.
Kids have no problem because they don't like eating their lunches. Now they eat even less. C'mon Johny eat your toffu sandwhich or ice cold soup. If you child is allergic as they are, I think it is crazy to put them in such a risky situation.
When your kid grows up, are you going to sue his employers, to force them to provide a peanut-free environment, and only hire other employees who do not eat peanuts? Are you going to sue the city, and force them to provide peanut-free buses, ridden only by people who do not eat peanuts? Your attitude that the rest of the world must provide for your child's problems is not tenable.
Have you even bothered to try immunotherapy? It provides a cure to 80% of those with peanut allergies.
If not, then you have absolutely NO RIGHT to be demanding that the rest of us alter our lifestyles to accommodate you.
Oh pull up your pant, your ignorance is showing! The immunotherapy for PEANUTS is not AVAILABLE yet. It is still experimental and the experiments are only being done in certain places. YOU have not right bullying parents of allergic kids, you selfish inconsiderate person. Especially when you don't even know what you are TALKING about. Don't you think parents with kids would do immunotherapy in a SECOND if there was a treatment available? Ignorant jerk.
There aren't any therapies that are approved by the FDA. In fact, the one you are referring to is not
approved. There have been deaths in the trials. You really should have your fact straight. I'm a health
professional. You clearly are not.
The amazing thing here is the amount of people commenting on allergies who have no knowledge of them. To the person who said we should have adrenaline shots for kids with allergies...HELLO WE ALREADY DO! To the one who says we should have our children treated by a doctor....HELLO WE ALREADY DO OR THEY MIGHT NOT BE ALIVE! To the one who says parents should handle it...HELLO WE ALREADY PACK SEPARATE SNACKS, LUNCHES, PREPARE ALTERNATE BIRTHDAY TREATS FOR SCHOOL, MEET WITH SCHOOL NUTRITIONISTS AND NURSES PRIOR TO THE YEAR STARTING. To those who say no accommodations should be made for the child with allergies...HELLO THE TEACHER ACCOMODATES A LOT OF STUDENT NEEDS AND PARENTS TOO(DID YOU HAVE ANY SAY IN YOUR CONFERENCE SCHEDULE?), DOES ANYONE GET FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH?, DO OTHER CHILDREN GET HELP WITH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS? YES THEY DO. THE SCHOOL SHOULD CREATE AN EXTRA LUNCH HOUR FOR THEM? THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE LEGISTICALLY FOR SCHOOLS. WHAT IF WE HAVE ONE CULUTURAL GROUP HAVE A DIFFERENT LUNCH BECAUSE OF THEIR CULUTRE? I BELIEVE WE CALL THAT DISCRIMINATION! Could we have a separate area for kids in the lunchroom who have major allergies...we could but that would involve a lot of training to avoid bullying, but it can be done. Now the amazing thing about this is that although I am really irritated that people are so cold, I don't believe that all schools should ban peanut butter. I think we should go on a case by case basis. My son is allergic to wheat, but it isn't a problem for him if other children in the room have wheat...But my pediatric allergy specialist said that some kids can't even handle it around them. That is the doctor's words not mine. He is highly respected by the children's hospital specialists in my state as being one of the best pediatric allergy and asthma specialists here. You don't have to take my word for it, take his. So what do we need? A good dose of knowledge, compassion, and compromise. Should your child have to go without peanut butter their whole school career? No. Should they go without it during the time they have a child sitting next to them who is severely allergic to something..maybe. Does someone have the right to smoke and exhale in my face? Some states say no, because it infringes on my rights...adverse affect on my health. This is a similar idea. Those of you who spew hate at least get the facts so you can sound intelligent. Then we'll know that you are just cold hearted.
Peanut is in a lot of food items, not just peanut butter sandwiches. I give my kids granola bars which also contains peanuts. Don't forget peanut M & M's, that you may not buy your child but your child may find a way to get the peanut candy. It's extremely hard for schools to regulate this. It's up to the parents to educate their child and their child's friends about the consequences of an allergic reaction.
So, when there are kids who allergic to bee stings, we will terminate outdoor recess?
Common sense has to be the rule sometime! I am getting really tired of the rights of the majority being trampled because of the wants/needs/desires/rights(?) of the minority.
And, oh by the way peanut butter is not the only food containing peanut products.
The bullying issue, on the other hand is very serious and needs to be addressed period, not just as it relates to food allergic kids. Banning foods is just a cop-out on a bigger issue. Attach real consequences to bad behavior.
For anyone that is so adamant about not banning peanut butter and posting rude comments about kids with allergies being weaklings, consider this. How adversely do you think it would affect your own child, if their peanut butter sandwich sent one of these "weaklings" into anaphylactic shock? You want them to have to live with the guilt of nearly killing one of their classmates?
I don't know about banning it. Peanut butter sandwiches are an easy and most of all cheap. For a parent already working to make ends meet, it might be the best option. Extreme answers are never good ones.
If my kid had that horrible of an allergy problem I'd home school them.
Parents who have kids with allergies...you chose to have the kids. And if you didn't plan on it well you still chose to keep the child. Therefore it is YOUR responsibility to deal with his or her allergies/issues. Not anyone else's.
Canada only gets to exist in a spineless, excruciatingly PC state is because it is our neighbor. We don't care how you do it up there, because you only get to do it that way because of us.
I do agree this is a major issue. But banning a group of foods that people may be allergic to is not the answer. I will hate to see the day when kids have their bag lunches searched to see if they have any unwanted type of food. And if they do have the said type what will happen then? Will they send the child home or throw away the lunch and more of less force them to have no lunch? And if the school provides a lunch for the child will the charge them for it? This will need to be looked into more deeply than just banning something. Maybe an allergy section of a lunchroom is the answer. But I will agree with the school's kitchen, not carrying things like this. There is too much of a chance of cross contamination with places like that.
As someone with allergies, and a deathly allergy to peanuts, I think that it should be banned from schools. You never know when a child is allergic to the stuff and even the SMELL (in my case) can send them into anaphylaxis. Numerous times I had to sit in the class room and eat lunch by myself when peanut butter was being served in the school cafeteria...that was hurtful in more ways than one, I couldn't be with my friends and it sucked! Finally, when I entered 7th grade, my school stopped using peanut based products and it took care of everything!
I'm sorry that you have an allergy. But it is something you have to deal with, it is not something that society can handle for you. What would you expect a school to do if they had you, who could die if exposed to peanuts; Billy, who could die to citrus; Jane, who could die to wheat; Zhang, rice; Margaret, shellfish... Someone out there is extremely allergic to ANY food you can think of. The only way to eliminate risk is to make schools food-free entirely.
Myself, I am extremely allergic to whatever goes into a fair number of perfumes. When some of the girls in high school started coming in drenched in the stuff, my airways literally closed. With the help of my teachers I was able to get myself seated by the window, or simply transfered into another class if a solution was not possible. And some of the girls voluntarily stopped wearing strong perfumes after they saw what it could do to me.
What I didn't do is have my parents come marching in and demand that the school become a fragrance-free zone.
Ouka, if I were your parent I would walk in (not march) and request (not demand) that we try to work together to come up with a solution. I'm sorry to hear that your parents didn't advocate for you. My parents never advocated for me either. I do advocate for my child though, and you would do well to think about how life would have been different for you if you had learned that you were worthwhile enough for someone to consider that your PHYSICAL SAFETY is more important than a number of individuals fulfilling their fashion desires.
And I'm sorry that your children will never learn the importance of self-reliance and instead learn the lesson of self-centeredness. The world does not, and should not, cater to your individual needs. Society cannot bend to accommodate every last individual need. That simply reduces freedoms to the lowest common denominator.
Well said. And I would reiterate that, in considering banning peanuts in schools, CHILDREN ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ATTEND SCHOOL. It's not a choice, so they can't just walk away as with other public venues and events. (And those of you who think we should just home school: Although some do that, it's not typically an option.)
my former employer had a child with severe peanut allergies (couldnt even eat a sandwich at home and then come into the office w/o brushing my teeth – that bad). you know what she did, home schooled her child and then found a school that caters to kids with allergies – those schools are out there, but im willing to bet most parents dont do the proper research and try force their child's predicament on others
As a nurse I am absolutely shocked to hear so many negativities out there on this topic. If you had a child dying in your arms from a simple peanut I think you would all change your minds. It's life-changing. Obviously, for all of you who have the thought that it's your right to have peanut butter at school have no one in your family with a peanut allergy. For some people all it takes is a simple handshake after eating peanuts to send them into anaphalactic shock. Really sad.
I think the kids who are not allergic can decide what to do. When my son was in 2nd grade, he made friends with a child who had peanut allergies. Joey told me he could not to bring anything with peanuts, peanut butter, or even things cooked in peanut oil because his friend was allergic. The school never told him to do this, he did it because he felt is wasn't fair to his friend if he ate anything his friend couldn't. Our children have more empathy on this subject than we give them credit for.
There is no doubt a severe allergic reaction to peanut protein can kill someone; however, the same can be said about a severe allergic reaction to stings as well as number of common medications. I have a daughter with insulin dependent diabetes and one of her friends has a peanut allergy and given the wrong type of situation both children could easily die. It is something they have learned to live with, but they also carry an epinephrine pen (peanuts) and glucagon pen (diabetes) which can be used in an emergency. Neither have asked for special regulations, rules, or special favors...only that people understand their condition and take a few minutes to learn what should be done if an emergency should arise. In the two examples mentioned, neither banning peanut butter or preventing a diabetic child from going on school trips is not the solution, which is quite simply a matter of educating those in contact with them regarding what to do in am emergency. Of course, there is always the risk of dying in a car accident on the way to school, but I really believe the present system of educating drivers is better than banning cars.
@Michael, I think you are going a bit far calling a peaunut allergy "a disability". I have money and I'm educated and I think it's up to the parents to make alernate arrangements if their kid has an allergy. After all, this is life. I suppose you can get the school to cater to your child's 'disability' but what about after that? You can't get the world to cater to them. What happens when the kid goes to college, or gets a job or flies in an airplane. You can't control everyone around them. This is something THEY are going to have to deal with their whole life so they have to deal with it at sometime, the sooner the better.
You do everything you can, but at some point you've just got to let some kids die. Are we at that point with banning peanut butter? I don't know. But the survival of any species can't continue when the weakest are allowed to pass along their sickly genes.
Banning peanut butter from a school seems more than a little extreme. While some kids are deathly allergic to peanuts, the VAST MAJORITY have only a mild or moderate allergy. Thus, unless the school is dealing with a deathly allergic child, the school should not make any special arrangements for allergic kids. That responsibility should be left to the parents (and the school should be notified of what the parents want them to do in case of a reaction). We don't prevent kids allergic to bees/wasps/hornets/etc., from going outside, nor do we prevent entire schools from having outside play time because of one (or a few kids) bug allergies. This is no different.
The schools have no choice but to ban it and for a very simple reason. If they don't, then some parent who's child has an allergy and comes in contact with peanut butter will sue the school. Plain and simple. That is the way we are heading in this Country, isn't it? Everybody has to cover their back sides regardless of the logic because there is always someone looking to sue, and there are always lawyers looking to exploit situations, and there are always courts who favor the weak and stupid.
There are too many individual food allergies for any sort of systemic government ban to work. If YOUR kid has a severe allergy to something, then YOU work with the school to find a solution that does not unduly impact the other 99.99% of the kids. Maybe you get to come in at lunch time and your kid eats with you in your allergen-free car.
It is completely unreasonable to expect the rest of the world to cater to your individual needs. Your kid has severe peanut allergies, I'm sorry. But Sally has severe allergies to Almonds. Tim goes in to shock if exposed to wheat gluten. Bobby could die if he get's close to someone peeling a citrus fruit. Zhang, ironically, is deathly allergic to rice. And Margret's airway swells closed near shellfish.
Just what in the hell do you anti-peanut crusaders expect SOCIETY can do for food allergies at large? If you banned all the foods that someone could be allergic to, there wouldn't be any food left for anyone to eat.
At least have the guts to say, "I don't care about your kid," rather than, "I'm sorry." It wouldn't really change your message but you'd be more honest.
Again, it's not valid to say we shouldn't ban peanuts because it's impossible to protect everyone from every morsel of peanut every day of their lives. That reasoning would indicate that we don't need seat belts - you can't protect everyone from dying in EVERY car accident. Intelligent people understand that seat belts REDUCE the number of fatalities. Do you see the difference? "Reduce." No, we can't protect a kid from peanuts 100%. But we can reduce the risk. If enough people give a shit. Unfortunately people like you see everything as black and white, and zero sum. It's either all or nothing, and if they help the kids by banning peanuts then that's going to hurt me.
At this point all I can do is ask you to please not have any children.
Tim – We can reduce the maximum speed on cars to 10 mph. We won't stop people from driving their cars, we will just make it incredibly irritating in order to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Great argument. Well aslong as you and your child ins not inconvenienced.
If i could, i would post a video of a child having an anaphlactic reaction while their airway swells shut within minutes. Maybe then you would be able to imagine how scary it is to send your child off to school. My daughter is only 2 yrs. old so no school just yet. But, god help her with all these morons walking the planet. A young child doesnt always make the best decisions - no matter the parenting. As they mature, sure, its a parental issue at that point but not until then.
Thank you Mr. Peters. Apparently some people don't realize that 2 year old can't think for themselves and unfortunatley, we can't all stay at home all day and keep them in a bubble either.
While I am so thankful that I do not have children with allergies to peanuts, I also have an enormous amount of sympathy for those parents that do have this issue to deal with both in and outside of their home. I do not think, however, that banning peanut butter in the schools is the right answer. I think education for everyone concerned is what is needed. These kids will eventually become adults who will face the “peanut’s” of the world every day, in many situations so teaching them at the earliest of ages is essential. My son is asthmatic. He was taught about his triggers, how to know when and when not to use his inhaler, etc. before he started kindergarten. By the time he started school at 5 years of age, he was able to self medicate and control his asthma as if he were an adult. While of course, his issue with asthma was completely in his/our control and not associated with anything that another student might have in their lunch bag, it still is about the education. Kids with peanut allergies need to know at the very earliest of ages that this could essentially kill them. The schools need to accommodate the allergy to the extent that they are ready in an emergency and ensure that all the kids within the school understand that this child or these children could die if they come in contact with peanuts. Even having, as the poll online states, a dedicated table where no peanut or peanut butter eater may sit is an outstanding idea and should be mandatory in every school just like handicap parking spots are within parking lots. I see so many intolerant people commenting on this situation and it comes from BOTH sides of the fence. For those that do not have kids with peanut allergies…have a heart. For those that do….be practical and ensure your child is educated about their allergy.
We found out the hard way that my daughter was allergic to peanuts when she was 2 years old. Her first blissful taste turned into a nightmare when she went into anaphylactic shock after 1 bite. Luckily we lived less than a mile from the nearest hospital. Each of her days is a struggle just to survive. At 9 years old, she has been thru 10 epi-pens, 10 emergency room rushes, and dozens near misses from the careless acts of other. Yes, peanuts are a glorious gift from GOD that all SHOULD be able to experience freely. However, put in the wrong hands, they are a dangerous weapon. I mean it would be great to be able to say each kid for him/herself or that it's the parents responsibility to keep them from harm. Look, if I was at school all day with my kid, you better believe that a peanut cell wouldn't get within a mile of her. The fact is that there are so many occassions when CHILDREN just don't know any better and it's going to turn out bad. Here are several examples of reasons why peanuts should be completely banned from school and other public places.
1. Sagebrush Steakhouse has a barrell of them in thier lobby where toddlers can reach in and grab or better yet, some putz in line tries to hand them to your cute kid like they are candy.
2. Schools sometimes provide sack lunches where they have PB&J sandwhiches. Even though your kid has a dietary order stating that they aren't supposed to have peanuts, some substitute is not going to read it or they are going to write the wrong name on the wrong bag and your kid is going to take a bite before they realize wuts happened.
3. Some kid in daycare is going to bring in some peanut M&N's and start handing them out w/out permission.
4. Some kid in school is going to bring trail mix that looks like candy in at lunch and try to trade for something your kid has.
5. The school is going to let something slip that may have peanut by-products in it.
6. Your kid is going to go to a neighbors house and eat some fried chicken that was fried in peanut oil.
There is NO WAY an adult can keep peanuts away from thier child 100% of the time. How can you expect a child to be able to fend off the constant barrage?
Really? I shouldn't have access to a peanut product anywhere "in public" because of your kid's problem? Man, you make me want to scatter peanuts everyplace I go. Sounds like a gene pool that needs to be drained.
Read the stuff at the top again you moron. "Schools." Not "public." Again, one of the saddest facts of life is that stupidity doesn't hurt enough to keep people away from computers.
This is what Chelsea said up above: "Here are several examples of reasons why peanuts should be completely banned from school and other public places..." You're the ignoramus here.
It's high time people take responsibility for themselves. I realize there are allergies to peanut butter, but there's allergies to wheat, milk, fish, eggs, etc. If you ban everything a person could be allerigic to what will the kids eat? A child knows that they can't have something so they stay away from it and it's ok to let the school know of an allergy. But why punish everyone for a few. If the child is being bullied by other students because they can't eat something then that's another problem and should be handled not be tolerated by the school.
YOU MISS THE POINT I DO NOT WANT TO CATER TO YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN SO JUST LEAVE AND LEAVE ME ALONE. IF I DON'T LIKE IT SOMEWHERE I GET UP AND LEAVE-WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT THAT I DON'T HAVE FRIENDS I DON'T LIKE WHY SHOULD I LIKE YOU
Peanut Butters on the market such as the ones that are mass produced for institutional purposes should be banned for reasons to do with hydrogenated oils – not due to nut-related allergies. Children who have allergies of all kinds: gluten, dairy, nuts etc. will need to learn to avoid these foods for the rest of their lives. I do not think that we should only serve foods that have no known allergies. That would not be fair to kids without those allergies. Overcoming the growing issues to do with obesity in this country , to me, would be more pertinent than avoiding known allergies, since allergic foods will need to be a learned process in order for those children to get to adulthood. But feeding EVERYONE foods that have hydrogenated oils that are known links to obesity and subsequent illness – is that what we want to serve our children?
Hey from recent studies the PB allergey is due to non exposure to peanuts in young age, 2-3years, so feed them some PB & no allergy..... Hey I am allergic to TUNA Fish, I barf when it crosses my lips & puke smelling it, should it be banned, no walk away, just say NO......my last air flight cancelled the in flight snacks (peanuts) because some little PB allergic wimp complained, drive dude, dont cheat me out o'mi nutz....
Peanut butter allergies are interesting not for the rise of this once unheard of allergy but instead of the world adding yet another chapter in "The Emperor's New Clothes"
Reporting your child as having a peanut butter allergy immediately prompts an overwhelming response from the school and requires that all other parents notice you, your child and additionally change your routine out of respect for the situation.
I think certainly a large number of peanut allergies are outright hoaxes or exxagerations to garner attention by parents. No one sees beyond what they are told.
People always love attention, are over sensitive about children, are ultra concerned about social pecking orders and additionally being a hypochondriac runs rampant in America. Guess what – My child has a peanut allergy! How terrible?! What can we do to help?
There is likely no increase in the number of real peanut allergies – but there is a remarkable increase in the number of reported peanut allergies!!
No one questions whether these things are true and its any easy way to garner petty sympathy and attention from the community.
A certified exam from a allergy doctor certifying to the intense and life threatening allergy should be a requirement before parents are permitted to request these accomodations, peanut or otherwise.
Well, that makes sense. As the parent of a six year old with a peanut allergy, it never actually occured to me to take him to the doctor. I have to admit, you've pegged me. I'm more interested in creating a disturbance at my child's school and stigmatize him at the same time, for the sake of garnering a little attention, than I am at leading a normal life.
OK, all sarcasm aside: As difficult as it may be, you are officially the stupidest person to post on this forum. Congratulations.
Tim, Tim, Tim... Tsk...Tsk. It's ok to be so narrow minded about this issue, but let's keep civil. Your replies all result end in rude insults. Just because some disgrees with you, it doesn't mean you need to be rude you dumb ar$e. LOL
What can I say Bob? I love my kid with his peanut allergy. (And all sarcasm aside, last time I checked he actually has a peanut allergy. I'm not just trying to get attention.)
It's possible that the increase in food allergies in recent generations is related to how much more we keep ourselves clean and avoid things that aren't clean, as a society. However, children are born with food allergies so parental overprotectiveness is not a consideration.
Tim, you are wrong on this one. Research proves, just as being too clean causes one to be more susceptible to germs; lack of exposure to allergens can causes one to be sensitive to it.
I am a school teacher who has had many students with these allergies. One was so severe that my student could have died if peanuts even came near him. Simple solution, peanuts were not allowed in MY classroom. The school did not become peanut free. Parents were great and used alternatives for their children's lunches such as soy butter, sunflower butter etc. Classrooms where allergies were not a problem were peanut OK zones. But as always teachers, students and parents were aware of the children with allergies and always took precautions such as handwashing etc. A little empathy and understanding by the school community went a long way and everyone was happy.
The focus should be on the children bullying others bc of their allergies. They need to be repremanded and educated about the consequences for their actions.
I, too, have a child with a nut allergy and I started training her at age 3. I also had to train well meaning teachers who thought she was being fussy. IF there was a bully I showed both my kids how to stand up and speak for themselves. BANNING foods is a slippery slope. You ban steak because a baby can't chew. C'mon folks. The peanut allergy is a dangerous allergy and education is the key to saving lives.
It is sad at how embittered these boards are. Always, there is so much anger at everything here in the US lately. Even a damn peanut allergy discussion has people ready to go to blows.
I forsee soon the 28th amendment to the Constitution to protect the children with allergies:
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the cultivation, processing , sale, or transportation of peanuts or peanut products within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for any purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
(if you look closely, it is heavily based on the 18th amendment(ie prohibition) With this amendment there will soon be a large underground organized crime network in the trafficking of peanuts and peanut products with peanut speakeasies and essential repeat of the rampant organized crime of the 1920s
As the parent of a child with SEVERE food allergies…including peanuts…I believe that it is my responsibility to keep my child safe. Although the school is aware of her allergies she has been trained from a young age to read labels and identify the foods she can not have. This is something that she needs to be educated on more than anyone…because she will deal with it all her life. We are lucky that her school has made the choice to educate teachers and students but in the end I am the one who takes full responsibility for her food…sending lunch and snacks that she can safely enjoy.
My kid is allergic to bees. Am I going to demand that a glass dome be erected over the school? NO, that is just how it is. I have educated her on what to do if ever stung by a bee, I'm not leaving it up to others, nor am I going to demand that every flower be eradicated from the planet.
You better teach your kids better ways to eat and not to eat things u didn’t prepare for them… Explain them how important is know what he eats and I will like to know if you take all that cause allergies of the kitchen then you better close the school… lest be realistic… I did grow up allergic to sea food.. I know since I was a kid.. One of my brothers to peanuts’… My mom always say that I have to adapt to the world, never try to change the world because my allergies… good luck on that and my opinion if you still not understand me is NO do not take it out of the menu…
I missed many a day of school due to the triggers in the classroom that set off my severe asthma attacks- came close to being left back as well as almost dying once or twice from it- we don't know how I survived. I live with this illness- have it for 47 years. It is my problem & I learn how to handle it no matter how difficult. The school arena for me triggered worse reactions than my friend with peanut allergies's kid has ever seen & I hope never sees...we can educate these kids, their friends, their teachers- they can help (they tried changing MY seat a few times) but let's not hurt others at our expense. Banning is downright not fair to the mainstream healthy. I suffered but didn't make others do the same for me and my illness...
Peanut butter should be allowed in schools. I it is one of the most nutritious foods available for people. If some kids are allergic to it, they should be taught not to eat it by their parents. There are many different kinds of food sthat people or kids are allergic to. Milk or dairy for example is one of the top foods that people have reactions to. Should we start banning MILK in schools?... I don't think so!
unfortunately...people don't understand until they see their own child suffer a reaction...so for one minute i ask you to reconsider your stance if it was your child that was having an anaphylactic reaction (a severe life threatening reaction...something my son has had 11 times before he was 2 yrs old) to a food. it's so sad that people are quick to judge and quick to respond with these harsh statements when it comes to children and their well being.
Leti – I would not send my kid to school because it could happen even with the ban. I would never take that chance. As you can see from the responses that lots of people don't care or disagree. Kids eat peanut butter at home at breakfast and lunch. Accidental contamination could easily happen. I feel for you, but ther is too much at stake.
Schools teach and help prepare children to be productive adults.
Children who expect their environments to cater to them may not be prepared for the workforce or outside world.
Would be good to teach children to wash their hands and brush their teeth after eating, cover their mouths when coughing/sneezing, keep their mouths closed when eating. This would keep airborne food particles and germs down and be a benefit to themselves and society.
#1) Thank god I went through school before this was an issue.
#2) Thank god I don't intend to breed so I won't have to worry about it in the future either.
I think the bigger question is...why are we seeing all these peanut allergies? Too much antibacterial soap? Too many chemicals in the water? Weakening gene pool? Didn't they used to put kids like this in plastic bubbles or let them die off?
Banning peanut butter in schools is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard for several reasons. First off referencing that peanut butter should be banned because there are healthier alternatives completely misses the point of American and growing up: you are responsible for your own decisions.
Secondly it should be the parents responsibility to educate their children on how to care for themselves. That is what being a parent IS! Parents of allergic children should educate their children to stay away from peanuts (and tell other students they are allergic if it is brought near them) and the allergy should be documented by the school so if something does happen they can respond correctly. If kids who are allergic need to have their own table, that's one thing but telling someone else what they can and cannot consume for lunch is going too far.
I sympathize with people who have allergies. However, schools and the rest of the world cannot be changed to accommodate every possible allergic condition. In addition to peanuts, there are allergies to gluten (in bread), shellfish, and milk products. Some people are also allergic to pollen, dust, mold, synthetic fabrics, perfumes, etc.
There is no practical way to eliminate all the potential allergens from schools or anywhere else. People with allergies have to come up with coping strategies – just like people with pacemakers have to avoid microwave ovens. Individuals who are at risk have to take the responsibility to look out for themselves.
I'm not trying to be mean about the situation. I'm trying to be realistic. It might not be "fair" – but it's the way life is.
Peanut allergies are very serious and it's up to all parents to educate their children on how to be safe whether your child has an allergy or not . The problem I have is that schools are misleading parents with children who have these allergies when they decide to become "peanut-free". There is still going to be that random kid that comes to school with peanut butter on his fingers from breakfast and spreads it on the table next to someone who has an allergy. Outright bans are no fun either. If you're going to ban peanuts than you might as well ban playground time because there is always that chance that someone with a bee allergy might get stung by a bee. I think that education is the best answer as well as making it known to students and teachers who has the allergies so everyone is aware and prepared if something happens.
Ther is a ban on PB in all schools in Ontario. What a problem that has cause me!
Neither of my kids eat anything but peanut butter or nutella. Both are banned from our schools.
Try explaining to a 5 or 6 year old why they are only getting bread and butter (neither eats jam. fish or cold cuts) for lunch with fruit and veggies.
My niece has to carry an epi pin due to her fish allergy. She obviously is not as important as fish is still allowed in schools.
I think that ther should be a room set aside for those with sever allergies to eat in and allow kids to be kids and eat their PB
Eric, I know its difficult to sacrifice your own interests for the sake of others but thats what makes this world go round. Im sorry to inconvenience your peanut eating desires. Its hardly a debate when were talking about sacrfificing peanut products, in trade for the well being of 'our' children. My guess is that your divorced, overwieght, self-indulging, and teaching your children the same 'critical thinking'. Go back to work, or are you unemployed as well??
Mr. Peters – Lost of kids are allergic to milk and milk, wheat, eggs, sea food and soy products – all common food allergies. Why don't you check the ingredients out on most products. So no milk, no cheese, no yogurt, no bread, no crackers, no tuna sandwiches, no samon sandwiches, no pudding, ...what the hell are kids suppose to eat ? Bark?
Mr. Peters, from the sound of it you're one of those self absorbed parents who thinks your little Johnny is god's gift to the world and that he deserves and A in class no matter how poorly he does just because his Billy got an A for the best work. In your twisted world it's not fair that others do better than your child, because he also should be the quarterback. Allergies are difficult, but the world is not going to rid itself of peanuts and bees and bully's and smarter kids than yours. Grow up Mr. Peters and with a little work, perhaps your kids can as well.
Why not just ban eating from schools? Kids are too fat anyway and it should be the responsibility of the parents to provide them with meals that are catered to their tastes and allergies.
cool. this is great...also, there are kids allergic to water. Now everyone will have to do without water because there are some people actually out there with water allergies. So now no one can have water just as those with peanut allergies can do away with peoples' rights to give their kids peanut butter.
I am a mother of a 6 year old child who has a LIFE THREATENING peanut allergy. I am saddened by some of these comments and the fact that people would take the life of my child so lightly. I would never for a moment talk about another child as I hear some people here talking. My husband or I go to school everyday for lunch to ensure that our child is safe. We are the advocates for our child and do what we can to make sure that he is safe. I have not tried to "ban" pb at his school, but this year we have successfully established a peanut/nut free table and that is working very well. I do not try to force anything upon anyone about this topic when some people are so close minded, but I am always very open to talking about it when someone approaches me. If anyone is interested in learning more about the seriousness of this...we have experienced it first hand. And yes, peanut particles can be in the air and can be life threatening. I am also involved in an allergy support group which helps me to deal with this. I recommend for anyone that has an allergic child. Thank you so much to those of you who do show compassion for other's children...
I am sorry that your child has to go through this. And I am sorry about the stress that this causes you and your family. But what about the kids with wheat allergies, shellfish allergies?? Should they ban all those things as well?
In my post, I do state that I have not tried to ban peanuts at my son's school. I believe that the parents of children who do have other life threatening allergies should try at their school to enforce an allergy free table. It took me over a year to establish one at my son's school. The thing is the parent has to be the one to head it up and build good relationships with the school staff, principal, school nurse, etc. I have made sure that everyone knows my son and has put his face with his name. This is what I do to make sure that my child is safe. Sorry for the long winded answer...
Its serious and that is fine to have a peanut free table. With that said, if there are airborne particles and your child is that allergic, he could still be at risk. I dont think that other kids rights should be infringed upon if it is as serious as having a reaction to airborne particles. If this is the case, I would strongly consider having the child home schooled because of the severity of the condition.
you are right...home schooling could be an option, but at this time it is not something that I feel we need to do. we fortunately have not had an episode because of airborne peanut particles. i was just stating that it is a fact that can affect some individuals because some of the posts have stated otherwise.
Idiot. So do you think we should only ban the one thing that causes the most problems? I don't know about you but I can walk and chew gum at the same time. Here's an exercise for you: Go find the thing that kills more people than auto accidents among underage drivers. Then go find a web site where people discuss how to make teenage driving safer, and tell them that the thing you found kills more people than teen driving. God, you are so friggin' stupid. STUPID. Does logic play in, you moron?? Do you think before you open your stupid piehole? God I am so tired of stupid people.
What about the kids who are alergic to wheat products? Should they ban bread, chips, and everything else? There is a term for this type of thinking. It's call the "Pussification of America."
After reading so many of these responses and looking at the results I only have one thing to say. You Americans are selfish. I am Canadian and we work together meaning.. if it takes us to ban peanuts because it would save the life of one child then that’s what we do, and it s worth it. My son does not have any allergies. I don't get to send him to school with peanut butter sandwiches like I was able to when I was a kid. I do make them for him at home. Remember it's not the kids fault he is allergic. He was born with it. It's not like he has a choice in the matter. Don't deprive him of a childhood because of it. Life isn't always fair but together we can make life that much more comfortable. Stop being selfish.
So you are only reading the posts made by the jerks? All the people who are posting statements in agreement to you– they are not Americans? You have quite the ego. Some of us are selfish, yes. But not all of us are as smug as you, it seems.
Yes Denis.. Ill admit it.. IM SELFISH... I like my freedoms... I have been raised to cherish my freedoms from control freaks that want to dictate every aspect of my life. I like having the freedom of speech that you Canadians lack... You can't even publish anything that may offend anyone without fear of being arrested. Well... I hope you enjoy living like that. I will NOT EVER tolerate that. These little things where a small group attempts to DICTATE behavior of the masses is where it all begins. Again... it is the MINORITY that is demanding that everyone else change their behavior that are the SELFISH ones. So.. enjoy your semi-free life in Canada and I hope you dont offend anyone and end up in jail.
Please don't lump all Canadians under your banner. Although there does need to be some protection for kids with food allergies, blanket bans are not the way to go about this. As has been mentioned earlier, allergen-free tables are usually a sufficient protection for kids, while enabling the other kids to exercise choice in their dietary needs. This is particularly important for low income families, where nut butters represent a inexpensive form of protein for their kids. Saying "Ban all nuts" is all well and good, but will there be a supplemental food program for those affected?
As to the persecution that children with allergies face; the answer to this lies with the parents (usually of the other children). If a child forces contact with an allegen on another child, treat it as if it were a physical assault and discipline your child.
The way we build up a tolerance to things is by being introduced to them while our bodies can adjust (i.e., when we are young). Some doctors even advocate, under supervision, introducing allergens to people in small increments until their bodies build up a tolerance.
The problem is that we would rather complain and avoid the situation than have our children learn to deal with it. They won't be able to hide their entire lives, and I would hate to read someone's tombstone saying: "I died from a goober because my momma and daddy couldn't simply teach me how to survive."
This is a case where the line between compassion and stupidity is being crossed with regularity.
FYI, the therapy you are recommending (feed the allergen small doses) hasn't been approved by the FDA
because there have been deaths within the study. You really should have your facts straight before recommending
something like that.
OMG so many ignorant people and responses I really don't know where to start. Honestly are you all that stupid and that insensitive? God help us all if that is the case. I have a son with a peanut/tree nut allergy he sits at the peanut free table with others that suffer from peanut allergies. It is very common now. However, we are lucky because he is ok as long as he does not touch or ingest it. I have heard of others who can not even be in the same room as it. I wish people would educate themselves and be sensitive to others. OUr world would be a better place. For those who refuse to do that – maybe one day you or someone you love will experience a life threatening food allergy and then you will know what it is like – chances are this will happen.
I keep trying to convince myself that there aren't so many stupid morons in the world but forums like this keep making that a futile effort. The "don't bother me with your problems" mentality reveals the animal in so many people.
I believe that every child has a right to attend school and if the peanut allergy is the problem then ban the peanuts.
There was a child in my district that couldn't attend school because of his airborne peanut allergy.
Give me a break, there are a ton of food choices on a school menu. No child HAS to have PB & J. If teaching your
child compassion for others is against your beliefs, then shame on you.
Let's ban all foods that cause allergys; strawberrys, peanuts, milk, wheat, eggs, fish, shellfish, to name a few; Do not allow these foods in schools; feed the students tofu and carrots (if they are not allergic) I have allergys, but I take responsibility for them my self; and try not to inconvience others, Teach the kids about their allergy and how to manage it and leave the others alone.
Let's just home school all the children. Between food allergies, bee allergies, car accidents, bullying, drinking, the flu. It's obviously too dangerous to allow these kids out in public. I know a mother who won't let their kids in the woods because of tic born disease. These kids are precious to allow them exposure to the worldly elements. If the peanut allergy doesn't get them, than it will be the cashew nuts or the wayward snickers bar after the holloween where Jason and witches are banned.
From kindergarten through sixth grade, I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch at least twice a week and, SURPRISE, none of my schoolmates died because of it. Maybe we need to stop living in a state of constant fear.
"Fear is the mindkiller. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration." – the Bene Gesserit
i haven't been to school in years, but i distinctly remember having a lunch card. at the time, it was a punch card but i'm sure there's a more technologically savvy lunch card now that can be swiped or something.
any way we could have a notice to the lunchlady printed on the card, or even show up on their screen that flags them as to what this particular child may be allergic to? let's leave it up to the lunch staff to determine whether a child should have something or not.
and at some point, the child will learn, whether they like it or not, that they cannot have something when they are restricted from it by a higher authority. if schools want to serve lunch to children, the staff should be responsible for the goings on in 'their' lunchroom.
or go back to the 1800s where kids brought their own food. i assure you, it would be MUCH cheaper for families and schools alike to have the parents provide a sack lunch for their kids. that way the parents KNOWS what's going into the lunch bag and can decide how they want to feed THEIR children.
I think it is ridiculous how people think that others should change just because they have a problem. If a child has a nut allergy the parents or guardians should be the ones that are taking the necessary precautions to assure the child's safety. They shouldn't expect the school and everyone around them to accommodate their child's nut allergy. Also, the parents should do their best to educate their child about their allergy. If the child knows that nut products can cause a reaction which could kill them, hopefully they would have enough common sense to stay away from it!
For many food allergies, the threat is hidden. Food that wasn't properly removed by cleaning. Food processed in plants that also process the allergen. It's not possible to simply stay away from an allergen in an environment where that allergen can be on the underside of the table, in the air, on another person's clothes, etc.
You can always find someone who thinks ANYTHING is reasonable... but once you start, where do you stop? First peanut butter, then other nuts, then eggs, and so on Ad Infinitum. And to make things REALLY interesting, what happens when someone decides one child is allergic to another child? And finally, are you raising these children to protect themselves in a hostile environment, or to assume someone will always be there to make the hazards go away??
A comment about what kids are capable of: I have a six year old son with a peanut allergy. A couple of weeks ago I took him to a birthday party at a public facility. He made friends with a kid he did not previously know. When the time came for cake, I gave my son the cupcake we had brought for him, since my wife had determined the cake was not safe. My son's new friend naturally asked about the cupcake and my son told him the reason for it.
Several minutes later my son's friend shoved his cake in my son's face.
So to those of you who think it's as simple as educating our children to be safe: We need to educate YOUR CHILDREN too. A six year old, seven, eight, ten... 12? 15? Kids that age don't get it. People under 20 have been shown in numerous studies to not have the cognitive ability to understand risk and consequence. Most kids adolescent age and younger don't understand what death is, and most have never been seriously hurt. THEY DON'T GET IT. That's why we discuss the idea of making universal rules about what's allowed and what's not: BECAUSE AN INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH is sometimes the only thing that really creates reasonable safeguards.
You can thank Cass Sunstein for this and more to come because he thinks were all Hommer Simson and someone to control and tell us what is good for all.
Since when do schools only have a single option at the lunch counter? I agree that if a child is alergic to something they should not be forced to eat it. I believe that for food safety that peanut butter should be prepared in a certain area where it will not contaminate other foods. I really don't see a need to ban peanut butter. Instead we should probably ban bread. It is clearly evil and cannot be trusted in the hands of children. For that matter, what about celery? It has that stringy stuff in it.
I don't see a need to ban peanut butter in every public school nationwide. However, if there is a child that does have a life-threatening allergy, then I think it's up to the school to handle that on a case by case basis. Nobody should be complaining about making adjustments if there is a real and immediate threat. I have been on airplanes before where there were no nuts allowed because of a passenger's peanut allergy. Nobody kicked and screamed about being deprived of peanut butter for the hourlong duration of the flight. I like peanut butter too, but not enough to KILL for it, for heaven's sake.
It's a slippery slope to start banning certain food items from children's lunches. Many children have food allergies to items other than peanut butter, and it would create chaos to ban all of these items. The better solution is for parents to educate their children about what they should and should not eat.
My daughter is in 3rd grade. In her school, there are separate tables for children with food allergies. That means I can send her in with PB&J for lunch. The system has worked for as long as she has attended. Also, all lunchroom staff and teachers are trained to recognize when children go into distress due to food problems – this includes choking as well as allergic reactions.
Some individual classrooms have identified children with nut allergies. If there are none identified to the parents, there are no restrictions on what the child can bring in for snacks. There is a restriction on bringing food to the classrooms for birthdays, which I can understand. What I find ironic is as a PTA we are not allowed to sell home baked goods at bake sales because of potential food allergy/dietary law restrictions. Given this, how did my generation ever survive to adulthood without Big Brother watching over us?
More hyperbole. Joe, not everyone from your generation survived. And I would submit that some from your generation who died died because of things that could have been prevented. Also, the rate of peanut allergies in children was almost unheard of back in your generation. The rates have increased dramatically in only recent years.
Tim I think you are on to something! It is these over coddling parents.. that dont allow their children to eat certain foods or only allow them to eat vegetables... or make them constantly bathe in the purell hand sanitizer lotions that are causing the problems to explode..... they try to be 'healthier'.. however... they are doing the exact opposite and making these allergy issues even worse. We have gotten along just fine until this point...
You got Peanut Butter in my Chocolate.
I think we should take a state like say....Utah. Put a 12 foot high barb wired fence around it and put all these PB allergic kids inside the fence with their own schools, churches, shopping malls, etc. where they can live out their lives in total harmony without fear of allergic reactions. Parents can visit on weekends and holidays.
To everyone saying water allergies do not exist, please check your facts. No, there is no actual allergy against it that causes a histamine release (as in allergies to peanut butter, etc), but there is a disorder that causes extreme hypersensitivity to it, causing someone who comes into contact with water to develop severe rashes closely resembling those of an allergic reaction. It is called Aquagenic urticaria. I wish people would stop spouting things off on here without knowing what they're talking about.
I'm 19 years old and can't imagine growing up without eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch at school. Sure, lunch meat is okay for some kids, but there are actually people who seriously do not like cold cuts. There is also the question of vegetarians who don't have much choice for protein besides peanut butter. I don't understand why this is becoming an issue now when people have been allergic to peanut butter for centuries. People have made it work since the institution of the public school system. I hope kids with allergies are safely guarded against peanut butter or anything else, but that is the responsibility of the parent.
Quite honestly.. I think any parent putting lunch meat on a child's sandwich should be thrown in jail... Also.. any parent feeding their children hot dogs... chicken nuggets... or any processed meat food for that matter... should be prosecuted for child endangerment. Peanut butter is much healthier than any of those aforementioned items. It would be a travesty if we let .0005% or whatever it is... banish peanut butter from existence. LOOK.. Im sorry for their allergies.. but pack em in a space suit and send em to school.
Right from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease:
"Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but only eight foods cause nine out of ten reactions. They are milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish."
Are we going to ban all of those foods from schools? According to the NIAID 0.5% of children under the 18 have legitimate food allergies (vs food sensitivity). So if we're going to ban peanuts, we need to ban milk, soy, eggs, wheat, tree nuts, fish and shellfish too. If we're willing to do that for .5% of the population, then we should also ban from schools any other food a child attending that school is allergic to.
Based on the National Center for Education Statistics, the average American elementary school has 402 students. Based on that, on average, 2 students in the elementary school have an allergy to the aforementioned allergens. If two students are enough to ban an allergen, then we should also be able to ban an allergen if simply 1 student is allergic to it.
Any one else see the insanity when you think of the numbers? I understand that parents want to keep their children safe, but short of sticking your child in a bubble, you cannot protect them from everything. With that said, I do believe that is the parents who should take precautions to protect their children. According to the NIAID, only 2000 people a year are hospitalized from any type of food allergy and only150 people a year, die from all food allergies combined. From the NHTSA, over 35,000 people die a year from car accidents. For all of those people who are saying that peanuts need to be banned in schools because they could kill there children, I bet you don't think twice that when you buckle your child up they 233 times more likely to die on the drive to school than from any food allergy.
Problem though, you say we should take soy out of the cafeteria too, but kids need their milk right? what about that population of kids who are lactose intolerant and can only drink soy milk? How do we choose which group to cater towards if there are critical limitations that counter each other in that situation? Going blitz off paranoid is not going to help solve any problems, that attitude will just create more. A solution that fits both sides is necessary, but completely banning peanut butter from schools is A) not going to work because there is no way schools can enforce this. What are they going to do? take the kid's food and make him starve through lunch, or take his food and have to pay for the food the child needs. That's just a recipe for both disaster as well as lawsuits for child neglect. B) is ethically wrong. Though I feel for the minority who have storng extreme allergies, the fact of the matter is, as a society, we cannot allow a tiny majority, whether or not their argument has validity, control our actions.
I yelled about the people using the "Darwinism" theory last time to describe their point, this time I'll focus on the other extremists for the other side. No one here has any right to personally judge anyone else on here. No one knows who anyone else is in real life, what they struggle with and any other important details. I've seen a bunch of allergy pro parents yelling at those who say peanut butter is a cheap and healthy way to go, telling them they should just get off their lazy asses and go get jobs. Well, newsflash to all of you, getting a job isn't as easy as some of you are making it sound. The economy is a sh*thole right now, and people are getting laid off left and right. You don't know what their lives are like, so stop acting as if you have any right to judge their decisions.
An elementary school near me banned nuts and all nut products...what happened was that a flourishing black market on peanut butter cups, single peanuts, and shots of peanut butter began to explode...i mean these kids were hitting the nuts hard until there had to be a war on nuts, things still aren't the same, you drive by that school and its a mess, kids walking around shaking and crying out for just one more shot of peanut butter...ahhhh the humanity
How dare you make comments like this. You all have NO idea what this is like. I have a son with a severe peanut allergy. It is NOT bad parenting. He did NOT ask for it. The first time he ate it, he had a severe reaction. We now have to carry an epi-pen with us everywhere we go. For the rest of his life, he will never be able to have them. And yes, he even has a reaction when he smells it. It is not fair for him to keep him home and keep him in a bubble. I have never once asked a school to ban it, but it does make it easier if they do. I have heard parents complain about not being able to bring PB to school. How is this my fault if all your kid will eat is peanut butter? That people IS bad parenting. My son has no choice, yours do. The comments on this page have made me sick. For one second, put yourself in his shoes. You may not think a ban is the answer..but peanut is one of the few allergies that can cause death. I'm not talking about a runny nose..death. So yes when a school asks you to not bring it and you do anyway because your kid can't eat anything else...you are risking a child's life. Again, how would you feel if this were your child??
There is a big difference between peanuts and peanut butter when it comes to peanut allergy. The smell of peanuts and peanut butter is NOT a known allergen. Breathing peanut pieces in the air is. Peanut butter does NOT become airborne and therefore only causes allergies when eaten. I am very allergic to peanuts, but i have never once asked the rest of the world to do without them because of me.That would be stupid and very self centered. When these kids grow up they can not ask that no one bring peanuts or peanut butter to work, so they need to learn how to protect themselves just as i have. The number of deaths a year by food allergens is only 150 so let's be realistic here.
NO-peanut butter should not be banned. It is a healthy satiating food. Schools however should be prepared to handle any potential emergency. Kids who are allergic to peanuts know they are allergic as do their parents. It is the parents responsibility to make sure the child understands the significance of the problem with eating a knowingly allergic product. Separate lunchrooms would be an acceptable solution also.
all you people who are saying that they dont care about the kids with allergies, you are all selfish. i dont believe in banning pb in schools, but i do belive in taking precautions for people who are allergic. being a strong society means working together to save eachother and if you dont give a crap about others then you are wrong. im not saying that we should baby the people with allergies, but geeze... it doesnt hurt to care.you would want people to care for you in even in the slightest way, wouldnt you? its called the golden rule...learn it!
Wow so many comments, too many to read. Look something needs to give, and maybe a solution in the middle should be created. No one wants to be seperated from their friends at lunch, so what do we do? I for one am 41 years old and still love PB&J. But I am not going to offer my food to anyone. So I don't understand will a kid in school force his lunch on his friend if his friend says no? Let kids eat what they can and be a good parent.
Ok, I have read a lot of stupid and hateful posts on here. I normally would not weigh in on one of these forums, but since I have a daughter with a tree nut allergy I feel like I have to. First of all, this is a very dangerous condition. How dare any of you, compare it to pet dander, mold or pollen. Food allergies are very serious. If my daughter is exposed to the slightest residue from any type of tree nut, she will die without immediate medical attention. However, she does not have an allergy to peanuts & normally eats a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. That being said; schools banning peanut butter would affect her also, but because of her condition and being educated about this she would understand. I would like to think that most parents try to protect their children and keep them from harm. This is no different. Kids don't always know or think about what they are doing. Small children like to play around, they don't alway wash their hands. The may drink out of someones cup after eating peanut butter or they may have it on their hands and touch what an allergic child is eating. Older kids may not fully comprehend the severity of an allergic childs condition and play a prank on someone, causing a severe reaction or even death. This allergy is common enough that schools & daycares should become nut free environments. To those of you who disagree & want to be hateful. What would you do to make sure your child is protected?
What would I do to protect my child: I can't say since this is a public forum and I don't want to end up on a watch list somewhere. What I will say is this: I'm sorry your child has an allergy that is life threatening and I wish the world was a different place where we didn't have to deal with these kinds of things. But the reality is that it's a big world out there and we have no way of knowing what dangers our children face. What you and many of your ilk (and I use that word deliberately to describe my frustration with ALL YALL) don't seem to get is that it isn't just the schools, it's the playground during the summer break, it's a quick stop at a friend's house and their parent doesn't know your child is allergic, it's any of a number of things that you have no control over and here you controlling b______s go trying to make everyone make you feel safe. That isn't my responsibility, nor is it the responsibility of the government. For you and YOUR CHILDREN IT IS YOU who is responsible. If you are unwilling to work with the school and your kid and TEACH THEM WELL then why do I have to protect them from themselves?
HOW DARE you belittle pet dander allergies. If I come in contact with any cat dander.. I have a SEVERE allergic reaction that triggers an asthma attack. I have almost died on a few occasions because of this. Don't you dare tell me that the peanut allergy is worse. Talk about ignorance... you should look in the mirror! You know what.. I deal with my condition and dont expect EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD to accommodate my health issues.
I understand both sides of this story, but I have had plenty of friends allergic to a variety of things, and all it takes is slight adjustments. It's just too selfish to either 1) ignore the problem because it isn't your kid with an allergy or 2) to ban it all together because of a handful of little ones. I never want to see a child get sick or be hurt, but I do think that this is America. It's not like outside of school the rest of the world is going to ban peanut butter for your child. Once they get into college and into a work environment, nobody is going to adjust their lives for the same allergic kid the school district adjusted for. Teach kids early how to be proactive, because school eventually ends. If you know your child is allergic, find the other parents of children with peanut allergies and ask that those students have a separate table together as a health precaution. Parents with healthy kids, be mindful of your children's classmates and friends and maybe just be a little more understanding. Safety is a priority, but there have to be reasonable adjustments. A ban isn't reasonable. It's silly.
I ate peanut butter every day of my life in school. As much as I hate it, I believe that one day the problem will be so bad that we won't have a choice but to ban peanut butter from school. My son is allergic to peanuts, and believe me, when people have to experience it in their own families, they understand immediately and their attitude changes. The problem is that my son has had an allergic reaction on the playground because someone didn't wash their hands after eating peanut butter, so a peanut-free table isn't good enough for some. I wonder if it would be ok to have mold growing in the classrooms. After all, MY son is not allergic to mold.
As Tim said, well said. Now I'll ask you what I've asked others: If your child is that allergic then what are they doing outside your house? A kid on the playground with PB on their hands because they didn't wash? STOP THE F__KING PRESSES!!!!!!!!! WE'VE GOT A NEW LEAD STORY. I'm truly sorry that your child has this PROBLEM but really, you need to get a grip on teaching them to have a good life and not live in fear.
My main fear is that some kid is going to sneak in some reese's pieces to school and my kid will breathe them in....not the crunchy shell obviously but the peanut butter middle...mmmmm that peanut buttery middle...ahhhh but anyways, they banned nuts at the school but i'm worried one of these jerks will sneak something in, whose fault would that be if my kid dies from it? i'd want that little snot nosed 5 year old and their parent thrown in prison for life, for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, though I was raised to be "Leftist" this is where I put on the German uniform, grow a stupid moustache and start talking about "Weaklings destroying the human race!"
Civilization, our technology, is man's greatest threat. Simply put, those that would have died in nature survive and reproduce, magnifying their inferior genes. Unless man embraces a 'eugenics' policy, one that genetic technology/gene therapy can make more merciful, man will destroy himself by making himself more helpless than a clam if his 'shell' ever fails.
But, no, no more "Political Correctness". Ever read "Harrison Bergeron"? No more making us all weak to save the feelings of weaklings.
If feeding your kids peanut butter is your idea of a good lunch. Or better yet those of you that say that is the only thing my kids will eat. Parents LISTENT UP!!!! STOP BEING LAZY AND GET OFF THAT DEAD ASS AND MAKE THEM A DECENT LUNCH. Why don't you eat that nasty ass peanut butter for your lunch. If you can't afford something else then get a job if not for yourself do for your kids. Or join the Obama free lunch program.
Please tell me that you are impotent and unable to procreate. If you don't like PB or even think it's "of the devil" then by all means avoid it. If someone is so destitute that this is all they have and it's what they can feed their kid then YOU ARE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO GET OFF YOUR DEAD A$$ AND WAKE THE F__K UP.
Eric they are probably a vegetarian and like water cress sandwiches... Im sorry.. Im not changing my diet to accommodate anyone else. These people are control freaks...
I do not think it is necessary to change the schools and take peanut butter out of them. My granddaughter has the peanut allery (plus many others) and she is learning that she can't have certain foods and understands why. Yes, she knows that she cannot even sit at a table where they have the peanut butter – and her friends understand that if they want to sit with her for lunch, they cannot have PBJ sandwishes and they ask their mothers not to pack that for them because they want to sit with their friend. I think here, that everyone is learning. The kids who do not have allergies are also learning about those that have and are willing to compromise. After all, everyone can eat peanut butter at home if they are able to. And they can eat it in school too, just let the people who might have an allergic reaction to it, know that this is what they have. They can move to a different table – but they have to know.
You know seriously if a child has another disability it is taken into consideration with a medical IEP and they must be accommodated by the ADA. So how is a life threatening reaction to a food that is airborne by mold spores any different. Everyone who feel that these children do not need accommodation need to look inside themselves and realize what a terrible parent you are for feeling your non-allergic child is any better or special then anyone else's child. Most of the comments from parents too lazy to consider simply sending their kid a jelly sandwich to school w/o the peanut better just really aggravate me. Save your peanut better for after school with some whole wheat crackers or celery and the children with peanut allergies will be safe. (Oh and my child has several food allergies but peanuts are AIRBORNE ALLERGIES!) Stop belittling parents and children who have a life threatening condition to deal with on a daily basis and think of someone besides yourself for once. I am ASHAMED of my generation of parents. ASHAMED!
Lets build a space suit that these kids can wear that filters the air..and protects them from any airborne allergens.. PROBLEM SOLVED. I swear.. every day I wake up.... Im finding more and more of my freedoms disappearing... what the hell is the matter with you people.
I, too, have a deathly allergy to shellfish, despite being brought up in Louisiana where they are a staple and other places on the coast. However, our constitution does not allow for the abolition of peanut products in schools. It simply is not feasible to remove a staple of the American diet to accommodate a very small minority of the public. We already struggle with enough in our schools to add one more avoidable issue for educators to combat. It is unfortunate that some of us live in fear of a cross-contaminated knife or cutting board, but it is our responsibility, or in the case of a child, the parents' responsibility to remove the child from the situation. Our country was founded on the freedom of choice, among other things, and parents of severely allergic children must acquiesce to the good of the many.
Tell you what, you tell your kid not to eat my kid's PB&J sandwich and I'll speak to my kid about not stuffing his sandwich into your kid. Sounds fair right?
The only thing I can get my picky 5 year old to eat in her lunch is a PB & J. I understand the seriousness of the peanut allergy along with others such as wheat. However, I need to make sure that my child is eating something during her lunch time and she wants PB & J and I think she should be able to have it.
I can certainly understand the concerns of a parent who has a child that is seriously allergic to peanuts, but I'm afraid you can't force others to change there habits to accommodate a child with allergies. What about the child who has a severe allergy to bee stinks, is that parent going to insist that the entire area around the school be sprayed to kill off bees and wasps?
Here's the problem – a peanut-free table wouldn't be enough. It only opens the school up to a lawsuit from people claiming to have been given a false sense of security. Way too many commonly used ingredients contain peanut oil, and for some children, the smallest amount is deadly. You're talking about an extreme menu change to promise food that is free of peanut product. If you're talking about asbestos, which hurts everybody – get rid of it! You cannot expect a school, though, to offer foods free of all items that children may be allergic to, such as peanuts, eggs, wheat, dairy, soy, etc. Parents will need to tell children what they can and cannot eat, and possibly send them to school with their lunches and snacks from home. Additionally, the school cafeteria should post a sign warning all students of the possibility of peanuts and other such items in the food. I know this doesn't seem fair to those parents of children with allergies, but a 'peanut free table' may not seem fair to the parent of a child with a wheat allergy, either. There has to be a level of reason displayed here.
There are simply too many alternatives to peanut butter that don't cause allergic reactions. There is cashew butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter. And there is also soy butter..I know soy does cause allergic reactions but it is not nearly as common as peanut allergy. Plus, how could you knowingly send your kid to school with a peanut butter sandwich knowing their classmate has a deadly peanut allergy. Would you want your child to have to live with the kind of guilt that would cause if their classmate died because you were too lazy to pack your kid something else?
Firstly, an allergic child is far more likely to be killed riding home from school in a car than from a food allergy. Secondly, I have to alter my child's feeding habits to accommodate another's allergies. What about the child with a milk allergy, what about bee allergies, should be spray the school grounds to kill off bugs? Risk is a part of life, driving, playing sports, anything can cause harm. The allergic child and the parents have to deal with these issues everywhere..airplanes, restaurants, grocery stores. If you that worried, home school the child.
"The problem with your horrible comment is that your kid's wayward peanut butter at lunchtime could kill a child' - If we have food flying across that table into other peoples lunch, the problem isn't peanut butter but extreme eating. Everyone has an allergy. I'm allergic to cantaloupe. Does that mean nobody can have cantaloupe? No! I just steer clear of cantaloupe. If you're so paranoid, put your kid back in his plastic bubble and call it good. Otherwise, SHUT THE H-LL UP!
This should not be such a polarizing topic. As with politics, the extreme views are getting all the publicity. But the answer lies in the middle. Should peanut butter be banned in all schools? No. Of course not. Should schools take life threatening allergies very seriously? Of course. Just like with any disability, people need to help take care of one another. I will not respond to any of the bottom-feeders that have no human compassion. Their opinions are idiotic and everyone knows it but them.
Anyway, the reason that bans are discussed at all in the lower grades (and pre-k) is that many kids in those grades are extremely messy and peanut butter can end up anywhere in the classroom without taking some precautions. As kids get older, those with food allergies do have to learn to take their own precautions in order to live a productive and safe life. To ask little four- and five-year-olds to deal with that level of awareness is simply too much. But there are creative solutions that most intelligent parents will be happy with. For example, kids with severe food allergies can eat the very first lunch of the day, when the tables are cleaned and there can be, perhaps, more careful monitoring of who sits where (at the peanut-free table or a milk-free table). Most kids will be unaffected. I do find that the children who meet food-allergic kids early on have NO trouble adapting. Kids who thrived on peanut butter only the year before, will now prefer their mom make cheese sandwiches so that they can sit with their best friend, who is allergic to peanut butter. Kids get it, most of the time. There is plenty of room in the middle of this situation, where peanut butter can easily be banned in school from certain places and at certain times, while being available elsewhere. Moderation is the answer, and certainly this type of issue needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis, with parents working closely with their allergy-aware principals to find solutions that keep everyone happy and safe. It can be done.
Eric,
You know what–my child IS deathly allergic to peanut butter, along with tree nuts and stupid old seeds. But it still can be done. You just have to have a parent who is willing work hard to find solutions and a principal who is willing to work just as hard on the other end. Each party must take responsibility for keeping the kids safe. It's so logical and boring that people must forget that it is even an option.
Sure, we will compromise. The affected kids will just sort of semi-die. If they do die, the parents can have a new kid, they will just pick one of the surviving classmates. That kid will be assigned to take the dead one's place, and the other parents can see pictures of him or her every few months. Sounds like a good compromise.
My son is allergic to having water in his lungs, causes a bad reaction when this happens. So I have told him "Do not dunk your head under water and inhale". Unfortunately, due to large amounts of water present in our childrens schools, I cannot cannot guarantee that this won't happen. I understand that my child should have to learn to deal with his water allergy, but he is just so young. The other kids may not be aware of his allergy and might playfully dunk his head under water long enough for him to need to inhale. Considering this possibility, I have been on a strong campaign to remove all water from our schools here in Florida. I admit my success has been limited however. One administrator told me that I was ridiculous when I asked him to lower the relative humidity to 0%. What gives him the right to laugh at a concerned parent? Who is he to think he knows what is safe or "best" for my son?
What about tree nuts? Those can kill, too.....almond butter, chashew butter, etc. If someone can die from being around a food item, and with limited cafeteria supervision at schools, parents can't be there every second. If there are kids at that school THAT allergic, ban it at that school and the others can eat it at home. If you dont' understand that, be grateful your child doesn't have a life-threatening food allergy.
and looking at other comments....I understand the importance of freedom of speech but outlets like this show how really self-centered, ignorant and sad a portion of America truly is.....find something else to do with your time than post comments that make no sense.
"If someone can die from being around a food item, and with limited cafeteria supervision at schools, parents can't be there every second. If there are kids at that school THAT allergic, ban it at that school and the others can eat it at home." "I understand the importance of freedom of speech but outlets like this show how really self-centered, ignorant and sad a portion of America truly is.....find something else to do with your time than post comments that make no sense."
Tell me sweetie pie, were you lookin' in the mirror when you wrote these words you selfish, self centered twit? How arrogant and condescending can you be? I'm sorry your child has an allergy, DEAL WITH IT AND TEACH THEM HOW TO AVOID IT. TEACH their peers don't DEMAND that you be given your way just because it makes it easier on you.
I am from the class of 1986
I neither heard of Peanut butter allergies or Autism back then. (maybe they are connected)
I pretty sure there was no such thing a lactose Intolerance (or at least we never heard it)
I was walking in my kids school when I saw a sign that read "peanut free zone"
How about a school where you can express yourself, and maybe a sign that reads "Politically Correct Free Zone"
Have a snickers and move on. If you kid is allergic to peanuts, they will learn real quick, not to eat it. I am allergic to shellfish. If I take a bite of the shrimp cocktail, whose to blame, me AND MY PARENTS.
Or not, make your busy lives easier, there is always riddlun
Allergies to peanuts, dairy, wheat gluten, sugar, strawberries, fish, shellfish, etc. If we ban everything that someone COULD be allergic to, nothing would be left to feed except water. Perhaps we should do away with school meals, have parents respnsible to feed their own children, and as a side benefit, taxpayers will be able to have the satisfaction of paying less money for free/reduce meals, and the moral correctness to know there is no way we can contribute to the possible allergic reaction of any child.
Micromanaging seems to be an ongoing and ever increasing problem in this day and age. Though I feel for the parents and the child who suffers from these allergies, banning certain food products in schools, especially a staple like peanut butter just won't work. Since when did Americans become so lax in their ability to try and solve a problem that all we ever do is look towards our already corrupt government to solve it for us.
While I do feel sorry for the children who suffer from moderate to extreme allergies, banning a food in school just doesn't work. Some children are lactose intolerant, do we ban all types of milk except for soy? Other kids are allergic to tomatoes, so does that mean one can no longer have ketchup with his hamburger in school? Fortunately, these problems fall upon the society's hands to figure out a solution for. I say fortunately because that is what Americans are supposed to do. But instead, most of us seem content with letting the higher ups take care of everything, while we just sit back and let them.
I have an allergy, mild as it may be, to pollen. There isn't anything I can do about it, nor if there was some drastic solution, would I take it as an option. Every spring, when the flowers bloom, my nose gets super stuffed, my eyes water and I spend about a week hacking up disgusting goo from my lungs. Not life threatening, but uncomfortable to say the least. I have no right to jump in everyone else's face and scream for a ban on flowers in public places, claiming that because it affects me negatively, that everyone else should hug me close and tell me everything's going to be okay.
I also can see the allergic child and their parent's side of view too. Having a child who is allergic to everyday items is not fun, nor is it easy to deal with and take care of. The parents have to be on constant alert, much like they do with asthma. Those issues do not make for an easy, laid back life, and keeping a steady eye on your child is becoming even harder since parents have to work more to make up for the drowning economy. It's a hard problem to solve, but there can't be a black and white solution for this.
Banning peanut butter is like banning a protest. What is the school going to do when they realize children are bringing pb & j sandwiches for their lunch everyday even though the all powerful school banned its existance. Especially with the economy, money is harder to come by, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches remain one of the cheapest sources of food avaliable that also remains healthy. Answer me this, do you really think the alternative lunchable is going to be any better for your kid?
Give some respect to the parents who actually take time to prepare food for their kid instead of just sending money to the school. I spent 8 years in the public school system and the food they served there was barely more healthy than the local burger king.
To those parents that are self-righteously screaming the "Darwinism" bullsh*t, shut your craphole now! The way we act towards the environment as well as the wildlife and animals that live in it have knocked us out of the ability to claim ourselves a working part of nature. There are improvements occuring, but we have just as much of a right to claiming Darwinism exists in our society as President Ahmedinijad has claiming the Iranian people all love him.
Secondly, to that affect, how dare you say something like that? Has American society become that self centered? The world revolves about only ourselves now, the only person that matters is me, me, me? Get a life and realize that without the help of other people (namely your mother and father) you wouldn't even exist. Human life exists because we have figured out ways to help the majority, the population we live in. Pennecilin was discovered and that scientist could have just chosen to hold onto it for just himself and the ones he cared about. Instead, he released it and now every child is given that as a vaccine. The doctor helped your mother give birth to you. Had he not been there, it is quite possible that you could have suffered complications and been left with some disability of your own.
If you are so damn perfect, then start helping out the less fortunate. That attitude is what made this country great in the first place. Since when did we take our privelages and the blessings we have as things we deserve and will always have? I work in the Army, and I'll tell you, it's real hard sometimes to look at America and find a real reason as to why you are defending this country.
dear Canadian mom just think there should be no food so look at the money you save and I will bet your kids walk to school and eat Moose jerky and smoked salmon.
If my child had an extreme allergy I would elect to home school the child because I wouldn't want to put my child in danger. If the child could not administer her own antidote then she MUST not be exposed. It is not an educator's responsibility to medicate a student. The teacher's job is to teach. As a retired teacher I can truthfully say that there are too many accommodations being made for student's with special needs. We have limited resources that are being stretched too thin with programs that are unnecessary. If the allergies aren't life threatening give them their own table and be done.
I completely sympathize with parents and children with food allergies but banning something is not the solution. I have a child who does not eat meat and has basically eaten a peanut butter sandwich everyday since he was two. It's very hard to get him to eat enough protein a day and peanut butter is one of our few choices. The other week, he was guilted into throwing out his peanut butter sandwich at school because of this fear in the cafeteria due to a child with peanut allergies. Lack of education and having a good plan by the school on this issue was the problem and my son went the rest of the day without eating his lunch. Accomodations, planning and education will go much further then outright banning something such as peanut butter in schools. There are many, many other food allergies out there and we can't ban everything in the school cafeteria.
Right now my kid's school has completely banned anything with Peanut Butter. They have also made restrictions on what the children can have as part of a Birthday Celebration at the school. The banning has gone so far as to now only give the kids one single choice for School celebrations. They can have Minute Maid Juice Pops. That's it.
My daughter and son both Love PB&J, and they are both vegetarian. The school does not accommodate vegetarian children very well (you think a 5 year old is going to eat Salad every day?). PB is a good source of protein for them. They are both very physically fit and are being penalized for enjoying a staple of their diet. Perhaps we should have MEAT banned from school or make the school setup a MEAT EATER table so they don't have to eat with those kids...Yeah, like that will happen
Lol your 5-year-old kid is a vegetarian? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Are you that arrogant that you're going to risk your child's healthy development because of a social decision that YOU'VE made? I'm not supporting the peanut ban in your school, but how about giving your kid some meat as a substitute to their peanut butter and stop imposing your social decisions on them.
Nice. It is always funny watching parents force veganism on their children. My wife had that happen to her as a child and it destroyed her relationship with her mother in the long term. Needless to say she hates vegans worse than anything else...
So ban.. peanut butter? Why not ban all the carbohydrates too for those of us who are diabetic and have to take insulin every day to live? Or all wheat products for those allergic to wheat.. and how about all the eggs for those with egg allergies? Maybe if we weren't ingesting strange chemicals in all our processed foods we wouldn't even have these problems to begin with.. So many can't even tolerate regular milk anymore.. something is definitely wrong. If you start banning peanut butter, what are the diabetic kids supposed to eat to reduce their carb intake? Pretty soon you can't eat anything anywhere!
Two of my kids have asthma and one is allergic to dairy, and yet they survived school with no special treatment. There are more asthma related deaths than food allergy deaths. Every day 11 people in the US die from Asthma. I worked with the school, had a close relationship with the school nurse and educated my kids with the signs and symptoms that lead to attacks. Just being near cat hair was enough to trigger and attack. I did not ask the school to provide a special play area because they were allergic to grass. In my opinion the US has become so antiseptic that kids don't build up natural immunity, and their bodies overreact when exposed to allergens. I am all four parents advocating for their young children but there comes a point where parents today hover too much! Helicopter parents are everywhere today and kids are not accountable for anything because mommy and daddy will fix it.
If peanut particles in the air can kill you, you need to be living your life in a plastic bubble instead of imposing on the rest of society.
No wonder this younger generation is so entitled. It isn't all about one or two kids; it is about society as a whole. We shouldn't have to bow to the needs of a tiny minority. If they can't survive in an elementary school, they have 0% chance in the real world.
RIGHT ON YUMMY. It is funny how the 'few that are dealing with the allergies' turn the tables and tell the rest of us HOW SELFISH WE ARE. I think they should look in the MIRROR and see who the unreasonable ones truly are. Again my heart goes out to those with life threatenign allergies.. but that is life.
I am EXTREMELY allergic to cats... one cat hair can cause me to have a severe allergic reaction and kill me because it triggers an asthma attack. If someone has a cat and that person sat on a chair in a lunchroom and then I go and sit there... could cause this reaction AS could simply touching a person that touched a cat. What would their solution to that be? Should I have demanded that every parent make sure they wash their childrens clothes and be CAT HAIR FREE before bringing them to school each day? OR... should each family that has chiildren attending that particular school be required to GET RID OF ANY CATS they may have? I learned to deal with it and take appropriate precautions!
I'm allergic to milk. Always have been. As a kid, I sat at a table with other kids who drank from their cartons of milk. Indeed, the schools still push milk as the healthy drink. I go to school sometimes to have lunch with one of my sons. Should I request a milk-free table? When I go to a movie theater or ride public transit do I have a right to ask the people around me to not handle milk products? No, I do not. I've lived with this allergy my whole life without ever asking for special accommodations or attention. My mother never requested anything out of the ordinary for me. "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." These kids have to learn from day 1 how to handle their condition. No one can do it for them, and no one should have to.
Actually, at my elementary school, we had whole classrooms that were deemed "peanut-free" at the beginnin of the year, the teacher would inform the parents and we would send kids who brought peanut butter lunches to other classes, until those parents learned not to. They can have it at home, its not too tough to have one meal without peanut butter..
Many of you are missing the point. The peanut allergy is an airborne allergy. You question how a child might come in contact with the allergen. How about a child that easts a peanut butter sandwhich, does not wash their hands and then touches the door know into the class room? The child that has the allergy then touches the door and has a reaction. Is a peanut butter sandwhich soo important that you would risk the life of a human being just so your child can have peanut butter sandwhich? That is one of the most selfish statement that I have ever heard.
I have two members of my family that have peanut allergies. One of them will have an allergic reaction just by being in the same room as peanuts. People need to do a little research and understand the issues before making a quick decision and assuming theat your rights are being violated.
A peanut allergy is no where near the same as a orange or red dye or any other type of allergy. It is much more severe and much easier to spread. People need to learn about compassion and not be so self centered.
I am not suggesting that peanuts be banned. I think it is the responsibilty of the parent to educate their childern to ask the right questions and know when to noteat certain foods. I know that my children always ask the correct questions. I also think that people should be aware of their surrondings and not be so self-centered that they cannot go without a peanut butter sandwhich for one afternoon.
If your kid truly has a life-threatening allergy, then it is criminal for you to even let your child out of the house, much less send them to a public school. An allergy such as the one you are talking about can kill your kid even if nobody takes peanut butter, or peanut containing products to school. You can't prevent every kid in the school from eating peanut products at home – or shaking hands with someone from a different school who did. They could pick it up on their clothes riding in a subway, or sitting in a chair at the doctor's office. It is YOUR responsibility to protect your kid, not everyone else's.
This reply is dead on. What you peanut banning nazis are suggesting is no different than banning driver's licenses because people cross the street. Or making the planet wear surgical masks and bathe in antimicrobials because some people have immunodeficiencies. Peanut allergies are unfortunate and deadly, but banning peanut products in any setting as a result is irresponsible and selfish.
Statistically speaking, fewer than 1 in 200 have any allergy to peanuts, at all - and fewer than 1 in 2 MILLION have been diagnosed with the life-threatening allergy we are talking about here. Yet, somehow, over 5% of parents claim that THEIR child is one of those so afflicted. Just because your kid broke out in hives when he ate a PB&J sandwich does NOT mean he has a life-threatening allergy, and certainly doesn't mean everyone around him should be deprived of peanut products. If your kid truly is one of those so afflicted with a life-threatening allergy (to anything) then it is criminal for you to even let your kid out of your house, much less send them to a public school.
I swear to god, so many of you are so hateful that I wonder you can even live next to anyone! The truth is that peanut butter allergies have developed over the past few years. And those who are terribly allergic are fatally so. Is it really worth the death of a child just so you can say that you have your rights, or whatever it is that bothers you so much over this issue? You want peanut butter that much? Fine, buy it for yourself and yours and keep it at home. But, become better informed, hey, better educated and certainly try to become a more decent human being. If not for yourself, then for those having to be around you!
How about an article and some research about the reason behind the prevalence of peanut allergies today? This kind of poll is like an open invitation to the trolls to come out and play.
anyone who thinks its the allergic child's parents problem and not the school's problem, may you be so blessed and never have any child or grandchild deadly allergic to peanuts (or anything for that matter) because if you did you would not be speaking the way you do. The real question here is do we place the allergic children at risk so that the moms or those not allergic to it don't have the conveniece of a quick peanut butter school lunch taken away from them or do we say those children who are not allergic to it have all the other time of the day that they are not in school + weekends to have peanut butter and no child's life should be put at risk simply because my child needs to eat peanut butter when he/she is in school. This is what's wrong with society. Do you realize what you are saying, "your child has the right to eat something in a place that should provide a safe environment to everyone even if it puts another child's life at risk." Selfish and rightous!!!!! How self-centered has society become???
Where he at
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Peanut butter jelly
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Peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat
Peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat
Me thinks we are all to blame for getting us to such a low point. We allowed our food to be taken over by agribusiness – Cargill, General Mills and all those types have to much control. Many of their junk products have transient ingredients and are labeled poorly, makes it tough even with simple rules to keep kids safe. Lunch rooms have hazards behind every wrapper. Honestly though, it's pretty lame that we are even considering banning such a fundamental real foods as peanut butter in schools. We have so much fake junk at every turn, real peanut butter is too good to give up. There he go.
Kids and adults need to be educated on the affects of a food allergy and the severity on some people. My 8 year old daughter who is severly allergic to tree nuts gives a presentation, including epi-pen information to her classmates at the beginning of every school year. This allows her to tell her story, her frustrations and what she does to keep herself safe in her own words that can relate to other kids her age. We have done this since she was in Kindergarten and she has never had to worry about bullying or an unsafe school cafeteria. The kids, faculty and parents are willing to work with us, especially when she speaks her mind and shows her spirit. She is confident and well educated and can stand up for herself which is something she is going to have to do for the rest of her life. I won't always be there to protect her or control her environment, she has to learn to make it a natural instinct of her own. I don't agree on a peanut ban, I do agree on education of the food allergy for everyone, kids and adults.
Finally! A REAL parent who is teaching their child to take control of the situation and not to rely on a publicly funded system to do it for her. As a fellow parent I applaud your wisdom. Kudos!
banning peanut butter is like banning any kind of food that kids eat. some childern are so picky that they wont eat the school lunch and some kids won't eat anything but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. so i think that banning peanut butter is not a big enough issue to be banned.
No, it should not be banned. I agree with others that the uptick in peanut allergies is the result of the lack of letting kids develop a healthy immune system.
If the PARENTS of this child have a concern over peanuts and peanut butter, then it is the responsibility of the PARENTS to come and pick up their child every day for lunch, bring them home, feed them lunch in their sterile kitchen environment, and return their CHILD back after lunch. Meanwhile, all the other students are free to eat their PB&J sandwiches and PB crackers in the cafeteria.
We need to STOP inconveniencing everyone, instead of inconveniencing just the one complainer.
Your "correct" soloution is in fact, wrong. Your peanut loving kid will eat his oh-so-wonderful sandwich, get peanut butter on his hands and hair, and then when the allergic kids come home from lunch, your kid will touch them with his peanut smeared hands, and the teacher can call the ambulance and explain that the nice men shoved that tube down Joeys throat so he won't die.
If you don't understand the problem, what makes you think your kids do?
Some people's logic is shockingly selfish and ignorant. According to their thinking, we should permit the teacher to carry a loaded gun into class and place it on their desk...and leave it up to the parents to teach gun control! (I would in fact prefer that over a peanut sitting on their desk because i know they have no chance with the peanut.) ...My kid didnt ask for this allergy you inconsiderate egomaniacs. Im sorry you have to sacrifice your precious peanut butter so that i can feel confident sending my kid to school. :-(
True, your kid didn't ask for the environmental allergy, but has it DUE TO YOUR OWN BAD PARENTING. Stop attempting to punish everyone and start to accept the consequences of your own stupidity.
Let me get this straight. Your kid has a life-threatenng condition. If he is even in the same room as a peanut product, his life could be in jeopardy. You send him to a public school, and expect literally hundreds of students, parents, and faculty members to adjust to his condition, because you can't bear the thought that he might "feel different" by having to eat at a separate table, or in a separate room for the sake of his own safety.
Who is being selfish here? The parents who think your kid should get special accommodation to enjoy his lunch in a safe environment, or the parent of the allergic kid that demands that the entire school become a "peanut free zone", affecting the lives of hundreds of others?
Mr. Peters, you inconsiderate, insolent wart. I'm sorry your child has an allergy that could kill them. I've been blessed with a very healthy immune system and so have my children. However to say that my child can't have a PB&J in their lunch because YOUR child has an allergy is overstepping your bounds. If your child REALLY DOES have that sever an allergy then perhaps you should consider home schooling or buying them a "boy in a bubble" suit. As to your analogy to firearms, I can only hope that your child has better critical thinking skills than you do. The reality is that firearms save no small number of lives and maybe even more than they take while the same can not be said of food allergies. Your comparison is one based solely on fear and intimidation and not on useful data.
As many have said, the number of kids with this condition is very small. It's small enough that it can be handled on an individual basis. It doesn't require a nationwide ban. We had a girl with this problem in our school system. The problem was explained to all the students, very early in elementary school, and a notice was sent home to the parents. There was never a problem, and the students were taught a small but valuable lesson.
The allergy persisted, and when it came time for the Senior Class Trip, the group arranged for the airplane to be nut-free for her flight. It was no problem until the return flight, when the airline suddenly reneged on the arrangement and refused to even provide a few rows of nut-free travel. She caught a flight the next day. (Yes, it was Delta. How did you guess?)
You see, a group of children and concerned parents can do a LOT better than any big government or company.
I grew up severly allergic from the age of three at a time there were no Epi-Pens, no inhalers, no nebulizers. School days were the worst as the triggers were mostly being in dusty classrooms or among kids with pet hair/dander all over them. Lack of proper medication sent me into status asthmaticus many times. The allergies were the problem of my family and of me- not of my school or my classmates. It is still a problem as I fear being on a plane near a dog (the airports have dogs roaming in them all the time now). Nothing I can or would do to stop others- I just have to be prepared and stay away from the triggers. The medication of today is our life saver – just have to be prepared to treat OUR problem.
Wow! I can't believe what a heated discussion this it. I feel for the children who are allergic, but at some point they need to be aware of what they are or aren't putting into their mouths. My neighbor's son is very allergic to ALL nuts and still comes into our PB and nut loving home. My girls still have PB went he's here. We do make a point of washing hands after they've eaten. But he knows what not to eat or touch. He's 9 and has been responsible about his allergy for years. His parents have done a great job educating him about it.
As far as the schools go, I think PB should possibly be banned in elementary school where children are more likely to swap lunches without knowing what they're getting in return. Jr. High and High schools should be allowed PB. That's my two cents!
@Michael. You accuse everyone of being selfish and what not, but in all honesty, everything you posted thus far seems hypocritical in that sense. You sit there and say this isnt and issue but right pages worth of comments. Seriously, if it wasnt an issue for you, then why waste time commenting. In the end it is the responsibility of the parents to educate their children on what they can and cannot eat. If that child is allergic to peanuts, bread, plants, or whatever they may be allergic to should not be catered to by the public. People say that it is not an issue, well maybe peanut butter is not the issue but the giving up of rights is. At what point do we draw the line. Lets ban all sugar problems because of the prevalency of diabetes; Lets cut out recess because of the number of kids who have asthma. I mean seriously where do you draw the line. I find it a bit ridiculous that people have allowed this to become an argument or an issue but apparently it was a popular enough topic that it is. I find it disheartening that people feel the need to have to cater to everyone in every regard. Just as much as it is disheartening at those who wish ill on children who had no control of such situations.
My sons both had allergies. one has/had a nut allergy. My youngest son ate some cake containing a nut oil and had allergic attack and had trouble breathing. Luckily, he recovered. For years we had an auto-injector in case of another allergy attack or bee sting. He seems to have finally outgrown it.
That said, we taught him to not to eat nuts and peanut butter. This is the best approach because parents cannot totally control where your child will be and what they might eat. This idea that banning peanut butter in school is totally ridiculous. Even in the best circumstances, an allergic reaction might happen. Some children might be hyper-allergic to peanuts or nuts, but that is a medical issue that must be addressed. It is impossible to have a peanut free world. If your child is hyper-allergic where even the smell of peanuts might cause a reaction, I wish you the best but you will need to teach him/her how to use an auto-injector.
I agree with Christine. Education is the key. What if the child goes to a friend's house where they might have PB. What if some kids bring their lunch to school and share. You can not cover all the bases by banning PB at school. Perhaps wearing a bracelet indicating the allergy would also be good.
This is absurd, a healthy protein that kids like and people want to ban it because of a few. If you know your kids have a peanut allergy then by all means MAKE a different choice for them or perhaps they might be able to do it themselves. WOW, this banning hoo hah is getting so old. Sensitivity about EVERYTHING is at an all time high. Life isn't fair and once people GO BACK to understanding that , we will continue to suffer as a society.
My daughter is allergic to peanuts and all peanut products. When she was in school I did not consider the school responsible for my childs allergy reactions. She knew what she could and couldn't have and how serious her allergies are.
Thirty years ago, we didn't have kids in my schools that had peanut butter allergies. This is the result of overprotective parents coddling their offspring until the kids have no immune systems. We don't need to punish all children and take away one of the most popular and healthy packed lunch ingredients just to appease the parents of the rare child who has a peanut allergy. These entitled brats, (and I mean the parents,) need to grow up and realize they are NOT the only people in the world! Soy is a top deadly allergen too and no one is whining to take it out of schools. In fact, propaganda has most idiots thinking it's actually good for them. Sad.
Duh! Most Canadian schools have banned eggs, fish, nuts and peanuts years ago... Not just peanut butter! Really! It's not that complicated... Children's lives are at stake.
It's not as simple as making sure the kid with allergies has no peanut products in his/her lunch... The smell alone can be enough to cause a reaction in some kids. And what if someone shares? Yes, children with allergies should be taught not to take food from ANYONE other than their parents... We're talking about children here. My kids forget they're not supposed to throw a ball in the house at least a dozen times a day! They would quickly forget not to eat the cookies or muffins being offered by their friend!
Fear not, one gets VERY creative making lunches that exclude these products.
Those of you who think kids with allergies should be locked un up their houses, got over yourselves! What if your child was deathly allergic to strawberries and my kid brought some to school everyday?? You'd be the first on the "ban strawberries" ban wagon...
This is ridiculous. Seriously? There's a food allergy for every food out there. What is next? Banning food from schools? Strawberry allergies equals banning strawberries from schools? What about stress? Stress can lead to health complications which, further down the road, could kill a person. Let's make sure there's no stress in school. In fact, why have school at all? Let's do away with the education system entirely.
I completely agree with what "joe" said in that we want to coddle everybody. This is only going to lead to debilitations in their future. Pretty soon, society will fall apart because everyone is being taught that the world has to stop and accomodate their every need. Well, it's not like that.
Ban peanut butter? Please. Ban ignorance.
Cmon i cant believe theres this many responses to this uninteresting topic that no one is really gonna care about after tomorrow, i mean cmon really?? people need to get a life, go out for a bike ride or something! why dont we talk about tomorrows weather instead....hey how many people are at work actually reading this bullshit?
I think that awareness and respect are key. I grew up with an allergy to peanut oil, which back in those days, nobody had ever heard of. I learned from a young age to always ask, always read labels, and if I asked and was dismissed, to either press for an answer or not eat whatever I had. One day, my lunch got switched with my brother's, and (I was in kindergarten at the time) I knew not to eat his PB&J sandwich. I had my snack instead of his sandwich. Also, snacks were generally peanut butter on crackers, but I always had cheese that I brought to school and my teachers knew to give that to me instead. I think that what needs to happen is for people to just be aware; to teach their children with allergies how to deal with them, to inform your child's teachers or whoever is responsible for your child during the day of the allergy (I'm not saying ban every allergen from the cafeteria – nobody could eat then!)... To say that it's "their problem, not mine!" is really selfish, and I hope that those people never develop a disability that might require them to rely upon the assistance and common courtesy of another person.
My mother has a corn allergy and my nephew has a peanut allergy. In both cases a pill can be taken to offset the effects of any unintended ingestion. But the doctor gave my sis-in-law an epi-pen anyway. I think this is all a case of overreaction. If the kids have medicine at school, epipens at school, and know not to touch anyone elses food then there is no need for all these restrictions on others. My mother's office isn't "Corn Free". There is a peanut allergy in my daughters class and we cannot send peanut butter for lunch. I wouldn't send it everyday but I do resent the option being taken away from my daughter because of someone else.
Can my son bring his pet rattlesnake to school? He is immune to its venom. What do you mean it is poisonous and could kill your kid? Well too bad – your kid's weakness to venom should not limit my son's choices of show-and-tell objects. Pets are expensive, and I can get rattlesnakes cheaply. I challenge anyone to show how a case where airborne venom killed anyone. You won't be around your kids all the time and you need to teach them to be self-sufficient and avoiding poisonous rattlesnakes is a good life skill.
Sound selfish? I took arguments from other commenters and substituted 'rattlesnake' for 'PB'. Nuts will kill my son and a lot of other kids – these allergies are not a rare thing today like they used to be and are growing. Yes, we used to allow teachers smoke in school too and we got past that inconvenience for the greater good.
I've been in the ambulance with my 5 year old son asking if he is still breathing and thinking he was gone: walk a mile in those shoes Mr Tough-Love.
I have a question (because I thankfully don't walk in the shoes of a parent whose child has a severe allergy).
Since few schools have put a ban on peanuts, there are lots of kids with a severe allergy that are going through their school days near peanuts but aren't having reactions.
What if the school had a separate table just for kids who HAVE peanut products in their lunch? Isolate the location of the peanuts. That way the residues wouldn't be all over every table. I get the airborne part. But how far away does the airborne risk travel? If kids with allergies know to sit far away from the "peanut table" then that would drastically reduce risk. Right?
Plus segregating kids who have peanut products would naturally cause the kids to WANT something else in thier lunches too.
Would that at least be a step in the right direction? Versus a full on ban?
There is a collective groan on back to school night when parents here that a child has a nut allergy...it makes packing lunch for my extremely picky eater a nightmare. I don't think it's fair that no nut products be allowed in the lunch room or classroom. a table for those allergic should be fine. or have the children brush their teeth after lunch if the allergy is that severe.
The other parents should not be made to suffer b/c one child has a slight allergy to peanuts. put them all in the same classroom.
The problem is public schools. If schools were free of state monopoly, there would be nut-free schools, nut-present schools, schools with prayer, schools with no prayer, liberal schools, conservative schools, etc. It would be based on parent/child needs, not a one-size-fits-all solution. Parents would be happier because they wouldn't have to fight against policies they didn't like. Just like how shoppers can go to different stores based on their needs: Costco, regular grocery store, farm stand, Whole Foods, etc.
Hey! I know... How about home schooling your kids. Oh wait!!! Then that means parents will have to be responsible for their children instead of everyone else. I guess that will not work.
LOL! that is funny! but true, seriously if i thought the smell of peanut butter or peanut product would kill my child.....I think i would invest in homeschooling and a bubble for them to live in
Nut free table seems like the most sensible course of actions. Those who want to bring peanut butter stuff can. Those who are allergic can sit at their own table limiting their
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Regardless of which side of the issue you come down on, you *must* read the article entitled "Why your child can't bring peanut butter to school (and what you can do about it)": http://snacksafely.com/2011/11/why-your-child-cant-bring-peanut-butter-to-school/
First lets look at the outcomes of financial stress that the schools will be put in, if some one dies from eating peanut
based products at the school. I hate paying taxes but our free Country forces us to. Know lets consider a law suit
against the school for endangering some ones child and or the death of the child. Your taxes will receive a hefty hike and no one is going to come out ahead. Also do we segregate children of different race, gender, religion and or family preference. I know some ignorant people still do segregate but lets get real we are in 2011. The laws state that segregation is unethical and morally wrong, so who are you to say all children with allergies should be segregated. Would it be OK for me to say because your child has freckles they have to ride a separate bus, eat at a different table, or be victim to genocide to meet my needs. That would be ridiculous wouldn't it. Lets also look at the ADA Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 which insures that no person can be discriminated against based on illness or disability.
Geez! These parents are 'egocentric'. Can't you americans spare a life just for once and stop the 'me' talk?
This is not about 'parenting' skills people! Get a grip, I mean you all need a pep talk on 'understanding' and 'compassion'.
Where is the sense of 'community' here? If it's a life-and-death situation, then give way! To have another day of life is way important than a 'peanutbutter fantasy' of a child!
These parents are sending the wrong message to their kids!
This week my 12 year old (whom is peanut allergic) was bullied in the lunchroom. The kid smeared peanut butter on
his face and clothes. Needless to say, not only was it extremely scary but a very close call. Luckily he got the Epi-Pen
in time and the ambulance came quickly. We spent 2 days in the hospital. We can press assault charges if we want. But,
we are letting the school handle it for now.
So, for you negative (nay-sayers) on this site. SCREW YOU, My kid almost died this week.
Unless you can keep your unruly bullies under control. There should be no Peanut Butter in the lunchroom.
As a PA Mom I beg you PLEASE press charges we have to send a message to everyone that this is attempted MURDER! I am pleading with you to do so, us other PA parents will stand behind you 110%. Don't let this kids get away with torturing your son.
There was a student in my elementary school who was deathly allergic to peanuts. There was one instance where he caught a wiff of peanut butter and was sent to the ER. My school did accommodate his needs by allowing whatever grade he was in the first round of lunch. Also, there was a two table boundary set up for those who did bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like me. So I either sat in the middle or at the other end of the table from him. It is what it is, young students go with the flow.
First:
To the guy who posted a link trying to assert that people can be allergic to water, please read the contents before posting links, so you don't look too ignorant.....
"While the exact cause of this condition is uncertain, some investigators suggest it is a result of extreme skin sensitivity (but not allergy) to an added ingredient (chlorine, fluoride, others) or mineral present in the water."
Nobody is allergic to water, we ARE mostly water.. Some people, however, are allergic to chemicals that can be found in municipal water supplies.
Second:
I know people who have terrible reactions to sunlight. Perhaps it is time to ban the sun. Who cares that the sun gives warmth and life to billions. It makes a few people sick.
We need to build an opaque sphere around the Earth so those unfortunate few with sensitivity to sunlight are not inconvenienced with such things as sunblock, parasols, and staying out of the sun.
Ultimately while a peanut ban may be wonderful for those who suffer from a peanut allergy, it only solves one of the problems of food allergies. In the USA we recognize 8 top deadly allergens; peanut, tree nut, soy, shell fish, fish, egg, wheat and dairy. The children who suffer from life threatening allergies to the other 8 allergens will not benefit from the ban. There should be a comprehensive policy on managing the allergens per child's needs. It's not easy but it's now life as we know it. Individuals with food allergies has tripled since 1997 and the numbers are only going to rise. It's time we look at it seriously and start managing this epidemic.
I'm a teacher in a small private school with three children who have anaphylactic reactions to peanuts. This means that if they ingest even traces of peanuts, their throats will close up and they will go into respiratory distress and potentially die. The parents of these children know that the world at large is not nut-free, and it's unreasonable to try and put these children in a bubble. They (and we) are giving them the skills to manage their own allergies so they can be responsible adults. This does not mean a nut-free school, nor does it mean a nut-free table, because those things are virtually impossible and they set these kids apart from their peers in a way that's unhealthy. What is does mean is that these girls make sure that they wash their hands with soap and water before and after they eat. When there are parties that involve food, they bring their own. We keep the peanut butter in the back of dining hall so that there's little to no chance of cross-contamination. And most importantly, these girls keep an Epi-pen on them at all times, just in case.
I recently took two of these girls on a two day retreat with a sleepover. I carried an extra Epi-pen in the pocket of my pants, as did one other teacher. The chances of a reaction are not particularly high, but they do happen, and the shot of epinephrin will save their lives. Children with severe food allergies need the skills to get along in the world, and keeping them in a nut-free bubble as children deprives them of the chance to develop those skills. It also gives other children the opportunity to develop a sense of compassion and empathy, and to learn how to deal with crisis situations. Everybody wins and no one has to be a selfish douchebag about it.
I think a combination is in order. School should stop serving it, however a nut free lunch table should be designated for the kids with allergies, and any friends that want to sit with them have to accommodate. If the severity is the child cannot be in the same room, then perhaps a separate lunch room or lunch time then. Its not right to tell a parent or child they cannot eat something because of someone else, rather look for a solution that will be pleasant to all.
This poll is so biased. I would never say "tough luck" to anyone. However I believe strongly that peanuts should be allowed in schools. It's the bullying that needs work. You might compare this issue to gun control. We have a right to own them, but no way do we have a right to mis-use them. I believe that we all have equal rights to buy and eat the foods we want. We do have laws that guarantee those freedoms, thank goodness. But we also have laws that punish bullying, thank goodness. You might also compare this issue to contraception in schools. We can provide education, condoms and even demand abstinence, but we can't keep girls and boys from having sex, even with laws in place. The peanut allergy issue is so emotional, I believe, because people don't like to admit to the truth: The truth being: 1. It's not fair to limit what others eat, and 2. Kids will continue to bully. I don't have a solution, only the belief that we can't take away freedoms, and that we need new solutions to enforce bullying laws.
Kate – your comparison to gun control is dead on. Guns are a leathel weapon and therefore need to be handled with care and controlled by laws. As a society we have decided children are not capable of carrying loaded weapons into a school building, ever, even if they are trained to used the gun properly. But we allow every child to carry peanut butter with them to school, without any training about the leathel properties of peanuts – why is this acceptable?
Home-school everyone. Schools are just disease reservoirs that make the entire community sick. (They are also the preferred hunting ground for bullies and predators.) If all the kids were home-schooled, they would also be safer. Isn't safety the most important thing?
My son has a peanut allergy and it is not too severe. But I think if schools take away PB&J they should add something else to take its place, ie.) sunflower butter/almond butter...etc. I also think that it is not really fair to other children that do not have allergies, they get the shaft. But for some parents to say who cares about your child so that my child can have PB..SHAME ON YOU...that is wrong, that is like saying I will sit by and watch someone suffocate a child and do nothing about it. If it was your child you would want something done. Whether it be a separate table for the ALLERGY kids..like they are lepers. It is such a terrible thing allergies and that it has so many people in uproars its crazy that we all can't get along.
First off, for all the people with lame excuses as of why children with peanut allergies should be treated like "rusty" from the mask, should be extremely and completely ashamed and embarrased of themselves. As a teacher of students with special needs, it is appauling that someone refers to students with peanut allergies needing to "ride the small bus" and having to "go in seperate classes". Having a food allergy does not impede their education, therefore they should not be put into a self contained classroom, in lamens terms, I think its a bit much to bring back segregation dont you? As for the people and I hope not parents of actual children who said that "normal" children should chase around with open faced sandwiches to those who could die from encounters with this very product, are basically teaching their children how to become bullies and murderers, congratulations and job well done, did I mention I pray to God that my child does not attend your child's school (and he doesn't even have a peanut allergy). To those people who used the excuse that without peanut oil, "OMG" our earth will suffer, what will we ever do. We are talking about banning it in schools, and secondly, join a environmental club, I dont think your car that runs on peanut oil is the only source of saving this world! The truth is whatever disability, ailment, or allergy a person has, isnt it just, oh I dont know humane, respectful and down right important to ensure the safety of those around you. If someone has a peanut allergy keep it away, if someone cannot inhale smoke because their lungs will contract, smoke somewhere else, if someone cannot be around bees, dont take them near a hive. Whatever the case may be, having your child avoid peanuts during school hours is so much of a sacrifice or burden that its simply out of the question to have them wait until they get home. You can't afford anything else you say, then you definately qualify for free lunch, and if not then I think that is a much bigger issue to focus on with your local schools than if you can send in peanut butter sandwiches. Heres a thought, have a heart and maybe use this as a life lesson to your children. That we sometimes need to make sacrifices for the better of the whole. I read so many comments that said what about the others when "50% of the allergies in school are peanuts", even those who have children with milk allergies complain. Why even chance, having one death and keeping peanut butter in school, then not allowing your child to have peanut butter throughout the school day and have no related deaths at all.
Wow people. Just...wow.
I understand the want for it to be permitted – many families are using government assistance – like WIC and foodstamps and PB is a STAPLE for these households. If you have never had to be in this situation – consider yourself lucky! I have known many families that ate only peanut butter and bread for days on end because ends meat was not met.
I understand that allergies are a big deal – but are the schools not responisble to ensure a child with sun allergies have a safe environment to learn (with proper tinted windows and such?). Do you feel that people with handicaps need to park at the open spots out by the main street?
Even just having a special room for sensative kids would be better than ignoring the problem.
I feel sorry for the students that have the peanut allergies. However, what about the other students? Suppose you have children who are picky eaters and only eat peanut butter? I like the suggestion to have separate rooms for children with allergies. Peanut butter is a major staple for me. I would be very upset if I could not take a peanut butter sandwich with me to work.
Take some time in the morning to swab each child to scan for allergens, then make sure to check each item in their lunch to make sure no one is trying to smuggle an allergen into the school. We do not have a problem with our education system as it is so take more time away from the learning process to make the U.S. even dumber compared to the rest of the world.
Also you set yourself up for lawsuit after lawsuit if you do anything that even remotely tells others you are making the school allergen free. If someone accidentally takes a product made in a facility that processes peanuts, the item may not have peanuts listed as an ingredient, and someone has a reaction some parent with a lawyer looking to make a few bucks will have the school administration, the school board, the superintendent and whomever else they can find to sue in court taking away money the schools already do not have enough of.
When I was in school we had "Peanut Free classrooms". This seemed to work well, and anyone with an allergy and their friends could eat lunch in those rooms.
Why change schools for ONE allergy ... change it for all ...
I think making those kids have their own lunch period would be fine.
In our school the retarded kids had their own , put the allergy kids w/ them.
Wow, you sound really educated. Harvard, right? I thought so....
OH I just realized with all the nut allergies cropping up what are we going to do about Bio Fuel? some of it is made from recycled Peanut oil. I hope my car does not kill a child!. Maybe we should ban Bio Fuel made from Peanuts to make sure nothing like this happens. Or we could make separate roads so those allergians could drive safely. Is there Gluten in bio fuel?
I just thought a little more about it, we need to ban Bio Fuels all together. If you build the separate roads for people with the allergies they would most likely be parallel to each other, as people will need to go to the same places, and if the wind is blowing the wrong direction the fumes may travel into the allergy free road. So we must pull together as a people and make sure we ban bio fuels to protect our population from harm.
Here is what needs to be done. Have the Obama administration fork out about a million dollars per school to allow each school to rebuild the cafeteria to have many rooms with clean air filtration. Have one room for peanut allergies, one for gluten allergies and at least 4 or 5 more for other food allergies. Have the kids that have these allergies eat in their respective rooms. Also you would need to make sure that the classrooms were segregated as well just in case some kids from the non-allergy cafeteria rooms would have some residue on themselves. Unless you enact some form of clean room standards to prevent the non allergy kids from leaving their cafeteria rooms without being, well, clean. They would also need to brush their teeth to make sure there is no allergens on their breath as some seem to be allergic to "fumes" from some of these things. If they were "clean" then you could recombine the classrooms. OR maybe better yet let the parents take care of their kids and quit expecting the government to legislate in place of good parenting skills and teaching respect to each of our kids so that they are aware of a friend who may need some special consideration. Also do not expect our teachers to be medical professionals with the abilities of a EMT to be able to take care of a child who has a reaction unless the teacher is willing to take on the training and responsibilities that the parents offer to provide, at their own expense.
The source of the issue isn't the amazing amount of two sided arguments (i.e. "I'll eat what I want, where I want" and "My child could die you heartless jerk!"). People are arguing about if everyone should bend over backwards in for a minority, or if the minority should tend to their own unique needs. And, in a true "internet argument" fashion, it's broken down into "You don't know how it is!", "I'll do what I want!", or my personal favorite, "I've never seen that happen, so it's not true!". All utterly useless commentary from people who want others to bend for them or are too lazy to step out of their little world to see things from another perspective.
The raw truth of the matter is that it is impossible to ask the overwhelming majority of people to bend over backwards because the vapors from a grilled PB sandwich (delicious, btw) might waft in a window somewhere. If someone asks, "hey, I'm crazy allergic, could you give me a heads up before you make those delicious sandwiches so I can close my window?" Awesome, it's not even a tiny issue and a completely reasonable request. A preemptive walk-around to neighbors would probably be even better. Alternatively, a person with extreme allergies has to realize the world shouldn't have to bend into a knot where ever they go. It sucks, it truly does, to get stuck with such a situation, but you can't get mad at someone for having something you're allergic to. Take precautions if you must. Photosensitive (those adversely affected by sunlight, some even to a life threatening degree) people don't ask for a massive sunshade to be built, they wear a light coat, use SPF bazzillion, or carry an umbrella and shades.
In schools, sure, there should be some kind of exception. I don't see why not. Decent peanut oils don't actually carry the protein that triggers a reaction, so that shouldn't be too much of an issue to buy good oil (because, you know, all that fatty fried food in schools). Making special exceptions cost schools money though, and money isn't exactly flowing right now. At the moment, the practical solution would be to set aside a special table. Easy, costs nothing, and solves the issue for the most part. Those affected by fumes (I never even heard of this before now, it would strike me that the parts per million (ppm) count would have to be high) might have to make special plans for lunch. You have to worry about aerosolized peanut particles. PARTICLES. At some point, I think parents just need to recognize that their child has unique needs, and something unique has to be done instead of hefting it on everyone elses shoulders by refusing to deal with the situation.
Realized I wasn't entirely clear on one point. Concerning the table option. Socially, it does tend to separate children. And as many of us know, the social aspect of school is important in many ways (not to be a social butterfly, but to gain social experience). Those with the allergy should have the resources available to identify possibly dangerous situations related to their allergy (ex. peanut products are likely in all foods because they are in the pseudo-burgers we serve on Tuesday. We suggest a sack lunch, and should always carry their epi-pen). Things like this should be (hopefully) common sense. Assuming the reaction only occurs via touch, and isn't too bad, they can mix and mingle plenty, especially if their friends (those school children sit by) are aware and take care. Those with greater risk need to be separated if their parents demand some non-existent isolation bubble of utter safety. As a rule, you have to assume kids wipe their hands on things after eating. Those things might be napkins, or they might be clothes or door handles. How do you prevent that? You can't. You can't tell parents in the entire city or X, Y, and Z city zones that they can't use a staple of cheap school cold lunches anymore. The real truth of the situation is that it sucks. It really really sucks and there are going to have to be some special steps taken to ensure safety. Expecting 1984758 parents to remember not to make a PB&J so you can pretend the situation doesn't suck is ridiculous.
The subject of bullying is silly. This isn't new, this isn't special at all. How can anyone be surprised at the increase in allergic based bullying? Information on what it is and what it does is -everywhere-, and most people are smart enough to figure out how to see this problem in other people. The urge to bully doesn't arise from some twisted bullying type obsession, it's because bullies have found another hole in someone's defense to mess with them over. This particular brand of bullying doesn't need to be addressed any more or less than any other kind except in the respect that the consequences aren't a bruised ego/social complex, but physical damage. It's equivalent to attacking someone else and should be dealt with on the same level, but not made special (less you just make the issue worse).
Maybe parents need to spend more time figuring out how to raise their kids to have a sense of respect for your average person instead of neglecting or abusing them to the point where they need the attention/have some power complex/etc instead of expecting public institutions to do it for them (or do it but not do it, with all these "you can't tell me how to raise my kid" whining).
I swear, the best thing I ever heard was of a method used by some small communities. If a kid gets out of hand and nothing is being done about it, the parent is the one held responsible by the entire community (In the ethnographic example, the parent was tied to a post for the duration of the event. Obviously we can have other ways of accomplishing the same thing). The kid is then set down by a group of people and the group took measures to keep the kid settled down (i.e. surrounded him/her with people who don't let them get away with stuff).
Well, what we have here is a failure to communicate. Peanut allergies are more prevalent in today's society. Per FAAN, are responsible annually for aprox 92% of all anaphylactic deaths in the US. The number of kids with these allergies have doubled in recent years. The issue with peanut allergies is not going away.
If someone wants to have the attitude of "keep your sorry ass home", I feel sorry for you. Apparently your parents did not love you enough to teach you empathy or compassion for others.
If you knowingly expose someone to their allergen, (ie bullies in school) then you will be punished by the laws of your state. I'd press charges if someone endangered my child's life. Just as you would (Magnus) if someone sprinkled rat poison on your kids lunch.
Everyone needs to respect each other and find a balance. Luckily the law (American with Disabilities Act of 1973) protects kids with food allergies.
Tough luck kid, keep your sorry ass home if you have allergies. I ll eat my PB whenever and whereever I want!
dude, you have no idea what you're talking about – maybe one of your kids will die from something unusual, and then you'll be more understanding
do you understand that kids have died from breathing peanut fumes? if you willfully did anything to hurt my kid, I'd kick your ass
take two: "doesn't mean your body doesn't reject it"
One other point – one of the primary causes of arthritis is food sensitivities causing inflammation – should everyone with arthritis be killed off too?
Amazing how much ignorance there is about food allergies and sensitivities. Lots of people have sensitivities to foods they don't even know about including dairy, wheat, nuts, legumes, etc. These idiots that make comments implying that it'd be better if kids who are allergic to nuts died (aside from being the people that actually are the ones that need to be weeded out of the population for their incredibly hateful way of thinking), may not realize that they'll die an early death themselves from Alzheimer's, or cancer or diabetes because they kept eating things that they shouldn't have eaten. Just because you don't go into anaphylactic shock when you eat something doesn't mean your body rejects it. Get a clue!!!
Natural selection? I'd love to break give Joe a broken nose. I wish I could meet him in person. I'd happily do so.
Schools shouldn't ban peanut products for one very good reason:
Kids with peanut allergies need to be sent out into the world with the knowledge that sharing someone else's food can be as deadly as other kids view crossing the street without looking. The fact is that these kids will face peanuts in places outside of school, and they need to be taught from the start that it's their responsibility to make sure they're okay.
Peanuts aren't the only deadly food allergy. All kids with bad allergies need to be armed with the knowledge and discipline to avoid things that can be unhealthy. By not forcing them to learn that at school, where there ARE adults and a nurse nearby, you're putting them at greater risk when they go to their friend's houses.
Saying 'no' to a deadly allergy is a choice that has to be made constantly. Children with deadly allergies have to learn to take charge of what goes into their body.
Allergies are not to be taken casually. They are serious business. A poll alone may not be the way to decide what our kids are exposed to at school or not. It would need an in-depth conversation around very serious issues. It is too simplistic to think that just removing peanuts from a school would keep children with allergies safe. We wish life were that easy. Sadly, it is not.
If you know you have a certain allergy, you must take all precautions to avoid being around that which you are allergic to. That is common sense. Something our kids should be exposed to, trained to have and given the opportunity to demonstrate. Hiding them does them no good in end. How long and how far can a parent protect their children? Someday, somewhere, they could be exposed to the dangers of the world at large and them not being prepared will only hurt them more. Makes sense? I hope so.
Sometimes our precautionary manner can become hysteria, even if not because of us, but because of the over zealous help from those that love us and care for us. This too does more damage than good. As wonderful and kind as the loving protection was meant to be.
Peanuts and Tree Nuts are hardly the largest allergen that our kids need to be protected from. Milk and Eggs and Fish and Shellfish are all risking many more lives. Did you know more kids suffer from allergies to them? Yet, why is it that we hear more about Nut and Peanut allergies? Or perhaps the connection we all have to these larger allergens from a young age and the association we have with them over years colors our thinking? How is it that we are keeping those allergic to these more prevalent and more dangerous allergens safe in this world? I would question what it is that has kept kids safe around them and will not protect them from tree nuts and ground nuts? The answer is a lack of hysteria and lack of desire from all involved.
Nuts and peanuts provide wonderful nutrients for the human body and its growth. They give protein, fiber and healthy fat. They are brain food. Peanut skins are known to have high amounts of anti-oxidants. There is so much good that ground nuts and tree nuts can provide. Why then do we make them such easy targets of those nuts wanting to make allergens an issue and find strength to only go after allergens that are not even the most prolific allergens Peanuts (groundnuts) and tree nuts are universally known to have done more good for the world that savors them than bad. A small fistful of peanuts can give you wonderful energy loaded with great nutrients and wondrous fodder for the brain. I call them my brain & brawn food.
I see room for our kids to police their own health and the related risk factors. We must not treat kids as kids, rather we should treat them as young men and women able to protect their health and well being through training provided by parents at home, through safe environs with correct labeling and safety measures put into place at schools. This makes our kids truly safe rather than placed in a cocoon of comfort and safety that will not exist always and everywhere. It should be ensured that all measures are taken to provide immediate and thorough care for anyone reacting to something. in that awful instance when someone does have an allergic reaction to some allergen in a school cafe, we should be prepared to provide quick and immediate care to the kid in question. This would ensure a safer and better outcome not only for the person who suffered a reaction but stand as an experience seen by all that can equip them better in dealing with any allergy related issues of their own.
We live and learn and practice teaches better than anything else. It is my hope that we are not radical in dealing with allergies. What a sad world it will be where kids are kept away from the very things that make them smarter, stronger and healthier citizens of the world that they will grow to impact tomorrow. A tomorrow we may not even see. That knowledge of the impact our kids will have on a world we cannot even dream about, should give us reason to be smarter today than we sometimes want to be.
Suvir Saran
chef@suvir.com
http://www.suvir.com
It's ridiculous to judge someone's parenting ability based on the food preferences of their kids! My sister-in-law is a great parent of two kids – one ate everything, one ate only cereal and peanut butter when he was little. How did she go wrong? A wide variety of nutritious food was served in their home. When push came to shove, and mom insisted he eat something he didn't like, he just wouldn't eat it, and once told a counselor his parents were starving him. He was skinny but healthy according to his doctor. As he got older, he eventually started eating more foods.
Everyone, including kids, is entitled to their food preferences and dislikes, and it's no one else's place to express an opinion on them. It isn't a moral issue, it isn't willful bad behavior, and it isn't a parenting problem. How would you feel if someone tried to force you to eat a food you particularly dislike?
Having said this, I think most people would choose not to eat something in front of someone it would hurt, if asked.
To TwM – How sad that the main staple of your children’s diet is peanut butter. Wow – what a mom you are! You put a sandwich over a child’s welfare. You are pathetic. Being allergic, my child has learned justice, tolerance and concern for others…so did the 20 children in his class over the eight years he spent with them in school. They were able to eat peanut butter, but then were tolerant and kind enough to wash their hands and rinse out their mouths and wash off the tables and desks at the school so they wouldn’t get him sick. So glad your children weren’t in that class. With parents like you…we know what they’ll grow up to be…sadly just like your pathetic self.
So I get the feeling there are the people who care and those who would probably rub the peanuts in the kids faces themselves. As someone with food allergies here's the deal: we don't want you to change the diet- but if you know I'm allergic to something so severely that breathing it could kill me don't sit down beside me and start eating it. I WILL punch you in the face. Besides that- grow up adults and think about the possibility your kid could develop the allergy next. Then u'll see how bitter your words are.
As a kid without resources…peanut butter on a spoon was my main meal, sometimes only meal.
Fortunately, I still like pb on bread with a bit of jam, jelly, or honey and occasionally in yogurt, all right in everything.
I happen to have many allergies; one I do not suffer from is peanut butter.
However, being mindful of other people’s possible concerns I never leave home having consumed the slightest amount of pb since years ago I heard in a report (honestly, I do not recall what program) that some people’s reaction can be significant by even a simple breath/scent across the table from another. I do not want to be responsible for harming anyone.
I request that other’s limit or eliminate scents, particularly no smoking around me.
I am even at the point of wearing a dust mask out, however embarrassing, yet it helps a little and I wear a personal ionic air cleaner that also minimizes exposure to some allergens …
It is that or I end up being a recluse, which I rather not but allergies are not something to “sneeze at…watery eyes, tingling lips, tongue swelling, etc.” include for me my throat closes, I have endured shots (once a series of 3) to help ease my symptoms just because “you stranger” chose to bathe in cologne. I haven’t worked since 1992 thankful I have a perfect husband who supports me financially, emotionally and he stands by me when there is nothing to do but wait and hope that what I am ingesting or exposed to that I am ok –Russian Roulette allergy style. Not fun…!
Let me stop now before I get onto the subject of resurfacing the road, anyone have air to breathe...?
Regarding peanut butter in school...there needs to be alternatives- the children can enjoy the yummy pb at home and try other foods at school that are less of an issue for all.
Furthermore, I understand that other nut butters though more costly tend to have little to no effect on some people who are allergic to peanut butter perhaps something to consider.
First, re: the Darwin argument: the vast majority of allergies are not genetic – humans start producing their own immune system after between 6 months and 2 years after being born. Allergies are a hyperactive immune response that is based on the developmental environment at this age. Natural selection wouldn't act on allergies because they, by and large, didn't exist until people started living in clean environments (ie not on farms, not in the wilderness, etc.)
Second, re: the EpiPen argument: EpiPens work approximately 20% of the time. For a man of my size (6'3", 180 lbs), an adult dose will wear off between 6 to 8 minutes after injection, if it works at all. EpiPens don't "solve" or "cure" severe allergic reactions;; they simply may provide a buffer period before an ambulance arrives to administer IV steroids.
Third, re: the accommodation argument: we live in America, which means that we have many freedoms, but not unlimited freedoms. Claiming that accommodating other people is an infraction on your rights is actually un-democratic because it invokes a tyranny of the majority. By those standards, standards where policy can"t advocate for the minority voice, women still wouldn't be allowed to vote, minorities would still be segregated, and wheelchair accessible wouldn't exist.
Schools should accommodate on a case-by-case basis. If there is a severe allergy (peanuts get the most attention because life threatening peanut allergies are by far the most common, but the argument would apply to any type), the school should decide whether or not it's dangerous to have the allergen in the school for that particular student. If yes, it should be treated accordingly. Some allergens are easier than others to get rid of, but every effort should be made whether that means having a designated allergen-free area or removing the allergen entirely if its presence in the school poses a risk.
I agree. To add to you accommodation paragraph... anyone with a disability can ask for a Section 504
plan. Which means the school administration and the parents create a heath care plan and agree to how
the disability will be handled (on a case by case basis). It is a team effort to manage, but every child is
entitled to a safe learning environment -by law. Those that disagree can try and change that but the
Americans with Disability Act has been around since 1973.
My daughter isn't allergic to peanuts but actually milk. I am not a radical over the top kinda guy but I want my kids to have a good education and be allowed to do all the same things as others. To explain the level to which my daughter will react is if she comes into contact with the liquid its turns to a chemical burn, and then leads to Anaphylaxis which means a trip to the ER. If she ingests it she will have these reactions and runs a very very high risk of dying. I love my daughter as everyone loves their kids, I don't want to loose her because someone can't understand a medical condition that she has no control over. The family is careful with food and where we go and we don't push a agenda on people of you can't do this, but be respectful of people who has a disability. I understand new directions need to be made in this area, are we asking for the world no, do we pay the same taxes and support the same school functions and support the community you bet. No one thinks well she had a reaction and died is as bad as a kid who throws acid or gas ona kid and lights it..... If a kid walks up throws milk on my daughter its the same act, and after these exact actions were taken everyone was up in arms. Look no one knows the stress of this unless you live it. I jsut want a safe place for a kid to be a kid. Everyone wants that its what every parent wants. just ours takes a little extra effort... Not asking the world just asking for some level headed understanding. And this message and plea go for all food allergies.
Oh and before someone thinks up the idea I am talking changing the entire menu to be this way I am not, I will cover all the food costs that's my responsibility not another families. I see the idea of banning some products but I am asking for simply let us protect our kids before something bad happens.
I have a 3 year old brother with peanut allergies who is going to preschool this year, and just the other day a inconsiderate parent decides to bring peanut butter granola bars as a class treat! After many fliers were sent home with the kids stating the there was an allergy to peanuts so to avoid bringing items with nuts! The worst part about the whole thing is the schools making a major problem out of it! they are saying the wrong forms were filled out and that my mothers word and handing over the epi pen are not enough!! Now i do not think it is enough for a school to decide to just play the game at a lunch period to lunch period basis! If there is one peanut allergy in the school then peanut products should be taken out of the school and band(same goes for any other major food allergy)! And just because a child has this or any other food allergy that does NOT make the child "weak"! The "Weakling" is the one who is not willing to "accommodate" to help there fellow humans!!!
why are some of you idiots so angry. Getting rid of peanut products gets rid of liability to the school if someone has a bad reaction or even a fatality. idiots, grow up and act like adults.
A ban on peanut butter will not solve the problem of children with food allergies being exposed to allergens at school, and might only be a false sense of security for parents of children with severe food allergies. First, as many have commented here, there are many other food products that contain peanuts that could be brought to school which could cause a potential reaction. Second, I doubt that all parents and students would fully comply, especially given the mentality of many who have commented here. Third, it would be unfair for students severely allergic to other foods to ban only peanut butter. My daughter for example is also severely allergic to tree nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and dairy, so all those kids bringing peanut alternative nut and seed butters could still be putting other children at risk. So what might work? How about an empty classroom for the allergic kids to have lunch in, on a voluntary basis, while monitored by an adult? On a voluntary basis meaning the parent of an allergic kid should determine that their child should be required to eat there. In the separate room, the foods that all of the allergic children in the group are severely allergic to would be banned from those students' lunches in order to be fair to other food allergy sufferers. This way only the allergic group would be burdened with preparing allergy friendly lunches for their kids. This would allow the kids to eat in peace, without the visual stigma of sitting at an “allergy table,” although kids in school will know who the allergic ones are anyway...
I personally don't think that other people should be burdened by my child's allergy. If for example my daughter goes to a birthday party, I send her with her own cupcake and don't ask the party host to make a gluten free, soy free , dairy free, nut free, seed free cake for all the kids to accommodate my daughter. I therefore can't expect other parents to send their kids to school with only beans, rice, meat, veggies, and fruit to accommodate my daughter, but hopefully a solution that can fairly accommodate all, within reason, can be found.
I agree with the birthday comments completely. Our son has a severe allergy to a milk protein (casein), has an epi-pen etc. What we do is what you do, provide our child with alternatives when he goes to parties. We don't expect other parents to accommodate us.
And I agree, I'm not sure why the peanut allergy children get special consideration here...yes, yes I know about the airborne possibility, but even the most outrageous claim on here says only 50% of allergy related deaths are to peanuts, what about the other 50% of the kids, they don't matter?
The classroom idea is a very good Idea and yes the kids know who is in that room right away, there isn't going to be a fool proof plan for this you are right there. If someone wants to harm another kid with using food as a lets say weapon and thinks its a joke its going to happen, or if they simply some in contact with it. You cant stick them in a bubble their whole life the best you can do is be vigilant and pray you beat the odds.
my youngest son has food allergies. He started at about 6 months old & had a laundry list of allergies. I am thankful that he has outgrown most of these. He still has some, but at 4 years old he knows what he can and cannot eat. I choose to homeschool him. I understand food allergies, but if your child is in mortal danger why do you send him to public school. I'm sure all the usual arguments apply i.e. both parents work, not enough $$, etc, but seriously isn't your child's welfare more important that the big house or extra stuff. Stay home and keep your child safe yourself. Many school districts will give you their books for free each school year.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636455.html
In one study, Perry and colleagues at Duke University placed 15 peanut-allergic children on a slow, but escalating oral dosage program, during which they consumed limited amounts of peanut food. Another eight peanut-allergic children were placed on a placebo regimen.
Among the children exposed to these carefully rising doses of peanut, negative reactions were mild to moderate, requiring medicinal intervention only a handful of times, the authors noted.
At the program's conclusion, a "food challenge" was conducted. The challenge revealed that while the placebo group could only safely tolerate 315 milligrams of peanut consumption, the 15 children who participated in the immunotherapy program could tolerate up to 5,000 milligrams of peanuts – an amount equal to about 15 peanuts.
Having concluded that the dosage program afforded some measure of short-term "clinical desensitization" to peanuts, the research team then explored the program's potential for inducing long-term protection in a second trial.
Eight of the children who had participated in the oral dosing program for anywhere between 32 and 61 months were then subject to an oral peanut challenge four weeks after being taken off the dosing program.
All of the children – at an average age of about four and a half years of age – demonstrated lasting immunological changes that translated into a newly developed "clinical tolerance" to peanuts, the researchers said. And although the children continue to be tracked for complications, peanuts are now a part of their standard diet
I KNOW, YOU IDIOT, YOU DOLT! DON'T YOU THINK THAT PARENTS OF PEANUT-ALLERGIC KIDS WOULD DOOOOO THIS IN A SECOND IF IT WERE AVAILABLE!?!?!?!? IT IS NOT AVAILABLE, IT IS EXPERIMENTAL!!!
But hey, thanks for giving us hope, Hun. Night.
I have an peanut allergic child. I hear your "side" quite often. We take our child to the Mayo Clinic each year to be tested
on his food allergies and his Dr. is notably the best at Mayo. Your article does not mention that people have died in this study (small dosage/therapy). It is not approved by the FDA and is considered experimental.
Now, put yourself in my shoes. Would you allow your child to be a part of that study knowing he could die? Even the best
Dr.s don't have a clear answer on why food allergies are so prevalent today. The best known theory is: We over vaccinate and our immune systems are "bored" and looking for something to do (as untechnical as I can explain). When small children are introduced to a food (such as peanut) their immune systems are not developed enough to handle the protein. That is why peanuts are not recommended until the age of 3. But, when my son was 11 mo. someone (without my permission) gave my son a peanut cookie and he had an anaphylactic reaction. It is quite possible that he would have never developed the allergy if we had waited till he was 3yrs to introduce peanuts.
Sorry for the long response.
It's ridiculous we can't send a kid to school with a peanut butter & jelly sandwich these days. Developing 3rd world nations have almost ZERO nut allergies compared to that of the United States. Even Europe is lower than us in this category. The reason is most likely all the ridiculous "AVOID AT ALL COSTS" mentality that is going on. There's such a worry about a child being exposed to even a HINT of air that might blow past someone's peanut butter & jelly sandwich that we're actually HURTING kids by not allowing them to be exposed to nuts. It's the same with sickness – you can keep your kids locked in a bubble but in the end all you'll wind up with is a kid with a very weak immune system because it's not had to do its' job and build up tolerances.
There's NOT ONE CASE of a child DYING or even being seriously hospitalized because someone next to them ate a peanut butter sandwich. DUMB. I'm so tired of this sick mentality that we have to "take care of" everyone and their issues. Not everyone is meant to be a superstar, genius, stellar athlete, etc. Get your lazy rear end off the welfare system and put out some actual energy at a job – you might lose a few pounds doing it too! (And stop drinking so much soda like a fiend – your diabetes will probably go away as a result; you'll definitely lose weight – dolts).
Wow. To say that no one has been hospitalized or died because someone ate a peanut butter sandwich next to them just shows that you are TOTALLY uninformed and have not read a single post on here about actual peanut allergies and cross-contamination.
Ignorant, uniformed rant (and off the subject) much, Turt Honey? Now go have some nice chamomile tea and lay down before you hurt yourself, Sweetie.
I have a peanut allergic child. When he was in Kindergarten, I received a call from the school. "Come immediately, we've
dialed 911!". I drove as fast as I could to the school only to find out that a teacher decided to make peanut brittle in the
classroom. I was told that the same lesson could be done making applesauce. Apparently the teacher didn't like to vary her curriculum. We pulled our child from that school and never looked back. We have taught our son how to manage his allergies and he is now in Middle School and hasn't had a problem since. He's well educated on managing his allergies on his own.
Nobody has the right to endanger my child's life. Shame on those that don't take this seriously. I'm not sure how you sleep at night. A peanut free school is unrealistic, but a peanut safe school is realistic. Meaning, teachers and educators should use common sense when dealing with kids and food allergies. Make reasonable accommodate when needed.
As a child, I had a classmate who was severely allergic to nuts. Most whined when they wouldn't let us bring any pb sandwiches or cookies to class. You know what stopped it? When a sweet but stubborn room mother brought a snack mix that had nuts in it one afternoon. Just opening the jar near the girl set off the reaction. I will never forget watching another child claw at her own throat, unable to breathe, because one person decided "it wasn't a big deal". I think banning peanut butter from all schools everywhere is going too far? But for the few children who are extremely allergic, it ISN'T something they can just 'choose not to eat'.
(The girl in question did recover, by the way, but her parents yanked her from the school after that. I don't know what ever became of her.)
That's ok, Kay, the general public apparently not only doesn't care about what became of your classmate after clawing at her throat, almost dying in front of you, but thinks the "stubborn" (read "entitled to peanuts") mother was not only within her RIGHTS, but absolutely a candidate for sainthood. Because "where does it end", right?
Got it. Sorry for not reading your previous comments.
@ Your Mom's comment. You are a very cold person. I disagree with you and so does the 'American with Disabilities Act of 1973'.
@JB, I sincerely apologize that my sarcasm was not more obvious. PLEASE read my previous comments in this thread. I am HORRIFIED by the intolerance here. I have a peanut-allergic child and was merely trying to make a point. Not well, apperently. I'm a bit bitter from all of the people here saying my kid should die for being allergic, as long as it doesn't inconvenience their kids. Anyway, sorry again.
Nearly 50% of the US population is allergic to peanuts! A peanut allergy is so bad that it kills the ones allergic! An allergy to water (Aquagenic pruritis) is very rare, and usually does not cause more then a skin rash. Peanut allergies are on the rise in the US, and there is no way knowing what causes it. With there being so many people allergic I think schools are not the only places it should be banned. This allergy is clearly an epidemic, and I hope that all these people saying that there is no reason to ban it, have children with this allergy. So that they might understand how sad it is seeing your child scared about having friends because they might eat nuts.
Wow, it truly is an epidemic, having risen from 1% to 50% in one day.
What causes peanut allergies to be on the rise you ask? LACK OF EXPOSURE TO NUTS you DOLT. In fact there's promising research that introduces microscopic levels of nuts to allergic sufferers in slowly increasing dosages – in nearly all the people treated with this new method they are able to actually EAT peanuts. YES – EAT PEANUTS. These were "HIGHLY & FATALLY ALLERGIC" individuals. READ THIS BIZATCHES – and quit your whining about your child's intolerance: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636455.html
In one study, Perry and colleagues at Duke University placed 15 peanut-allergic children on a slow, but escalating oral dosage program, during which they consumed limited amounts of peanut food. Another eight peanut-allergic children were placed on a placebo regimen.
Among the children exposed to these carefully rising doses of peanut, negative reactions were mild to moderate, requiring medicinal intervention only a handful of times, the authors noted.
At the program's conclusion, a "food challenge" was conducted. The challenge revealed that while the placebo group could only safely tolerate 315 milligrams of peanut consumption, the 15 children who participated in the immunotherapy program could tolerate up to 5,000 milligrams of peanuts - an amount equal to about 15 peanuts.
Having concluded that the dosage program afforded some measure of short-term "clinical desensitization" to peanuts, the research team then explored the program's potential for inducing long-term protection in a second trial.
Eight of the children who had participated in the oral dosing program for anywhere between 32 and 61 months were then subject to an oral peanut challenge four weeks after being taken off the dosing program.
All of the children - at an average age of about four and a half years of age - demonstrated lasting immunological changes that translated into a newly developed "clinical tolerance" to peanuts, the researchers said. And although the children continue to be tracked for complications, peanuts are now a part of their standard diet
The absolute hatred and bullying shown here has convinced me that NOBODY will look after my peanut-allergic 4-year-old but himself. But that is GOOD, all the better. I was SO upset yesterday, reading all of this stuff about how they wanted (yes WANTED) my son to die so that they can protect their God-given right to peanut butter and because little Suzie would pout and go on a hunger strike for a few days. The COMPLETE lack of compassion and understanding and quite frankly, the evilness, about HALF the people expressed seriously depressed me. But today, I am twice as determined to teach him that he is out there ALL ALONE when Mommy is not around. I am also determined to teach him how to kick those pro-not my problem people's fat kids' backsides.
I tell you this now....this country is doomed.
Will you teach me how to Bitch Slap them too,Mom?
Yes. Happily. Don't start it, but if they start it, finish it. They definitely started this. Now behave and be nice, everybody. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Thanks,Love You Mom.
This. I don't have a child with peanut allergies, but it does horrify and disgust me that people are actively saying children with this allergy should "just die" because it inconveniences them. They do make non-peanut nut butters (and soy nut butters), people! If someone in your child's class is allergic, there are many alternatives that will not KILL SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD. What next...we should kill the disabled (like myself) because we have the audacity to need help getting up and down the stairs?
And you know what makes it extra-sad is that I WANT to be an all-inclusive, loving Earth Mother, but after coming into contact with these people, ok, FINE, I can be Sarah Connor.
There is a calm rational way to find a solution - a way to keep kids peanuts away from kids with allergies - that also don't involve the extreme need to ban them. I happen to love peanuts. So it's wholly unfair to me to prevent me from having it just because another might get sick if they eat it. So don't ever feed it to the kids who are allergic ... keep them away from it if needed ... but allow those who want it to have it.
Wow. The hatred and ignorance displayed here is so depressing, I'm embarrassed for our country to be a part of a society like this. There is something I have come to realize and it is this: The general mentality of American society is very childlike in that, it's "all about me" and "I want it MY way" and "you can't tell me what to do!". We've lived as a society in this great country for 200+ years and have completely twisted, warped and redefined (as we see it) what the PRIVILEGE of our "freedom" truly is. Freedom isn't doing what ever you want, when you want, at the expense of others. Freedom isn't elitist or "survival of the fittest". We are supposed to live here peacefully and help and love one another. I know, I know..."but then it wouldn't be all about ME", now would it?
My kids go to a peanut free school and this is easy to solve. I have switched all 4 of my kids to almond butter. We went through several brands before we found one that they liked. It is called Barney Butter, it is made in a peanut free facility and they can't even tell that it is not peanut butter. So much healthier for them too!!
Thats great! Another good option is Soy Nut Butter! There is a brand that they sell at walmart in the peanut butter section that says school safe soybutter. The label is green, and has a little apple on it. This brand taste just like peanut butter!
I aint stopping givin my boy peanut butter just coz of a few slack jawed retards.
A few? You know that it is nearly 50% of the US population right?
If a child has a documented P-nut allergy have them eat lunch somewhere other than the school lunch room.
Like a leper? Why not the closet, or in a room all by themselves?
This is ridiculous. School's don't need to ban peanuts or peanut butter........but they also don't need to make these kids outcasts. Education and a peanut free zone is fine. One table, or portion of the lunch room. That isn't that difficult. Additionally all these "poor" regular kids shouldn't find it too difficult to adjust. Plus, this is putting forth a good precedent for children–learning to adjust to others and make sacrifices and adjustments.
Excluding someone based on a disability is called discrimination. If schools did that, they would lose their federal funding.
Let me start by saying that I am 31 years old and I have no children. Additionally, I have and always have had a peanut allergy. In addition to this, I also have allergies to all other nuts. I graduate high school in 1998, so obviously I made it through grade school, junior high, and high school without having a major issue related to nuts. That being said, anyone who says that schools are being too sensitive and that "we" are screwing over their kids really needs to take a look in the mirror and realize that they are being ignorant. Yes. IGNORANT. Most peanut are allergies can be described as "mild". Mine is "mild" when put on a spectrum of other people with peanut allergies. What does "mild" mean? It means that I have to always carry an Epi-Pen with me in case I come into contact with peanuts. It means that a "mild" reaction can still be deadly. A "mild" reaction causes a person to go into anaphylactic shock and essentially suffocate to death. It just takes longer than those with a "severe" reaction. Plain and simple, you are hiding behind ignorance and saying "well it doesn't affect my kid, so why should I care?" You should care because you are a human being. Congratulations to you and your kid! You have something I wish I did. Peace of mind that eating something, or being exposed to it, isn't going to kill me. Get off your high horse, stop being ignorant and become educated. Make a small sacrifice so that a kid can grow up with one less worry. Lord knows there are many other things to worry about.
Someone asked, "How do you suppose that a kid who is allergic is going to be exposed to a peanut butter sandwich by a kid who isn't allergic, unless they are forced to eat it, they are attacked with it or they choose to eat it on their own??? "
If you haven't noticed, children touch everything, so I think accidental exposure is a lot easier than you realize.
Nevermind that some have the same reaction to the smell alone. I have a good friend whose throat started closing up as soon as she got home because her careless (for other reasons, too) roommate made peanut butter cookies and the smell permeated the building. I do not know if this was from airborne particles, but bear in mind that the senses of smell and taste are closely linked, and the body subject to unconscious associations a la Pavlov's dogs. I also knew a girl who was severely allergic to latex, and I don't recall any of us whining that we couldn't use certain pencil erasers, we were just glad our friend was alive.
Not all allergies are nearly as common as peanut allergies, so I don't think we need the hysterics about what's going to be banned next.
Grow up, folks. It could just as easily be your child - and the grand irony is, you may have helped do this to their immune systems since we are culturally obsessed with using unnecessary hospital-grade antibacterial products in our homes. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no3_supp/levy.htm
ALL children in America are entitled to a safe learning environment in our public schools. To fortunate parents who have kids w/out a disability such as a food allergy and who feel that they should disregard the health and welfare of a small child:would you be comfortable having your child sit down to eat lunch next to a bottle of poison or something similar that could harm, even kill your child? That is what you are asking the peanut-allergic child to do when he sits next to someone eating peanut butter. Your child can eat it all they want any other time but in school. Are you all really that uncaring that you would send in peanut butter anyway, causing an innocent child harm? Their lives are hard enough worrying about every bit of food they eat. If you are that heartless, I feel truly sorry for you. Hopefully you would teach your children to be caring helpful individuals by leading by example but if not, I hope you never have to deal with the tragedy that could result from your selfishness if you choose to disregard the severity of peanut allergies.
Here is what has worked best in our situation: The school has agreed not to serve peanut products and very easy substitutions were made for the famous pb&J. Kids are allowed to bring in their own peanut butter, though we have found many kids who refuse because they don't want to cause accidental harm to a fellow human being (perhaps we should learn from our children). Ideally, if they have peanut products they sit at a designated table. If this is not possible, then the peanut allergic child brings their lunch because we cannot expect the schools to also be responsible for "made on peanut equipment" type of statements. There are just too many ways that this can go wrong for the severely allergic child. The allergic child sits at the very end of the table with the hot lunch kids. The others sit at the opposite end with their sack lunches. Again, if there is a peanut table, then the child can sit at the regular table without the separation of sack lunchers and hot lunchers. I have two allergic children and DO NOT support a ban on peanuts. The reality is there are some very hateful parents who will send it in because they feel it is there right. I would rather know and have a plan r than not know and be caught off guard... a potentially deadly mistake. Keep in mind, that this plan won't work for those individuals who are sensitive to even the airborne particles of peanut butter and a different plan may be needed at their schools.
This is a lot like allowing your child to play in a busy road so you can sue who ever happens to be driving down that street and then insisting everyone stop driving cars. You have a child who has special needs and you place them in a position of danger. You allow it. You insist on it. Take responsibility for your part in this. Because it could not happen without your participation.
The reason we have laws to protect those with disabilities is because of people like yourself. Everyone
is entitled to a safe learning environment.
What we have is a group who has such a demand for entitlement they insist the world spin around themselves.
What about kids that are deaf, blind or in wheel chairs? Are they spinning around in a world of entitlement? Last I checked,
a disability is a disability. Why accommodate one and not the other? Since anaphylaxis affects your ability to breathe (a basic life function) it is no different from any other legal disability. The reason people have such a hard time with peanut allergies is that its more prevalent now than in previous generations.
I think it all comes down to this: people don't like being told what to do, particularly when something MIGHT be a threat to an abstract person. Banning anything is only going to annoy a lot of the population, and provide a false sense of security for the affected person. When there is an actual threat to a specific child, a better solution is to educate the kids and their parents and ASK them to cooperate. You really need to get cooperation here, not coercion. I find it nearly impossible to believe that even the most outspoken people here would actually intentionally endanger a friend or neighbor's child.
Well said!
Feeding peanut butter to your child everyday is irresponsible not because you'll upset the allergic weaklings and their limp-wristed liberal parents but because you will transform your own child into a lard-ass like most American kids these days. Amen.
Allergic weaklings... my peanut allergic son is the starting quarterback for his HS football team, plays on a national AAA Hockey team (#1 in our state). Yeah, he's a weakling. Sure, what ever you say...
Get a clue. Childhood obesity has nothing to do with food allergies. Why don't you educate yourself before you sound off.
I love winding up dumb Americans.
Looks who's talking.
Oh, my goodness! There isn't anyone saying to "Put all of the Peanut Farmers out of business!" All this poll is about is trying to see where people stand on this issue where there are children that attend school with “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies” that can kill them within a matter of seconds by them being in the same building & around others who may have eaten a known “Allergen.”
There isn’t anyone saying “YOUR KID” cannot eat “PEANUT BUTTER!” However, if your kid eats Peanut Butter for lunch Monday-Friday & is around my kid, my kid will die! Therefore, if you could let your child eat something else for lunch Monday- Friday so “my kid” doesn’t die it would be greatly appreciated!
**F.Y.I.*** ANYONE WHO KNOWINGLY INDUCES OR TRIES TO INDUCE A “SEVERE ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION” CAN BE CHARGED WITH ***PREMEDITATED MURDER OR ATTEMPED MURDER!” If you know someone could die by your actions (bring Peanut Butter & Jelly) to school & you do it any way. You and your kid could be charged with attempted MURDER OR MURDER!
This is why it should be a case by case basis, not an all out ban. No one in my family would knowingly hurt your child. You need to make sure a note is sent to the parents in you school that your kid is the allergic and let the rest of the world live. I am sorry you have to deal with something so sever and it must be hard. I am lucky I do not have that particular problem. I can assure you that everyone has something hard to deal with.
I think many people love peanut butter and it is a healthy, lunch and snack. It is better for you than all the processed crap out there. My peanut butter has no sugar. I feel bad for parents who have kids with allergies to peanuts, but you can not ask the world to give up peanuts. That is the point. I do not think anyone blames you for peanut allergies. I think people are saying you need to teach these kids to take care of themselves and you need to educate their classmates to keep it away from them. I do not think making every kid in every school in you district not eat peanuts is not fair. I think you are telling us we are selfish and uncaring. Face it your child needs to learn to advocate for themselves and deal with their serious problem. The world is not peanut free. You are asking the world to accommodate you. I am willing if their is a child in my kids class to accommodate that child, but to accommodate period end of story even if no kid in our school has a problem is silly. I also feel that if your kids allergy is so sever they will die from smelling peanuts, you have bigger problems than school. What about play grounds, the mall, the grocery store, my car in the parking lot that my 4 year olds peanut hands have touched? This is a serious problem and if your kid is around I will accommodate them, but if not I think my kids should be aloud to have peanut butter. I do not think that is unfair. I think peanut butter is a great food. It is nutritious and you can guarantee the kid will eat it and it does not need refrigeration.
Is this something that is more controversial because we included the words "lunchtime" and "schools" in it?
I know that everyone loves to jump all over the education system and the profession itself, but realistically I wonder how many times a child with a peanut allergy has been to a zoo or a some type of fair or circus where peanuts were being fed to the animals and the shells were on the ground. What about restaurants where it's popular to eat peanuts as an appetizer and throw the nut shells on the ground? Or for all the sporting events that kiddos attend with their parents... baseball, football, etc. Should we go to the MLB and NFL and say we want them to ban peanuts from being sold at their events? Or would we even think about asking something like that of a huge entertainment venue? Because that wouldn't be the fault of a school if a parent chose to bring a child to something of an entertainment nature, so would a parent think about the what if's and dangers as much if the responsibility were placed in their own hands?
I think the issue around education is that every child has a right to attend school (no matter what kind of disability) and
the right to learn in a safe environment. That is the reason we have laws to protect them. What happens outside of school is the parents responsibility.
I'm a parent of a peanut allergic child. I have a neighbor that was against accommodations in schools and her views
mimic many of the "don't make your problem my problem" sentiments listed here. Then about a year ago, her youngest son had an anaphylactic reaction when someone gave him a peanut M& M. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital and was lucky to be alive.
Guess what? She did an about face. Imagine that. Next thing you know she's calling me to find out how to best manage
her child's peanut allergy. Funny how opinions change when its YOUR child.
So, for those that are on this blog and want to make it seem like we don't want to parent, that we want to make our problem your problem. Think again. It very well could be your problem someday.
I am thankful that there are laws that allow my child to attend school (American with Disabilities Act of 1973). Accommodations in schools allow kids to learn in a safe learning environment. Kids shouldn't have to worry about their allergy in Math, Science or any other subject.
Hi, I am sorry to hear about your child having that horrible reaction! It's terrifying! I honestly think it's ironic that your neighbors kid had a reaction. It's funny how karma will come back to bite you when you least expect it. I don't know where you live but there are laws to protect your child especially for kids with "Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies." If there isn't a law in the state in which you live, I can help you get one passed. I've already done it for my child & other children that live in my state. Take Care & Please let me know if you need any help!
So %99 of the population must give up peanuts because %1 have peanut allergies (and only a fraction of those have it bad enough where airborne peanut allergen is fatal)? You expect to dismantle a $2 billion dollar a year industry? You want to put 25,000 American farmers out of work because you refuse to keep your allergic child from harm by keeping them home? Exactly who's being selfish here?
Can we try to remain civil? Allergies are serious. That said, can we employ some common sense? Granted my kid's school is small but we handle it easily. Teachers know who has a nut allergy. Their photos are in the serving area of the lunch room, epi pens are readily available and their friends look out for them. Kids who bring P&J sandwiches to school sit away from them because THEY don't want to endangered their friends and their friends don't mind because THEY want their friends to enjoy their lunch. Can we have a little mutual respect – like our kids seem to be able to have?
we should feed all the allergic kids to the non-allergic kids
All you people are raising girly-men
I find it extremely disturbing the amount of ignorance there is still out there regarding "Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies!" Most children with “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies” DO NOT have to eat the known allergen to go into “Anaphylactic Shock & DIE!” All it takes is for the known allergen to be in the same room with the person allergic because A LOT of peoples’ “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergies are AIRBORNE!!!” The known allergen could be on the breath of another person & the person allergic could go into “Severe Anaphylactic Shock & DIE! If a person eats a known Allergen & touches something after eating this known allergen, then the person with the “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergy” comes along & touches the same surface as the person that ate the known Allergen, the person can go into “Severe Anaphylactic Shock & DIE!” THIS IS NOT A STOMACH ACHE, OR HIVES THIS IS “DEATH!”
If your kid eats a “KNOWN ALLERGEN” (PEANUT BUTTER, NUTS, FISH, ETC. ETC.) & then is around my kid, MY KID WILL DIE!
However, if your kid doesn’t eat “Peanut Butter, Fish, or Nuts” Monday – Friday for lunch is he or she going to DIE? “I DON’T THINK SO!”
I have a note from my kids Pediatrician if your kid eats a known “ALLERGEN” & is around my kid, “MY KID WILL DIE!”
Do you have a note from your kids Pediatrician if your kid doesn’t eat “Peanut Butter/Fish, ETC. for lunch Monday-Friday that he or she will DIE? I DON’T THINK SO!
Just a FYI: Did you know that can eat Fish, Peanut Butter, etc. etc. your whole life & not have a “Severe Anaphylactic Reaction,” however, turn around & eat it the very next day & it almost kill you! If you DO NOT have a “Severe Anaphylactic Food Allergy” to anything, “PRAISE GOD!” Because it could be you, your kid, your husband or your Mom today, tomorrow or a week from now! THINK ABOUT IT!
for my next piece of performance art, i will play a 10 year old with allergies to peanuts, aaaaaaaaaaaand action
I know if I had a child that was that severely allergic to a certain item, I wouldn't feel safe having him eat with other children even if the school banned peanut butter. Just because it's banned doesn't mean that a child will understand that. Some elementary school kids pack their own lunches. If a kid grabs a pack of peanut butter crackers by accident and then breathes on your child, who then has a severe allergic reaction, it doesn't really matter whether the item was banned or not. How could you ever feel safe sending a severely allergic child to a public school? You are basically putting your child's life in the hands of other children! I don't have children yet, but if my child ever had an allergy that severe, I would not send them to a public school, where anything can really happen.
My youngest daughter almost died when she was a year old. We were in and out of hospitals and the doctors could not figure out what was wrong. She had internal bleeding and was losing all of her body’s proteins. Finally, she was diagnosed with a severe Casein allergy. But instead of the normal reaction, her body responded as though it was being slowly poisoned. Not all severe and deadly allergies are Anaphylactic reactions. Her doctors told us that less than 1% of 1% of all allergic reactions were the kind she was experiencing and it had to do with the fact that the part of her immune system that regulates allergies was missing. That meant that at any time in her life, when she developed a new allergy as we typically do, she could die. Because it would not register as a normal reaction and it would be delayed and it would not be detected on blood work as a normal allergic reaction….. through some miracle and an accidental exposure to milk products and later testing on her immune system we discovered we had, had a miracle and she was fine. She will be fine. BUT, the point is I do know what it is like. I lived in a world of total unknown. I lived with the fact that at any time some unknown substance could kill my daughter. During the time milk and all dairy was the enemy I never once suggested that anyone alter their lifestyle for us. We dealt with it. We took food and drink for Sarah everywhere we went. She was our responsibility, no one else’s. And had her body not healed itself, it would have remained the same this year, her first year of kindergarten. The plan was for a family member to attend lunch with her every day. It never even occurred to us to ask the school to accommodate.
As for some of your comments about if your kids take PB Monday –Friday then simply send them with something else. I know families who cannot afford anything else right now, sadly. It’s PB or nothing for them. Also, I made a point in another post that, most other lunch foods have to be kept cool somehow, with ice packs or some other type of insulation or they can go bad risking illness. There are days when my children don’t remember to put there ice packs back in the freezer and so they have to take PB, because I’m not giving them a turkey sandwich….that’s going to sit in the class for 3 hours, and warm, before lunch.
Ironically, my Sarah came home yesterday afternoon and announced she had a new friend named Brianna. She said “Brianna can’t have peanut butter”. I explained to Sarah that Brianna can’t have anything with peanuts. I also explained to Sarah that on those days that she has anything with peanuts she cannot under any circumstances, go near Brianna without washing her hands really, really well and brushing her teeth (I will put a wisp in her box for after lunch). I plan on sending her teacher an email today to find out if they are going to install any protocols. I don’t want this little girls life to be at risk, I am not a cruel person. And I have been where her parents are with the anxiety of having a child with a life threatening issue. But I have said before and I maintain this position, that the needs of the minority should never outweigh the needs of the majority. Ways can be found to accommodate, but don’t alienate everyone else.
That brings me to my final point. Don’t you think that by you vigilante attitude you have something to do with people digging in their heels against a PB ban?? I was noticing that yesterday. The more vigilante the allergy parents were the more aggressive the anti ban people became. Find a gentler way to promote your cause, and I bet you will see results.
Listening to you mouth breathers defend you genetically inferior crap factories makes me want to vomit up the five fingers of Macallan I had to thrown down just to make it through this literary miscarriage. Back in my day, young men were tough enough to wait until they saw the whites in the eyes of the godless soul whose face they were about to blow off at near point blank range with a colt commander. Now if you so much as shove a peanut butter sandwich into some kids face, his bowels will vacate like a Saigon embassy. God willing, your children will all die from inhaling peanut dust before they have a chance to further poison the gene pool with their offspring
ALL YOU PARENTS ARE GROWING UP YOUR KIDS TO BE JUST LIKE YOU: OPINIONATED, ANNOYING, CRASS AND IGNORANT. LISTEN TO YOURSELVES! JUST STOP FIGHTING AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS. STOP TELLING OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE. GROW UP! WTF? SEEING YOU GUYS AS AN EXAMPLE MAKES ME SCARED HOW YOUR KIDS WILL GROW UP: JUST LIKE YOU!
Thank you for your thoughtful post, Krista. Nut-free tables and specifying nut-free lunch periods won't do the trick, because the oil in peanut butter can stay on the tale, on a doorknob, etc and an allergic child can have a life-threatening reaction just from touching the oil left behind, or from smelling peanut butter. It saddens me to see that so many people are willing to let a young child live with this danger so that they can continue eating a snack food.
PUT YOURSELF IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES FOR ONCE! Sad thing is I bet many of these horrible people who show complete lack of empathy or concern for human life probably call themselves "christians".
Peanut allergy is estimated to affect 0.4-0.6% of the population.
Dr. Christakis points out that about 3.3 million Americans are allergic to nuts, and even more — 6.9 million — are allergic to seafood. But of 30 million hospitalizations each year, just 2,000 are due to food allergies, and about 150 people die annually from serious allergic food reactions. That’s the same number of people killed by bee stings and lightning strikes combined. About 10,000 children are hospitalized annually with traumatic brain injuries from sports, 2,000 children drown each year, and about 1,300 die in gun accidents, he writes." Media sensationalism has also been blamed.
Prevalence among adults and children is similar—around 1%—but at least one study shows it to be on the rise in children in the United States. The number of young children affected doubled between 1997 and 2002. 25% of children with a peanut allergy outgrow it. In America, about 100 people per year die from peanut allergies.
We are talking about a very very small percentage of the population who are allergic to peanuts.
The American Peanut Council has statistics regarding the peanut industry.
http://www.peanutsusa.com/USA/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.page&pid=12
Seven states account for approximately 99% of all peanuts grown in the U.S. Georgia (41%) grows the major proportion of all peanuts followed by Texas (24%), Alabama (10%), North Carolina (9%), Florida (6%), Virginia (5%), and Oklahoma (5%). There are approximately 25,000 peanut farmers in the major producing regions.
Peanut butter accounts for approximately half of the U.S. edible use of peanuts — accounting for $850 million in retail sales annually. It is a popular sandwich spread, particularly for children, and it is both nutritious and economical. Peanut butter is high in plant protein, contains no cholesterol, and has many important vitamins and minerals, including niacin, vitamin E and other antioxidants, and natural folic acid.
Many of the top-selling confectionery products in the U.S. contain peanuts or peanut butter. They are most popular in combination with chocolate. Peanuts and peanut butter also are used in a variety of cookies and baked goods. Peanut oil is considered a premium, high quality cooking oil in the U.S., is able to withstand higher cooking temperature than many other oils and does not retain the flavor of foods cooked in it.
American consumers eat more than 6 pounds or 2.7 kilograms (kernel basis) of peanut products each year, worth more than $2 billion at the retail level.
World peanut production totals approximately 29 million metric tons per year, with the U.S. being the world’s third largest producer, after China and India.
Like I said before – you can't make peanuts disappear from the world.
I am so disappointed at the responses here. We live in a selfish narcissistic society that is passing these sad opinions on to our children. What ever happened to compassion and honoring thy neighbor. Yes, I am the parent of a child with severe peanut allergies, but I am also considerate and sensitive to other peoples needs. If I knew that my actions (such as sending a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my child's lunch) could potentially KILL another child, I wouldn't do it!
It's upsetting that it takes a tragic event such as YOUR child going into anaphylaxis shock, for you to have sympathy towards others disabilities (which were not, by the way, chosen by these individuals).
Under the American's With Disabilities Act of 1973, Section 504 (which now includes food allergies as a disability), my child does in fact have the RIGHT to attend a public school and not be discriminated against because of her disability. This means my child has the right to be in a room that she is going to be safe in and to participate in all activities your child participates in without being endangered. I wish for this kind of safety and security for all of our children, not just mine.
We've removed lead paint and asbestos from schools so that they do not pose harmful effects many years down the road on our children. It has been proven that peanuts in particular can be DEADLY within 7 minutes of contact to some people. Is it really that big of a deal to rethink what you put in your child's lunch knowing that you could be saving a life, not harming one?
When I was in elementary school, granted it was a while ago, a new student came to our school who was allergic to everything, including peanut butter. Not only was peanut butter banned, but an entire list of other foods as well. It actually went so far as children not being "allowed" to have contact with their own pets before school, out of fear this child would have an allergic reaction from the hair on another child's clothing. When things start being banned, where does it end? If children have a severe enough allergy, there should be no eating of anything in that classroom, and the child should not eat in the cafeteria. It does not make sense to ban food items for hundreds of other children if it is only a few children that have an issue. It seems like a simple solution to just isolate the children who have the problem, rather than affect the entire student body. My school actually had to stop selling certain school lunches because this one child was allergic. Extremely unfair to the other children.
One out of HOW MANY kids are allergic to peanuts? If 25% or more were, then I could see banning peanuts. Do we ban latex? Gluten? People with pets?
Blaming someone for having food allergies is a bit like blaming them for their gender or skin color – it's not a personal choice or something that they can control. Banning PB seems like an over-reaction to me, but there are probably fairly simple work-arounds that will protect the lives of those with allergies while allowing those who enjoy peanut butter to eat what they like. A little creativity here, please. Are Americans unable to discuss anything without polemics?
Unbelievable... I cannot believe the majority of the comments I have been reading on this article since yesterday. I cannot believe how rude, uncaring and mean-spirited people are. And your comments are ridiculous!
"My little brat will only eat PB&J. Why should MY child starve?! Why should we be punished due to a couple of defective weaklings" Starve? Really? REALLY? You're so quick to call everyone else "bad parents" because their children have a severe allergy (because yes, they all signed up for this fate and it is their fault... ::eye roll::) and your child will not eat anything else?!
I am lucky enough to have a 5 year old who is not allergic to any foods. I count my blessings. I also know what it's like to have a picky eater. She's very, very picky. Thankfully she hates peanut butter (as do I) so this will never be an issue for us. Like other 5 year olds though, she's picky. Everyday for lunch, I have to pack her a turkey sandwich. Plain. Just turkey on whole grain white bread and peeled cucumber slices on the side. That's it. Everyday. If she couldn't have her turkey sandwich, she would probably pick at the few other things in her lunchbox and not eat. But you know what? If I was told that there was a child in her class who was severely allergic to turkey (yes, I am making this up) and could die if exposed to my daughter's sandwich – guess what? I WOULD NOT HESITATE, FOR ONE MOMENT, TO MAKE HER SOMETHING ELSE. Yes, she'd probably go hungry the first few days, as she'd be missing her turkey sandwich. Yes, she's whine about it. But you know what, she would NOT STARVE and after a few days, when she would realize that she's not getting her turkey sandwich back in her lunch, she would adapt and eat the other things I packed for her. Big whoop. She could have all the turkey sandwiches she wanted when she got home.
You people are sad. Your pathetic sense of entitlement disgusts me. "My Johnny loves PB&J" – yes, I'm sure it's going to kill him to go without a gross, fat-and-sugar filled sandwich for 1/3 of his day. "I can only afford PB&J!" – I find that hard to believe. I don't find that buying turkey slices is making me bankrupt... I pay $2.50 for a package of her favorite turkey and it lasts about 7 lunches. Ooh... *gasp*
And all of you who are naming all these other, minor allergies and being stupid, please stop. Read, educate yourselves, do something! I am deathly allergic to hazelnuts. However, those are very easy to avoid. I did have an accident with an unmarked cream cheese at a business conference, but I've learned from it. :) I do not expect anyone to accomodate my needs – I do hear what you're saying. BUT – and this is a huge but – hazelnut, strawberry, pollen, dust – those are allergies that are either a) easily avoidable and/or b) not as deadly as peanut allergies. If someone ate a hazelnut chocolate and then sneezed on me, I wouldn't die. But a small, 4 year old child with peanut allergies MIGHT if someone wasn't careful with peanuts.
These parents aren't asking for your precious spoiled brats to be punished and inconvenienced. And starved. Nobody wants your children to starve. But is a little compassion too much to ask for?!!! Apparently, according to all the uneducated, spiteful people on here, it is...
Thank you for your comment. I am glad to see some compassion and understanding!
I meant "she'd whine about it" not "she's whine about it".
My heart goes out to all the parents who have to live with their children's allergies and worry every single day about their safety – thanks to inconsiderate people like the many commenters on this board.
Thank you. I could not agree more. the evilness spewed on this page has caused me to lose the LAST bit of faith I had left in humanity. We, as a country and species, are doomed.
I think banning peanut butter would create a false sense of security for children with an allergy, doing them no favors for the future. Instead, parents of all children should make the effort to teach them about differences, consequences and respect thus making them understand and own their allergies, etc. Outside of school the world does not cater to allergies the way schools seem to prefer nowadays. I don't think it's any coincidence allergies seem a lot more severe either. How confusing for a kid growing up to be catered to and not have to take responsibility for themselves because schools are doing it for them. Everyone is dealt a difficult hand and some things are harder to figure out than others, but we can't create a false atmosphere and then claim we're teaching children about the world and how to live in it.
First off, I don't understand why some people are being so harsh towards kids with allergies. It's not like they can help it. The parents of these children are only trying to do their job as a parent and protect their children as best they know how. If your child/children had an allergy to something that could kill him/her wouldn't you also do everything you could to protect him/her from that? If you answered no, you aren't fooling anyone.
Second, I don't believe that peanut butter should be banned from schools. I think that the parents should come up with a plan for their children and then the school should work with them. If there are enough children in that school with the peanut allergy, they could even have two seperate lunches.
I just wish everyone would stop being so harsh with the people who are slightly different from them. Yeah people are different, but you should try to put yourself in their shoes, see it from their side. Maybe then there wouldn't be so many comments posted from untolerant people.
There's a beautiful thing called homeschooling if your child is unable to be in the presence of other children's peanut butter. This seems to be the new trend, with food or any other type of complaint: "It affects me negatively, so other people shouldn't be allowed to do it"- even though it does not affect them, or not in the same way. If you, your child, or anyone else has a problem with peanut butter, feel free to not eat it. But to detract from other people's ability to eat it is ridiculous.
Schools should get on with the business of educating. Issues such as peanut butter or no peanut butter are red herrings. Don't go down the rabbit trail. We are clogging up the education system with non-sensical although passionate topics for some. If your child is allergic to certain food items. Don't give them to him/her. Tell them not to eat it. The child will be living with that the rest of their lives, they need to start dealing with it. Can you imagine if you had to worry about the different dietary needs of 30 children? No wonder no wants to be teachers!
I would hate to see peanut butter banned from school lunches. For one, it is a tradition and a staple for many families. Not to mention if peanut products were banned from schools, teachers, parents and other school employees would drop their guard and something would slip in. That said, I think there is a good solution that should be worked out between the teacher and parent. i have seen times where my son brought PB&J to school for lunch and he was slightly embarrassed because he had to eat at the opposite end of the table from his friend. We did not know his friend had an allergy, but I still felt it was handled very well and I was more conscientious in the future as well. I don't believe there is a reason for hostility. Compromises can be reached with good communication.
Really? A tradition? A staple? I don't know about you, but my family has more meaningful traditions than eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It's not like anyone is asking to ban peanuts and peanut products forever and from everything. If someone can't go 1/3 of their day without eating peanuts, they have issues...
My kids have an allergy table in their school and all the people with food allergy's sit there. I believe that banning peanut butter is not a very good idea because people with allergy's could sit away from people with peanut butter. Also, peanut butter is a healthy lunch which all kids need and my kids just love peanut butter and they would get upset if it was banned from school.
in my kids lunch box today is, peanut butter an jelly, peanut butter cookies, planters bag of peanuts,peanut juice, peanut butter flavored soap to was her hands after lunch.. an i even bought recycled peanut butter lunch bags..an its all about protecting my kids rights...!
When I was growing up, if you were allergic to something, you stayed away from it. When will people take responsibility for their own issues, instead of trying to impose them on everyone else?
If you are afraid your child will eat peanut butter, put them in a private school, bag their lunch for them, instruct them that they shouldn't eat peanut butter, i.e take responsibility. Jeez.
Although I can see your point. The problem isn't just lunch, Its about class time too... Science projects and
people that are aware of someone having a life threatening allergy and choosing to ignore the risks and
exposing them "on purpose" because they don't want to be inconvenienced.
At my son's daycare, they had a food allergy table where sensitive kids would eat together. The rest of the room could eat what they liked. I understand the need for safety, but banning snacks that %90 of the kids can eat safely is over kill.
There's a whole lot in the world we can't control. There are many people who are allergic to nothing and can go any where, do anything and eat everything with no ill effects. And then there are people who have no immune systems what so ever and have to live a lot of their lives in plastic bubbles. Home schooling people with severe allergies might work for some people, and others would find it reasonable to ban peanuts as a food source (no peanut growers, no peanut oil, no peanut butter companies, etc)(a bit extreme perhaps). Many places have come up with compromises – they aren't perfect – but they are workable. People make lunch for their kids, and a lot of them love peanut butter. It's handy, it's easy, doesn't require refrigeration, it's a good protein source, it's reasonably priced, there are no skull and crossbones or poison symbols anywhere on the label. They are not going out of their way to make something that's deadly to anyone else. They are not bad people. If your child will drop dead because a child across the room eats a peanut butter sandwich for lunch – your child needs to be in a very controlled environment and I'm not sure a school could/should have to conform to that degree of control. How far does this go? Through high school? Collage? Are you going to propose banning peanuts in her place of employment? Sorry but you can't make peanuts disappear from the world. There is also some debate as to the effectiveness of nut bans.
"Dr. Christakis notes that while it’s reasonable for schools and parents to take basic precautions, there is no scientific evidence that nut bans are particularly effective at protecting children. But more important, he argues, is that limiting widespread exposure to nuts can make things worse. The “policy of avoidance” means that fewer children are being exposed to nuts, likely increasing their risk for developing an allergy. A 2008 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of 10,000 British children found that early exposure to peanuts lowers risk of allergy, rather than increasing it."
wow, been a while since i read so much flame and obnoxiousness on one page. you people who post flame should read the whole page and ask yourself why. you are all so obviously useless. so mean spirited, mouthy, obnoxious, and hatefull that if you were a dog we would put you to sleep. i almost thought i was reading the raving rants of fox news readers. Jesus wept you people are vindictive and spiteful. This is what we have done with the internet... this, and you-porn. This species is F****d.
Something should be done but not banning it. Last year at our school a nurse misunderstood the school policy and said the entire school was peannut free when it was only the classrooms. The school luches are an unhealthy alternative and way too expensive for me to afford for 4 highly active children. I tried to make peanut free lunches that were higher in proteins than the school lunches which are mostly carbs. This became very taxing on the budget. Peanut butter is great for struggling families who want protein in their children's diets...please do not say use lunch meat. 4+ packs a week is way too much and then add in all of the chemicals and sodium .
I'm so confused about the concerns about sitting at the peanut free table. Your child's safety is less important than the chance he may be ostracized? Kids are ostracized for so many things in school. There are so many worse stigma out there (race, true handicaps, braces, being a "nerd", the list goes on), that I find it funny anyone is even concerned about this. The argument that you child shouldn't have to sit at a separate table and feel bad about themselves is just silly. Their safety should come first.
Don't forget 95% of all statistics posted on on CNN.com are made up.
As a pediatric nurse who is frequently in school or camp settings, I am very familiar with the peanut controversy. What most of the readers do not realize is that a peanut allergy is frequently deadly to the child. Many do no even need to eat it- opening a jar or bag of nuts in the room is enough to cause respiratory distress and possibly kill the child within minutes. The children have epi pens available, but still must be removed from the area and often taken to the hospital. It is very sad that many adults choose to ignore this. Most of the non-allergic children I have seen are understanding and willing to forgo the peanuts in order for their friend to remain in the room with them. Perhaps we need to learn from our children?
I think schools should make accommodations for kids with allergies but I am completely against banning PB. There are millions of people out there who have to overcome some sort of challenge and we accommodate their needs the best we can but it cant be expected for everyone else to change their lifestyles to meet your needs. If you cant be around PB than don't be around PB. If you want to sit with your friends then ask them to not bring PB to school but if they are addicted to PB then your going to have to accept the fact you cant sit with them. If your kid was allergic to gluten, would you seriously expect the parents to buy gluten free products (bread for example) to make sandwiches for their kids?
I'm sorry but you are in idiot Gluten intolerance will not kill a child a mealy a few short minutes. Peanuts on the other hand very well can. Please be informed on the facts of an issue before you try to comment on them.
Why don't the schools just put "1x giant plastic protective bubble" on the school supply list. then everyone is happy!
Ban everything in schools that anyone could possibly be allergic to, and what will be left?
And why stop at merely schools? By the same argument, why not make any allergen a controlled substance.
Banning peanut butter is retarded. Let anyone that is allergic find away to deal with it themselves.
It is not mean if you don't rearrange your life to account for everyone's potential allergies or other types of issues. If you have a problem, then its your job to work around, not impose your will on society. Much of this peanut butter allergy has been caused by coddling people anyway. In the UK, where children have been overly protected from peanuts, there is a 10 times greater incident rate of peanut allergy than in Israel, where kids are exposed to peanuts at a much younger age.
I'm so sorry Lynn and I'm with Jack. People are downright mean. It's not about the kid with the allergy. It's about being considerate of another human and their allergies. I can see how American kids are turning out to be mean, self centered, and obese. Their parents aren't setting good examples. No allergies here, but I'm not going to send any to school with my kid. There are plenty of other options.
As a seasoned communications professional in the healthcare field (13+ years) and, perhaps moreover, as a mother to a child (son, 5 years) with severe nut allergies, I feel that I have some credence and credibility that affords me an opportunity to weigh in on this subject. (My son averaged an ER/EMS/Hospital vist at an average of 2x/month during his first three years.....)
First off, as a disclaimer, I fully recognize that opinions represented in this forum may range from a personal to a clinical level, as well . I understand that I do not know the representation of profession of commentators in this blog, and do not mean to offer judgement on commentary posted.
Again, so all of that said, here is my commentary....
Again, at first, I am a mother with a child that suffers severe allergies....but I leave that point for a moment....
As a professional in the healthcare field, I think we need only look to the bonafide research that is presented to us from a number of well-respected academic, research-focused associations and forums. The American Academy of Pediatrics and more relay to us - the parents of allergic children - insurmountable and important data about our chldren who suffer from food-borne allergies.
I assure each of the readers in this forum - weather you are a parent of a severly-allegic child, or a parent who does not understand this situation - that change must come about.
Both of my children attend public school. I do not expect that the school district should makle any differentiial for my son, with his nut allergies. Yet, the school has graciouscly done so, at no real expense. There are four children who eat with my son at a nut-free table duriing lunch. I have not asked the school to delete peanut-butter sandwiches from their lunch menu, as there is truly no need. The problem is contained.
Next year, when my son is in first-grade, I hope that he will have the greater know-how about mananging his own healthcare. And I know that it will be my responsibility to ensure that he takes great reigns on managing his health.
But I know that this will be a great concern for me, as a parent, for a long time.....
I think you are setting your child up for success. Once he leaves school and joins the 'real world' he is going to have to fend for himself by getting a job, shopping, eating out, socializing etc and he is going to have to be aware of his allergy and make smart decisions based around it.
Parents who expect everyone else to make changes for their child are setting their kid up for failure because the world simply does not work like that. As much as we would like it to, it doesn't. If kids enter adult life expecting everyone else to change how they live because of their allergy then they are going to be in for a rude awakening.
What about those who are allergic to the sun (solar urticaria) or to water (aquagenic pruritis) or other types of chronic urticaria (heat, cold, etc.)? What about bee sting allergies, grass allergies, allergies to other kinds of nuts, etc.? Where do you draw the line? A parent ultimately has to be responsible for a child with special needs and find the right place for him. There are other avenues of education that can be pursued–school vouchers, anyone?
Get a grip people, almost evyer form of packaged treat now has a label warning that says the material in the bag was processed in a factory or on a line that may have come into contact with Peanuts, tree nuts or wheat – there is no safe food to replace it with.
Kids with allergies that severe should stay at home and study online – it is the wave of the future.
I think this is another side to a coin tossed earlier in the year. CNN posted a story about peanuts being banned from airlines. While I myself am not a fan of this, in an airplane it makes sense. Passengers are in an enclosed space and get circulated air. However, in a school setting i fail to see how proper education on both the sides, the school to the students and the parents to their children, can't stem the issue so that things such has a ban does not have to occur. I have to admit I am also in agreement with something that was stated earlier in the thread. It is wrong to expect everyone else to give up peanut butter because your child has an allergy.
Everyone has some health issue or another. As a child I was so allergic to grass if I across a field I would loose two days of school. As a result I was excused from normal PE. Today I am not quite as allergic to grass as I once was perhaps, because my nose is a bit further from the ground than it used to be, but I still avoid it whenever I can. My point is it is only humane to accommodate the special needs of those that we can. Peanut allergies can be very serious. There are people who can go into anaphylactic shock after coming into contact with a single peanut shell for only a moment which can be life threatening. Its not unreasonable for them to expect a peanut free environment in which to study.
A ban at the pre-school and lower levels ok, but beyond that NO, school is supposed to teach life lessons, and teaching kids that there world is safe is wrong, kids with peanut allergies need to be taught from a young age that they are responsible for themselves, the world outside of school isn't peanut free (a friend of mine, son knows how to read the labels to protect himself from his peanut allergy). The other kids need to be taught too about the importance of watching out for others, to wash there hands and clean up. LIFE lessons. I also know when inner city schools here banned peanut butter several kids started coming with out lunches. In that case who's not respecting who. As for too far, now schools here as well are dictating what kids can even eat, they aren't allowed cookies nut free or not except on Fridays cause it promotes obesity. how far should schools be allowed?
The problem with banning one allergen is that you have to ban them all... It could create a serious but comical situation.
For example my kid is allergic to Citrus Fruits, if his school is going to ban Peanut Butter than I would expect them to ban all foods that kids in the school are allergic too, because if you are going to protect some kids (a minority) than you have to protect everyone, just to be fair...
Man most of these posts are just downright depressing. The recurring theme is "I don't care about your child", "It's your fault your child has an allergy and therefore you are a bad parent". Frankly I'm embarrassed for those of you who make these kind of posts. Here's a brainstorm idea: instead of serving your child peanut butter for LUNCH, serve it for DINNER. If your child will only eat peanut butter for lunch and dinner just know this, you (yes you) have failed your child with your lazy parenting and the apple will not fall far from the tree
OK. That does it. I have had it up to here with the whiny PC idiots trying to make life miserable for the rest of us. It's not like peanut allergies are something new. If your kid has one, then tell him to be careful, just like every other kid with a peanut allergy has done since we had such a thing as schools. What's next? Ban synthetic clothes because some kids have sensitive skin? Get over yourselves.
I think many people love peanut butter and it is a healthy, lunch and snack. It is better for you than all the processed crap out there. My peanut butter has no sugar. I feel bad for parents who have kids with allergies to peanuts, but you can not ask the world to give up peanuts. That is the point. I do not think anyone blames you for peanut allergies. I think people are saying you need to teach these kids to take care of themselves and you need to educate their classmates to keep it away from them. I do not think making every kid in every school in you district not eat peanuts is not fair. I think you are telling us we are selfish and uncaring. Face it your child needs to learn to advocate for themselves and deal with their serious problem. The world is not peanut free. You are asking the world to accommodate you. I am willing if their is a child in my kids class to accommodate that child, but to accommodate period end of story even if no kid in our school has a problem is silly. I also feel that if your kids allergy is so sever they will die from smelling peanuts, you have bigger problems than school. What about play grounds, the mall, the grocery store, my car in the parking lot that my 4 year olds peanut hands have touched? This is a serious problem and if your kid is around I will accommodate them, but if not I think my kids should be aloud to have peanut butter. I do not think that is unfair. I think peanut butter is a great food. It is nutritious and you can guarantee the kid will eat it and it does not need refrigeration.
I also want to mention one of my kids is allergic to strawberries and I take precautions for her, but never tell people to ban them. We do not eat them in our house in front of her. She is only 4, but I put them in my 8 year olds lunch because she loves them. She has known since she was 2 1/2 the she is allergic to strawberries and could articulate it and her sister has known longer. If she can tell people no at 4 and younger a school age child should be able to be responsible for themselves.
I think it is sad that some kids have allergies, and they should be protected, but a whole school going peanut free is excessive. I know my kids favorite lunch is PB&J. I use whole grain bread and sugar free peanut butter. She then has a low sugar jelly. It is a great lunch that is high in protein. So kids should be educated and they should be aware of the kid with the allergy. I think a spot in the lunch room should be designated peanut free and the other kids should enjoy a good lunch.Let the kid with the allergy deal with reality from a young age. The world is not peanut free and will not go peanut free. My kids eat PB&J all the time on the run it is much healthier that any fast food chain lunch. They walk into stores, play at the park. I think it is up to those parents to watch their kids and let people know to keep it away from their child. It is like any other sickness it is the parent and child's responsibility to take care of it. I think banning Peanut butter for the millions of children who love it is wrong. I was at a park once and some parents treated my child and I like criminals for eating PB&J. I am would have taken care to clean my kid before she touched the play ground equipment and kept the peanuts near me. Instead they yelled at me and left. I think they were the selfish ones and they are doing the kid no favors teaching them to treat people badly instead of just stating the allergy and hoping people will comply. I will happily put peanut butter away if there is a kid playing with mine who is allergic.Otherwise peanut butter is a great healthy food.
I recognize that some people are hypersensitive to peanut products and it could kill them, however as all it could take would be one student eating a granola bar for those rushed breakfasts to have enough peanut contamination to pose a threat I believe that it is best to keep those students at home. I am an incredibly busy person and I cannot eat lunch if I have to go through the lunch line at my school, so I pack peanut butter because it is shelf stable unlike meat. For severe and not deadly cases schools should take reasonable precautions to protect the student, but deadly cases schools should make no accomodations to limit liability.
Oh My what is next that the school can control? Next they will make a kid go to scholl all day with out eating and this is exactly what it is comming to. There are so many kids allergic to eggs so do we ban in the schools every thing made with eggs? Oh and I forgot there are so many allergic to wheat. So do we also ban anything made with wheat too ?
I think it is up to each parent to worry about what their child eats. And to teach them what not to eat as well. I think if the schools would worry more about education and teaching our kids something they would be better off.In some areas the school system in some states have set up just what they can feed these kids nutrition wise and I have to laugh the state tells them what to feed the child and they are not allowed any sugar items but they are allowed to give them nutrition wise chicken nugets that are full of fat. This is really gettting bad. SO bottom line is take care of your own kid and let the schools teach them and worry about a good education and you as parents worry about what your own child eats!!!!
Parents start taking a interest in what your child does! Or lock your child in a closet til he or she is 18 and you will not have to worry about anything but what you do with your child only! You willnot have to put the blame on the schools for not taking care of the child that you should have been taking care of your self. THE SCHOOLS ARE TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND THAT IS ALL. YOU MUST TEACH A CHILD RIGHT AND WRONG YOUR SELF AND MOST OF ALL RESPECT. ALSO WHAT TO EAT AND WHAT NOT TO EAT IF YOU WANT TO FEED THEM SPECIAL FOODS IF THEY HAVE ALLERGIES!!!!!!! DO NOT LEAVE YOUR JOB UP TO SOMEONE ELSE!
If we ban PB how about:
1) Strawberries, Raspberries, Apples or several more Fruits
2) Milk and Cheese products for the Lactose Intolerant
3) Bread / Pizza Crust and other Wheat products for the Gluton Intolerant
4) Walnut, Pecans, and other Tree nuts for those alergic
5) Products containing Sugar for the Diabetics
6) Other products (Caffeine ) etc due to Cultural / Religious prohibitions
There are numerous other alergens and social reasons FOR YOU to keep me from taking care of Myself and my Family
I am close to tears at some of the horrible mean spirited comments on this board! My son is 5 and just entered Kindergarten. He is severely nut allergic. He was diagnosed at 10 months and up to this point it was fairly easy to monitor his eating and what he was exposed to. Starting school has been very scary and nervewracking for me as he could die within minutes if there was an accidental ingestion and the correct actions weren't taken. 60% of deaths from food allergies occur at school. I have been extremely involved in partnering with his teacher, principle, school nurses, bus drivers, and lunch staff to make school safe for him. I have supplied the school nurse and his teacher with an epipen. He also carries one in his bookbag and I insisted the bus driver be trained on how to use it as well. I spend $18 every two weeks on Wet Ones because they are the only product that will remove nut protein from hands after lunchtime. I compromised on this because it was not convenient to take 21 children to the bathroom to wash hands after eating lunch. I have provided a nut free snack list for snacktime. I send in special stuff that my son can have b/c he can't eat the birthday cupcakes from bakeries. The school has a peanut free table and for the first two weeks my son sat alone. Imagine going to school for the first time and trying to make friends but having to be alone during the most social time of the day. His (great) teacher came up with the idea to send home laminated cards that say "peanut free lunch" so that if another child brings a lunchmeat sandwich or what not the parent can put that card in the lunch and the teacher can look over it and allow him/her to sit at the peanut free table. Now my son has others to eat with and I am so grateful. My son is very responsible (first born) and is very aware of his allergies. HOWEVER he is five years old. This has to be treated the same as any other special need. My son NEEDS to be safe at school and all you people saying that this is basically my problem and my problem only have serious issues. A five year old can be told how to stay safe and what to eat all day long but the school and staff must play a vigilant, active role to make it a safe environment. I of course would be in favor of peanut free schools altogether b/c of the severity of the allergy. Peanut allergies are one of the most severe, most common and only getting increasingly more common. Free/reduced lunch is available if times are that tough that all you can pack for your child is peanut butter. I find it appaling to see implications on here that parents of allergic children are obsessive, we caused the allergies from not exposing our kids to certain foods, allergies are natural selection and my child should be weeded out, etc. WOW. I hope none of your children are ever struck with any illness or special need, I guess you'll just let them die b/c that's Gods will right? Geez people. Have some heart. I cannot believe the disgusting and shameful comments on here!
I am sorry Lynn, but you sound obsessive. It is great that you are involved, but you should be. I also disagree about a 5 year old not being able to tell what they are allergic to. My 4 year old can not eat strawberries, she tells people all the time and has since before she was 3. She loves strawberries so it is hard for her, but she knows and I do not keep them in my house. I have provided snack and juice for her at school for the days someone brings in a snack with strawberries in it. By the way lots and lots of juices and products have strawberries in them. She has looked at labels and smelled food. This I did not teach her. I just told her she is allergic, to tell people and not to eat them. I understand that your child has a contact problem as well. Maybe home schooling is right for you? My 8 year old found out the hard way that she is allergic to penicillin when she was 5 she broke out in hives over 95% of her body. She always tells Doctors and nurses first thing that she is allergic to Penicillin. Most of the time it is not relevant, but I let her advocate for herself. I have been told she could die if she ever ingests it again. Ok so we all have something to worry about. My kids are aware of what they can not have and speak out. I trust them. I do not baby them, they are strong.
To percysmama, your an idiot and obviously one of the many that don't understand severe allergies. Lynn is trying to protect her son from DYING from exposure to nuts. No one but a true severe allergy parent understands what she is going through. No one cares about her child's wellfare as much as she does so she has to be proactive when it comes to the school environment. Exposure to peanuts is more than just a PB&J sandwich. You can't just tell your child to stay away from a PB&J sandwich and they will be safe. So many products are processed around peanuts and they can't eat those products either, for example, breads, crackers, snack bars, and etc.
I dare you to go nut free for a week and see how stressful it is. Eat nothing that was processed in the same plant as peanuts/nuts, nothing cooked in peanut oil, and etc. Then come back and tell us it is easy...you won't because it's not easy!
the intolerance is shocking... as a mother of three kids with no allergies you will never catch a peanut product in my kids lunch. They all love peanut butter, but understand this is something they only eat at home out of respect for those who have allergies. I could not live with myself if that pb&j I sent to school caused a severe reaction to another child or even worse.
Baning it at schools will not work. Most people with peanut allergies don't need to eat it to get sick. They just have to touch anything with peanut oil on it. Kid eats a hand full of peanuts at home and uses a pen to do homework. Next day take the pen or any object touched to school and hands it to someone with allergy. The other person still gets sick. Their are so many ways for peanut oil to get to schools without it ever being servered or brought for lunch.
Peanuts are just one particular allergen that gets a lot of focus. There are many others that are as significant, and perhaps, as common. If we ban every item that any kid might be allergic to, to some degree, it's only a matter of time before kids come to school, go through decontamination, get in a clean suit, and study from books that have never left the clean room-esque environment.
And then they get out of school, go somewhere like the mall or a movie or a playground and come in contact with the allergen. Since you can't control the environment all the time, your only real line of defense is preparation for the inevitable.
Kids in America are too fat. I don't know why anyone, let alone children, is eating peanut butter.
I have a kid who IS allergic to peanut butter and who doesn't fully understand the consequences of ingesting a single bite of the stuff. The problem doesn't lay in the fact that other kids have to conform to keep everyone safe. The problem is that kids, under 13, don't understand what it means and subsequently don't treat the problem well. Yes my child has been exposed by the outside world and we do teach him, but if we can teach our kids early on to be mindful of those who have allergies and disabilities aren't we better off?
For those who can't see this then I offer this:
- allow smoking everywhere any place and anytime. hell, i'll just light a pack and smoke into your allergy free kids face, because that is fair.
- If your parent or loved one has cancer then let them die, why should I foot the bill on their health insurance
- Let everyone drink and drive, who am I to tell you that you shouldn't
It can go on and on and on
Schools have other reasons for banning peanut butter than just concern over allergic kids. Often times, schools profit from kids buying lunches at full price and those profits go to subsidize the free and reduced lunch kids. In these tough times, parents are more apt to sent their kids to school with a cheap PB&J sandwich than spend money for kids to buy a less healthy school lunch.
Many schools are now not only going peanut free- but threatening kids with confiscating any lunches suspected of containing peanuts and punishing kids or parents who repeatedly send kids to school with peanut products. The alternative is always- don't pack, spend the money and buy your kid's lunch from us.
Also in many of the wealthier schools, teachers don't like the competitveness where parents send their kids to school with expensive packed lunches and the only kids who buy are the poor kids who get free lunches. So you've got the poor kids eating their free hot dog lunch and the rich kids eating their Whole Foods Chicken salad and hummus.
Don't you love the yuppie-like comments that treat peanut butter like it's a "treat"? For many peanut butter provides an affordable lunch whose nutritious value is very good. Government Care-like food packages to low-income people used to include peanut butter for that reason. If you value an allergic kids health, you should also realize that many kids deprived of peanut butter would be eating nothing but jelly on their sandwiches some days. Accomodations can be made for allergic kids without banning peanut butter, which hasn't even been an issue since it was invented over a century ago.
This is a serious question to those of you who have a child or children with a severe peanut allergy – honestly – and not meant to be snide or sarcastic. (If it comes across that way, I apologize.) Iif you could "make the rules," what would you have society do? Obviously, you would want peanut butter banned in schools. But cited above are examples of children having life-threatening reactions by touching a playground slide contaminated with traces of peanut butter, getting breathed on, being exposed to peanut products in restaurants, and of course, the possibility of touching peanut butter on a school bus surface. Okay, so the schools ban peanut butter, but your child is still not safe. I'm just curious, but if you could set the rules, what would they be? That peanut butter would be outlawed everywhere, including the grocery stores? That before entering a playground, all children must wash their hands? That parents must sign a form pledging not to feed their children peanut butter at breakfast so that there won't be any traces of it when the child gets onto the bus and to school? Again, I'm not trying to "start something," but I truly do want to know what parents of peanut allergy kids would like to see happen in society.
Yeah, it's be great if there weren't any allergens out there but I know that is not realistic. Yes I would prefer schools to be nut free. However, in society in general, if less of our food would be processed around nuts, that would be the biggest thing for me to see happen. There are so many items out there that my son can't eat because it was processed in the same production plant as peanuts. Even buying a loaf of bread is a huge ordeal because of where most of them are processed. I have to carefully read and analyze every single food item I purchase and even then, it doesn't mean a product is safe because some companies do not post warnings on their food if a product is produced in the same plant as allergens.
My son can't have barbecue sauce because one of the "secret" ingredients in most of them is peanuts. However because it's a trade secret ingredient they don't have to place that on their label. Those companies won't even tell you if peanuts are an actual ingredient or not, they just tell you it's best for you not to purchase their product. Things like this are infuriating and difficult for a parent of an allergic child.
Actually your scenario is EXACTLY what I would like to see. You would understand if you saw your baby fighting for their life and suffering so badly. I didn't take it as seriously as I should have till I got a verbal tongue lashing from an ER Dr for driving my 2 year old to the hospital instead of calling 911 and seeing my daughter almost die and be admitted to the ICU.
More and more classroom doors are displaying signs that alert all to chldren w/ alergies. Common courtesy requires we all act responsibly . EAch community will have to agree on a common solution. Hopefully, a medical solution will be an answer for all eventually. Alergies can be serious and life threatening. Adults must be conscientious and teach our children to care about one another.
If the school bands peanut butter then they should pay for a lunch for the student who is not allergic . If they won't let me make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich then they can pay for and provide an alternative not me.
Parents and children need to notify and remind food staff/school nurse/ administration of allergies (severe or otherwise) so that precautions can be made. Last I recall, lunch menus are prepared by the month so there's no surprise for what day is PBJ Day. So, on PB & J day send little Johnny/ Suzie to school with an alternative. That's what parents are supposed to do – don't expect teachers, school administrators, school nurses, etc raise your children for you.
I agree with one of the posts that I read about parents notifying the school of the child's allergies and the school keeping a record of it and implementing that. The parent could make sure that their child is aware of all of their own allergies, the school should also be informed and there should be other alternatives for the children who are allergic. There should be a seperate line/menu for kids with these allergies on those particular days. Not all families can afford to send sack lunches with their kids everyday, that's the reason for the free lunch program to ensure that kids get the proper nutrients at school.Its not going to cost that much extra for the school to preoare a seperate dish for the allergic kids.And hey our tax dollars will be used one way or another why not make sure we are promoting our educational systems in the best way possible.
I am shocked at how little people who don't have allergy kids know about all this – and how they seem to think they are an authority. Having a kid with a peanut allergy – which I do have – is a constant anxiety. I have to work – therefore she must go to school. YES, they can react from the essence of it. YES, they can react just touching it. GOD forbid they accidentally ingest it. Everything is a nightmare for my kid: birthday parties, carnivals, trips to the zoo, field trips with school and even going to the mall or the movies. Everyone, including her dance instructor, has epi pins. IS it controllable. YES. But would it be nice to have the one place she spends most of her week at – school – be safe? Sure would. To all of you intolerants and ignorants – I hope you all have 10 kids with nut allergies and you will see the hell we live.
If someone is so allergic to peanuts that merely breathing the fumes brings on life threatening attacks, how do you get thru life? Any place you go, anything you touch (stores, restaurants, playgrounds, friend's houses, etc) might potentially be contaminated with peanuts. You don't know if the person next to you just ate a peanut product, and might be breathing peanut breath on you. Or if the kid next to yours ate peanut butter for breakfast and then touched the railing on the bus just before your kid touched it. Some restaurants use peanut oil – does passing by potentially threaten your life?
It's not just in school that someone might be exposed to peanuts.
It seems that the only safe approach is to teach your child to avoid exposure and what to do when exposure happens. Because if someone is that allergic, exposure is inevitable.
Well as far as the Federal Government is concerned, life-threatening allergies are considered a "disability" meaning that these children with food allergies are covered under the American with Disabilities Act...therefore the schools must accommodate them.
If banning peanuts from school is a step towards protecting these kids then I'm all for it. My son has nut allergies and I am so thankful that his preschool is a nut-free school. Those of you who don't have children with food allergies don't know the stress us parents go through when everywhere you go is a "war zone". You can't take your child out to dinner without thoroughly researching the place, the food, the preparation of the food, and etc. When you grocery shop your time is consumed with reading labels, researching companies, and etc. It's exhausting and to be able to send your child to school in an environment that bans one of your child's major allergens is a blessing.
Liam their dry roasted and lightly salted.
The public school system is there to provide education, not to pander to every little concern parents have. Parents need to take responsibilty for once! If your child has a special need then the parent needs to do something about it! God forbid someone takes responsibility for themselves for once instead of crying and screaming no fair while pointing at someone else.
I'm fairly liberal but there is a point when the school system should tell the parents to perhaps parent. If the parents know of a risk they should act accordingly. My children's safety is not everyone elses responsibility. I have not lobbied to ban forks in school cafeterias because I have taught my children not to stab themselves in the head. I have not sued the manufacturer of my stove because my children might burn themselves. This is my responsibility as a parent.
I suggest a supervised lunch table for everyone who wants to bring peanut butter sandwiches. After they eat they can be escorted to wash their hands and mouths. If kids and parents really want peanut butter, and can't afford anything else, a separate table shouldn't be a big deal. And the nut allergic kids around them won't face injections, emergency room visits, and death. I am astonished at the ignorance and anger on this thread. May God bless you with compassion and wisdom.
When our school nurse thought we were totally nut free she wanted to take the PB kids out of the lunchroom and have them eat in her office. That is a problem....wouldn't have minded a table in the lunchroom. The alergic kids had airborn allergies she said so they couldn't be in a room with PB. But, what about spagetti sauce...many have peanuts secretly addded as an emulsifyer...couldn't that kill those poor kids. In their case I think going out into the world is a huge risk if their allergy was as bad as the nurse portrayed it to be.
As the mother of a two-year-old who eats peanut butter and has no problems with it, but also someone who understand the difference between my child's allergy to cats (which is mild and controlled by two prescription medications and keeping our 3 cats out of his bedroom) and someone like my friend's son who goes into anaphylactic shock if peanuts or peanut products are in the home, I feel like we have an obligation to provide a safe environment for all children to learn. A child who is separated from others because they have a peanut allergy who is not being taunted because of that is like the child who was forced to wear a dunce cap! First of all, the offending child should no longer be allowed to bring any peanut products to school AT ALL. No ammunition for them to use. Then the school needs to look at the severity of the allergy in that particular child. Two counties over from where I live, in a more urban area, they HAVE banned peanut products of ANY KIND in schools. If there was a child in my child's school, I would wholeheartedly support a ban at that school or even the county, or all tree nuts, or milk, or whatever. I can still feed those things to my child in my own home, I don't have to send them to school with him. I think we have an obligation to educate all children in the community who want a public education.
Sorry that was NOW being taunted, not NOT. It makes quite a bit of difference in the meaning...
I'm a teacher, and I've brought my own peanut butter sandwiches for lunch for the last ten years. It has saved me hundreds of dollars in expenses and is more nutritious than any hot lunch served in a cafeteria – I'm able to compete as an amateur triathlete, while your children are fat because of their 1200 calorie lunches. I have no intention of stopping, regardless of whether or not someone decides it's "not allowed." What I choose to have for lunch is not your business, sorry.
In my opinion, this is what happens when people with weak genes get together and raise their children in sterile, HEPA-filtered houses. Everyone is increasingly incapable and allergic – why should the rest of us have to pay for it?
You are disgusting – a total loser. You are a teacher. you should be ashamed of yourself – you selfish pig. You are an employee of your municipality – your wages are paid by the people you teach – you are what is wrong with teacher.
Even teachers can be ignorant and unwilling to learn. Thing is I don't believe you are a teacher, and certainly not an athlete.
Good for you, Teacher Tim. It's an insane notion to ban food. It's one thing if it's a drug or pornography or something, but food? Keep on eating your sandwiches and hopefully one day we'll figure out what the real cause of all these allergies is. I assure you it's something man-made, not the food itself.
And, thank you for your service to our children!
Too bad many of you are hating on poor innocent little kids. While I don't believe I should be restricted from providing my son PB&J sandwiches I also think it is my responsibility to do it in a responsible manner. The school is the one who needs to provide separate lunch hours, classrooms, etc. to assure these kids with allergies are not exposed to things that can kill them, whether it be peanut butter or anything else.
By the way, natural peanut butter is one of the most nutritious things that kids actually will eat. You cannot take that away from them. Good proteins and good fats.
If you're concerned about the fats then get physical education back in the schools. That is where the problem is.
Banning peanut butter or obvious peanut products would not go far enough in preventing issues. When I was in the process of opening a preschool, I made a comment how I was going to place peanut butter on the "do not include" list regarding packed lunches. I was told by a mom (who complained about every issue that came down the pike) of a huge list of products that I also needed to include because they either contained peanuts, peanut oil, or were processed in a plant that also processed peanut products. Her do not allow list exceeded the list of permitted foods. It was truly ridiculous. I decided to not bother with a list at all, but have a peanut free table. Of course she moaned about that and how her kid would have to eat by himself. Some people you can never, ever please. Don't even try. But, we can all make some concessions that will help out – especially the youngest of the students who are the most vulnerable in that they may not realize what may be "contaminated".
As for those who are against a ban (and I am one of them) I believe their irritation is not at the fact that peanuts may not be welcome at school, but at the fact that government has no business telling us what we can or can not eat. It is just one more example of a forced loss of freedom. If every one who has posted above were seriously asked to refrain from sending in peanut butter due to a particular child's condition, and were not forced through a ban, I am fairly certain that out of the goodness of their hearts toward all children, they would. When you ban an adult from doing something, you are looking for and will get a fight. Asking for cooperation gets a much better result.
FYI, some say there is a link between the peanut oil used in vaccines which may trigger this allergic response. I for one, don't doubt it.
In medical circles, it's becoming increasingly apparent that most allergies are caused by the "hygiene hypothesis', which essentially says if you deny a substance, you become sensitive to it. Live in a dust free home, you become allergic to dust. Limit social contact, you become anxious in social situations. We need to accept responsibility for our ailments and learn to avoid and deal with them on our own. Open your windows, get out of the house, do stuff, avoid chemicals and toxins, embrace all that nature gives us and avoid artificial substances, and god willing, we should be, and stay, healthy and happy. Coop your kids up, feed them processed crap, buy new plastic crap that they whine for, live your lives in your car, expect others to solve your problems, you'll become a neurotic, allergy prone, pale, unhealthy, unhappy, fat person. aka,your average American.
Agreed. You also shouldn't discount genetics, though – years ago, people with severe allergies wouldn't have survived childhood. Should we set our societal rules to accomodate the slowest, weakest, least-able individuals? It's getting that way.
your research is out of date, the hygiene hypothesis may play some role, but it is certainly not a major causation of allergies. Most informed allergists instruct parents to avoid peanuts and treenuts until after they are at least 3 years old specifically because the avoidance theory has been debunked. I hope for your sake the medical staff don't take a survival of the fittest approach at your next ER visit, I don't think our schools should be a return to the Lord of the Flies either.
Believe me you would all change your tune very quickly if you had to watch your child almost die at 2 years old from just touching a playground slide that had peanut residue on it. You people who think that it is OK to bring peanut products to school and other public places it is the same if my kid brought a loaded gun. It probably wouldn't hurt your kids but you never know, try imagining dealing with the anxiety of living with your life and keeping your child safe with loaded guns (peanut products) everywhere. You you just like all of us peanut families to just stay at home all the time no school, playgrounds, or outings what so ever. You are all really compassionate and understanding.
This is a serious question - honestly - and not meant to be snide or sarcastic. (If it comes across that way, I apologize.) You have a child with peanut allergy, and I sympathize with you ... but if you could "make the rules," what would you have society do? Obviously, you would want peanut butter banned in schools. But you cite an example of a life-threatening incident regarding peanut butter on a slide. I'm not sure what you're proposing ... so if you could set the rules, what would they be? That all peanut butter would be outlawed everywhere, including the grocery stores? That before entering a playground, all children must wash their hands? Again, I'm not trying to "start something," but I truly do want to know what parents of peanut allergy kids would like to see happen in society to keep their children safe.
The fact is there are more chronic diseases and illnesses today than there were even 20 years ago. Tons of kids have allergies; we are looking at a little more than 1/2 of all kids today. Why not have lunch hours that address this. I don't think showing a little compassion for others teaches kids to be weak. The problem is we don't practice it with each other as adults.
I feel bad for kids with allergies, but I don't think a ban is required. Just teach your child that they cannot have peanut butter. I mean, c'mon, peanut butter is a good source of protein and makes your child a healthy snack. Unless, of course, your child is allergic. But I will state once again, I do not think a ban is required.
I feel bad for kids with allergies, but I don't think a ban is not required. Just teach your child that they cannot have peanut butter. I mean, c'mon, peanut butter is a good source of protein and makes your child a healthy snack. Unless, of course, your child is allergic. But I will state once again, I do not think a ban is required.
Trust me, I can't imagine that any parent of a severely food allergic child has not taught their children not to eat someone else's sandwich, even if the other person is offering them a bite. Peanut allergies are much more severe than that, and kids tend to get it all over their hands and mouths, and then not wash their hands. Ultimately, there is peanut butter on the tables, chairs, doorknobs, etc. and that gets onto the hands of peanut allergic kids. I wish that it were as simple as teaching my daughter not to eat peanut butter. Life would be much easier and much less worrisome. Obviously you are free to have your own opinion, I just wanted to make sure you understood that the facts are a little more complicated than you implied in your post.
There seems to be an inordinate amount of mean spirited comments here. I picked "Other" as a solution because there is much that I do not know about peanut allergies. I don't like jumping to conclusions based upon incomplete information. The issue seems to be a complicated one. Why, for example, are there more of these allergies? How far away from peanut products to those with allergies need to be? How sensitive are some children to them? How many are highly sensitive, somewhat sensitive, barely sensitive? I want information, not meanness.
There are many possible reasons for the increase in peanut allergies, some relate to how peanuts are processed in the US (roasted for peanut butter) some relate to Vitamin D deficiencies, others might be related to toxins in our environment. In short, we don't know, but the US has MUCH higher rates of peanut allergies than other countries. Some nut allergy people are allergic to eating peanuts, others react to airborne particles or nut residue left on playground equipment, etc., and many of those people are almost housebound, can never travel on public transportation, the kids can't go to camp, go to school, etc. without fear of having a severe reaction and DYING. I don't know the breakdown of how many nut allergy sufferers can't eat nuts/can't be around them/etc., but it seems that some common sense ideas can help keep people safe and not infringe on the liberty interests of those who have to eat their PBJs. A nut free table is one option, a nut table is another, depending on how many people have to have PB, how responsible they are (can they be trusted to wash their hands and not endanger others), how many nut allergy sufferers there are, and how severe those allergies may be.
When my nut allergic daughter started school, I talked to her teachers about her allergies, I was very concerned about the possibility of her being exposed to life-threatening situations when I wasn't there to take her to the hospital. The school, without my urging, decided the best thing for the teachers, the students and the several nut allergic children, would be to be peanut free. All of the parents have been amazing at finding alternatives to PBJ for lunches. Thankfully, the school is now able to focus on teaching the kids, rather than on which teacher will have to inject my daughter with an epi-pen and who would accompany her to the hospital. And my daughter can learn, spend time with her compassionate classmates, and not be fearful about having an allergic reaction. I think it is better for all of the kids, frankly. Who would want to cause one of your classmates to have a life-threatening reaction?
Why is this an issue? My son is allergic to peanuts. My son also knows to stay away from peanuts. He is also only three years old. If my three year old can know when to stay away from things that make him hurt why can't other children. My daughter on the other hand loves peanuts and peanut butter. I wouldn't deprive her of something she likes because her brother can't have it. So why would I want to deprive other children at her school? Parents need to step up and teach their child about their allergy and what to stay away from. Not have the school ban the product.
Your sons peanut allergy is obviously not severe. How many times has he suffered acute anaphylaxis? Thank God you don't have to suffer with a very severe allergy and have compassion for those who do.
If you have peanut butter in your home for your daughter while your son is allergic you are an idiot. P.S. you better get a little wiser on the whole subject or I am afraid for your son.
I am a 40 year old, mother of five... who has never suffered from an allergy or had a child who suffered from an allergy. Until three weeks ago, that is.. when I suffered a near fatal reaction to a medication, containing peanut oil. I must now carry an Epi-Pen, watch my every consumption of peanut related products... and in the name of self-preservation... have banned all peanut products from the home. Before this... I was the mother who packed peanut butter and peanut products every day for my children.... wishing those who suffered " the very best" and (essentially...) too bad for them. It's funny how your perspective changes when you are hit head on, with a life-threatening peanut allergy of your own. Why is there a rise in peanut allergies in our children? Who cares. A seven year old shouldn't have to worry about such things, on his/her way to an education in our country. Ban all peanuts & peanut products from our schools. For those of you who feel differently.... I say again.... I never suffered any allergies in my life until three weeks ago. You can develop a life threatening allergy at any time in your life... to anything. Be thankful you do not suffer and have mercy on those who do.
@Robyn...this is what is wrong with this country and why we are witnessing the downfall of society...there is zero expectation of personal accountability. The peanut allergy argument doesn't hold water as far as I'm concerned because it isn't a widespread health problem of such numbers that it should affect the entirety of society, in this case school districts. Car accidents kill FAR MORE children than allergies in this country but am I supposed to demand that there be a ban on motorized vehicles to protect my child?? In the past couple of years there have been at least 4 children who were hit by cars while walking home from school in my city...all accidents were technically 100% preventable. Guess how many children were injured in the same amount of years because of peanut allergies in my school district? Try ZERO. So how is the ban in our district even justified?
I agree with the poster who stated that this is a free country based on the belief in the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
And maybe the people here wouldn't be thinking of this peanut allergy biz as a joke if it wasn't being forced down everyone's throats the way it is...
Kosher diets, lactose intolerance, sugar issues; there have been so many different food issues in American daily policy from Day One that this cannot be seen as other than another. Are they meaningless?
Of course not. They are real issues of physical health and perceived religious purity. These matter.
But....did public policy mandate for no-pork, no-milk, no-crustacean (for kosher AND sulfate allergy concerns) regulation in schools?
No.
Peanut butter has been demonstrated to cause problems in some individuals. So has cow's milk. So has shrimp. Cease and desist with the mandates; tell your kid not to eat the stupid peanut butter.
Offer a variety and teach your children well.
I can agree with both sides of the issue. I know that financial issues and kids just being picky eaters can limit a parent's choices of what to pack for their kids lunch. For many, PB&J is a staple lunch food. However, it is also reasonable to expect schools to provide a reletively safe environment for kids, even those with severe allergies. Perhaps the best solution would be a compromise: use a classroom or a smaller cafeteria as a peanut-free room and the regular cafeteria for everyone without food allergies (and enforce that they use that room, since some allergy sufferers are sensitive enough to it that stray peanut dust in a classroom can do severe harm).
OK – I haven't read each and every post but, has anyone considered the tact that unlike the mall or a ballgame or even a birthday party, children are REQUIRED to be in school – BY FEDERAL LAW. Therefore, there is an obligation to protect their health as much as possible. Sure, it's a never ending thing, but my understanding is that a peanut allergy can be pretty darn serious and I wouldn't want my child's PBJ to be responsible for another kid's illness. I'd just feel bad. Besides, PBJ's are wonderful AFTER school snacks!
Actually there is no evidence that PB bans are in any way helpful. There also is an almost complete lack of documented cases where an allergic child has a reaction from another child's lunch. Many parents of allergic children react in the extreme esp if they have seen an anaphylactic reaction, wouldnt you? The fact is that the large majority of cases of peanut allergy are actually unchallenged by allergen challenge testing because of the fuss that is necessary in case of an anaphylactic reaction. It is just easier to identify a child based on the parents supposition that peanuts were the cause of the initial reaction. The is good evidence that desensitization using peanut flour is an effective treatment for this allergy but most parents are too frightened to try it. Lets have this problem resolved with some real research into the risks. The peanut and now any nut restrictions are just going too far and is largely driven by the fear of litigation.
Schools have emergency drug kits that contain epinephrine pens (Epi-Pens) for use during an anaphylactic reaction (bee sting, peanut allergy, etc). This would stabilize the child while 911 arrives for further care. However, this would be such a rare event. I mean children have been taking PB&J to school for years without any huge catastrophies. Why the worry now?
These are causing the allergies:
- Pesticides used in plant foods, including peanuts.
- The run-off from nearby farms–antibiotics, hormones, pesticides.
- The way peanuts are stored before shipment–mice feces and urine soaked peanuts does not sound too pleasing, mold spores penetrating peanut shells.
- What the mother has been exposed to BEFORE pregnancy and what she eats while BREASTFEEDING.
- Cleaning products used to keep the house clean.
If the allergy will cause death, perhaps it's advisable to keep the child away from other children.
But if the allergy is mild in comparison to a deadly allergy, then a peanut-free table should suffice.
I'm a young adult with severe alleriges to tree nuts, milk, eggs, etc. As a kid, I was encouraged to read food labels when learning to read, was taught to ask about everything, and it was my responsibility to feed myself. I made it through six years of summer camp, youth group trips, hiking expeditions, family vacations, and two overseas trips to Japan. I've never had to use my epi-pen. I once came close though due to a mislabeled bakery product in the grocery store. That's it. Banning PBJ is stupid. I lived off of PBJ – I ate one today even. If I'm sitting next to someone who is eating something to which I'm allergic, I move. I don't punish everyone else.
When I was on a US Forest Service hotshot crew in 1951 they used to drop us pineapple juice, grapefriut jiuce, and PB&J sandwiches by helicopter. That food was THE BEST!!!!!!! But we had to make sure we drank the grapefruit juice before the pineapple juice.
Here is the problem I have with banning peanut butter because there is an allergy: quite simply almost every food has someone allergic to it.
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/f/food_allergies/subtypes.htm
Looking at the link above people can be alleric to eggs, milk products, wheat, meat, fish, potatoes, assorted spices, fruits, vegetables, rice, condiments and cooking oils. What would the cafeteria be like if everything was excluded?
I think the reason peanuts get special attention is because the allergy can be fatal. I think that for kids with severe or fatal allergies to food, it would be best for the parents to contact the school and make arrangements for a safe room (like having a classroom set aside as an allergen-free room at lunch) so that those kids can have lunch without having to worry as much.
Maybe different colored bracelets – red for peanuts, brown for wheat, white for lactose, etc. That way the lunch ladies could spot them easily, and so could the folks minding the playground.
If your child died of a peanut allergy for sending them to a PUBLIC school, it would be YOUR own fault for being stupid and nieve enough to think that no one would bring any peanut based item to school. Schools would be stupid to institute such a ban as they are setting themselves up to be liable if someone has an incident.
I can see it now! It is lunch time so bring out the peanut patrol and everyone prepare your lunch for inspection!
Peanut Patrol: "Son, this appears to be Peanut Butter, I have a code 19 a code 19!".
Student: "No officer, my sandwich is sunbutter and banana, not peanut butter and banana! Please do not make me throw it away!"
Peanut Patrol: "Tough luck kid, it looks like peanut butter, so you are to go without lunch or I will expel you and put you in peanut jail!".
Ya good luck with enforcing that ban you nuts!
im allergic to homework lol
From what I can determine, peanut allergy affects less than 1% of the population. If there are say 1000 kids in a school, then less than 10 will have the allergy. So the question is do we ban a staple used at lunch for those 10 kids? So what about the kids that are allergic to wheat? Allergic to lactose? Allergic to this or that...where do you draw the line? I think instead of banning peanut butter or whatever, lets do something smart for a change...we are a smart nation, lets put our educated heads together and come up with a brilliant solution. Maybe those kids have lunch in a different room, or at a different time, or at a different table. I also think we need to educate the rest of the kids about different allergies and just how harmful they can be.
WTF is the deal with all these kids with allergies? No one, absolutely no one that I ever knew in elementary, high school, or college had any food allergies. No one that I know at any of the places I've worked have had food allergies. IMHO, this is the legal system making a mountain out of a molehill. No food should be banned from public schools. If a kid has a real life threatening allergy, the parents shouldn't have the kid in public school in the first place.
We have more than 3 million Americans who are allergic to peanuts and/or tree nuts. Everyone acts like this is joke. This isn't a joke. Almost half of the deaths caused by food allergies each year are caused by peanut allergies. From the time of exposure, for a child that has a deadly allergy to peanuts (which could cause anaphylaxis), you have less than 3 minutes to administer epinephrine or that child will die. THREE MINUTES. I see people's remarks where they are scoffing at the idea that a child can react to the smell of peanuts and become sick from that. Please, instead of making fun of people with these allergies, please educate yourself about food allergies and the actual biochemistry of the allergic reactions. There is a good chance somebody you know already has a food allergy. Making snide comments about natural selection doesn't make you intelligent. It makes you appear callous and quite frankly uneducated. There are more than 25 million Americans with some type of known food allergy. Those are just the ones we know about. For those of you who wish to be snide about this, keep in-mind that someone close to you could have an undiagnosed food allergy. Will it be so amusing to you then? Will you make snide comments when you find out that someone you love could die from a food? Will you smirk and mention "natural selection" or will it suddenly get through to you that this is not a joke?
That said, of those 3 million (double that what FAAN lists @ 1.5 million), the incidence of fatal, anaphylactic allergy in that group is less than 3%... making that grand total less than 70k (liberally) to under 30k (more probable).
Don't fail to mention the difference next time. The vast majority of those with the allergy are not going to die from it.
Some people don't view life as precious. If you interfere with the way people want to live, those people don't care if you live or die. If you can die from food, then you are lucky to be alive. Assuming people need to care about preserving human life, when survival of the fittest is a point of view of so many, is arrogant. No one needs to be protected, we have 7 billion people. If you think someone shouldn't eat peanuts when they want, because you might die or someone else might die that's fine. Most people don't feel that way. Can't survive the environment you live in? Why should anyone else care? We all have to worry about keeping ourselves alive. If we were Spartans we would be disgusted by these people with food allergies and the fact we let them live. My point is not everyone has this moral desire to preserve human life at the risk of their own lifestyle. If my drinking milk is dangerous to someone, and they cause me to not be able to drink it, I would eliminate that person. Wanting to be normal, does not make it so. Learn to live with your deficiency, without upsetting the status quo. Who cares if 1% of people die from food. Only those people and their parents.
So, Educate – by your reasoning, we should tally up the foods that those 25 million people are allergic to and ban those? It seems that those of us trying to provide an 'allergy free meal to our children' will be quite challenged to do so.
This is yet another symptom of the problem we have in this society of people not taking responsibility for themselves and their children. Something can cause an allergic reaction – ban it. Child is misbehaving in school – it must be the teacher. Trip over a crack in the sidewalk – sue whoever owns the building in front of it.
If your child has a severe allergy, i feel sympathy for the child, but I have much disdain for the parents who don't empower the child to take charge of their condition, and take appropriate measures to be safe. If your child goes into shock at the smell of peanuts, it might be a good idea to provide them a surgical mask.
I am a 17 year old who has a peanut allergy! For all of you who are ignorant enough to say "Tough Luck" i hope one day while your eating that peanut butter cookie you choke on a shell. Sorry bout my temper but im so beyond pissed at the moment! I have been to the "NO NUTS" table and back and guess what? I have been made fun of ever since then! To a child its not worth having your whole life being a downer just because some ADULTS raise their children to be insignificant peices of trash! Peanut Butter was my torment growing up... Being chased around with Peanut Butter cups is not the highlight of my day just to let you know! Oh and yeah the school never did anything bout any of that besides going no no (Insert Bullies name here) thats not nice. Im That Peanut Kid and i VOTED to BAN peanut butter from schools!
Sorry to hear that.
But adults don't have to be involved for kids to be pieces of trash. Did you expect segregation to incite anything more than being singled out, regardless of the cause? That's people. It sucks, but that's people.
There is alot more to life outside of school so I'd hope it wasn't all a downer. I wasn't the most popular kid either and had my fair share of getting picked on for being in music and science, but you know what, that didn't make my school days a downer. Sure, if you have the peanut allergy, there's a risk, but EVEN WITH incitement, you didn't have a reaction. You're alive. Why ban peanut products from all schools if even direct teasing didn't do a thing besides just show that kids are still going to act like kids?
First off take a breather and calm down. Second, kids are teased and bullied about many things. I guarantee that not even five years down the road you're not even going to care. Granted there are some that take the ignorant route of saying 'sucks to be you," but don't take it out on everybody. Think about if a kid couldn't eat meat for some reason, and peanut butter is a great supply of the protein lost due to their inability to eat meat. You wanting to ban peanut butter in school is doing the exact same thing to another kid somewhere else in the world.
Sun butter? What the hell is this, Russia?
I do feel bad that some people are born with an allergy to certain things, but there are too many allergies out there. I went to school with kids who were allergic to milk, so they did not ingest any dairy. If your child is allergic to peanuts, make it known to them, without a doubt, that they are allergic. If the child is at a younger age that you don't believe they are responsible enough or capable enough yet to know and understand what the allergy means, then I feel that allergies of this nature should be annotated on a form signed by the younger child's teacher AND administration, and monitored by the teacher. Don't let one spoil it for the the whole.
Travis,
Very good point. I think that was very appropriate to say "Dont let one ruin it for the rest!"
There are kids who could die from eating a slice of bread, others from drinking a glass of milk. Actually, there are about 100 times as many of them as there are with life-threatening peanut allergies. But I don't see any of those hysterically screeching about peanuts standing up for those other kids, asking that milk and wheat be banned from schools.
I think peanuts, peanut oil, or any other form of peanuts, including peanut butter, should be banned from any schoo caferteria or food program. Unless the school agrees to test all children for allergic reactions, and pays all costs involved with the testing
To Ian:My kid refuses to eat anything but BP&J for lunch at school. Oh yeah, she's got a BMI around 6 and is a young athlete. Basically, because I'm being a dick and not allowing my child to starve in school because she WON'T eat anything else except her daily carrots and granola bar, I should be ashamed?
TO:TWM – peanut butter a staple to your kids diet?
really? learn how to cook a meal! I bet you guys cook a separate meal to accommodate your fuzzy little eater! what a bunch of crap! Seriously, you should be ashamed! If your kid only eats carrots, granola bars, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches you should totally be ashamed. Sounds like your kid is already starving. Those poor kids don’t have a chance to develop a palate. Buy a f**king cook book! You should also show a bit of compassion for those with food allergies. I don’t think we should ban peanut butter in schools but we can be accommodating for another childs well being. It sounds to me like your both heartless and selfish human beings!
I encourage those willing to entertain the thought: read up on the "hygiene hypothesis"
Why do 'more' kids in the US have peanut allergies in 2010?
*** First off, this is simply because there are MORE children around in the US in 2010.
*** According to the hygiene hypothesis, children over-protected from immune-stimulating infections as infants and young children have a higher risk of developing hypersensitivity to otherwise inocuous substances... such as foods, minerals, dyes, etc that do not really affect the vast majority of others.
*** In summary, your immune system NEEDS something to work against in early development and even on through the adult years. If this system is spared the normal load of infections (let your kids play on the floor and in the dirt outside !for crying out loud!) and other exposures, what ends up stimulating immune responses are the 'other' less stimulating but common potential immunogenic compounds in foods and other substances given to the body.
As far as this goes, I say it's up to the parents of the sensitized child. They should have already told the kid what to avoid in terms of their anaphylactic reactions, much less the kid probably already knows what one of those reactions feels like. You hear HORROR stories about 'airborne food particles' and the like, but these are the absolute rarest form of anaphylactic triggers. If one kid died of a peanut allergy due to airborne exposure at the school cafeteria, I would chock that up to sheer bad luck rather than the school's fault for allowing peanuts to be present. These kids are ALREADY bringing their own lunches to school! This isn't an infectious disease that could be spread to many kids and potentially kill large numbers of people from a single source and subsequent transmission, this is a 1 in 5 million chance of somebody have a severe reaction to peanuts... Somebody who ALREADY knows they have this allergy, anaphylactic or urticaric type, and whose parents should have already been well instructed and informed on how to minimize exposure and handle any emergency event.
It's on the parents and the allergic person themselves. If the person is young, it's totally up to the parents. Anaphylactic allergies cannot currently be cured and are never fully preventable. The best method is to reduce exposure, but at what expense? It may seem trivial to rant on and on about peanuts but there are a few simple facts that can be looked up on the CDC website and NCBI databases readily that do not support the need for public intervention.
#1 the human factor- no matter how 'policed' antigen exposure is at a production level, even limiting the exposures in a communal dining setting cannot reduce the chances of exposure due to "airborne" peanut allergens that are already going to be on somebody's clothes and skin that can just as easily (and perhaps even be MORE likely to be the actual cause of the airborne source... think about it) be brought to a sensitized person, whether or not the food is being eaten in front of them
#2- the true incidence of anaphylactic peanut allergies is SEVERAL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE LOWER than urticaric allergies. parents that have even bothered to have peanut allergies diagnosed even confuse this to say that any peanut allergy is an anaphylactic allergy and go beserk over the 'protection of my sensitive child who could die at any moment because of their allergy'. For those that truly do have peanut allergies, the rest of the community is ruining it for you
#3- Liars, while this seems harsh to say, some people will say anything to make themselves feel like their kid is special compared to others... It's called Munchhausen's syndrome in the case of illnesses or 'special conditions'. Yes, this is an actual, documented, analyzed, psychiatric condition. It's literally lying about the child's disease in order to receive attention or special treatment. The child typically comes to believe the disease is actually present if the factitious conditioning is started at a young age.
#4- Emergent care preparedness is ALREADY in place in national public schools. I'm not getting into an argument about quality but somebody that truly has an anaphylactic allergy (and their PARENTS) KNOWS how to handle the situation if it comes. If they are not ready, that is entirely their fault. Know the signs, know the immediate treatments, and know how to get ambulatory EMS!
#5 Incidence is exaggerated by ignorance. If you don't have a doctor's diagnosis of anaphylactic peanut allergy and yet you say that such and such has one, you should be ignored. Self-diagnosis is unreliable, even amongst physicians' families, because of bias!!! Go see a doctor who will be skeptical about your claims. It can be MUCH better to hear that, in fact, your child has a minor allergy and NOT a life-threatening one whenever an objective eye takes a look and doesn't get skewed by knowing the family or knowing the kids ahead of time, making them more likely to follow the loudest mouth in the room (the mother!!!!) rather than their own judgement.
Wow, it is truly amazing, and sad, to see how many people are not only uncaring, but downright mean. I can only hope that you people never have some type of issue hit your child which requires help and compassion from others.
I'm also amazed at the extremes people migrate to vs trying to actually arrive at a solution. Yes all allergic children should be taught what they can and cannot have and how to keep themselves safe. However that lesson can only be effectively taught at certain ages so we need age appropriate solutions. When my child was in K-3 we had a peanut free table. All the kids in his lunch period with nut allergies sat there and were allowed to bring a friend who had a safe lunch which was checked by a luch staffer. The school also had pre-made peanut butter sandwiches vs a peanut butter sandwich making station to help keep the mess under control with this age group. In 4 & 5th we asked for a corner seat at a lunch table instead of a nut free table. We felt he was responsible enough to monitor what type of meals were being eaten around him, and the school empowered him by allowing him to ask anyone with unsafe food around him to move a few seats down. He did that for 2 years, without abusing his power to send kids away, and without kids arguing that they have the right to sit were they want to. You see, parents, your kids are really good people and want to be nice, despite how some of you are raising them. No one ever felt their rights were being violated, they were logical and simply moved a few seats down – all was good. In middle school, he still maintains his corner spot with the right to ask kids to move. The school provides ingredient labels so my son and I can review them and select safe meals (he usually brings his lunch, but some days he just wants to feel normal and eat like the other kids.) The only thing we have asked the middle school to do is to make the peanut butter sandwish making station its own station vs being on the condiment line where my son had to go to get condiments and utensils. You see, the solution doesn't have to be all or nothing. It just has to be age appropriate. And people need to show a little compassion for those that are not as fortunate as them. I have never asked that a child not eat peanut butter, I only ask that they do not do so around my child, and that they wash their hands after lunch to stop the possible spread back into the classrooms and onto playground equipment. It should be noted that all the crabby, mean comments that are being posted are in the minority. We have been living with this allergy for 10 years and my son is very active on sports teams, scouts, plays, ski groups. i.e we have encounterd a lot of different people that we needed a bit of understanding from to keep our son safe. Not one of these hundreds of people ever batted an eye or spoke meanly about our requests. Their reactions have always been 1) how can we help, and 2) thank God my child doesn't have that allergy because it must realy suck. (and yes, it does really suck.)
This whole peanut butter ban in schools is so ridiculously blown out of proportion! Because one or two children are allergic to nuts shouldn't constitute a district-wide ban on the stuff! C'mon parents! I went to school from Kindergarten to 12th grade and I never heard one story of a child dying from their peanut allergy because I brought pb & j for lunch! I just can't believe how sensitive this country has become...no pun intended. I have many allergies, food allergies included and do you know how my parents kept me from going anaphylactic in school?? They taught me to avoid the things I couldn't have and were truthful in explaining the consequences of what the outcome would be if I didn't listen! That's why they make epi-pens. Parents need to stop trying to make everyone else accountable for the safety and well-being of their children and be responsible for a change, as generations of parents were before us. Seriously folks, GET A LIFE!
A Public school may want to consider a ban because it's a public school and they carry a liability issue and I would suspect they would want to protect themselves from litigation – serious litigation. At a private school I would suspect the educated and well off parents would rationalize and agree that a peanut anything ban would benefit all invested parties in the school because as they would be taking preventative measures to prevent an accident or death. My daughter who is 3 developed the allergy at 2 and a half. Is she weak? No. She is 3 c'mon. But should peanut butter be banned from schools? Ugh...I hesitate to say yes but if it is to protect any kid from serious illness and or death then yes. To the parents of children who didn't or don't know how to provide food options other than just peanut butter and or if you can't afford better food – tough. If your kids are denied peanut butter at school, so what big f**ing deal. It's not our fault your kid only eats it and if you can't afford good quality, expensive, organic food – good. (sarcastic tone of voice) Survival of the fittest – Natural Selection because I can throw money around to provide good food and provide various other healthy options for my child. The only difference between my child and yours is that mine can die from just touching it if not addressed quickly.
If you can die from eating food. That is a weakness. Not wanting it to be a weakness, doesn't change the fact you are weak enough to die from food. Weak isn't a swear word. We all have weakness'. Food allergies are a weakness, alcoholism is a weakness, stupidity is a weakness, inability to withstand sunlight, also a weakness. Call a Spade a Spade. My childs weakness should not affeact what your child eats. I can die from certain anesthetic, it's my weakness.
I understand the seriousness of the allergy. However, the child needs to learn how to deal with these situations the same as other aspects of their lives. I thought about the peanut free table idea, but that would just make those kids a target. Then, when you go out to eat, you don’t tell the restaurant to clear out until all peanuts can be removed – you deal with it, and teach your child how to avoid issues. That is the only real solution – this time of their lives is for teaching them how to deal with life on their own, and sterilizing their environment is not going to do it.
Lets be a little practical. There are a great number of people with life threatening allergies to various types of food, bees, perfume, cleaning supply fumes, etc. Shall we disallow all of these foods into the school? Maybe we should forget about recess. How about not letting teachers wear perfume? Maybe maintenance men should wash the floors with water. Parents need to teach children not to share food. Maybe a list of class allergies should be made and birthday snacks to share should accomodate this list. I understand that parents are concerned, but simply taking this out of schools does nothing to teach children how to manage their health. Peanut butter and peanuts can be contacted anywhere at any time. And what happens when they leave school? These kids can't live in a bubble forever.
To @Host-Anaphylacticallergypodcast, 1 in 17 equals 5.8% of children under 10 have "life-threatening" allergies? Perhaps you could substantiate this number? Here is a fact: CDC statistics state that more die each year from bee stings that die from peanut allergies (notice I said die, not have a reaction to). So, as many have pointed out, if peanut allergy deaths are a tragedy, then all bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, etc should be destroyed regardless of the cost and inconvenience to society at large. Also, the traffic fatalities in America dropped last year to the lowest in some time, around 40,000 total (last year stats avail) Obviously only some are children but I guarantee that it was waaaayyyy more that died from peanut allergies. So if your arguments are about child safety above all else, you should never put your child in a car again. That is the LOGICAL extension of your arguments, devout of parental angst and emotion.
BTW, I am allergic to molds, mildews, cats, dogs (essentially anything with fur), numerous mild food allergies and a "life-threatening" allergy to bee stings. An allergy that I have lived with for longer than many of these posters have been alive. And if you don't believe that then take it from me, no line of coke or hit of speed will amp up a small child like a shot of adrenaline to the chest wall. Neither I or my parents ever expected anyone to be responsible for my welfare except us.
BTW, both of my boys are also allergic to bees, so don't tell me that I don't understand the sense of gnawing, endless worry of a parent for his child's challenges – every time they go out to play in the grass or a field.
Ban this, ban that!! When is it going to stop? If you have allergies it is up to you to take care of yourself and/or your parents to take care of their child. All of this coddling of society because people can't take care of themselves is pathetic.
Food and venom allergies are all serious business, and certainly, they are things of which we should be aware. True, we could eat healthier, and probably should, but I've seen the "healthy" lunches supplied by the public schools. I've seen first hand what parents are packing in their kid's lunches; frankly, it makes me worry about our literacy rates. My grandson has corn allergies so bad that he cannot even take medications which use corn byproducts (which is most of the OC drugs). He will be restricted from most commercial food products his entire life, but he will not blame the world if he is one day accidentally exposed. He knows that he is different, and though he wishes he could eat what he sees other children eating, he does not begrudge them that experience. Maybe he'll change his mind when he gets older. He has friends, and they are alert to his needs, and are careful in his proximity. They remind other kids and nearby adults without being mean or bossy about it. In my opinion, he has the right of it: it is up to us to adapt to the world, not to force the world to adapt to us. That's what being human means, that's what life is for, that's what makes life possible and worth living.
I think what usually happens, is a kid breaks out in a rash, and the parent decides that it might be a peanut allergy because he had a PB&J sandwich that day. Before long, the words "life-threatening" get tacked on to it, as they rationalize that all peanut allergies are potentially life-threatening. All this without ever even seeing an immunologist for proper testing to see what the allergy is to, or how severe it is. But that doesn't stop the parents from demanding that the entire world change to accomidate their poor "life-threatened" child.
Personally, I think that any parent who actually believes their kid has a life-threatening allergy, but hasn't taken him/her to see an immunologist for proper testing, should be stripped of their parental rights, for the good of the child.
"the dramatic uptick in frequency of nut allergies and more particularly the measures taken in response to the threat show elements of mass psychogenic illness, hysterical reactions grossly out of proportion to the level of danger." – from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Don't forget Munchhausen's syndrome (factitious disorder by proxy) where these kids are being TOLD they have the allergy by a parent who is intentionally lying. I think this is more common that some are willing to admit.
I'm glad to see the actual group say something about hysteria and psychogenic illness... People must be selectively ignoring that part of their statement on peanut allergies!
im a middle schooler and all we do is always leave seats open at the end of the table so that anyone with alergies dosent have to worry about being exposed to whatever it is they're allergic to.
So if I was still in school, well kiddy school since I go to College, I wouldn't be allowed to eat peanut butter because my sandwich could kill another student? Do you have any idea how much I would rebel against that. Peanut butter is amazing, I love it on bread, in cookies, cakes, brownies, you can make peanut butter muffins, peanut butter cupcakes, peanut brittle....That's about all you can do with peanuts. Once again the select few are trying to tell me what to eat. I cant order a super size McBurger with the bucket of fries and drink that puts small lakes to shame, because some fatty decided to sue McDonald's for making them fat. I'm not fat, I will never be fat, far too active. Yet I have been denied my McBurger with the giant ass fries and drink. I just get a McBurger and fairly large fries. I don't want fairly large, I want the bucket. Now you are trying to take peanut butter from me? Who do you think you are?
You cant just walk in with your child and his/her/it's peanut butter allergy and demand I stop my consumption of peanut butter. The world is a harsh place, the buttery peanuts lurk in the shadows just waiting for their next target. So of course schools are just the beginning. Next it will be Colleges, offices, job sites, shuttle launches and maybe even the moon. We have to stop this peanut butter ban before it gets out of hand. I totally forgot to mention peanut butter smoothies. But nevertheless, you cant tell me what I can and cant eat. This is America my friend, we have basic freedoms, outlined in the Bill of Rights, you should read it sometime. In there it states clearly that I have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. My pursuit of happiness involves food. I'm skinny, so I can enjoy said food without worrying about getting fat. Comes with being an active person, you should try it sometime. Back off of my peanut butter, your genetically weak child cant be coddled forever.
Understandably so, it can be frustrating to protect children from allergies, especially food allergies. My husband had severe digestive problems that limited his diet from certain foods. It was difficult and time consuming coming up with new recipes and foods he was able to eat. With that said, I could never imagine burdening the general public with the same restraints. Today we ban peanut, tomorrow who knows? If we ban peanuts because of children's allergies than we it would be fair to say that we should ban other foods children have mild to deadly allergies to. Could you imagine hundreds, even thousands of parents trying to come up with cheap, easy recipes for their children to take to school with so many rules/regulations? I'm sorry for your child's allergies, I know from personal experience it is very frustrating. But this sadly a burden that must be on the child's parents, not parents of ALL the children.
Keep peanuts in our diet. Everywhere.
I am 53, attended many schools, and have never known anyone to die of peanuts. I have known people killed by cars, guns, falling, electricity and sickness. My nephew was killed by a table lamp.
Are we to stop living so we won't die?
Kids should be eating more spinach and less sugary sweets. Peanut butter is served with what? Some sort of sugary topping. So eat more spinach and less sugar.
As for kids with peanut allergies, we can put the allergy blame on the parents who helicoptered over their child and didn't let them get a spec of dirt on their bodies. These kids who have peanut allergies are seriously bubble brats. They have been raised in such a sterile environment their immune system is totally out of whack. Neither a whole school or class should have to ban a food product because of one child. Instead put that child with peanut allergies on the bubble bus to the bubble school where every desk has a hand sanitizer dispenser and the class rooms can be sorted by food allergies.
I raise my box of Cracker Jacks to all the kids in the world that are allowed to be kids, get dirty once in a while, and be able to eat all the peanut brittle, peanut butter, peanut M&Ms and peanut soup they want!
It's hard enough to get good proteins in our children during lunchtime so banning PB only limits the options. I would not adhere to any ban on a food item, as it is my responsibility to decide what is healthy and appropriate for my children. If it's a natural-grown food, it's fair game.
One of my children is allergic to tomatoes but I don't expect the school or anyone else to keep tomatoes away from her. She manages her own allergy and bothers no one in the process.
The easiest solution to this is to set aside a small area for kids who eat pb (or have allergies to it) and have those who eat PB wash their hands/ rinse their mouth out with water (or brush their teeth) after they eat. Or better yet, have all kids do this as just a general health thing (some places consider it child abuse if your kids get cavities). However, we should never ban something from somebody just because it might make them sick. If we did that, we’d have to ban tobacco from all public areas, make cars that produce no pollution and so on. The country is trying to become way to politically correct and in doing so we’re losing a lot of our moral values. The needs of the few should not hinder the many, but the many should not trample the few.
I can't help notice that many of these comments were made during working hours. Either people are wasting time at work, or I finally know what all the unemployed people in this country are doing: Not looking for jobs, arguing with people on the internet over peanut butter. I'm glad my tax dollars are paying their unemployment checks!
You do realize that not working does not = unemployment. Not everyone works 9-5, nor Monday thru Friday. Then others of us get vacation days. Relax we are not stealing your tax dollars.
Wow didn't now PB was such a hot topic.
How about parents being the child's advocate .
If your care about the diet prepare their lunch!!!!
Oh and teach the child to keep their hands to themselves.
i swear to god i didnt and he fully regrets posting it lets get that strait so my mom doesn't kill me because i'm innocent and dont deserve to be killed im just ventilating the talent i was born to do, forensics, sign up isn't for another month and i've been waiting since fourth grade to however i meant everything i said in my typing i cant control asher's typing.
This is an easy problem to solve. Schools should send lunch menu's home every friday so that the parents will know what they will be serving the following week. The parent can then just let their child take their lunch on the days that they serve something their child is allergic too. Problem solved.
Ahhh yes, let's kick back, relax, visit a reputable news source such as CNN, and read what the intelligent people of the world think about the deadly risks of an American epidemic; the old stand-by, poor man's sandwich - the Peanut Butter and Jelly.
And I wonder what's wrong with kids these days. After reading these posts, it's the outstanding parenting they are receiving! We have a world of ME first self centered kids that couldn't care less about their fellow man because of these solid role models. I don't think you'd allow your kid to be around poison, that's what peanuts are to those with the allergy, poison. It's deadly. Kids have to go to school and I shouldn't be afraid of my child dying at school because some uneducated parent insist that their child have PB. I couldn't care less about the bullying, that's part of life, but when it's a threat to life...You wouldn't want it to be around your kid either if they had the allergy.
I really feel sorry for my brother-in-law. He's never been able to eat peanut butter, and has never savored a peanut butter pie, a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, or a Reece's cup. His allergy to peanut butter is very severe. There have been times when he nearly lost his life because of a reaction after being mistakenly exposed to peanut butter, or to (or near to) someone else who ate it. Peanuts should be banned from schools, and from airplanes. Peanut allergies are no simple, every day food allergies. In any regular allergy, people should be responsible for their own food choices. This one though, is deadly. Of course, they should stop serving peanut butter in schools. I can't believe they serve peanuts on airplanes, knowing what can happen if the person in front, beside, or behind the person who they serve could have the allergy.
While I'm not in favor of banning peanut butter, I think it's time to stop invoking the protein content of peanut butter as a mark in its favor. Across the board of peanut butter subtypes, for a 2-tbsp serving (32g) there are 170-210 calories, 15-17g fat (3g saturated), and only 7-8g protein. Try calorie count dot com for a range of peanut butters' nutrition content.
There are hundreds of foods with a far better fat-to-protein ratio. Here are 5 choices that a lot of kids like:
Yogurt (0-3g fat and 8-10g protein per 8oz cup)
string cheese (6g fat and 7g protein per 2oz stick)
hummus (1.5g fat and 1g protein per tbsp)
turkey breast (0.5g fat and 7g protein per 2 slices)
bean dip (0.5-1g fat and 2g protein per 2tbsp)
I don't say this because I don't like peanut butter. I agree with the sentiment that legislating to the extreme minority here seems like overkill (one child is allergic to pet dander! You must all undergo a biohazard level4 chemical shower before setting foot in the classroom!). But peanut butter is not the health food it's touted as, and PBandJ (especially if we're talking white bread and grape jelly), while delicious, has virtually the same nutritional value as a hefty slice of chocolate cake.
If your kids love the ol' PB, send it along with some carrot sticks, and tell them not to smear it on their neighbors.
peanutbutter is cheap. The amount of protein in a jar calulated against cost. Also kids need fat. A serving of 7 to 8 grams of protein is reasonable. And when the cost is pennies, well that's why peanutbutter is so good. Like a jug of milk it is full of inexpensive nourishment. No need to spend more money because the kid next to yours in class has a deficiency. The deficient child needs to adapt or perish. Like the real world, where he lives. No one needs to spend more money to accomodate the weakling offspring of another. (Yes if food can kill you, you are a weakling.)
I totally agree that no one should have to spend more money to accommodate another kid's allergy. But there are lots of higher-protein, low-fat foods that are as cheap or cheaper per protein amt than jarred peanut butter. The milk you invoke, for example. Cottage cheese. Plain yogurt. Dry beans or lentils. Whole frozen poultry.
And while healthy kids certainly do need fat (but not twice as much by mass as they need protein!), I think you'd probably agree that, especially for American kids from poorer backgrounds, obesity is more likely to be a concern than getting enough fat.
Again, I'm not saying PB's bad, or advocating a ban on PB or any other food allergen. Just pointing out that PB is far more notable for its calorie density than its protein content.
Banning things people are allergic to means banning almost everything. "Kid, if you eat peanuts, you will die." Is enough. Someone doesn't need to go buy a more expensive source of protein because your kid is not bright enough not to eat something that kills them. No one cares how special your allergic child is, so long as it doesn't mean modifying the lifestyle of the kids who can eat the foods provided. Make sure they are smart enough to not eat peanuts BEFORE sending them to school. It's not everyone elses problem. One of my good friends is allergic to peanuts, his parents told him no to eat the stuff, and he didn't so he is still alive. What's next, all the kids who can't eat wheat, (or their parent's THINK they can't eat wheat) as so many parents like to imagine their kids are not able to eat things based on trend and not on what the docotor said. What about Beef and Pork, you know the foods some kids aren't allowed to eat. They could condemn their soul if they trade for these foods afterall. No one cares about peoples weakness' it's human nature. Keep the frail and infirm and allergic at home, if you are scared.
This is a joke right. I grew up in a world where peanut butter was served at lunch in schools and at home. Maybe instead of banning peanutbutter the government should figure out what innoculation is causing the allergy
vaccines don't cause food allergies. Their only recorded side effects are injection site irritation and sometimes a slight fever. Whoever told you allergies were caused by vaccine is not a medical researcher. Autism is also not caused by vaccine. And in fact people who have been making claims about vaccines that are unfounded have been stripped of their right to practise medicine. Well now you know.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/are-nut-bans-promoting-hysteria/
"Dr. Christakis notes that while it’s reasonable for schools and parents to take basic precautions, there is no scientific evidence that nut bans are particularly effective at protecting children. But more important, he argues, is that limiting widespread exposure to nuts can make things worse. The “policy of avoidance” means that fewer children are being exposed to nuts, likely increasing their risk for developing an allergy. A 2008 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of 10,000 British children found that early exposure to peanuts lowers risk of allergy, rather than increasing it."
Now take responsibility for your allergic kid and leave everyone else alone.
here here!
My nuts are the tastiest!
I voted other because I think each child's case must be considered individually. All peanut allergies are not the same. Some people are mildly allergic and some have severe allergies. When our school has students with mild allergies, we ask students to not eat peanut products around the child with the allergy. That seems to be sufficient. The worse reaction we've had is hives or a stomach ache for the student with a mild allergy who accidently ate food with trace amounts of peanuts. Definately not life threatening.
We currently have a child that is just starting at our school who does have a severe allergy. If someone ate a PB sandwich and did not wash their hands and touches them, they will have a severe, life-threatening reaction. In this case, our school has decided that PB should be banned. We've also asked parents to make sure their children wash their hands after eating peanut products at home. The consequences of being exposed to peanuts is too great to take chances in this case. This child's accidental death due to peanut exposure would not only be devasting to the family, but would affect all the students and staff who knew him. I would also think that the child who did expose him to peanuts would have to bear that burden for the rest of their life. Not something I would ever wish on my child or anyone else's.
i had nothing to do with my friend ashers last post
Allright, let's get this straight: this is going out of hand. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the show... the parents are mother(beep)ers who were born in hell. Their mom was a jack(beep) who looked like a (beep). They be (beep)ed! That is all! I'm Asher Zaitz and I approve this message!
It is up to parents to take care of their kids medical needs and make sure their kids stay away from food not packed for them. It is not up to society, other kids, parents, teachers to have choices taken away because of someone's allergy. Pack your child's lunch, advise them not to eat from other children, have medication in the office. Do not even think of taking away your neighbor's kids peanut butter sandwiches. These days people think the world revolves around them and their personal needs. It does not.
In any normal situation where soy, wheat, milk, etc are concerned, I would say "no", that food should not be banned; that the responsibility and accountability for a child's diet restrictions should fall on careful monitoring by the parent and the child (if old enough). The case of peanut butter however, is quite different. Some people, really don't understand the severity of food allergies, and the dangers thereof. We're not talking about a matter of convenience with peanut butter. This stands apart from other food allergies, becuase this one is deadly. It's not just a matter of eating it. My brother-in-law is allergic to peanut butter, and has been since he was a child. There are many times when he nearly lost his life because of anaphylactic shock after being mistakenly exposed to peanut butter. A person who is severly allergic to peanut butter can die, from even the smell of it - like for example, being near someone who has it on his-or-her breath. This allergy is far too deadly to be allowed in schools.
My daughter IS allergic to peanuts and I would never ask that someone not eat peanuts around her. She is only 3 1/2 and she knows that she cannot eat peanuts. My husband and I have been proactive to educate her so that she can remain safe. She knows to tell her caregivers that she is allergic to peanuts and even smells cookies, candy, etc before eating it to make sure it is peanut free. If you educate your children and those around your children, this shouldn't be an issue for non-life threatening peanut allergies.
Now, if your child does have a severe peanut allergy, banning peanuts is not the answer. I think banning peanuts would create a false sense of security. A young child might have peanut butter on toast before school, forget to wash his hands and pass the peanut residue to a child with an allergy. When I took my daughter to an allergy specialist, the doctor told me that people can build up a tolerance to peanuts. This is something that needs to be done under a doctor's supervision, of course. I think this is the answer to the problem.
We cannot always be there to protect our children, so I think it is important to give them the proper tools to protect themselves.
I can honestly say that I don't have an allergy to anything that I know of, thank goodness. I'm into my 40's now and knock on wood I doubt I will ever develop an allergy to anything that my immune system cannot fight off. If I became allergic to peanuts or peanut butter, I would be seriously upset!!!!
I am always appalled at parents with special needs shoving it down the throats of others. Guess what? The world doesn't revolve around you or your child, so don't expect the world to change for you. There are people who are deathly allergic to perfumes, to shellfish, to cat dander etc. etc. etc. So what would you parents with allergic kids have the rest of us do? Stop living life to satisfy your over-reactive protective urges? Get a life and grow up. If your child is that sickly, keep it at home and home school it, and please do us all a great big favor and don't make any more if you know this runs in your family and encourage your child to follow suit. With 6+ billion people on the planet, I assure you a few less folks will not be frowned upon my good old Mother Earth.
"Anaphylaxis" reactions are very sever and it will kill the kid in few minutes if not treated on time. Peanut is one of the common allergen to causing this very sever reaction. Please be considerate to people having this problem.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000844.htm
Ok, how exactly are WE supposed to be considerate of people with allergies. People can have very severe reactions to peanuts, milk, perfume, bee stings. On and on. I don't see them walking around with a sign on their chest offering a warning. How can I go around being concerned about other people's allergies, of which there are hundreds if not thousands. Sure, if I go visit someone's house and am asked not to bring peanuts I would certainly comply. But what about trains, plains, buses, crowded concerts, public places, sporting events. The onus has to be on the sufferer in this case. People allergic to bee stings bring an epi pen, same with food allergies. In a school of 1000 kids, maybe 10 at most will have a peanut allergy, you really want to limit the peanut intake of the other 990 kids. It's completely unrealistic and selfish.
My son has multiple life threatening food allergies. Banning peanuts won't do a thing for his tree nut, sesame, fish and shellfish allergies. Allergen-free zones helped a lot when he was in grade school. Other students wanted to keep our son safe. The parents had to be educated about food allergies, and told we weren’t looking for our son to “get more attention” as some of them thought. Our allergist wrote a letter to the school outlining the accommodations our son needed to attend public school and to remain reaction free. Thankfully our school district has been on the forefront of education and awareness with food allergies creating a Food Allergy Task Force to ensure all children with food allergies come home safely from school every day.
Nicole Smith
AllergicChild.com
Can we all agree on one thing? Peanut Butter needs only to be banned in situations where there is a child with a severe peanut allergy in the classroom or lunchroom setting? If so we can cut past all of this to the heart of it. Most people aren't saying ban it all...most are saying ban it only when needed or don't mess with my rights. With a few exceptions. So those of you who keep arguing that we shouldn't ban it all are really not listening to many of us who say only when needed. You lump all together to make yourselves sound more rational, how about compromise...are you willing to see any compromise? what about a ban only when it is determined by a doctor that this the level of severity of a child in that situation? Most parents who are requesting such a ban have medical documentation to their situation! So why can't there be compromise?
That makes sense as long as the same type of accommodation is made with any child that has a severe food allergy in a particular school. The bigger issue with peanut allergies in particular (and a handful of other severe allergies for some individuals) is the risk of unknowing contamination... such as something fried in or made with peanut oil or another nut that was processed at a plant that processes peanuts or even an otherwise safe cookie that became deadly because it came in contact with a peanut butter cookie (or even just a spatula that came in contact with a peanut butter cookie). If a child has a severe enough allergy that peanut butter needs to be banned from the entire school, then there needs to be a much more extensive educational outreach and restrictions on other items or else that ban on peanut butter was pretty much useless (especially since the child probably knows he/she can't eat peanut butter and is more likely to come into lethal contact with something containing peanut products that are hidden).
Seriously, this is a waste of time. I don't know if some kid traded his balogna sandwich for a pb&j without knowing they were allergic or what but this is the dumbest attempt at imposing a ban of any kind that I've ever heard of. Somebody apparently has WAY too much time on their hands and is a selfish, self-centered idiot to even suggest taking this seriously
Wow some of the posts here just blow me away with what little feelings people have for others.. My daughter has a peanut allergy and if I could do something about it I would, however there is no cure today. There are a number of studies being done but unfortunately my daughter will have to deal with this through out her life. Her school does provide a peanut free table and she wipes down the area prior to eating. Unfortunately not all kids are that lucky they are more sensitive and can have reaction just smelling it. I don't think banning it is the right option but the schools need to address a way to accommodate the individual. Our biggest problem to date have been with kids bringing there sandwiches and sticking it into my daughters face asking her to take a bite. Obviously some here don't want to be tolerant of anything. Be careful, one day you might find the shoe on the other foot and will not like the end results.
To quote the cdc dot gov site:
Food allergy is an abnormal immune response to certain food(s) that the body reacts to as harmful. An estimated 3.9% of children under the age of 18 and 2% of adults have food allergies.1,2 Though reasons for this are poorly understood, the prevalence of food allergies and associated anaphylaxis appears to be on the rise. Risk factors associated with food allergy include: family history of asthma and allergies, genetic predisposition to allergic disease, elevated allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin levels (IgE concentrations), and being younger than 3 years of age. There are eight foods that account for 90% of all food-allergy reactions cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts (for example, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and cashews), fish, shellfish, soybeans, and wheat.2,3,4 While 3.3 million Americans are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, 6.9 million are allergic to seafood. Combined, food allergies cause 30,000 cases of anaphylaxis, 2,000 hospitalizations, and 150 deaths annually.2
While we're banning PB, how about the others on that list? Simple. Ban wheat, no PB sandwiches.
Seriously, for folks with kids who have severe food allergies, do you ever take them to a restaurant or the grocery store? How about the ball game? The beach?
I know first hand all about food allergies. my son was diagnosed when he was 6 months old. He is SEVERELY allergic to milk, eggs, dairy, amoxicillin and penicillins. I DO NOT believe that peanut butter should be banned from schools. Our school, as well as others, have assigned tables for kids with peanut allergies. I, too, know first hand that some food allergies ARE severe enough that all the child has to do is be around the allergic food (not touch it, just inhale it) and can still break out into hives. My son is like that when it comes to dairy. Therefore, should Milk and Dairy products (which would include ALL cafeteria lunches) also be banned from schools? that would be absurd, wouldn't it?! i have to provide my son with his lunch and snacks EVERY single day. For the most part, he takes a peanut butter sandwich, which HE asks for. This is mostly in part because the school will not allow him to bring something in that has to be heated up for safety reasons and for the sole purpose of not wanting to be sued if they were to make it too hot. Is this fair to my son?
We need to look more closely at this matter. I am a peanut allergy sufferer. I even react to the smell of peanuts in the air. Natural selection or not, I have a right to breathe. Schools need to take this into consideration, and ban peanuts.
I have no problem with banning peanuts if a child is severely allergic.. but then you have to also ban any other food to which any child in that school has a severe allergy. Peanuts are NOT the only allergy that can be fatal. More kids are allergic to seafood than peanuts (at least in the US, I don't know about other demographic groups). Milk, while more commonly a case of intolerance, can also be an actual allergy and children have died from it... so if you are banning those peanuts for the safety of the children allergic to them be prepared to bar milk and any milk products if a child has a severe allergy to it. And then there are other nuts and seeds which are frequently the cause of severe allergies. More rarely, there are cases of lethal allergies to various fruits, including tomatoes and peppers (I personally know people who have severe allergies to both of those that they have been hospitalized for) and mushrooms (again I know somebody who has been hospitalized for this one and cannot even be in a room where mushrooms have been sliced let alone exposed to them in food). Any accommodation you expect the world to make for your peanut allergy, you better be prepared to make for another person's potentially life threatening allergy.
TIME magazine did a great article about this very subject. As a previous EMT/Firefighter, I've seen food allergies in action, and yes it's scary. But, whilst it has the potential to be deadly, so do so many other things we do in our lives. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1881985,00.html
The amount of "CYA" labeling that manufactors is doing these days is borderline ridiculous. I really think that there is a limit to what can and cannot be done. As a parent, I am the SOLE PERSON RESPONSIBLE for the health and well being of my children. No on else. So, why in the spirit of "neighborly love" do we burden millions of people to avoid an incident for a few?
Teachers at my kids' school use Peanut Allergies to indoctrinate the students with PC nonsense. It's all about teaching 'compassion'. If kids bring peanut butter to school, it's taken away from them and the student is called selfish and shame the kid that the simple act of eating a PB&J sandwich is such a horrible thing to do to the peanut allergy kid. It's all this socialistic liberal nonsense being taught by all schools now a days, whether public or private. All parents can to is tell their kids it's nonsense and do their best to counter this indoctrination at home. Feeding my kids nutella sandwiches before school is my favorite thing.
My cousin (4 years younger than I) has a severe peanut allergy. The issue with his allergy was not that kids in his class were bringing peanut butter to school. The issue was that once the kids found out about the allergy while some students would understand and refrain from exposing him to the substance, others would begin to bully him and chase him around in an attempt to get peanut butter on his face or harm him in some other way. Unfortunately, his allergy was severe enough that physical contact of any form would require medical care. I think the issue here is not should kids be allowed to bring nut products to school, but what can be done to compensate for the immaturity these kids possess which threaten the lives of others.
I can't find the research quickly, but I'm pretty sure that I've read research before that eliminating peanuts to such a degree in schools would actually contribute to more peanut allergies. As mentioned before this problem effects a very limited amount of children to a severe degree. Therefore, there shouldn't be a one size fits all elimination of peanuts. As others have mentioned if you start banning every food that some child is severely allergic to then your options become extremely limited. Possibly alternative arrangements should only be made in the very few situations where a doctor documents that life threatening reactions may occur. Then those accommodations should only be made in the most limited of groups, for example the child's table.
while I am sympathetic, I do not support a PB ban. It is the cheapest healthy lunch I can make for my kids and they eat it. Given that they are extremely skinny, good calories are important. I also eat it because I can't eat much carbohydrates without problems. Nuts work perfectly with my system. Allergic children are going to have to learn what they can and cannot eat because the world will not be nut free. Awareness of allergies should be taught to all children so they understand not to share food and separate lunch areas would be as far as I would go for a 'school' solution.
I think it's ridiculous to ban PB because some kids are allergic to it. What about my kid, who is allergic to wheat???? Yes, that's right, he cannot eat bread. IF WE BAN PEANUT BUTTER, TO BE FAIR WE NEED TO BAN BREAD IN SCHOOLS too, in case my kid contacts it. Obviously I can't expect that of everyone, so I don't think peanut butter should have any priority over other food allergies.
so many kids have other allergies like spring alleries so how are we going to get rid of that, BAN FLOWERS? I have tons of allergies what do i do when they act up? I TOUGH IT OUT INSTEAD OF BEING A BIG SISSY. I'M ALLERGIC TO MILLIONS OF THING THINGS I'M EXPOSED TO OR COME CLOSED TO TRIGGER AN ALLERGIC REACTION WHAT DO I DO I AVOID IT INSTEAD OF MAKING A BIG HAIRY DEAL. INSTEAD WORRY ABOUT OTHER UNHEALTHY STUFF LIKE 200 HOUR A DAY SCREEN TIME ADDICTION TO OREOS AND OTHER JUNKFOOD THAT'S RIGHT I'M TALKING TO YOU CHRISTOPHER. YOU COULD SAVE THE MONEY AND GET A FLUE VACCINATIO0N CAUSE COLDS FLUES SMALLPOX STREP AND OTHER DISEASES KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO AT SCHOOL ARE A HELL OF A LOT WORSE THAN ALLERGIES.
I agree with what others have been saying. If we ban one allergen at schools we'd have to ban all of them. What i suggest is that if there are students with severe nut allergies, why not have them eat lunch in a separate room?
This is not a tough issue when you compare it to something very similar. Many of us who are younger probably grew up knowing one or two kids who were severely, deathly allergic to bees. Did the school administrators then ban outdoor recess because maybe two kids out of 200 were allergic to a stinging insect? Of course not. Instead, the parents of those kids who were so allergic to bees made sure their children carried some kind of emergency hypodermic in case a bee should ever sting them. That, or the school kept similar medicine on hand in the nurse's office. That's how it worked with bees and that's how it should work with peanut butter: if parents are that worried about their children, they should take the necessary precautions to protect them by ensuring they have access to emergency medicine. Because at the end of the day, the person who should be looking after a child's safety is that child's parent, not the rest of the world.
Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!Peanut butter jelly time!!!!!!
White Dog wins the internets....awesome.
I believe what we are dealing with here is a simple case of misunderstanding. Perhaps if everone here truly understood the significance of a peanut allergy we wouldn't be having this conversation. Or at least we could have it in a respectful manner. I myself am extremely allergic to peanuts, so I think I can claim to be an expert here. Some kidsand adults have airbourne allergies, if this is the case they simply can't be around peanuts, they can't even smell them. Some kids don't, a seperate lunch table will be fine for them.
But what I think we are talking about here are the kids that have this very severe airbourne allergy. I know personally if I can smell peanuts, my lungs close and if I'm not at the hospital in a very short period of time, I'M DEAD! There's not much you can do for a patient whose lungs have swollen shut except try to keep it from happening. I can guarantee you from the times that this has happened and they've been able to save me, it is extremely painful and it isn't short lasting pain!
So, before you respond harshly or say that those with peanut allergies are weak I ask you to think twice. I run marathons, and survive this nasty allergy. Am I weak? Do I deserve to die because you are unwilling to make a tiny concession to potentially save my life? Just think about it...
I don't think it's a misunderstanding. I think people are getting tired of being told to always make accommodations for the minority. You lay the groundwork when you say you run marathons. Do you demand that the other runners not brink energy bars with peanuts due to your allergy, I doubt it. It's a serious allergy, but you can't expect the world to go around concerned with other people's food allergies. Statistically there are very few casualties from food allergies, especially compared with driving or other activities. Certainly parents can request that other children in classroom not bring peanuts, but we're talking about a very, very common food product. People have terrible allergies to milk, perfumes, bees so it is completely unrealistic to place the onus of protecting an allergy suffer on the other people in the room.
You are a hypochondriac! Medical science has proven that there is no such thing as an airborne food allergy. Some foods can cause mild reactions if touched. Some can be fatal if ingested, but food odors CANNOT cause allergic reactions. So, either you had self induced episodes (the mind is a powerful thing) because you had been conditioned to believe that you were that allergic, you had a reaction to some other environmental toxin, or you are a liar.
Simply put, my child's nutrition should not suffer as a result of another child's allergies. While I am sympathetic to the needs of others and other people's children–(I send as MANY peanut-free snacks as I POSSIBLY can to school with my 10 year old) I am also sympathetic to the needs of my child. Recently, he came home with a note that said, "No more strawberries, kiwi or raspberries. Furthermore, NO more treenuts of any kind. How am I supposed to provide not only a nutritious meal for my child but a lunch that he will eat?!? I would NEVER ask the school to make sure that there is NO hand sanitizer in the school because my son has an allergic reaction to it! I recognize, that hand sanitizer is sometimes a necessity and he is to stay away from it. As a parent with a child who has allergies–we must teach our children to be vigilant & responsible for their well-being when we can't be there to watch them. I have many friends who's children suffer with peanut allergies and 99% of them are ALL for segregated lunches–if it means their child will not suffer a reaction to someone's lunch products. If I were to comply with my son's school's requests–I'd be sending him with a bloody celery stick and a bottle of water everyday....There has to be a solution that works for everyone–not just for a portion of the children. What's next??? No dairy products??
I have read all the comments...yes all of them. Sadly, there is no perfect solution but there sure are alot who believe if it could kill the kid, take it away–don't have it around..so I say let's ban cars: Kids get killed by cars that don't stop or they run in front of on their way to and from school. Let's ban bicycle riding to and from school because many kids have died from injuries on bikes. Let's ban baseball and football at all schools because a hit to the head can kill the child. At home we should NEVER have any prescribed OR over the counter medications because any of them have the potential to be life threatening and kill a child who finds and takes them (of any age). STOP and THINK...anything has a potential to kill a child–but DEMANDING that everyone should stop an activity or not have access to a certain food because it has a potential to end another's life is just pure insanity!!! Protect these children as best you can by knowledge,by educating the other children about the problem, by the separate food tables and the allergy bracelets,by an open awareness that everyone needs to be watchful and mindful. But come on..what does a ban do? Often it creates a hostile environment that creates other unforeseen problems and severe consequences.
Just imagine this scenario: The school bans peanut butter ,maybe all nuts. One day a kid gets into a fight with his/her parents and wants to defy them (those of us who have kids know that none are perfect, none mind ALL the time, and some think of creative ways to be defiant...not bad kids...just kids learning, testing and impulsively reacting to their environment). So he/she brings a hidden peanut butter sandwich or a bag of peanuts to school, sits down next to a kid who has an allergy (which is not known to the offender because there are no separate tables, there is no information, and no one is looking for any of these products) eats the offending product which creates a hazardous dust, or is on the table and the other child unknowingly breathes in or touches it. The other kid leaves before anything happens. The allergic kid goes into shock but no one knows why and you guess the rest...so what did the ban do ? NOT WHAT WAS EXPECTED and, possibly even more harm than good.
Did prohibition stop alcohol production and consumption? Not in the least. Did banning drugs stop the influx and ingestion of them...hardly. In fact the 70's hippies openly stated they did drugs in defiance of the government's stupid laws on marijuana. And we are talking about adults here. SO what makes any of you believe that a ban of food products will prevent a child from sneaking such in? Or secretly eating such just before entering school or at lunchtime? Or prevent exposure from such. IF you want complete control of your child's safety and environment, please for everyone's sake, keep the kid home. School's are NOT a safe haven from detrimental and life threatening conditions., and no matter what will never be.
We don't ban cars because kids get killed by cars. We put in stop signs and cross walks and such. Right? Do you get that? It's not about completely eliminating the source of the danger, it's about reducing the risk. Any reasonable person knows that you can't get rid of cars.
But it's not reasonable to say that peanuts and peanut butter are as important in their context (kids' meals) as cars are in theirs. Banning peanuts is not analogous to banning cars. Banning FOOD would be more analogous to banning cars. Banning peanuts is more like banning, say, extremely fast cars with inherently long braking distances. We can't do without cars, but we can do without the FAST cars. Similarly, we can't do without FOOD but we can do without peanuts.
I'm just making the point here. My kid's allergic to peanuts but I'm not saying we should ban peanuts. I just wish so many people insist on drawing analogies that don't really represent reality.
...The problem that isn't being addressed is *why* cases of peanut allergies are on the rise. The first time I'd heard about people having potentially fatal allergies to peanut products was a CNN story back in 1994, and that was limited to people confined in airplanes who came into contact with peanut particles from the stale bags the stewardesses gave out during the flight. Now it's gotten to be almost an epidemic, with some people taking a hypochondriac stance and demanding that peanuts be not just banned from the lunchrooms, but exterminated as if it were a pestilance. I've actually heard some whackjobs claim that being within ten feet of a sealed jar of peanut butter will trigger their allergies.
Sorry, but peanut butter is *NOT* Kryptonite, people. If you or your kid can't tolerate it, you've two choices: avoid it, or seek medical assistance. If you feel you have to demand that "something" be done, then demand that research be conducted to find out why in the past 25 years an allergy to a foodstock that's been a staple to American society for over two centuries is now, all of a sudden, this "toxic allergen" that "threatens to kill all our children and should be banned". That's the problem that needs to be addressed – find the cause and the cure, not just resort to some legal retardation.
For a school to ban peanuts is opening them up to legal action if they do not police everything brought in. Should someone import peanuts, even if innocently done, makes the school the scapegoat. It would be better for the school to suggest that parents limit use of peanuts, and have the affected child be aware of those around them. I'm aware that some kids are so sensitive that the scent of peanuts makes them ill. It's just common courtesy to not make someone sick.
I hear a lot of people are allergic to wheat too...BAN BREAD!!!!!
I wish I had never read this page. My heart is breaking from knowing that a peanut butter sandwich is more important to some parents than the safety of my child. I am a right-leaning conservative, all about personal responsibility, but my child is four years old and cannot police himself 100% yet and will never be able to police his friends. I will never trust his friends now, knowing that one of yu haters who thinks he SHOULD die might be their parent.
I wish I had never read this page.
Not saying your kid should die, saying his allergy is YOUR problem and you need to be the one held accountable for that not everyone else.
Peanut butter is already banned at my kid's school. I'm a medical professional, and understand allergies, and know how severe they are and can kill you, but because the minority of people are allergic to peanuts shouldn't be a reason to ban the product altogether. Either have the allergic kids eat in a separate room, and have the emergency shot ready, or allowed those kids not allergic to eat their peanut butter sandwich in a different area or room. My kid only eat peanut butter sandwiches, we tried the sunflower butter and the hazelnut spread, and he won't eat it.
I'm a firm believer in natural selection, and survival of the fittest, and if it wasn't for antibiotics just introduce 60 years ago, lots of people would die because of infections. That is why our grand parents had so many kids, and some time don't even named them or recorded them at birth because they would die. Read american history and you will see that settlers had 10 kids or more just to have 4 to 6 survivors, and wait until they turned 2 or 3 years old to name them because children didn't survive. That is life.
Banning PB in school is not the answer. Look at how many products contain peanuts or may contain peanuts.
My son is allergic to Peanut Butter it took an allergic reaction in preschool to find out. Good thing that it only took one look from someone in the office to call 911 and realize what was going on. The next day when I went into school I remember that the comment was made are whole snack program for the year includes peanut butter now what do we do. My son is lucky that he is not as allergic as some kids but do I want to find out if it will kill him because the school doesn't want to implement a no peanut butter rule? It's like driving a car while intoxicated until you get caught or kill someone why worry it can't happen here or to me. All I can do is remind the school every year make his teacher aware every year and hope it doesn't happen again. They still talk about his reaction in preschool so I know made them aware and that every year when a new group of kids come in they watch for a peanut butter reaction from the kids.
Perhaps an area in the lunchroom can be keep for allergy sensitive kids, but it seems onerous to others to ban peanut butter.
You know, contact with the bumper of a car is potentially fatal too, (particularly the airborne its of one) yet I see no one calling for a ban on cars etc. What do we do with little kids and young people to keep them safe from cars? We supervise and educate them and teach them of the danger to themselves if they make improper contact with a car.
The key is not to expect the whole world to change to keep your kid safe, rather you should be diligent and teach diligence from an early age.
Great googly moogly....we've become the most overprotective society in the history of mankind. I'm surprised half of you helicopter parents don't wrap your little darlings in bubble-wrap before they get out of bed in the morning.
If you are a CARING person/parent you should CARE for your/other child.
Therefore penuts should NOT be allowed in schools, for safety reasons–FOR ALLLLLLL.
Children can eat them before and after.
-- simple, and safe.--
If one doesn't kow about allergies, they should learn, and consider–because u never know u might develop one TOORROW!
You are all Peanuts!
people with kids need to just stop. the world doesnt revolve around you and your kid. you keep raising these weaklings who can't even handle simple confrontation without breaking into tears. if you wanto dictate what people can and can't feed their kids, how bout you pay for it? on 2nd thought, screw that, youll just whine like your kids do when they dont get their way. send your kids to private school, but dont try and control public school lunches. todays parents suck.
I am 53 years old and have lived with allergies my entire life. I was allergic to peanuts as a child, and learned to avoid them in camp and at school. I ate a lot of cream cheese and jelly sandwiches! Fortunately, I grew out of my peanut allergy by the time I was 18. (Some, but not all, kids will lose their allergies as their bodies mature.) I was also allergic to most beans, but with the help of a chiropractor practicing the NAET method, was desensitized a few years ago and can now eat all beans with no allergic reaction. I am still allergic to most nuts, coconut, and sunflower seeds. I read labels and am careful to avoid foods I'm allergic to and am cautious when presented with an unfamiliar prepared food. Despite my many allergies, I've managed to be careful and have had only 2 moderately serious incidents in my lifetime, both very uncomfortable but not life threatening, one due to a mislabeling of a prepared food.
I share my story to give background to what I want to say: I empathize with parents of children with severe peanut allergies and wish them and especially their children good health and good luck, but I don't think banning peanut butter from schools will solve the problem. In fact, I think it would be to the long-term detriment of the allergic child. Most children with allergies are well-trained to avoid the things they're allergic to and those who aren't trained by their parents should be so they can deal with situations both in school and elsewhere when they don't have control over what foods they're offered or what other people are eating. Since school is a place of learning, they can practice avoidance of allergenic substances with their friends and on the lunch line. As a child, I simply knew to avoid foods I was allergic to, and overcame my shyness to ask the lunch lady about ingredients when I wasn't sure–skills that have helped me keep safe for my entire life.
In addition to using the presence of allergens at school as a way to train allergic children on how to stay away from danger, (along with making sure the school is aware of the health issue), I urge parents to stay on top of research and new developments in the field of allergy medicine and research, and to keep an open mind. My experience tells me that in many cases, there may be options available that will reduce the severity of reactions or eliminate them altogether.
I went to elementary school with two friends with severe peanut allergies in the mid-90s and these kids were good at self-patroling. We were all aware that we could not sit with these students on days when we had peanuts in our lunches, and they were quick to enforce it. Kids are more than able to take care of themselves and banning a staple of school lunches is certainly not the answer.
It's a shame that so many people are ignorant about the Peanut/Tree Nut allergy. It shouldn't be considered an allergy actually, but a life threatening condition. My son, Hunter, is about to turn 8 years old and we don't just celebrate his birthday, but celebrate another year of us making it this far with surviving his condition. We carry EPI-pens everywhere we go, since this isn't an accommodating allergy that a tissue can help with. My son's first reaction at 2 years old was terrifying when we discovered his condition. Thankfully the doctors at the hospital reacted quickly, because the harder he cried the harder it was for him to breathe. For those who commented like Joe I feel sorry that you do not understand that for their few minutes of satisfaction eating a peanut butter sandwich (for ex.) could be a life time of sadness for me as a parent if I lost my child. We try to be prepared for any accident that may occur, but to lose my child to someone's ignorant attitude will be unbearable like Joe's. Holidays are hard to celebrate, but we do it especially when it comes to Halloween or Easter. We pay the higher prices when we can for items from companies that specialize in Peanut/Tree Nut Free. Again, far from your cheap little life involving your $2.00 jar of peanut butter. Family and/or friends, even co-workers, often bring the container of anything they made to show it is ok for him to eat. Does that ask a lot? No, that means a lot! Those who hang around Hunter don't treat him any different than their own kids and if they want to eat something that could cause him harm they know they can wait until they get home. My son understands as best as he can at 7 years old that he cannot enjoy a classmates birthday at school because a parent didn't take the time to just simply talk to us about the cupcakes they bring to class. My son doesn't get a simple doctor's visit every 6 months, because he cannot be tested in an allergy office he has to have blood work almost yearly to see if his blood levels have change. There will be not be an allergy shot in the future to help him against any effect. This is his life and we embrace all we have to do. So, if you believe your simple spending of $2.00 for a jar of peanut butter is a simple fix for your family since that is all your child will eat because you may see them as a picky eater than you should put yourself in my son's shoes, his family, his dad, his friends families, our wonderful friends, and co-workers and his mom. We check everything!!! It is in so many things you have no idea. But we gladly do it to see his smiling face each day when he comes home from school. So, go in your cabinets and check your shampoos, lotions, seasonings, sauces, cake mixes, ice-cream, cookies, snack foods, chips, dog food, candy, and everything else you will find and see if it has a Peanut/Tree nut or say "processed in a plant" that has contact and see what we do every single day. The school doesn't have the responsibility to watch only your child, but they watch my child. Our food manager at school contacts me on any concern as does his teachers. They care whereas all those ignorant people who comment negatively do not. I could be ugly and hope my child doesn't sit next to your child if they have the same beliefs as you or I hope you don't have anything to do with him in his future as an adult. My son will continue to enjoy school, sports, field trips (esp. ball parks), playing his guitar, and anything else he puts his heart into it without being held back by people like you Joe. Until he has a voice in all of this I will stand up and fight for his rights and nothing will get in my way of that. We have 10 minutes to assist my son with his EPI-pens and this isn't a complete guarantee of him recovering. We don't let this hold us back and just go on educating ourselves more on more on how to prevent him having a reaction. My son didn't ask to be born with this condition, but he talks about it and teaches people about it as best he can at 7 years old. I thankful for every day to have a son like that! So, why don't all the negative people take the time to check out the FAAN or other food allergy networks to learn a little bit more than trying to save the peanut butter sandwich. Happy Birthday Hunter! I wouldn't change a thing about you. Love, your mom..
The truth is, regardless of allergic reaction to peanuts, they ARE hard to digest and there ARE better sources of nutrition around.
Ban away!
I'm allergic to fat people. Can we ban fat people from school lunch and other fine eaterys so I can eat without coming in contact with fat people.
I would guess that those in favor of any sort of PB regulation are democrat, while those in favor of personal accounabilty are republican. This is such a simple problem with a simple solution. If you have an alergy, be extra sensitive to avoid that which you are allegic to. On that same token, be aware that others may be allergic to something that you are not, so don't douse the person in anything. Stop with the lunch time PB&J brawls and don't douse people with water.
And yes Dave... there are some people allergic to water.
Regarding non -ingestion allergies. You can die! My daughter has had 4 airborne reactions from peanuts in the air in the last 10 years and one was on a plane and two were at school. I have a friend that lost his adult son from an airborne shellfish reaction in Spain to a seafood soup that was being cooked in a market he walked through. He didn't eat anything but passed out and went into coma. It was too late to get enough meds in him and he died a month later on Christmas. He didn't know an airborne allergic reaction could kill him. I helped a fellow Dad on a field trip anaphylactic allergy allergic to coconut. A girl walked by wearing coconut based sun protection and we had to carry him away from the area so we could administer his medicine and try to breathe. The Teen Ambassador for our local FAAN "Walk for food allergy..." has had several anaphylactic reactions from non-ingesting. Those Doctors that do not believe that you can have an anaphylactic reaction from airborne allergens need to listen to their patients. Every thing we breathe goes into our bloodstream-duh! It's not like asthma-It's a whole lot more immediate and deadly.
Got a big ol' BS!!! for you. It has been proven by actual science that peanuts do not "go airborne", and that allergies are NOT caused by odors. The DOT recently refused a request to ban peanuts on airplanes because repeated studies conclusively proved that there is no potential for harm without ingestion. Your story is a complete fabrication.
I, as a kid as well, must say this is rediculous! For one, it's just butter mixed with peanuts. What's wrong with that? Two, if kids are allergic to peanut butter, go (beep) yourself! That's their own problem! Three, these so called "parents" aren't doing anything about it! Four, this doesn't make any sense! Five, go tell that to Favre! And six, in the next 30 years, at least someone will die because of WATER ALLERGIES! You see what I mean?!
I dont think the school should ban peanut butter but the schools are more likly to cave because of possible law suits. The parents need to tell their children how important it is for them not to eat anything that contains peanuts and take appropriate action by having there children carry an epi-pen just in case. Parents raise your kids and stop expecting other people to do it.
I work in an elementary school. There are far to many products that contain peanuts, or are made in a facility that also has peanuts in it, to be banned. We have a few kids with severe peanut allergies and we have these children in a NUT/PEANUT FREE classroom. However, any child who can eat peanuts is welcome to bring peanuts for lunch. We have a peanut table and a peanut free table. This has taught compassion for others at an early age and works well for us.
Knowing that some child has suffered for my peanut butter just makes it taste smoother, creamier, happier, better. What about the children? Let them die.
I grew up in a home where my brother was deathly allergic to peanuts. Then I raised three daughters, one of whom has an eating disorder and the only thing she would eat is peanut butter. My brother now carries an epi pen. My daughter, thank God, still has access to peanut butter. If she didn't she may not be here today. The solution, I think? Everyone take responsibility for their own needs. Be as considerate to and as conscious of each other as possible. Stop bickering. We've got bigger problems to worry about–like the health crisis are for example. Now that would cost lives.
PB should not be banned! Children who are allergic need to understand that the world has products in it that may cause them harm. I see this on a dialy basis at school. Teachers and school nurses are educators, we help children learn to be safe. I have 2nd grade children in my school calling out "I have peanut butter in my snack, don't come over to me until I've cleaned up. Younger children are asking thier parents not not to pack Pb , so they can sit with an allergic child.
If Pb was not allowed in school, allergic children will have less opportunity to learn about food saftey and the social aspects that go along with having an allergy. I feel it is much better to learn to say " I'm sorry I can't sit with you because you have PB" when you're 5, than to try to figure it out when you are hormone struck, going through puberty, with peer pressure all around you, when none of your friends know you have an allergy, because its been hidden for years.
Make everyone aware of the allergy. Do not ban PB. Help the allergic child learn how to manage their life. Celebrate the diversity in our classrooms.
who in their right mind would ban something just because a certain part of the population is allergic to it? if your kid is allergic to peanut butter then dont give it to them. inform them that its bad for them and to never eat it or use any products made with the ingredients. blah blah. whatever.
You never hear about poor countries having these food allergy problems. I have never met someone from a third world country with lactose intolerance or peanut allergies!
But what about everywhere else? I pack snacks for my kids on long plane rides. The pre-packaged frozen peanut butter sandwiches are great for long plane trips. Or giving my kids a granola bars with peanuts for after karate class or swimming lessons. Bans at schools work because parents can bully schools into doing whatever they want, but there's no way to make the world peanut free, but I suspect that's what many of these insane peanut allergy parent want. They want to make parents feel guilty for feeding their kids anything with parents, so it's just unexceptable for kids to eat anything with peanuts ever, whether it's at school, at home, or anywhere else.
My son attends a peanut free preschool. We are told we may 'replace' peanut butter with sunflower butter. It is delicious and even creamier than peanut butter. Peanut allergies are dangerous for those allergic......and, really, when it comes down to it, would you want your kid to be the cause of an allergic reaction of another child?
I'm surprised your kid's school will allow any peanut butter replacements. My kids' school banned any nut butters or anything that resembles peanut butter because they can't easily tell the difference. The rabid peanut allergy parents at the school insist that parents will send their kids to school w/ peanut butter sandwiches and claim it's sunflower butter or almond butter, so at my kid's private school, anything that looks like peanut butter can be confiscated. The threat is always that if you pack your kid's lunch, the teachers can take it away from them and your 6 year old might not get to eat lunch. It's a good threat, no one wants their kid to go hungry, so they take the peanut butter bans seriously.
how absolutely ridiculous...What kind of idiocy has our society enetered into where we are expected to espouse banning something to everyone just because a couple of people have allergies?
I as a kid fully agree with john and think that you should all forget it and figure out a different solution instead of ruining it for everyone thats how airport security got so --ing tight solve your cruddy problems in your own way. and trust me if peanut butter gets banned you have some strong ------------------------ing opinions from my sister and me and i'll use such such strong language ill be banned from this website until i'm 3000 years old. and as for you kittyman why dont you look at bretts comment
Peanut butter was always my Dad's favorite snack. When I was 4, he made me a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Stuff started happening in my mouth and throat that I didn't understand, so I started to cry and refused to eat any more of it.
My dad sent me to my room in disgust, and every so often, for years afterward, he'd sit me down with another sandwich and say, "You're not going anywhere 'til you eat that!"
It wasn't until I was 12 that I got allergy tested, and peanuts & walnuts were at the top of the list.
I wanted my dad to apologize for traumatizing me all those years, but apparently he'd forgotten.
Every time I get a whiff of peanuts, I duck and run.
Is PB an illegal substance? No! So then why ban it? It is absurd to keep accomodating all these "special needs!!" How about they (or the parents) deal with it. How about for those who are lactose interolerant? Perhaps someone is hyper-sensitive and cannot be near lactose? I guess we'll have to ban lactose products as well! Oh wait, there are those who are allergic to various seafoods...let's ban tuna and salmon, etc.! Hmm, what else...hey, I know someone who is allergic to soy-based products...let's ban them!!! Of course not! It is pathetic that the majority must accomodate the minority in this way. if you have a problem, then deal with it like an adult...it is childish to expect the world to accomodate you!!!
As for the person (Matt) who claimed PB is making ppl fat because it has junk in it and it is the "lazy parent" who uses it for quick lunches. 1. Yes, your standard Skippy or Reeses PB is filled with "junk" – that is why I only buy the PB made with peanuts ONLY! 2. Sure, I'll bet many parents use it as a "quick" fix for lunch...but not all! Personally, I often enjoy a nice (natural) PB and (natural) jam sandwich. Sometimes my children ask for it as well! It is not relevant to the issue anyhow...
Enough catering to those with special needs, learn to deal with it!!!!! (**Maybe** an exception should be made for very young children who have not yet learned how to deal with their deficiencies.)
i think kids sould be abble to eat peanut butter for lunch i as a student eat it every day
I'm starting to get the feeling there are a small group of people putting out all of these repetitive "comments" using new scenarios... Seriously. This looks just like a spam-bot attack on any other message board.
In public schools there are no nurses or enough supervision on the playground for this disability. Unless allergy kids are allowed to run around with loaded epi-pens then I suggest we leave the sticky substance at home especially at the elementary schools. 1 in 17 kids under the age of 10 has a life-threatening allergy to a food. Most of these are to peanuts and less than 20% ever grow out of it. My child has a "right to life"-and this is a right to life issue. My choice is to protect her and stay involved. I can not do it alone.
> In public schools there are no nurses or enough supervision on the playground for this disability.
Since when did an allergy to peanuts become a disability? Next thing you'll be wanting is government approved monetary compensation because your kid has an allergy to peanuts. I would hardly call an allergy to peanuts a "disability".
Let me enlighten you. Anaphylaxis (due to a food allergy) affects you ability to breathe. Breathing is a basic life function which is required for one to live. Which under the law defines it as a legal disability. If you don't believe me, check with the Federal Government.
My son is allergic to nuts and has had an anaphylactic attack. He is 6 years old and we have epipens everywhere (including school). There is a wonderful alternative to peanut butter called sun-butter. I guarantee your child will not be able to tell the difference. You can find it at your local supermarket and it is actually healthier than peanut butter! My sons school does a great job of keeping a safe environment and he still is eating with his friends.
On another note, IF my son was exposed to nuts as an act of bullying (as referenced in the CNN article today) I would press charges against the school, the school district, and of course the parents of the child who tried to murder my son. As well as get a restraining order against the child. You may think this is drastic, but to me it is like bringing a gun to school and pointing it at my son.
Seriously??? This is absurd... You people are a bunch of liars! Go see a doctor and have this 'allergy' tested!
Due to the number of parents that self-diagnose allergies: If it's not diagnosed, I say don't believe it.
Why should ANYBODY have to prove themselves to you? But ok, since you asked SO nicely, MANY people on this thread posted that their kids have had ANAPHYLACTIC reactions to peanuts. Look it up, it means "about 30 seconds from death." And my kid was diagnosed with the allergy from one of the leading pediatric allergists in the country.
You are mean. Stop it.
Name the doctor.
All I'm saying is that a) people are lying on this comment page to lie, b) people are claiming allergies that are not truly fatal, c) people are taking a urticaric allergy and claiming it as fatal, d) people are just LYING, e) a small number of people are falsely generating paranoia about peanut allergies just to incite press and argument
Jay M. Portnoy, MD
Chief, Section of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
The Children’s Mercy Hospital
2401 Gillham Road
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 234-3097 (voice)
(816) 346-1301 (fax)
Jay.M.Portnoy (Skype)
You jerk.
Jportnoy@cmh.edu (E-mail)
If you don't have a diagnosis from an immunologist, then you have absolute NO right to demand anybody do anything to accomidate your suspicions. Furthermore, if you believe your child does have a life threatening allergy, but won't take them to an immunologist for proper testing, then that child should be REMOVED from your "care."
Many of us have children who have been tested and tested positive. All liars...I doubt that! Many of these entries have been offensive. What if I told you someone you loved deserved to die because they have an illness or a personal health challenge. Chances are you would find that offensive. Many of us don't feel a peanut butter ban is the best answer for all situations, yet here you call us liars and others tell us our children deserve to die. What do you really expect from us?
I have a 14-yr old, peanut/nut allergic son who has been attending school since he was 3 and 1/2. I've read many of the comments and very few mention how the allergy can be triggered by touch. Yes, it is easy to teach my son what to eat and what not to eat, but we also need to worry about him sitting at a table where peanut butter has been wiped on the table by someone previously. my son has broken out in a rash on his legs at a restaurant where someone must have left PB on the bench where he sat previously. we were lucky it wasn't worse in that instance.
that's the reason I chose "a peanut-free table should do the trick" because it seems to be the safest solution for both sides of the argument.
and for those of you who really believe the bigoted, self centered comments you have posted here, please remember that we all share unalienable right to live "safe from harm" and it is the same US Constitution that allows you to voice your uneducated, thuggish and remarkably uncompassionate opinions freely in this forum. gyhooya
thx.
Please explain how a rash is a life threatening reaction that should allow you to inconvenience everybody else? At least you don't try to claim that peanut butter can somehow become airborne. Parents like you are the reason for all the vitriol and invective on this forum. Your child may have a mild reaction when exposed to peanuts, I get it. But a rash isn't going to kill him, so leave the rest of us alone.
Howie,
it's people like you, who speak before you think, that are the problem. You'll notice I chose "peanut-free table" since this is an easy compromise that in no way affects the non-allergic children. It just gives the allergic children a relatively safe option, unless you have a problem with that too?
is that simple concept finding its way through your thick skull?
While I sympathize with people who have these allergies, I don't think that we can eliminate all allergens from any public place. Peanuts are used in so many different manufacturing processes that it would be all but impossible to eliminate all peanuts from any public space that serves food. Children with peanut allergies must be well trained in what to do in case they are exposed to allergenic substances so that they can live safely for the rest of their lives. The adults around them must also be trained in recognizing symptoms and in identifying those foods to avoid. A simple fanny pack with a dose of pseudopherine and a shot of epinephrine in it should be worn at all times by children with nut allergies. Both the child and the adults in charge of them should know how to administer these in case of emergency. Asthmatic children have been self medicating with inhalers for decades. There's no reason to think that they can't learn to take care of their own allergies in the same way. Even if peanuts are prohibited in schools, peanut residue will get in on clothing, in candy, in cakes, cereals, etc.
You have got to be kidding, is this going to be yet another example of how the troubles of the few effect us all?? It seems that everyday in this country is filled with Mass Media excercising it's "intelectual" muscles over the most microsocpic items. While completely ignoring the true issues, yet another distrationary tactic to keep our heads spinning. And, truth be told this item effects such a small precentage of the entire populace that it's almost like pointing out that there is a needle in this haystack!!! Let's make sure that we ban hay?!?!?!?
and where do the bans stop? I have CAT allergies. If I shake the hand of someone with cats, I know to wash my hands. I manage hugging my kids after they come home from their mom's house because she has a cat. WAIT!!! this logic can really work for me. Ban all cats. Then I am sitting on easy street. While this BS radical logic works well for me, it doesn't for everyone else...SO I JUST SUCK IT UP...will the PB allergins and their parents just deal with it. We are all different and all have our own challenges. I can't jump like Michael Jordan and I WILL NOT ASK THAT THE REGULATION BASKETBALL GOAL BE LOWERED TO ACCOMODATE ME. I will just accept that I am not as goot at Basketball as he is, and if it is that important to me, I will lower the goal in my own yard.
Many of us who have allergic kids don't promote a total ban of peanut butter, but suck it up...really? Why don't I tell that to my kid who goes in to anaphylactic shock? I'm sure that advice will be helpful at that moment.
as the parent of a child with a FATAL allergy to peanuts, i say you can't ban them from schools. that's not American and it doesn't really solve the problem. education does.
I also say to these fine folks who have posted these illogical, idiotic and mainly inaccurate posts here spouting intolerance and hatred, not a day goes by where i don't worry about the safety of my child and how he interacts with YOUR child. the one thing I can't control is how well educated and tolerant YOUR child is and given the responses here, that's a pretty scary prospect.
Is your kid alive? Then he doesn't have a fatal allergy. Maybe potentially fatal, but that doesn't sound as scary does it?
I think more needs to be done to figure out what is causing this explosion of food allergies. They weren't really around when i was growing up. It seems like it has more to do with the processing of foods than the foods themselves. In the meantime, I don't think it is such a big deal for kids to abstain from peanut butter at school. Parents could reward their peanut depraved child with PB & J shots when they get home.
I do have a question...as a parent whose son is wheat allergic and under the care of a pediatric allergy and asthma specialist...people really think there is a cure for allergies? Some kids do outgrow some allergies...that is true, but mostly care for food allergies involves education of child and family regarding food allergy avoidance and dietary considerations, epi pen, and asthma or related issues treatment. The idea that they are curable is really a misunderstanding I believe for many of the food allergy kids out there.
I think we all wonder about the parent who is oversensitive out there, but most of the time if the school is involved enough to have a plan from a doctor the diagnosis is well founded. There may be some exceptions, but usually school nurses ask for basic allergy and epi pen info from doctor. If they don't have an epi the school response is typically not as involved.
You people are idiots. Most kids get these allergies because of the super low quality of food they eat day in and day out. To ban PB isn't the issue. Its why are food allergies and childhood cancers are exploding in the US. The issue is why are you low brow morons feeding your kids chemical laden foods with hardly any nutritional value. Whatever suffering you and yours incur because of this you deserve.
My sympathy goes out to those with peanut allergies, but banning peanut butter in public schools isn't a viable solution. It's been tried before and parents simply disobeyed the ban. Peanut butter is also a much cheaper and healthier food than many alternatives; the majority shouldn't have to switch to a more expensive or less healthy food because of the ailment of a minority. My suggestion: if you have peanut allergies, stay away from peanut butter. The lunch room does not encompass the entire school and it should be very easy to set a room aside for those with peanut allergies. Everyone wins this way. The majority gets to eat their cheap, healthy peanut butter while those who are allergic to it are kept safely separate from the thing they're allergic to. Granted, this does mean little Timmy will be separated from his school friends during lunch while he eats in a peanut-free environment, but I really can't see a 45-minute separation during lunch for the sake of his health being labeled as unreasonable.
I have a friend whose grandson has a severe peanut allergy, which was only recently discovered when he was rushed to the ER with a severe reaction. Since that time he has had three other episodes where he had great difficulty breathing, was injected with an epi pen and then rushed back to the ER. One of those times happened after eating at his aunt's house. His 8-year old cousin had eaten a peanut butter sandwich three hours earlier. His mom thoroughly cleaned the table top and made sure that the peanut butter and all used dished were cleaned up and put away. As this five-year old sat eating his sandwich, he touched an area underneath the table which had previously been touched by his peanut butter-eating cousin. He immediately fell to the floor and started turning blue. It wasn't until several hours later, after one more trip to the ER, that they discovered what had happened.
As a friend and mother, I found this story terrifying. My kids are grown now and got through their childhoods with only mild allergies. One of my daughters went through a phase where peanut butter was a daily staple. Armed with the knowledge of severe food allergy potential, I'm not sure what my opinion would have been then.
I do think that parents of allergic children should do all they can to educate their children on their allergies. It's also important to notify teachers and school officials and make sure that they all know how to react in an emergency. I don't think it's fair to ban peanut butter from a school entirely, but I do think that compromises can be made to help increase the child's likelihood of exposure to a minimum. Perhaps offer the option that they can all eat together at the same time of day in a small room set aside for this purpose? Then it would be up to the child and his parents whether to segregate him/her at lunch every day. I also think that other parents should comply with a request to be sure they don't send in extra classroom snacks containing peanut butter or peanuts. It doesn't hurt to have all of his fellow students and their parents aware of the problem.
I think you should just try to set up the environment to be as safe as possible, but understand that we're all human and mistakes can happen, no matter how careful we try to be. The best course of action is for the child himself to be given the knowledge to help him get whatever immediate help he may need. Try your best to be preventative, but be prepared in case the worst happens.
I'm sure there are legal issues involved too, and schools are worried about negligence. I have no legal background and can offer no opinion on this. I do think that anyone who knowingly exposes someone they know to have a severe allergy should be punished strongly enough to deter others from future behavior.
I am really appalled by the number of you who think it's ok to weed out the weak ones and let them die! Frankly, I'm shocked and sickened to see the things some of you have written. Where is your mercy and empathy? I can't believe are speaking this way about sweet, innocent children!
If my child was so allergic to peanuts that he would die because of particles in the air, I would NOT send him to public schools. How selfish and irresponsible these parents are to send their children to public schools where peanut butter is a healthy staple food!
Not to mention that WIC provides peanut butter to low income families. My children do not eat peanut butter, but I know a lot of families who have lost their jobs over the last year that rely on the stuff! If the government is going to provide it then they better not ban the product.
The needs of some do not out weigh the needs of many.
I'm sorry? Did you say it was SELFISH and IRRESPONSIBLE for the parent of a food allergic kid to send them to a public school? Really? What is the alternative and are you going to pay for it just so your kid can smear peanut butter wherever she wants to?
If my child was sooooo deathly allergic to something, I would not expect anyone but myself to care for that child. I have been in school lunch rooms and I do not see anyone smearing anything anywhere, so I am not sure if that is normal behavior for your children, but mine do have manner and good hygiene.
Basically your statement about wanting someone to provide your child alternative education is EXACTLY the same as everyone else saying, YOU should provide alternative lunches for people who depend on peanut butter to feed children. Get real, your standards demonstrate that I was correct when I used the word "selfish" to describe you nut cases... and by the way, there are many free home school programs.
There are children that are too allergic to attend school. Having an airborne allergy is very hard to manage. They can never fly on a commercial airplane among many other things. One could hope for a cure. But, the government is still responsible for educating them. I know of a family that has private tutors and teachers (funded by the school district that they attend) that teach them in the safety of their home. Thankfully their are laws that protect these children. They aren't banned from school, but given an alternative education.
My 14 month old son was just diagnosed with a level 4 Peanut Allergy. I am new to this whole world of food allergies and never in my life could have imagined a peanut could harm a child like it can. I had never heard of peanut allergies and never really gave thought to food allergies at all. I would probably be the first to run around the house chasing my best friend with a lobster if I knew she were allergic to shellfish….
This has been a huge learning experience and I now know there is a need for information and compassion. The peanut allergy is life long; my son will never outgrow it! Exposure for him means a severe reaction. One of which is Anaphylactic shock, a severe, whole-body allergic reaction. He could die! Our immunologist told us that peanut allergies have quadrupled in the US in the last 10 years that he believes it has to do with the way peanuts are processed in the US, (Dry Roasted). Other countries process peanuts by boiling them and they do not have the peanut allergy issues as in the United States. He also talked about what he called “germ phobia” and over use of antibiotics that has weakened our immune systems. He believes all have given rise to food allergies. So on to the “Peanut Free” schools. I believe educating the public about these food allergies is what needs to happen! Why is there a rise in the allergy, why are food allergies so dangerous?! Let’s educate each other and out children so that there is compassion and understanding about the issue. Keep in mind however; Schools have removed soda machines because soda is not healthy. Peanuts can actually kill!
Viv – time to get a new doctor! It is absolutely untrue to state that your child will "never outgrow" the allergy. Most kids have reactions to certain foods when first introduced. If you continue to re-introduce the food, the reactions usually go away. There has been no increase in actual diagnoses of peanut allergies. The increase has been in SELF-REPORTS of allergies. Hypochondriacs are on the rise. Many many people have a one or two time reaction to peanuts – myself included. I kept eating, and the problem went away. Just because a 14 month old had a rash, some hives, or even a little chest congestion is not a reason to freak out. Any doctor who tells you otherwise should not be practicing medicine.
My -ex is 57. He still hasn't "outgrown" his peanut allergy which he has had since a small child. Peanut allergy is the ONLY one allergy someone cannot outgrow. Now we have a grand-daughter who has this same "allergy".
My child is allergic to the BS 99% of Americans spew from their mouths. Can we ban you people from talking or otherwise expressing an opinion please?
Oh for the lovva god, can all of you shut the (beep) up! I like peanut butter! Live with it!!!!
I think schools should actually ban every single thing that a kid could be allergic to. That we we keep everyone safe!
I am allergic to: Almonds, Oats, Wheat, Dairy, Whey Protein, Eggs, Tomatoes, Strawberries, all other berries, Citrus Friut, Spinach, artificial colors, artificial flavors, beer, wine, eggplant, and several other things. There is no way on earth anyone or any restaurant or school could cater to something like that. I believe it is the responsibility of the parents to pack a nutritious and allergen-free meal for thier children. It is not the government's job to ensure that your child eats a balanced allergen free meal. It is the school's job however to be aware of any such allergies, so they know what to do if an allergic reaction should happen. The best thing that could happen would be for schools to stop providing lunches to children. They are not nutritiounally balanced and are made with all kinds of cheap, low quality, "imitation" food, which is contribution towards the growing rise of obesity and other related health problems. I have taught my kids that if they do not know where something comes from, then it's not good for you. Corn Dogs and curly fries are NOT a food group. Sadly, this is what kids eat at the school lunches. The only way I would even consider letting my children eat the school food if it was "Clean", which schools cannot afford to provide (sadly). As the only other option, kids need to bring their own lunch, and stop asking the 98% to accomodate the 2%. Manage your own issues for yourself you can't expect others to manage your ailments for you. I manage mine just fine – I pack my lunch and inform those around me of my allergies.
I can't read that list and not snicker. You are a bad liar or have never seen a doctor and had this documented. Even then, you are not going to have fatal reactions to every single thing you listed. It just screams hypochondriac. That, or mild skin reactivity to a allergen panel (which would mean you're not at risk for much of anything but an itchy day). Or perhaps you are just making the whole thing up.
If you had one actual medical problem, my guess would be gluten enteropathy.
You've got to be kidding me. Granted, I haven't been in school for a long time but I don't know why all of these PC advocates out there have to be so nit-picky about every little thing. If your kid has an allergy to peanut butter, take the peanut butter away from the kid, don't take it away from *every* kid. I happen to love peanut butter and I know at least one other person who has an allergy to peanuts but I respect that about her and she respects my love for peanut butter. This has just gone too far and it's about time someone said, "NO!".
The relative number of 'parents' here claiming their 'son' or 'daughter' have anaphylactic peanut allergies far outstrips what the reported number of cases nationwide... Is it people lying through their teeth (probably) or selective collections of people?
Folks, stop lying about your kid with a food allergy. If you think they have one and have never seen a doctor, you cannot honestly claim they do have the allergy. These reactions are very well defined... and kid 'climbing up the walls and get getting violent' isn't an allergy.
When every other person in this round robin claims to have a kid or friend with a food allergy (FATAL, ANAPHYLACTIC, DOCUMENTED), I say people are just lying.
life threatening peanut allergy overcome by new treatment. Telegraph.co.uk
I'm shocked but not surprised. Peanut allergy can be serious. Those without peanut allergy should be grateful that they don't have it and sympathize with those that do. Kids can surely live without having peanut butter for lunch! I'm so disgusted that it is the parents commenting and voting here who will be teaching life's lessons to their kids. This is such an intolerant and spoilt society. I blame suburban culture for this. Too much personal space! Too little diversity! It is not like this in other countries I've lived in! Really!
lETS BAN PEANUTS AT BALL GAMES... IN sTORES, AT PARKS , HELL JUST JUST BAN THEM LIKE CIG'S... COME ON i REALLY LIKE PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES!!! AND SO DOES MY SON!!! OH AND DON'T FORGET THE JELLY!!!
Since only 1 in 2 million kids have a life-threatening allergy to peanuts, but 1 in 20 parents claim their kids are miraculously one of those 1 in 2 million, obviously 99.9% of those kids have never received such a diagnosis from a doctor, or the parents are flat out lying.
Peanuts are full of mold, aflatoxins that can cause severe reactions in children less than 1 years old. We all know that, after having children, but we do not fully understand how exposing ourselves to these aflatoxins affects our health as growing children and adults. Peanut butter is very high in fat and one of the worst forms of protien. Allergies are on the rise and immunologists do not know why. Some theories are that our children receive three times the amount of vaccines than we used to, born in the 70's, and therefore, some children's immune systems may be compromised. Another theory is that since we have less exposure to microbes, high use of anti-biotics, sterile environments, non-cultured foods (lack of firendly bacteria) our immune systems are not developing as they should.
More children have severe and/or life threatening reactions to tree nuts and until we find out what is causing this increase we can choose to be adapt or complain.
@Zanatos I mostly agree. Steps have to be taken to protect the few vs the many, just as a matter of practicality. However, and though I'm no expect by any means, peanut allergy seems to be a particularly violent reaction to a tiny presence of allergen. So though it's true that there are no end to the number of allergens, I think the benefit of avoiding the problem probably outweigh the cons of people having to avoid peanut butter.
It's not a non-concern for the rest of the parents though. Peanut butter is cheap protein that doesn't need to be refrigerated. Still, this isn't a "if you're allergic, don't eat it" situation.
The bottom line is it's not as black and white as either side is making it. It's a thornier issue than "It's my right to spread peanut butter on everything and the hell with you!" vs "If you make one PB&J you are consciously choosing to murder my baby"
Also to the "it's not a powder therefor it can't be airborne" people, what do you think smells are?
In recent years we have seen such a tremendous increase in the number of people with these serious allergic reactions, just as we have seen a tremendous increase in the number of children with mental problems of various kinds including autism. Imagine for a heartbeat that this was a biological attack; how intense would our national reaction be? But if it's just because the food and cosmetic industries are able to release products without major testing, well, that's just the American way.
We don't want big government, and we don't want government interfering in our lives or in our business; but we also want someone ready to step in after a natural disaster and we want someone watching that eggs are safe to eat and we want someone to keep the banks honest. One would think there must be a COMPROMISE that most of us could live with; except this very subject – fatal anaphylactic shock allergy reaction – shows that on some things a compromise isn't attainable. So it still falls to us as good human beings to find ways for everyone to live well, rather than yelling at each other from opposite sides.
I used to be one of these people who couldn't figure out what's wrong with kids today and their allergies...and then I had 2 kids with peanut allergies. The difference between peanut allergies and some other allergies (e.g. shellfish) is that peanut oil gets all over the place and there is a much higher instance of cross contamination. My kids' school didn't ban PB, but they do have a peanut free table and we've asked our kids' teachers to have the class wash their hands when they come to school in the morning and after lunch. (We even provide the wipes). I don't find that this is such a hardship for the non-allergic kids and a side benefit is that one teacher told us that her kids had fewer sick days which she attributed to the hand washing. Nonetheless, there are always going to be these virulent people who think that kids are somehow weak because of allergies. At one parents' night a parent actually stood up and said her non-allergic kid "feels bad" because he can't sit at the peanut-free table and he feels like he is being punished. My kid can only sit at one table...yours can sit at the other 29 tables...but somehow your kid is being punished? Who is the weakling now?? For whatever reason there are more and more cases of allergies these days. It's a reality we need to deal with.
Of course we can't ban something for the few. That's not the way life works. If you need to stay out of the mainstream for your safety, then that is what is best. If I didn't have peanut butter when I was in school I would have had to go without. Even now I frequently take it to work for lunch. It's nutritious and afforable.
When did so many kids develop peanut butter allergies? I had never even heard of this until a few years ago. I'm not saying it isn't serious or doesn't exist - but just wondering why all of a sudden it is such a big issue. Are there any statistics on how many kids suffer from this allergy?
Can't we just ban the students with these allergies instead? It's much easier and cheaper that way.
That has to be the best idea I have read thusfar! Thank you!
This is just more Liberal nonsense brought to you by the people who brought you global warming. Peanuts are harmless. No one has an allergy to them. I don't have any allergies to anything, and I think that so called "allergies" are all due to overdosing on antihistimines and other junk-science medications. All you need is a kleenex and a little will-power and you will shake your antihistimine addiction.
That's absurd, wrong, and irrelevant. Let's say for the sake of argument these insane ramblings of yours are the truth, what difference does that make? 7 peanut molecules still kill these kids. No matter how you feel about the bans, what difference does it make how they get the allergy? They have it. It's real.
My child is bright, smart, energetic and allergic to peanuts. I don't see why this topic is even being debated. Allergies to nuts can be and are deadly. To not ban them in schools is essentially like handing a loaded gun to a child. Children do not make the best of decisions, and to allow them a chance to bully another (which in this case could be a life or death situation) is irresponsible. My child goes to school equipped with an epi-pen and a packed lunch each day, but I'm essentially waiting (on eggshells) for the day that an accident happens and I'm contacted by the hospital and school officials. We've already had 2 of those accidents while he attended a child care center, and a preschool that refused to ban peanut products. Basically, feed your child whatever you want to in your own home, but please keep it safe at school. My boy isn't an outsider, and doesn't need to be singled out to eat lunch alone in the classroom.... stop serving nut products in school so all children can experience a safe environment and remain included.
For you to suggest that the only way to protect your child is to dictate what my child can eat in PUBLIC is (a) ludicrous (b) egotistical (c) self-centered (d) manipulative and, most importantly (e) rejects YOUR responsibility to teach YOUR child to take responsibility for their OWN limitations and act accordingly. Go teach your child what needs be done, or not done, as the case may be. I don't care who eats PB, or or who doesn't. I do care when self-centered egomaniacs like you presume to tell my children and grandchildren (two of whom DO have peanut allergies, by the way) what they can and cannot do. Good luck with that. Not happening. I taught my children to deal with their limitations, and they taught theirs. No one dead yet, or seriously ill. Teach your helpless victim, I mean your child, the same lesson, and your child will survive. In the mean time, leave mine alone.
Believe me, my child knows what not to eat. He knows not to go around children eating peanut butter or granola bar type snacks. The reactions go beyond what enters his mouth! If he touches something that another child with peanut butter on their hands has touched he will have a reaction. You should know this from your own experiences with the allergy. We've attended peanut free preschools and there wasn't a problem presented by the parents of children without allergies, so I doubt there would be that big of a problem deeming schools as peanut free. My house is peanut free, its not like its that hard to remove peanut and nut products. Not the end of the world for those without allergies. Less impacting than the current bans on smoking in public. I'll Im asking for is for you and your kids to go 7 hours a day without peanut butter.... but that's too much to ask. I'll let you get back to watching Fox News.
Maybe? We should be more worried about why "food?" allergies are on the rise! Ah, could it be something as simple as greed? By the handful of mega companys in control of most "food?" offered , But are the same companys behind all the chemicals from the farmers fields to our doctors "cures?" Please! just take some time to look into it before making More rules to limit personal freedoms.
I wrote about this debate on Helium.com and my article is number 3 out of 62. Here is the link with my side and another writer's POV on the opposite side. http://www.helium.com/debates/69622-school-districts-should-anyone/side_by_side?page=3
I am allergic to fish – emergency room allergic. I had to learn to stay away from fish, things made with fish, fried foods that were fried in same oil as fish, etc. Fish was served every Friday in my school and no ever thought to ban it because of my allergy. It is my responsibility to stay away from what will harm me, not the responsibility of others to not eat fish because I am allergic to it.
If your child is allergic to wool, should we ban that? If the child is allergic to dairy products (my grandson is) should we ban that? If your child is allergic to perfume, should we ban that? If your child is allergic to soap, should we ban that? People have to start taking responsibility for their children. If the child has an allergy, he should eat alone or be taught that he cannot touch the stuff EVER and there should be medication available in the event he is accidentally exposed. If we don't get real about these issues, there won't be anyone in our schools.
Until the School provides my daughter with a lunch I will send whatever I want.
As a school food service director, I can tell you that establishing policy regarding peanuts in school is a touchy issue and reading some of these ridiculous comments tells me that whatever policy a school district comes up with is going to be a no win topic because no one will be satisfied. It's impossible to have a peanut-free school but it is possible to eliminate peanuts from the school menu and to establish good hand-washing procedures for kids. And doesn't everyone benefit from good hand washing?
I can't believe the number of people who are willing to chance other childrens health just because they are too lazy or ignorant to change their child's lunch time sandwich! Your kids were born lucky – I'd love to hear your arguments for change if your child was in a wheelchair etc. and needed special access at school.
I have had a life threatening peanut allergy since I was born in the 70's – long before the hype of rising food allergies. I have lived with this allergy for 34 years; I've had scares consuming peanut-containing foods and have had several rushes to a hospital for benedryl drips and adrenalin shots.
Despite this, I actually don't believe that schools should ban nut products. Parents – YOU NEED TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN. They have to live with this problem their whole lives – eating at friend's houses, in restaurants, traveling after graduation. The sooner kids learn that they DO NOT accept ANY food from another person, the better they will be prepared for a real life of taking care of themselves.
School is tough enough. Making kids eat at a separate table from their friends or in a separate room is just mean.
What should be banned is straight peanuts / nuts in the shell or shelled that carry the dust. That is what gets in the air and causes problems for people with nut allergies. I truly believe that as the incidence rate of allergies rises, public places such as schools and airplanes have a responsibility to keep their "customers" safe and should ban those foods. However peanut butter sandwiches, chocolate bars etc. don't get in the air, and don't put other kids at harm unless ingested. If anything, schools should have mandatory hand washing after lunch – that would solve a host of issues!
Parents, it is your responsibility to educate your kids for their own good. Their college or workplace won't ban peanuts for them, and they need to learn how to manage their environment.
However, to all the other parents who make comments like "I bet the kid doesn't even have an allergy" or "the parent is just dramatic" – just wait until your kid has an accident and is in the hospital and you are worried sick – I hope someone comes up to you and says "I bet they aren't even hurt and you are just looking for attention".
Is this even a problem? Shouldn't we wait for an allergic reaction or an issue to exist before we start over-reacting and taking a brown-bag staple lunch away from kids?
The problem here isn't in the nuts, but in the lawyers. The schools are afraid of lawsuits claiming that they failed to protect their children from harm. Most people these days have this sense of entitlement and severe lack of personal responsability. On the other hand, common courtesy has also gone out the window.
Guess what? If there was actually a danger of death – even to a very small portion of the population, there would be links all over this page to validated reports of children dying. Instead all we get are baseless fears and hysteria. No child has ever died in this way. Poster RichP had it right, he offered to pay $50 to anyone who could post a link to an actual validated case. He didn't have to pay up.
I blame the lawyers. The schools are afraid of being sued if a kid dies from a peanut allergy, so they take the heaviest handed tactic they can, ban peanuts completely. That way, even if a kid dies from this allergy at school, the school lawyers can point to the "no peanut" policy and say it wasn't their fault.
I am no expert, and while I am completely aware that *some* peanut allergies are severe, I am also aware that parents have become increasingly reactionary in their thinking about peanut allergies instead of seeking medical advice. Many food allergies are outgrown or can be treated – peanut included. Allergies can be very severe, but most are NOT and can actually be classified as "intolerance". Parents, please seek TRUE medical advice for your children if you suspect an allergy – and reassess that diagnosis from time to time. Simply because your child showed an adverse reaction to eating peanut butter 3-years ago does not mean the whole school needs to be peanut free.
My thoughts are that parents need to be VERY realistic about the severity of their child's allergy or intolerance. I feel like any school that is considering or instituting "peanut-free" policies should be doing so out of absolute necessity for a child, not convenience or fear. There are medical professionals that deal specifically with allergies and I believe they should be consulted to examine children with allergies to determine the severity and necessary precautions.
If I can save another child's life by thinking twice when packing my children's lunchbox, I am happy to do that. However, if I'm spending extra time, money and energy (along with thousands of other parents) to simply perpetuate one parent's unfounded fears, we have all succumbed to the fear mongering.
Families who don’t deal with food allergies on a daily basis may not understand the serious nature of food allergies.
Having a peanut allergy is not the same in each case – symptoms can range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening reaction or anaphylaxis. And for all you who think that allergic kids should be watching their own backs and leave your kid’s lunch box alone… the life-threatening reaction does not only occur when the child himself eats peanuts. If someone with an extreme allergy even comes in contact with peanuts, they can go into anaphylactic shock. Example – a kid eats a sandwich at lunch, gets peanut butter on their hands, and then touches a door handle going into class; then comes along an allergic kid, touches the same door handle going to class, and then rubs his eyes with his hand. Within seconds, the allergic child will begin to have a reaction, which in severe cases can lead to anaphylactic shock and death, even if the proper reaction steps are taken.
In the last ten years alone, the prevalence of reported food allergies has increased to over 18% of children under the age of 18. According to research reported in the December 2003 Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, the incidence of peanut allergies has doubled from 1997 to 2002. In April 2007, this same Journal collected research on 31 deaths resulting from fatal anaphylaxis… nuts accounted for over 80% of the deaths.
For all those out there who have little patience with parents trying to keep peanut butter out of the schools, good luck. With the rate of nut allergies increasing astronomically each year, chances are you will know someone someday that has this allergy. Hopefully they do not encounter ignorant people, such as yourselves, who have no concern for other people’s safety.
Amen!
So, what is next? Okay, so then, the next kid comes up and has an allergy to HAM. There is one more thing my son cannot take to school. This is the parent's resposibility, not the school and definately not mine. Can I request that you stop using a certain type of laundry detergent because my kid is allergic to the fragrance they use and he comes home congested and itching everyday?
Yes, you absolutely can request that. You can request that, because it's something that's so very easy to change. I would change my detergent if your child had a severe reaction to it. I would make that change because I'm a decent and caring person. Just like peanut butter...it's easy to make a change, but sad that most people aren't decent or compassionate enough to bend just a little bit. So disappointing.
For those that are opposed to accommodations in schools should be ashamed. Schools accommodate for any type disability (yes I said "disability" since breathing is a basic life function and anaphylaxis affects your ability to breathe.)
I would hope that the naysayers never have a child or a family member with a life threatening food allergy. I promise
if you did, you would feel differently.
Also, parents of food allergic children do educate their children about food safety. I have yet to meet a family that wasn't working hard to educate their child on being safe. But, at the same time, these children are entitled to a safe learning environment. Just like any other child.
It would be wonderful if every child could be accommodated, but that is not possible. I have a deadly allergy to fish (I've lived with it for over 50 years) and have to be very careful about what I eat as fish oil, fish based sauces, etc. lurk everywhere. I had to learn to ask questions and keep myself safe. What happens when the peanut allergic child goes out into the world at large – will he or she know how to protect him or herself or will it be expected that the world will ban what they are allergic to? Empower those children rather than teaching them that the world will change for them.
I understand that education is key. Teaching kids to live in a world where their allergens are present is very important. But,
I am referring to kids in school where there are laws that protect them. Each child is entitled to learn in a safe learning environment. Period. If you disagree, contact the Federal Government.
I think we are talking about two different things here. The everyday allergy to foods which is not severe enough to cause trouble for a child if they aren't directly in contact with it. In most cases we will never need to limit peanut butter or other food allergens because the response is not that severe for all people. I speak as a mom with a child with a wheat allergy and a former teacher. We always seem to have a knee jerk reaction as a country to everything. So aiming for balance here. The percentage of the time where the allergy is super severe is smaller. In those cases we need to ask parents and other students to help- compassion is a lost art that we all should rediscover. How often might this be...well most kids will never have another child with that severe of an allergy in their classroom. My son doesn't need everyone to quit eating wheat...he knows what he can and can't eat and has an epi pen...that said we should be compassionate for those kids with severe beyond their control allergies. In 11 years of teaching I never had a student with allergies so severe that they couldn't be in the same room with it, but I know that it does exist. So if your child for one out of 13 years of public education is asked to go without peanut butter would that be the end of the world...no. They would probably applaud the change. I understand that many feel they have rights...don't we all. The first of the rights is to life...we must consider this the most important...so can we give these kids with severe allergies a break on the rights issues. They have a right to life. That supercedes inconvenience. The school is a public place open to all. They have as much of a right to go there as anyone else's child. So let's not have a knee jerk reaction and ban all peanut butter and lets not have a my rights hissy fit that is only focused on the rights of one who might be inconvenienced. Lets keep PB and other allergy foods as options in the school unless it is seriously dangerous to a child and lets show compassion when a child needs us to go out of our way so they can have their right to life honored.
Each child with a peanut allergy should wear an ALLERGY bracelet...and then.......arm each lunch aide and teacher with an EPIPEN.......
Your exact comment was "If you can't be cured, and are so deathly allergic, then you have no business being out and about in society, anyway." I shouldn't need to repost it since it is only one line up. I fail to see the 'responsibility' you are speaking of, other than, people should be responsible for not inconveniencing you. Thanks for calling me a TWIT, it makes you sound much more intelligent.
My kids don't have peanut allergies (though they do have celiac - another story), but I've seen kids react to peanut allergies and it's scary, even with an epi pen. Sorry, I don't see picky eaters fitting the same life or death category. Truly, how many children spend a week in intensive care because they can't eat what they want for lunch? At this point I don't advocate banning peanuts from schools. Some things that have worked in schools that have students with severe peanut allergies is making the cafeteria kitchen peanut free - no nuts in the banana bread, cookies, muffins, etc. That way if a kid with a peanut allergy goes through the lunch line, there's no danger of exposure to peanuts. Also in classrooms where a child may have a severe peanut allergy, children who bring their lunches from home (pb sandwiches, whatever) leave them in a tub outside the door. Then they wash/sanitize their hands when they get to the classroom. There can be a peanut-free table in the cafeteria, but non-allergic friends of the child with the peanut allergy can also sit there (as long as they're not eating peanut butter that day). These are all simple courtesies that aren't that difficult to put into practice. Yet if parents continue to adopt the my-child-should-be-able-to-eat-pb-no-matter-whose-life-is-on-the-line attitude, someone will get hurt, whether it's through bullying (mimicking the parents' bad attitude perhaps?) or even the death of someone who can't help having a serious peanut allergy. If something so tragic is to happen with any frequency, pb will be banned and rightly so.
this is ridiculous. I don't have kids but i use to be one, and if your kid has a allergy then that's your problem. You shouldn't stop others from eating PB or anything for that fact! i just learned that kids cant play tag, dodge ball or leap frog in my local elementary schools. All because of parents like these that take their childs problems to the next level. And if your worried about your kids weight, then step up and take away their PS3 or Xbox and put their ass on a bicycle or in soccer, AND QUIT CRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING!
To all the people saying peanuts are the only life threatening allergy or whatever, here's a newsflash- it's not.
I have a friend deathly allergic to chocolate. If she touches it, she gets a painful rash. If she accidentally eats it, it will inflame her throat so much she could suffocate and die right away. I remember two years ago, she touched a plate that had chocolate chip cookies on it and got a rash over both her hands. The rash became infected and she was in the hospital for the infection for a week.
I've never ONCE heard her ever suggest banning chocolate from anywhere. Telling a kid to stop eating peanut butter might make a few angry, but imagine having a school ban chocolate. That was not intolerance, that was a deadly allergy she had.
So, before you retort that "Oh, we won't be banning dairy/water/fruit/etc because those aren't deadly", kindly remember that allergies vary intensely by person. I'm willing to bet that you can find at least one person in this world who is deathly allergic to dairy.
Wow. Hot topic.
IT'S NOT A "PEANUT BUTTER BAN", IT'S A "PEANUT BAN"
No peanut butter, no cookies with peanut butter or peanut pieces, no chip or crackers made using peanut oil, no food made on equipment that processes peanuts.
Regardless of what peanut-parents say, that's not an exaggeration. (Logically, would you allow anyone peanut pieces if you were certain a peanut in the corner of the room would kill your child?) One peanut-parent tried to get our school to ban kids consuming peanut products immediately before coming to school.
Accomodation like a table is acceptable, maybe no PB&J sandwiches in grades k-3, but there must be a point that it stops. In fact, I'm against a ban for this very reason.
Common sense people!
That's ridiculous! Make a nut-free table or an allergy table or something and just ban sharing food! People are stupid. Like you can't come up with a better solution than banning peanut butter across the board? Use your problem solving skills that are SUPPOSED to separate us from apes!
Seriously, ban SHARING food? That's just a bit naive. You must not have kids. What do you think is going to happen when you tell kids to not share food and then send them off to lunch? They're going to share food.
Oh right Tim. Banning SHARING is naive, but banning Peanuts is not. Sorry your can't teach your retard of a child not to give his food to others or to eat food from others. Your child has a long life of failure ahead of him.
"DaveInTucson
....But the Democrats could have their way and ban peanuts in school. They ALWAYS overlegislate to protect the MINORITIES."
Unlike the Republicans that ALWAYS legislate to protect the RICH!
Personally I don't think banning anything will help, but that taking special precautions like a peanut free zone and having epi-pens on a case by case basis is indeed warranted. Both the child and the staff should be educated on the condition.
I do not have children, but I have encountered many different allergies with varying degrees. I have treated someone in anaphylactic shock before and it is an extremely serious thing. They can indeed die from it without rapid intervention. That said I find it ironic that some people are going to extremes in favor of the ban including saying that others people's issues are not as important or severe as theirs. Comments saying that you can't be allergic to this or that or mine can kill etc. It undermines your cause when you do that and makes you sound less credible rather than the mature adult I know you are. You get emotional because it can be scary and I sympathize with you I really do, but there are indeed allergies to things you wouldn't believe with the severity varying from individual to individual. To those saying you won't starve or no harm can come to a kid if they don't eat PB; the parents are stupid for coddling them etc read on. Two of my cousins both have genetic diseases that result in behavioral issues. They refuse to deviate from their select palates even with professional help called in in the form of doctors, nutritionists, psychiatrists, and special educators. It is like OCD and yes they would rather go without food than eat something else that you put in front of them. It is a disability just as much as the one you mentioned your family or friend has and I assure you not one of their choosing... who wins that fight? I say live and let live and reserve judgement on those around you until you have walked a mile in their shoes.
Very, very, well said.
'According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, as many as 1.5 million people suffer from a peanut allergy. Annually, about 100 people die from a reaction.'
Let's just do the math really quick, shall we?
Earth's population = 6,871,600,000
Percentage of people with Peanut Allergies = .0002%
Percentage of people who die Annually due to Peanut Allergies = 1.45526515 × 10(-8)%
Chance of winning the Powerball = 1 in 20,358,520 or 100 in 2,035,852,000
You have a better chance of winning the Powerball 3 times before dieing from a Peanut Allergy.
My child will eat Peanut Butter whenever he pleases, whether your kid is allergic or not. Call me what you will, but until you win the Powerball 3 times, I don't care about your child.
Good Points, but I think some of those numbers are completely useless in your argument.
Bravo. And your child will grow up to be a douchebag just like you. Poor kid, he was a loser from the day he was born.
Wow Tim, great argument. I'm sure you are up for the Father of the Year award. My kid is a very SMART kid who knows what is right and what is wrong. He knows that the stove is hot, and he shouldn't touch it. He is able to heed the warnings given to him. Teach your kids that eating Peanut Butter or Peanut products is bad, and HOPEFULLY they will know NOT TO EAT IT. Thats not my child's responsibility to ensure the safety of your nitwit child.
Hey JJ, my nitwit kid knew not to eat peanut products. He had an anaphylactic reaction to peanut butter by touching the underside of a table, which wasn't cleaned the night before. not by eating when he shouldn't have. Nice try though.
I don't doubt your kid's looking pretty smart to you. Can he do that really fancy math like you can?
Here's a solution, your child's school can fire the damn janitors that don't know how to CLEAN and get some competant people in there. That, again, is not my child's responsibility.
I understand. I also understand that people like myself must put in extra effort to take up the slack left by narcissists like you and ultimately your child.
Sorry, peanut butter does not release dust or particles from the peanut into the atmosphere. The oil and sugar syrups pretty much eliminate that hazard, so banning it is simply acceding to a very, very small minority of sensitive people. A child so sensitive to peanuts that being in the same room with peanut butter causes severe problems is going to be exposed no matter what – kids eat peanuts, peanut candy and peanut butter, get it on their clothes, and eventually contact kids with allergies. Shall we just simply ban peanuts completely? How about ragweed and pollen (for the allergic) and wheat flour (for the Crohn's disease people)and eggs and milk (for the lactose intolerant).
Sorry. I sympathize with parent of chidren with allergies. I grew up with a mother who took allergy shots for years. You simply need to deal with the problem in a way that does not impose your tiny minority problem and solution on the rest of the world. We do NOT owe that to you.
I find this amusing. I do not support gov't involvement with peanut butter especially if it satisfies a very very small minority. I know the risk of peanut allergies, here at my hospital there are people who come from all over for the clinical trial for peanuts. I think what people are missing is that restuarants should have the right to ban smoking they are a private institution. The gov't shouldn't intervene. I don't smoke and can't stand the smell of it. I do not go to bars if there is smoking, but I prefer customers stop going b/c of the smoke. This applies to peanut butter (and nuts in general) also. But schools for the most part are public and shouldn't be allowed to ban peanut butter. Kids are old enough at 5 to know what they should and shouldn't eat. If mom and dad did their job and explained to them the problem with eating something that can't eat b/c of getting sick.
Peanut allergies can be airborne, got it. But peanut butter isn't a powder and neither are whole nuts. Peanut butter stays on the bread it doesn't fly in the air. Kids should be taught what is right and wrong. I DO NOT want the gov't telling me what is good and bad. If I buy a Prius, it will not be b/c it is good for the environment. It will be b/c I save my MONEY on gas. But hybrids are not a good investment so I choose not to buy one. Instead I buy civics b/c I save on gas money. I am all for helping my neighbor when it makes sense. But peanut butter, come on, where does it stop.
As a young adult with food allergies, I think it's entirely bogus that you would restrict everyone else to what they can and cannot eat. I have severe food allergies to the point where I can't breathe if I'm in the same room as someone that's eating an apple. Does that mean that I don't allow anyone around me to eat an apple? No. I talk to my teachers and let them know that if I have a problem, I'm going to step out of the room. It's simple. Kids with food allergies aren't weak: parents just have to let them deal with their issues on their own. I'm severely allergic to all nuts and most fruits, and I've still managed to make it to 21 without telling my friends or classmates what they can and cannot eat.
To the one who believes peanut butter is bad. I have eaten the stuff for 8 or more meals per week for the last six months and I'm healthier than the vast majority of men my age with sub 10% body fat. Foods with unsaturated fats are energy foods that are perfect for kids. All natural peanut butter is all the better. Bottom line, kids don't get fat simply from eating wrong. They become obese because of the unrelenting phobia of getting off your tail and doing something. When I was small we played outside and ran and played. Kids with allergies have an obstacle to deal with. If we deal for them in any other way than rational encouragement it only compounds the growing number of young people in this country with absolutely no idea what it means to be a self improving and self sufficient American. People have got to man up and stop all the whining.
If they are going to ban peanut butter they better ban all the other things that make people ill. My neighbors daughter has Celiac and she can not be exposed to flour (gluten) in any form. That not includes ingesting it which she has control of but she can not be in a place where it would even be in the air. So, get real. Peanut butter?? No – it is not peanut dust in the air. It is contained in a jar.
Peanuts can cause an immediate fatal reaction in some children, even just breathing it in and I'd hate to be responsible for a little child's death because I was selfish and wanted to make a point. Peanuts should be banned from schools. If you want your child to eat peanut butter, give it to them on the weekends. It's really not that hard of a decision.
I don't really understand the attitude of those who would put other kids' lives in jeopardy just so their kid doesn't have to give up ONE food. Really, is your kid's "right" to have a peanut butter sandwich worth another kid's life? Is that what it's come to?
I think peanut free tables are usually sufficient to protect kids, but as we've seen, it will NOT protect against a bully who walks over to the peanut table and waves nuts at the allergic kids. These kids need to understand that their action can be DEADLY and that knowingly exposing a peanut allergic child to nuts will be DEALT WITH no differently than if the child had waved a knife or other weapon. And parents need to understand that their children will be treated as such, with the added potential of CIVIL liability for injury caused by their children's aggression.
Peanut allergies are a DISABILITY that is becoming increasingly common in society, and experience with ADA has shown that only hard LEGAL protection will result in action to assist this significant minority. For example, disabled parking would never work if there weren't STIFF PENALTIES for parking in a disabled parking space. Similarly, for schools, tough liability laws need to be passed, and schools need to inform both children AND their parents of the potential LIABILITY they will be subjected to if their kids intentionally expose allergic kids. Unfortunately, only then will the ridiculous "peanut butter is my right" faction be swayed to respect the needs of others.
Note, this is not about accidental exposure - even with diligence, mistakes will happen, and I'm not suggesting that people should be punished for an accidental exposure. But for intentional acts, there needs to be a deterrent for the kind of life-threatening bullying that is becoming all too common in schools
But the reality of it is that it is not really one food. It is peanuts in all their incarnations. Sure it is the good ole' PB&J, but it is also any cookie that has peanuts in it. A favorite granola bar in our home is chock full of peanuts. Or frequently, I will pack a snack bag full of trail mix, which has peanuts because it is a good, healthful, protien rich snack. Reeses pieces for an after lunch treat, nope can't have that anymore. There are tons of examples I can give of foods contining peanuts that would fall under a ban. And that is one of my issues with such a ban. I am not insensitive to the issue. We have severe allergies to certain substances in our family, but I just don't think something like this is fair to the majority.
Yes Mike... it is my kids "right" to have whatever the hell he wants to eat. He is a citizen just as you are. We have freedoms in this country and I am sick of control freaks like you that want to dictate what others eat... just because your kids health issue. Have them sit in a special peanut free room during lunch.... go and sit with him daily so no other kid can smush a PB sandwich in his face...
I have an allergy to fish. Tuna, salmon (lox) and similar types of fish. I made it through school and i was not given my own table or anything special. i probably sat next to kids eating tuna at lunch regularly, but here I am. My concern as an adult though is going to places such as Subway where there might be cross contamination. knife in the wrong bin. A bit of tuna falling in another container. I just avoid them when and if I can.
Are you required by law to go to Subway? My child is required by law to attend school.
My son does not eat meat. Peanut butter (natural) is one of the only protien rich foods that the eats. I do not tell anyone else what to eat or how to keep thier kids healthy, so please do not tell me what to feed my child. Someone needs to do a study on why this issue has come about recently. It seems that it is a recent development or maybe parents have become too dramatic, not sure.
It's not just schools. There's a Peanut Allergy kid in one of my kid's classes. Invite the kid to a birthday party and the entire party has to be peanut free. Special expensive bakery cake from a peanut free bakery, all the food has to be peanut free etc. My kids' school has a policy that every kid has to be invited to a classmate's birthday party so you have to invite the peanut allergy kid and his overly pushy mother. It's crazy. I bet the kid doesn't even really have allergy, his mother just gets off telling people what to do.
This of course ridiculous. Again, using our son with the milk protein allergy, we bring him his own dessert to parties just in case he can't eat whatever is being provided. If we are good friends with the family and they are familiar they might offer an alternative to the pizza or whatever, but we would never request it. We would buy something on our own and provide it for him.
This crazy peanut allergy mother insists her kid could go into anaphylactic shock if exposed to the breath of a kid who ate cake from a bakery that uses peanuts even if there are no peanuts in the cake. Nothing at the parties can have peanuts in it or not have packaging saying the food was made in a peanut free facility. Thankfully the school policy ends at 2nd grade, but until then, many parents in the class don't invite any kids in the class just to avoid "The Crazy Peanut Allergy Mom".
I swear much of this is helicopter parenting gone to extreme. It's about controling all the parents around you. This crazy mother isn't just into the whole no-peanut thing, but kids shouldn't have artificial coloring in their food, everything should be organic. She wants to tell everyone what to feed their kid, and she's got many of the parents competely freaked out that if they ever feed their young kids peanuts, they'll develop deadly peanut allergies.
'the school has a policy where you have to invite all classmates to a birthday party'
What happens if you dont... What if your child doesnt like one of the other kids... you have to invite them anyway?
I would do it just to annoy the powers that be. This is the most absurd things I have ever heard. A liberal must have come up with this ... cant hurt anyones feelings now... JUST SAY NO to this crap. People.. your freedoms are being eroded daily by these control freaks!
Perhaps this could be an age based decision? I understand wanting to ban PB from daycare and possibly kindergarten, but when a child is older, he/she and parents need to accept the responsibility and.
Ignorance and intolerance are a scary combination. I almost hope some of these insensitive people posting eventually have a child or loved one with a life threatening condition that is misunderstood and trivialized.
It seems to me that the problem is that any contact with peanuts causes a reaction in senstive kids and adults. However, kids touch each other all the time. Banning peanut products from the school lunchroom will not solve the problem since a kid with peanut butter residue on his hands can - and most likely will - touch a peanut-sensitive kid. Furthermore, it is simply impossible to monitor. Parent's of peanut-sensitive kids must train their kids to be aware of the potential for contact and how to avoid it. And, what to do if the kid does get exposed.
MY CHILD IS ALLERGIC TO BREAD. BREAD SHOULD BE BANNED FROM SCHOOLS!
My child is allergic to artificial colors and flavors. It makes him climb the walls and get some what violent. Should we ban artificial colors and flavors or should we find a suitable way to work around the allergies. I send his lunch with him. Which by his choice is usually a PB and J sandwich. I find a work around that works for my son. If necessary the school should find a separate table or even a separate room for kids with peanut allergies to eat lunch. I have enough trouble as it is finding suitable lunch material that my child will eat as it is.
I must have missed something. Have peanut allergies suddenly become more common and severe than ever before ?
Or have attitudes changed where your problems became everyone's problem?
I would venture to guess that the people who are pro-peanut butter ban are either one of the parents of the few kids in the school with allergy or have never parented a picky child. Sorry to the first and thank your lucky stars to the second.
Im sure mine isn’t the only child who for years during elementary school ate only 5 foods, peanut butter being the most nutritious. Sure we tried putting other things in his lunch – he came home starving and we soon discovered he had been tossing his lunch for days at a time.
There is no middle ground. Your kids, your problems, if they have allergies make arrangements for your child. I have been a teacher in the past and have seen the hyper vigilant parents helicoptering around, thinking their concerns were of the highest priority. Over half the time the "whatever" that was so important was a figment of their imagination.
My instructions to a parent with these concerns then and now are, "Have them checked by a doctor, bring the diagnosis and two epi-pens to the school, one for the teacher one for the school nurse. We will be as vigilant as humanly possible and still do our job which is to teach and care for 24 other students and your child. Be sure we have all your contact information and emergency numbers. Please try to stop making your child any more neurotic than they already are, many children out grow these allergies.
No matter what arrangements you make with the school believing that your needs out weigh the needs of others is a symptom of the greater problem. The fact of the allergies can be dealt with in a reasonable manner.
I think the school can make reasonable accommodations. At my sons school they have numbers they use to purchase their lunch. This can be used to raise a red flag if they put in the system what child is allergic to what and than if they try to purchase that item they would be prevented from doing so.
This of course is reasonable. Schools should definitely have a record of allergies for kids and make sure they aren't ingesting them directly.
Some peanut allergies are sensitive to just a few ppm of peanut in the air. An optional peanut free lunch room should be provided or conversely, a room provided for those who want peanuts.
For some of us it is not a matter of nutrition or even whether or not the child next to my son has an allergy....it is economics. Some of us fall into that category where we do not qualify for reduced or free lunches so we save where we can......this usually means the WHOLE family has to brown bag it. This also means packing a dollar stretching lunch and pb&j goes a long way. Recently a parent informed me I was attempting to "kill" her child by packing pb. At which point MY child was sent to the office to eat lunch ALONE. He already has sacrificed certain luxuryies because of a situation he has no control over – now he is being sent to the office thinking he has done something wrong. Not sure what the answer is but I dont want my son or anybody elses child to fell ostracized because of a small percentage of children that suffer from an allergy and the fact that I as a parent can't afford anything different.
So, parents of peanut allergies, once there is a ban are you going to tell your kid, "Kid, no more having to think twice about what you eat at school. Please feel free to lick every doorhandle, table, or anything else you want. And at lunch time I encourage you to stick you face in every other kids lunch box and breath as deep as you can, because there can't possibly be the slightest trace of peanut product anywhere in your new peanut-free haven."
Does that sound a little extreme? Now you know how a total peanut ban sounds to normal people. You and your child would still have to take all the same precautions you do now, only everyone else would be deprived of one of the most staple of foods found in school lunches. There's no point to it.
Hell, kids don’t even have outdoor recess anymore to burn off that extra energy they get from those PB&J sandwiches… which is something that would benefit all of these fat assed little snots… now you want to take away the PB… next we’ll find out that these kids cannot go into the gym because it doubles as the lunchroom and PB&J sandwiches were served for lunch…
According to the CSDC, which tracks all causes of deaths in the United States, 11 people (adults and kids combined) on average per year since 2000 die from ALL food related allergies. That's less than the number that die from lawnmower related accidents. So, this claim of allergy related deaths, perhaps seems to be being blown out of proportion.
My son has an allergy to a milk protein called casein and may also go into anaphylactic shock and have his throat swell shut. When he was young, we had to rush him to the hospital because of just such an encounter. However, we have never required his school to be milk free or for no one to bring milk to school. He has the same issue, if he is kissed by someone with milk on their lips, he will have a reaction. We would never consider requesting PUBLIC schools to adhere to such rules.
Why not ban wheat, onions, pepper, and pretty much every other food there is since someone is alergic to it.
I think the conversation is about peanuts since each year (per FAAN), 92% of all anaphylactic deaths are from peanuts. That includes all food allergies and allergies to bee stings, etc.
The UK has 13 million children under the age of 16. In the last 10 years, 4 have died from milk allergy, and NONE from peanut allergy.
Yet here we have see these hysterics, brought to you by people who fraudulently claim their child has a life-threatening peanut allergy. And I'll bet 99% of them have never even tried immunotherapy.
reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1719140/
Hey, wow! My seven year old has a severe peanut allergy. We've been waiting with baited breath for the immunotherapy you're talking about. Please send a link. I assume this information will say that 100% of children with peanut allergies will benefit from this immunotherapy. You seem to want us to think you're a smart person. Put your money where your mouth is.
If your child really does have such a severe allergy, then he should probably be removed from you care, since you waited to ask ME, instead of your doctor, or even just Googling it. Talk about negligent parenting!
The therapy was developed at National Jewish in Denver, almost 2 decades ago. It involves, in the first treatment, of giving an initial dose of 0.1mg of peanut protein by mouth. Observation, followed by increased dosages every half hour or so, until by the end of the day the child is tolerating 50mg – or approx the amount they would get from one peanut. The child is observed throughout this time by a nurse, who also provides activities to relieve boredom. At the end of the day, the child is sent home, with a bottle of pills containing 50 mg each, to take twice a day for a week. The second treatment brings them up to 300 mg, or about what they would receive in a Snickers bar. After that they can just raise it up themselves, starting with a tbsp of peanut butter, until they can tolerate an entire PB sandwich.
It is YOUR kid, why the hell aren't YOU finding this stuff out?!?! Some parents SICKEN me with their negligence!
But I asked for a link. It's pretty easy for you to accuse me of being a bad parent while you're spouting a bunch of technical data you don't really have a handle on. What capacity confers you with the authority to tell me to use this therapy on my kid when there are many, many people in the medical field who actually give a crap about childhood food allergies telling my wife and I that the therapy that would benefit my kid is still several years off?
So again, I would LOVE to see the literature that tells me I can do this with my kid. All sarcasm aside, I would thank you to the ends of the earth if you show me where it is and it turns out it's efficacious.
Just Google: oral desensitization immunotherapy
And get yourself a different immunologist, as the one you have is apparently a quack.
My response to all of you "slippery slope" folks who are afraid that if we adapt to this, oh no!! What's next??? The world adapts to the blind. And to the deaf. And to the developmentally disabled. And to the physically disabled. And to the poor. And to the sick. And to the vulnerable. And to unequal gender (see sexual harrassment). And to pregnant women. And to women who have recently had babies. And to the unemployed. And to the sick, both temporary and chronic.
Adaptation is why this country is so awesome. Look around you. Open your mind. If you don't like the idea of inconveniencing yourself a little bit for the sake of someone who might die for your convenience, think about what it COULD be like for you an hour from now, a day from now. When you're suddenly really sick, or laid off, or recovering from a traumatic accident. I would adapt for you. I do adapt for you.
Ok, I'm sorry, but what about when that kid grows up and they end up working in an office with people who love to bring in peanut butter sandwiches, or peanut butter cookies or anything else that can be made with peanuts or any other nuts?? They will have to learn to speak up for themselves at some point. Now, I will be teaching my son to be a bit more sensitive about a person's allergy should the case come up. My friend has a peanut allergy, and we just pay extra attention to what we make and serve at parties or get-togethers. All she did was bring it to my attention and I understood, and this is what we need to teach our children. Not ban it completely. Use this as a teaching tool for everyone involved.
Yeah, my parents raised me with that old-school mentality. Especially my Dad. He couldn't understand why I couldn't just figure it all out. Lots of adults unfortunately make the mistake of thinking that a kid should just be able to work things out like an adult does.
The problem with that is this: A six year old CANNOT learn how to be an adult. My six year old can't learn how to be careful when he's at the office. You know why? He doesn't have a job yet. He's six. It's not his job, nor is it within the realm of his capability, to "learn to speak up for" himself. Yes, we're doing our best as his parents to help him learn to do that. But he's not doing it yet - because he CAN'T. He's SIX. He also can't drive a car. But by your logic, well hell, he's going to be driving a car some day so why not teach him now?
I didn't say that they need to learn how to be adults at a young age, but that they should be taught starting from a young age consideration for another person's well-being. That's what is lacking with most adults today. If they can't learn it, then maybe peanut butter should be banned until they learn. Again, this needs to be used as a teaching tool for everyone involved (parents, teachers, students).
Generally speaking, peanut butter is crap and is full of sugar. Can't believe how parent buy this stuff and feed it to their kids. Better to eat almond or cashew butter, *without* the sugar.
Thanks for your 'expert' opinion Beth... My... how judgemental you are... just because you do not like peanut butter... or think it is unhealthy... You can keep your almond butter or other crap.. I think it is disgusting. You really sound like another elitist trying to dictate to everyone else what we 'should like' and 'should eat'. PLEASE... go sit in the corner and eat your edamme
Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a bigger threat than peanut butter. It's a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. I'ts abundant in schools nationwide. Each year, Dihydrogen Monoxide is a known causative component in many thousands of deaths and is a major contributor to millions upon millions of dollars in damage to property and the environment.
THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
What if you have a child that eats ONLY peanut butter? What then? I have one that eats only Ramen noodles and Jasmine rice....it happens
I think that people need to realize that the current situation for children is vastly different from the eras that they and I came from. Older generations grew up on peanut butter and want to impose their own experiences to their children. However, it is NOT the same world and for reasons speculated but not known, there are children that could DIE because of peanut exposure. It is really hard to imagine people so callous as to advocate for "survival of the fittest" mentality here. I would bet that if their own child or grandchild suffered from this they wouldn't be spouting such vitriol! And really...how hard would it be to have a school sans peanut butter? Now, if you packed your child a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, I don't think you should be stopped, providing a peanut free table for allergic kids should do it. Kids should wash their hands frequently as taught in most school environments.
Are people really this ignorant?
Peanut allergies are life threatening, not strictly through digestion. It is also an airborne allergy and can kill by being near someone who has eaten peanuts.
People who insist upon threatening to kill someone with a severe nut allergy, should be held crimally negligent.
In the schools, there seems to be a Malicious Intent to cause bodily harm to a minor.
I encourage those willing to entertain the thought: read up on the "hygiene hypothesis"
Why do 'more' kids in the US have peanut allergies in 2010?
*** First off, this is simply because there are MORE children around in the US in 2010.
*** According to the hygiene hypothesis, children over-protected from immune-stimulating infections as infants and young children have a higher risk of developing hypersensitivity to otherwise inocuous substances... such as foods, minerals, dyes, etc that do not really affect the vast majority of others.
*** In summary, your immune system NEEDS something to work against in early development and even on through the adult years. If this system is spared the normal load of infections (let your kids play on the floor and in the dirt outside !for crying out loud!) and other exposures, what ends up stimulating immune responses are the 'other' less stimulating but common potential immunogenic compounds in foods and other substances given to the body.
As far as this goes, I say it's up to the parents of the sensitized child. They should have already told the kid what to avoid in terms of their anaphylactic reactions, much less the kid probably already knows what one of those reactions feels like. You hear HORROR stories about 'airborne food particles' and the like, but these are the absolute rarest form of anaphylactic triggers. If one kid died of a peanut allergy due to airborne exposure at the school cafeteria, I would chock that up to sheer bad luck rather than the school's fault for allowing peanuts to be present. These kids are ALREADY bringing their own lunches to school! This isn't an infectious disease that could be spread to many kids and potentially kill large numbers of people from a single source and subsequent transmission, this is a 1 in 5 million chance of somebody have a severe reaction to peanuts... Somebody who ALREADY knows they have this allergy, anaphylactic or urticaric type, and whose parents should have already been well instructed and informed on how to minimize exposure and handle any emergency event. It's on the parents.
Finally, a voice of reason. Those are great, valid points. I have a nephew with a severe peanut allergy. He is home schooled, but goes to football practice, church, the grocery store etc. You just have to be as vigilant as possible, but you can't wrap them in bubble wrap. The world will go on and we all need to adjust accordingly.
how about instead of making the school deal with all of this extra baggage, have it deal with its main focus: actually teaching children. Some schools already cannot figure how to make their students smarter or how to make them study more, how can you expect them to deal with what some extra problem when they cannot solve their main one. A suggestion: How about two sessions in a school day, split up by lunch, in which student go home, eat whatever they want, and then come back for the second session. Students would be more focused and productive.
Something important that I feel people are overlooking is the fact that peanut allergies can go airborne in children without notice. A peanut allergic child can walk into a room with a peanut butter sandwich and go into anaphylaxis without notice. We are raising a generation of self-centered people. If we can't sacrifice our daily peanut butter to keep our neighbor alive and healthy there is something seriously wrong with us as people.
Most children with severe allergies carry an EpiPen as a life saving measure. What most people don't realize is that the EpiPen buys the child maybe 20 minutes of time to get medical attention, it is not a cure.
Let's do more "do unto others as we would have done to ourselves" as a society and see how that goes.
Not to be harsh, but the ridiculous rarity of airborne anaphylaxis does not mean people should ban a food from being brought to school. Every single kid in school is thousands of times more likely to be killed by a complicated infectious disease, die by trauma, or be diagnosed with cancer than die from anaphylaxis due to peanuts.
Nicely said.
This goes for any allergy, not just peanuts. I am allergic to dust, pollen, animals, and a host of other environmental allergies that are airborne, but I don't live in a bubble, though my mother was told I should. I had a friend growing up who was allergic to citrus. So much so that if someone across the room peeeled an orange, her whole face would swell up. The remedy? Benadryl and fresh air. No one banned oranges just for her sake.
We should ban peanut butter because most of your kids eat too much in the first place, and it's an easy way to cut down calories since so many people just gobble that stuff up. Chunky Peanut Butter? We don't have to personify it.
And accommodating other children's potentially fatal food allergies is about being a considerate person. So, if you're an asshole, it might be a problem trying to be thoughtful of those around you.
I didn't realize what a hot topic of debate this is. TONS of comments. I actually just found out last week that my 16 month old is allergic to peanuts. I have 2 older kids, both of which eat pb sandwiches and one who takes a pb sandwich for lunch 3 times a week to 1st grade. As I've been thinking a lot about my daughter's allergy, I have realized that it doesn't matter what anyone does, it only matters what I do. Nobody loves my daughter as much as my husband and I do. Therefore it is my responsibility to teach her that she can't have anything unless I give it to her. I have to constantly out loud and in front of her (as she gets older obviously) read labels and make her very aware of the effects of her allergy. Now, the allergist has not said anything for me to think that my daughter is so highly allergic that the mere presence of peanuts will cause her to go into anaphylactic shock. However, if that were the case, then I would need to decide if the risk was worth sending my child to school. I am already well aware that the chances of keeping my child completely away from peanuts are slim. I won't be with her every day and night for her life. I personally do not think that having peanuts banned from school is the answer, although I think it is great for there to be precautions taken since food allergies are becoming more and more common, and it is a matter of safety. The point is that the parents are the ones that have to take the measure to protect their child. Even if a school is deemed "peanut free", a kid could sneak a snickers bar.
About 100 Americans die from peanut allergies each year. In contrast, about 10,000 children are hospitalized annually with traumatic brain injuries from sports, 2,000 children drown each year, and about 1,300 die in gun accidents. Are peanut allergies really something that we should be paying that much attention to? Ironically, the media hype around peanut allergies has caused some parents to not give thier young children foods with peanuts in them, which has partially fueled the rise in peanut allergies since early exoousure to peanuts is key to developing an immunity to allergies.
both my kids have peanut allergies, yet we always have peanut butter at home. My kids (8 & 6) are well aware of their allergies and know not to touch any food item that has not been packed by their parents or has been verified to be peanut free by a responsible adult. I don't think a school should ban peanuts. Some parents are shocked that we allow peanuts in the house – but life must go on and kids must learn to be aware of their allergies.
People are so coincided and we wonder why children in our country are becoming teen mothers/fathers, ending up in prison, or living off welfare. There is no caring anymore, no understanding. Personally, my 5 year old is allergic is severely allergic to peanuts, to the point that anything containing peanuts are not allowed in his classroom because he could die. Sitting at another table or another area of the room is not an option. He also has other severe allergies so he does not eat the snacks brought by the other parents, we provide them for him. He also does not eat school lunch, but we worry every day that he will come into contact with peanut butter during lunch. I understand that many feel a need to defend their children and their rights, but a child should not have to die to prove a point. If a friend of your child's or a friend of yours child died due to a severe peanut butter reaction, would it change your opinion. I'm sure it would, but for a lot of people it would take something impacting them directly for them to understand the seriousness of this issue.
I went to a state-run workshop yesterday and was a bit irked by the sign at the front check-in desk telling all and sundry to not wear perfume to the class. I thought, "Who are they to tell me what to wear. Harumph." Then, when sitting in the class, I started smelling something kind of sickeningly-sweet - some kind of perfume or lotion. It was NASTY to me and within about five minutes I started getting a serious headache from it.
I'm still laughing about my "instant karma". I've only had this kind of strong, negative reaction to a perfume once before (twenty years ago) and I'd forgotten all about it. Now I was getting an instant lesson in compassion for those who are chemically sensitive in general.
Thank goodness I am neither chemically sensitive in general nor allergic to peanuts or other common foods - but if I were, I'd appreciate all the help I could get in avoiding these irritants. If children can be protected from peanut-wielding bullies, fine. If not, then banning extreme allergens makes sense to me. They can have PB&J for dinner instead.
Eventually we will reach a point where because we cater to every single allergy, affliction, ethnic/minority/religious/racial/special interest group, we will not be able to do anything but stand in a darkened room for fear of offending someone, risking their lives, or violating their civil rights. When does it stop? It's not and can't be a perfect world for everyone. The needs, wants, and desires of the many outweigh those of the few.
Someone mentioned Darwinism, and I agree. The world cannot to adapt to a few people. The few people must adapt to the world.
This is another example of Big Food corporate America trying to steer us one step closer to whatever product or products they want us to be eating. Students could easily be accommodated with a separate table and a stern reminder to other students to carefully clean up their peanut butter lunch with a wipe of a paper towel or wipe. I know for a fact that my children, neither allergic to pb, have been scared to death by the prospect of a child's trachea sealing closed and their dying from touching anything with peanuts. Besides the idea that we are now telling our kids that they should keep this kind of food at home due to the danger it poses to others, is it really a good to provide yet one more factor to increase their anxiety of the world around them and strangers?
Making rules for everyone based on the exceptions in society is an extremely important message for children...it is empathy and it teaches how to be mindful of others. At what cost, however, when there continues to be exception after exception that only makes a child's job of caring for others stressful rather than an extension of their innate kindness?
This is ridiculous, what it comes down to is RESPONSIBILITY. Nobody wants to be responsible anymore. My friends son is deathly allergist to nuts and what has she done, she has taught him that he does not eat anything that she has not given him the go ahead to eat and wow how crazy is this he follows those rules. While I think the attitude of I don't care about your kid and all that is terrible and definitely shows a major part of what is wrong with our society, the fact that parents no longer take responsibility is the biggest problem.
The country was founded on tolerance but that is no longer the way it is. Now it's I don't want your religion at my school I don't want your bad ideas and ways to intrude on my child's bubble. No competing someones feelings might get hurt. No parents want to teach their children right and wrong and what to do.
Okay so you ban peanut butter but where does that stop there is always going to be someone who can't be around something. Sure we all want the safest environment for our kids but if we don't teach them to not jump out in front of a car then how would they know not to do that. Do you not let your kid go to visit any friends, how do you know they don't have the allergen at their house? Now if a kid is going to torment or chase a kid with a PB sandwich then there is another parents screw up, that kid should be kicked out of the school. Maybe instead of coddling and making exceptions for everything under the sun try making kids responsible for their actions and teaching them what actions have consequences.
As the parent of a 4 year old with a level 4 peanut allergy, I think this is a silly argument. Peanut butter is a staple in American homes, mine included. I have 3 younger children, all of whom eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When they have their PB&Js, my allergic daughter has a simple jelly sandwich and they all enjoy their lunch. To ask schools to remove peanut butter all together is not only ridiculous, it's not fair. This argument comes down to the same bottom line as all the other societial issues regarding children as of late: lack of parenting and responsibility. My daughter knows she has an allergy, knows where her EpiPen is, and knows she can't have peanut butter. How much more simple is it than that? I have never in my life seen a glob of peanut butter "roguely" fly off a sandwich and onto another child so accusing other parents that thier children might be so harsh as to fling peanut butter around is assinine. If they were flinging peanut butter I would hope any competent parent would discourage such behavior, but who knows these days. I think the best in-school remedy is to teach and encourage awareness and responsibility, and to keep the teachers aware in the lunch rooms as to what the kids are doing. I hate the thought of my daughter being forced to sit at a table with a bunch of kids she doesn't like just because of her allergy, but if that is the best solution, and the solution set forth by my school, then I will make sure she understands and adheres to that rule. I don't really know why this is such a huge deal. Teach your kid about his allergy, and make sure they understand the ramifications, and make sure they're responsible. No one's going to hold him down and stuff a peanut butter cookie in his mouth. Take responsibility for your own children, and make them responsible for their allergy. I mean, after all... I have a milk allergy and somehow survived 12 years of public schools wihthout a "milk free" table. Maybe that's the solution? Make kids sit in food groups? Again, it all seems very silly to me.
If only more parents were like you! I don't discount the seriousness of food allergies. A boy I work with is severely allergic to peanuts. But his mother has created such an atmosphere at his school that another mother asked me if it was okay to send her son to school with bread that had whole rye seeds in it! It's going to far!
Additionally, strawberries are a very common allergy. And guess what? Strawberry is possibly the most common flavor of jams and jellies! I guess we'll need several special tables, one for kids who are allergic to peanuts, one for kids who are allergic to strawberries, and one for the kids who are unfortunate enough to be allergic to both.
And woe betide the poor child who is allergic to strawberries and is also lactose intolerant. They'll need to build him a whole new lunchroom just so he doesn't come into contact with strawberry milk.
I developed a shellfish allergy in my 20s. It does cause anaphylaxis and can be scary. I don't think it's reasonable to expect the world to change because I am allergic. I pity the folks who are allergic to peanuts, milk, wheat, and other foods that are consumed around the world. Hopefully, there are a variety of foods available and the parents can educate their kids and provide acceptable lunches. I'll take a PB&J, but hold the shrimp.
Banning peanut butter from the school because a few kids are allergic? You have to be kidding me. I sympathize with parents of children who have serious reactions to the stuff, but face it - if you're kid has any kind of severe physical condition they are the ones who have to deal with it, not everyone else's kid (Sorry, Billy's anemic - no more gym for the whole class!). For the parents of kids with milder allergies - get over it. Your kid should know not to eat/touch the stuff, and a little exposure might just desensitize him/her (yes, this is a way allergies are cured).
That being said, a peanut-free table seems like a fair compromise. Just remember, you're going to also get the kids who are allergic to almonds, or gluten, or whatever else requiring the same treatment, so its going to be a grand hypo-allergenic meal for every one of those kids every day.
I work with a child who has a peanut allergy. I know he could potentially die if he eats a peanut. That said, I have found no evidence that someone eating something with peanuts in his general vicinity will kill him. He's old enough to know he can't eat peanuts, and so he doesn't share his classmates food. But not only are peanuts and sesame banned in his entire school, ALL nuts and nut butters are banned in his classroom. So his classmates (some of whom are vegetarian) can't even bring an almond butter sandwich to school just in case there is a trace of peanut in the almond butter and that some how gets into his body. His mother even managed to get a local ice cream shop to not carry peanut butter ice cream, even though he only gets ice cream there maybe 10 times a year.
I do think it does him no good in the long run to develop the idea that his world needs to change to suit his needs. That's not how the world works.
As far the inane comments about peanut butter in the comments, natural peanut butter is one of the best things you can eat. I have not bought or eaten skippy or jiffy or anything with transfat and that much extra sugar as an adult. But natural peanut butter on whole grain bread is a great source of HEALTHY fat and protein.
we should feed the allergic kids to the non-allergic kids
LOL... rollling on floor laughing.... GOOD ONE!
I am a mother with a 5 yr old daughter who is allergic to ALL fruit (1 exception blue berries), eggs and lavender; my husband is allergic to melons, bananas and eggs; my nephew has a peanut allergy and I am allergic to lemons. So my family is no stranger to food allergies. Do we let this rule our lives? NO! Do we except not to have a fruit tray at parties, watermelon at a summer picnic, peanut butter pie on holidays and no one allowed to have a lemon in their tea? NO! We just don't eat what we are allergic to and carry epi-pens just in case the unthinkable happens. Some would say that I must have never experienced a severe allergy reaction then. Your wrong. My daughter can't be in the same room with a lavender candle without getting hives head to toe, my husband can't be in the same room with a fresh cut melon without experiencing swelling of the tongue and throat. We take precautions in our home and when we are out. When my daughter started school I spoke with her teacher about making sure there was no lavender products in the room. I understand some people have more severe symptoms than this, but the world doesn't revolve around you. You have to find a way to become a functional human being in the world. Does it make me nervous that my daughter will want some of the juice every other child in her class is drinking or really want a frozen juice pop that all the other kids are enjoying on the play ground. Yes, yes it does. However, I have taught her what she can and can't have, she knows how to use her epi-pen and she knows if she starts itching or having a hard time breathing to tell a teacher. It is up to you as a parent to teach your child what to do if they start experiencing an allergic reaction. It is also up to you to make sure that proper precautions are taken with your child's allergies. Pack their lunch, if you are afraid that they will eat something that they are not supposed to ask for a separate eating space for YOUR child.
I know how scary food allergies are, but I also don't let them rule our lives.
A child in my daughters class has a severe peanut allergy and her school has adopted a careful graduated policy that changes as the child ages. In Kindergarten, no nut (or "may be processed in a facility that also processes nuts") products were allowed in lunches or snacks. This year, in first grade, nuts are allowed in lunches, but a nut free table is provided for the student. Most students bring nut free lunches most of the time so that they can sit with the affected student. This policy protects the student when she is too young to protect herself, but allows her to take more responsibility for her safety as she matures. It seems like the most practical of all of the proposals that the school considered- it acknowledges the danger but also teaches the student that she needs to be aware of her surroundings.
Survival of the fittest? STFU.
Okay, does your kid have glasses/contacts, hearing issues, diabetes and countless other issues that modern science solves??? Fine, consider them dead.
This isn't a primitive society, people!!!
I happened to be eating peanuts at my office desk as I was reading this article. As I read through it, I realized that after I ate a handful of peanuts, I would brush my hand off on my pants or shirt. I do this unconsciously with most foods that I eat with my hands. I'm going out on a limb here and guess that I'm not the only one who does this. The fact of the matter is that there will ALWAYS be peanut protein in the environment. If you are so allergic to something that you can have a life threatening reaction after brushing up against my shirt – I can honestly say that I'm sorry. I hope it never happens – but I guarantee that I can not stop brushing off my hands on my clothes. Likewise my children may escape the house with less than clean clothing on.this mornings peanut butter bagel or apples may very well be smeared on my daughters pants or shirt. Not because we are trying to kill you or your kids, but because that's what kids do.
feed the kids sushi instead of peanuts
Ban children. Ban Schools. Ban school lunch time. Come on people! Jump all over the ban wagon. Ban everything.
If your precious has a problem it's YOUR responsibility not anybody else's. Don't expect everyone else to bow down to you. It's pathetic that when 1 child has a peanut allergy those parents expect 2600 other family's to go out of their way to protect that one. Uh, no. Get off your butt and teach your kid about their allergy. Don't rely on the school.
How many kids in these schools cann't tolerate peanut products.
I mean I understand completely that they are allergic. But don't they know this and know that they have to stay away from them. Making hundreds of students stay away from somthing they want an like is unfair also.
Kids that are allergic should not have to suffer because of them but then neither should the other students.
I mean its common sense.
what a stupid subject
It is ridiculous to ask a school to accomodate for every alergy or special need of the population today. We have to stop putting responsibilities on the education system to parent our children. If your child has an alergy and it could be life threatening, how can you ask an entire school system of atleast 400 students plus faculty and staff to change. The real story behind this article are American parents who lack the nerve to actually parent.
well said!
It would help if the schools do educate the student and parent population of the presence of the food allergies in their midst. It always help to raise awareness. In my son's school, they don't ban peanut butter, however, they have asked birthday treats to be non food – which really helps.
Peanut Butter Jihad!
I wonder if they're allergic to "deeze nutz"...
This reminds me of a time when I was in first grade and a kid offered me a chocolate bar with almonds in it. At the time I had no idea I was allergic to almonds. I ate some of it and started to feel sick when I was in the playground. I told the monitor and she said "Don't bug me with that I am not a doctor". She didn't even want to send me to the nurse. I felt like crap all afternoon and hard trouble breathing... Well I think it is a good idea to ban peanut butter. Otherwise make sure your school staff are not a bunch of ignorant people.
I find it amazing how the parents of allergic children are in many cases here demanding that the world change to accommodate them. Funny how the bee allergy people don't demand we eliminate bees, wasps and spiders. I had a friend many years ago that had a very serious peanut allergy, but somehow this young man managed to survive school in a very PB&J intensive America. This gentleman now only survived in the American school system, but managed to live and eat in Hong Kong, a place where peanut oil is used everywhere. Unfortunately, America has become a place where the "disadvanted" demand equality and conformity from the masses. Next, milk will be banned, sports, we'll spray for bees. Anything to protect YOUR special child. Some people on this post are demanding an public banning of peanut products, even though your child is far more likely to die on the car ride to a baseball stadium or restaurant than from a food allergy.
Banning something is a foolish response, because bans never solve the problem. Th problem is an allergy likely the result of environmental factors that can be corrected, studies have shown that gradual introduction of allergens to the body helps develop appropriate immune system response. Parents compund the problem by treating their children like lepers where they must be shielded from sight to avoid contamination. A little contamination is a good thing–it builds appropriate immune system response.
The problem is that if you give one "disadvantaged" group preferential treatment, everyone else with an allergy will expect the same. Banning peanut butter is merely the opening salvo of the Nutrition Gestapo. Pretty soon, every soccer mom whose child is allergic to wheat will demand that glutenous bread products also be banned. Then come the advocates for lactose intolerance. It's not fair that the school serves only 2% milk! Everyone should be expected to drink soy milk from now on! But that won't work either! Soy is one of the "big eight", most common food allergies. So are eggs, seafood, vegetables and fruits. Basically, for everything that we know and accept as being a staple of nutrition, a small sector of the population is allergic to it, potentially mortally. We can't up and eliminate peanuts, eggs, milk, soy, glutenous starches, fish, fruits and berries from the school lunchroom menu. They'd be having celery and a glass of water each day. This wouldn't even be an issue if we'd just assume responsibility for our own children and educate them on what foods most commonly contain the things they're allergic to. Instead, we shift the blame onto the schools, expecting them to gerrymander their menus to the specific needs of one, maybe two children out of probably hundreds. It's ass-backwards, and it's no wonder the schools are getting paranoid. Should little Billy accidentally eat a bite of a Snickers bar, it's NEVER the child's fault for being careless; it's NEVER the parent's fault for failing to inform the child of the true risks; no, it's ALWAYS the school's fault for being so negligent as to not have a Brown Bag Inspector at every entrance. The school gets sued for a ridiculous sum, non-core subjects are eliminated, and the students are trapped in some wretched gulag of a cafeteria. Meanwhile, little Jimmy sits alone, ostracized because he (vis a vis, his parents) completely ruined lunchtime. Kids are cruel, man. As a parent, I would expect that the parents of a child with a food allergy would provide the proper lunch for their own child, as I would mine. It's not the school's job to monitor what everyone eats, nor should every other student bear the burden of one kid's problem. If you are so damned worried about your child consuming the wrong thing, then keep him home and teach him yourself.
For the record, I can't eat grapefruit and I'm a chef. I don't demand that the restaurant dispose of its grapefruit juice just because it poses a personal problem to me. That's dumb. Ergo, asking other students to ditch peanut butter, wheat, eggs or whatever just to coddle one child – that's equally as dumb.
I feel like this debate brings up a bigger issue. We are relying too much on the schools to do everything for our kids. Granted, school staff are caregivers and educators to our kids for move than half of their young lives and there is a lot of responsibility that comes with that, but there has to be a collaborative effort on the parts of the parents and the school staff to ensure well-rounded experiences for each student in the classroom and the lunchroom. If everyone were not so concerned with pointing fingers and more concerned with the quality of their own child's experience, a lot of this could be avoided all together.
Your kid should be smart enough to not sit near the kids eating peanut butter if he/she is allergic. Put them all at the same table, and then someone's gonna complain that it's segregation. Same thing goes if you ban it. One of my good friends is allergic to peanut butter. Know what he did? HE DIDN'T SIT NEAR ME AT LUNCH WHENEVER I HAD PEANUT BUTTER.
I think all food should be banned. Seriously, it's dangerous stuff, kids can choke on it, get poisoned by it, have allergic reactions to it, eat too much of it and die a slow death from heart disease or diabetes, or get an eye poked out in a food fight. A school is no place for children to be eating and I think school districts should adopt the same kind of zero-tolerance policy for food that they have for weapons and drugs.
On a serious note, isn't this more of the same extremist crap. There's got to be some middle ground. We're not all the same, some of us have to sit out P.E. because we're asthmatic, some of us have to go to special reading classes because we're dyslexic and some of us have to eat lunch somewhere other than the cafeteria, or always bring a bagged lunch, because we have deadly peanut allergies. We don't all get to have children that have 100% perfectly normal childhoods. Parents need to accept that their children will experience struggles in their life, and it's not always going to be fair but if they're loved and cared for by their parents or dedicated guardians everything else will work itself out. And for those that don't want their children inconvenienced by other kids special needs, SHOW A LITTLE COMPASSION! If you can make a small sacrifice so that others will have a large improvement in their quality of life then why not? If you can't handle that then you shouldn't be a part of society.
My kids are allergic to homework. Should that be banned too?
[I'm allergic to religion - whenever I'm exposed to it, I break out in large patches of rational thought! I say we ban that too, but that's a different thread.]
Seriously, how far should we go to accommodate the extremely small minority of people who have allergies such as these? My elder son (now 11) is allergic to dust mites (a rather common allergy), cockroaches, birch, and elm. Should those things be eliminated from our world or should we just learn to deal with it? Adapt. Evolve.
Better yet, why don't we use our huge scientific brains to come up with WHY some people are allergic to anything to begin with and then find a cure for it?
In a global society of 6 billion+ people, is it reasonable to believe that we can accommodate everyone?
Likewise, in a school of hundreds of children, how far shall we go to homogenize the environment for the unfortunate few? And why should it be just at school? Why not at the grocery store or at restaurants as well? What about the ball park? Don't they throw peanuts around there too?...
I've been reading more of these posts, and am learning that 1) peanut allergies are different from all other food allergies and only need to be present in the air or a trace of dust to be harmful, and 2) that there is apparently no known medical way to combat or prevent theM? So how do people allergic to peanuts fly on airplanes? There is no ambulance to take you to the ER when all the little of packets get opened and the evil nut oils go wafting about the cabin, is there? If this is such a national emergency/life threatening issue then why does modern (or ancient) medcine provide a solution? There must be some old world holostic resolution?? Chinese Medicine?
Are people with these allergies stuck with driving everywhere and never leaving North, Central, or South America? How do they go see Europe or Asia?? This is sounding more ridiculous by the minute!
How do we fly? Not easily – by avoiding airlines that serve peanuts, and staying away from those eating them. Medical researchers are working on a treatment. Yes, travel is difficult. Europe is easier than many places, as labeling laws are good. Asia is difficult, as the allergy is not prevalent there, and PN’s are common. Thanks for asking, it’s how you learn.
Yes, we do drive. Everywhere. Being trapped in a tube with no more than a few epi-pens between us and the idiots like those on this list is all we'd have. I prefer to drive so I don't have to hear the muttering from others as to why my daughter should just die and get it over with.
Truly, you people (not the above poster) should be ashamed. The incredible lack of humanity and compassion on this board has given me chills. I won't argue all the points as to why this is a disability, or why you should care. I'll just leave you with this: There was NO history of this in our family. None. Never even heard of it. And my daughter scores off the chart on her allergy test. She really is one of the few that would end up in the hospital from smelling it. So.... all you so called Darwinists (and you really are doing him a disfavor by even evoking his name), I truly hope you have a child get this allergy. I have never wished it on anyone before. But this time – it's all yours baby! Have fun!
For those who don’t know, by withholding peanut butter from the cafeterias you are actually causing a rise in peanut butter allergies by restricting a Childs exposure to it. I don’t understand how hard is it for the school district to use their brains… if someone is allergic then they obviously should not be eating peanut butter LOL…. So therefore the school should give them an alternative and not restrict a Childs freedom. This is as silly as getting rid of Milk, Meat, and Wheat because 1 child out of 20 might be allergic… even if they were allergic it would be stupid to get rid of meat, wheat, and milk because of them… A more common sense option would be giving them something in its place.
You can also make the allergy worse by continuing exposure. Not only would the cafe have to cut out PB but anything that is processed in a facility that process peanuts. Than the kitchen will also have to have different utensils. As a whole it is much easier and safer for a kitchen to go peanut/tree nut free. Tree nuts/peanuts are the #1 killer and most sever food allergy. Due to the fact eggs and shellfish are in the same family a child will more than likely have those as well
My great niece is 6 years old and is allergic to a number of foods. She knows what she is not allowed to eat. Her mother does not go to the school and try to get the menu changed for hundreds of other students. IF YOU DONT WANT TO FEED PB TO YOUR CHILD THEN DONT BUT LEAVE THE OTHER CHILDREN ALONE. I think their own parents can speak for them without any help from you.
My innocent little pre-k could DIE from peanut butter!!! Not many other allergies are that severe. Is it her fault? no. There are many other lunch choices available. We eat Sunbutter, it is made from sunflower seeds in a peanut free facility. Sunbutter is delicious and any kid who lives on PB&J would love it. As I read more of allergy bullying, banning peanut butter from schools seems like a fair choice to eliminate this life threatening taunting. Especially since grade school children could not possibly understand the severity of their actions by waving a peanut butter sandwich in a classmates face. Not to mention the fear the peanut allergy child must feel on top of the fact that they are "different". This is an easy solution and should not even be up for discussion considering the risk involved.
SUNBUTTER! WTF! Who in the hell wants SUNBUTTER... it even sounds nasty... "come on kids, it's time to eat sunbutter and jelly sandwiches"... really? Stacy, I'm sure that you mean well, but don't ever suggest anything that dumb again...ever, OK. Sunbutter...
Sunbutter actually is good and a nice alternative for some families. However, my problem with stacy's post is that it is so incredibly self centered. That Sunbutter she is advocating because it is something her peanut allergic child can tolerate is just as lethal to some sunflower seed allergic children as peanut butter is to her child. Her child's allergy is not the only severe, life threatening one out there and various seeds actually happen to be another allergy that is on the rise both in terms of prevalence and severity. This idea that the world needs to revolve around the needs of her child but who cares about the risks to other children should NOT be tolerated. Any decisions regarding rules on food allergies should apply to any child with a severe allergy if they apply to peanut products for the kids allergic to peanuts or else we as a society are saying that somehow those peanut allergic kids are more important than the ones with life-threatening seafood allergies (actually more common than peanuts still) or whatever other food some child in her school is allergic to.
My daughter is severely allergic to eggs and ALL fruit ( 1 exception blue berries). Should I go to the school and tell them that they can no longer serve fruit, especially apples, grapes and bananas? I don't think so. My daughter knows she can't eat them and if any waved one in her face to tell the teacher. She is only 5 yrs. old, I found her allergies when introducing baby food. She's lived with it her entire life. Her egg allergy was so severe that she couldn't even touch an Easter egg. As the years have passed we slowly started introducing eggs into her food, I let her start with breads, cakes and cookies. She can now eat a whole piece of cake without getting hives, her throat getting itchy, or her nose and eyes watering. I haven't had this success with the fruit though. However, I have taught her what to do and do not expect anyone to accommodate her. Lavender is also a big allergy for her. Do I need to send a note home with all the kids telling the parents if they wash their clothes in lavender detergent to stop or if they use lavender lotion to stop. I think not. I spoke with the teacher before school started to make sure there was no lavender candles, hand sanitizer or anything else. If she starts getting hives move her to a different table and see if they go away in about an hour, if not give me a call. I don't expect everyone to stop their lives for her, no do I expect her to stop living her life, we just rearrange and adjust.
Get over yourself. What gives you the right to impose your will upon hundreds of parents? Are you willing to pay the cost differential to every one of those parents to buy the Sunflower stuff every meal while your child is in school? If not, you're asking all those parents to incur the cost of YOUR child's medical problems. Figure the difference is $0.35/jar. 1 jar per child every 2 weeks. School year is roughly 36 weeks by my count. Say your school is 500 students. Are you willing to pay the $3150 difference to those parents (total, not each)?
Type 1 diabetic children who produce no insulin as a result of their immune system attacks are in a sense "allergic" to sugars. If they eat some other child's nut-free candy bar, they could just as surely need medical attention or even go into shock. These children need to grow up faster than other children. They need parental education. And they should get used to the fact that others can do things that they can't. It was hard for me, but I am better off for it.
Some people, ok most people commenting on this topic, are not qualified to do so. It is quite obvious they do not possess an education so why would they have a need to comment with their wild and crazy opinions. I pay taxes to send my kids to school; therefore it is the schools responsibility to ensure their health and safety during the school day. Ban peanut butter! If you highly educated people, with your stupid comments, feed your kids peanut butter every day, and it seems that you do, then Lord help them because they are lacking in a proper nutrition and will eventually suffer as well.
not trying to pick a fight but just curious. I'm super healthy eater (all organic, mostly fruit and vegetable diet). My son is super picky and peanut butter on bread is one of the few things he is willing to eat. I don't consider fortified wheat bread + organic all natural peanut butter + carrot stick + fruit to be a bad diet. There is carb + protein + fruit/vegetable. Why is it bad?
The solution is a convenient, common-sense combination: a peanut-free table at school and parents of allergic children providing a suitable diet and instructions (and parents of non-allergic students educating them about allergies). While I realize some allergies can be severely debilitating–even fatal–we begin descending a slippery slope when we make special arrangements for various groups as a knee-jerk response. For example, my daughter's school sent notices home telling parents they must notify the school if peanut butter is in their child's lunch. Unacceptable and excessive.
Well I understand what the parents of kids with allergy go through. However my kid is super picky eater, and peanut butter bread is only of the few healthy items that he is willing to eat. If the school bans it, I will have one less thing to choose from to feed him. Kids are allergic to everything these days. Milk, soy, peanut butter, egg, wheat. I don't think it is reasonable to ban everything because someone could be highly allergic to one. These kids still remain to be the minority and instead of forcing the diet change on everyone, they should have special menu and rooms for those who are allergic.
The kid is not tolerant of milk. Should milk be banned schools? The kid is intolerant of glucose. Should bread be banned in schools? The kid is diabetic. Should all sugars be banned in schools? Why not just starve the kids to death and eliminate the problem?
Pretty soon they'll be outlawing recess due to kids with bee allergies and even ragweed allergies. Then they'll be outlawing dairy products due to lactose and tolerance. What really should be outlawed is the junkfood and soft drink products from our schools. Peanut butter or any nut that someone is allergic too shouldn't be banned. Education should be made available and the kids should voice their allergy to their friends and teachers in an effort to have it being controlled around them. If some kids love peanut butter and want it for lunch everyday it should be their right to have it. I personally dont want to live in a matrix type world where we eat the same glop everyday because foods have been limited or banned due to their nature for causing allergic reactions. Peanut allergies have been around a long time, and people with them should be doing the educating to the younger generations about how to deal with them and how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Besides if more and more schools keep closing due to funding problems we wont have to worry about this problem in the future anyways. Point is there are more pertanent matters to be dealt with in this world right now. Peanut butter legislature should be down on the list.
No… I say ban the kids that are allergic to peanuts… why should the kids who are not allergic do without because of those who cannot? First peanut butter, then milk, then eggs, and shell-fish… what next then we start listening to the vegetarians and the vegans… it’ll never stop until all you can do is show up…
That's a fine solution. I'll quit my job and home school my peanut allergic kid as soon as you pay for it. Really, I'd be HAPPY to!
Your problem breeder, you figure it out.
...your kid... you problem, don't make it mine.
No, you'll deal with your oddity and the rest of us will live our lives, and if you get near me I'll smear peanut butter on myself.
What is the world coming to if you choose food over a childs life,
It's not just PB&J folks , it's granola bars, cookies, crackers or chips made with peanut pieces or oil. You can also be "counseled" for knowingly bringing in any food "...made on equipment that processes peanuts or treenuts."
Our school went from a pnut table, to ban PB&J, to ban pnut products. We went back to table, allegedly, when the student needing these accomodations left. Actually, I'm pretty sure it was when the idiot parents tried to ban kids from consuming pnut products immediately before coming to school, that the rest of us had enough.
It's s*** like this that makes it hard to defend legitmate liberal causes.
I think many people are missing the point. PA (peanut allergy) is a relatively common food allergy, and can be deadly in small portions. It is different than other food allergens in that it is dusty, and PB is sticky, leaving a deadly residue. Older children need to learn to look out, but younger children need to be protected. A complete ban would be lovely, but a PN-free table, and watching out for the little ones, is likely just fine. Point is, let’s all learn a little tolerance. Yeah, some of you can wait a few hours for that PB snack if it means making a child safer. PA children don’t deserve to be “bred out of existence” any more than anyone else in this world, and the fact is NO ONE knows what causes allergies. We need to teach tolerance, we need to teach compassion – obviously not only to the children, but to adults as well.
Frankly...NO. I'm tired of everything I do in this country being neutered and controlled to protect the little guy. If my kid wants a PBJ for lunch, he can have it.PA, ADA, NAACP, we have so many special interest groups that the rights of normal, everyday people are the ones being trampled upon. I say stand up for the rights of the average citizen for once.
I don't think peanut butter should be banned from the schools. I think schools should show the kids proper hand washing techniques after eating to prevent the spread of the peanut butter. How do you know that door knob/handle/item of clothing in public areas haven't been touched by someone each peanut butter or it product? If they ban it in the schools they should ban it everywhere!
Children with life-threatening food allergies should be banned from public schools. Not only for the child's sake, but also for liability reasons. For the school, but also for the parents of other children, who shouldn't risk liability if they accidentally bring an allergen into the school on their clothing, picked up from a public bus bench or somewhere else. The other parents have just as much right to legal protection as the parents of the afflicted child.
I agree, ban the kids not the peanuts. That is the only 100% reliable means of keeping the kids safe.
RIGHT!!! While we're at it, let's get rid of handicapped access to the schools, and Special Ed too. Waste of taxpayer dollars!! Who needs all those wheelchairs clogging up the hallways??? Those freaks should stay home with their parents, where they belong, out of society's eye. That way we don't have to see them, or deal with them. That would be nice, huh? And those handicapped parking spots?? I'll bet you're just so lazy you want to yank those away from deserving citizens too, right? Because I'm thinking you just hate everyone and would be much happier if everyone was just "normal."
How can you compare the number of students with disabilities with the minute number with peanut allergies... Sheesh.... talk about drama.
So, tell me. What makes one disability more important than another? What you are failing to recognize is that
children with allergies are protected by the Federal government and Disabilities Act. They have as much right
to attend school as any other child. If the school fails to accommodate they will lose their
federal funding. So, as you are welcome to your opinions, the law is on the side of the child with the disability ~
no matter which kind they may have. FYI- A peanut allergy is a legal disability due to the fact that anaphylaxis affects
your ability to breathe which is a basic life function. So, please know the facts before you discriminate.
This entire discussion absolutely baffles me. You parents with kids who have this allergy honestly intend to impose your will on hundreds of other parents? Maybe we should just ban peanuts as a product nationwide to make sure the .01% (probably too high) of people who have this serious allergy are never at risk? Gimme a break. Teach your child how to deal with it and make the school aware of the allergy, thats all that needs to be done.
Ok, I'm going to chime in here. My son is 8 yrs old. Due to a medical condition combined with multiple severe food allergies (including anaphylaxis to milk), his diet is limited to 14 foods and he also has a feeding tube. And he goes to public school.
There are three points I'd like to make:
1 – parents w/ allergic kids need to realize that the world is not going to protect their child at all times – they need to be proactive and teach their kids how to survive in the real world
2 – schools need to provide a safe environment for ALL kids – that is the entire point of public education
3 – if parents and schools keep an open mind, they can come to a mutually agreeable solution in almost every case – in our case, our son eats lunch in the cafeteria with his class but he sits at a desk pushed up to the end of his class's lunch table. To prevent cross-contamination, we provide the school with Clorox wipes to clean his lunch desk, plus paper towels for him to use a a place mat. We also provide his classroom with extra bottles of hand sanitizer (in addition to the 2 bottles the teacher asks all students to bring in) so that there is less chance of having food residue on the kids' hands. We don't ask the school to restrict the foods other kids bring in for lunch, we just ask that they do their best to keep our son safe. And they do.
If we are going to ban peanut butter, we should be reasonable and ban everything related to common allergies. So no :
milk (including Au gratin foods, Cake and cake mix, Chocolate and cream candy, Donuts, Coffee creamers, Creamed or scalloped foods, Mashed potatoes, Custard, Nougat, Ice cream and sherbet, Malted milk, Margarines (some, check the label), Pudding, White sauces, Salad dressings, yogurt, cheese)
eggs (mayonnaise, breaded foods, battered foods, ice cream, foods that use egg as a thickener or binder, often ,
nuts (tree or ground) (pesto, marzipan, Nutella, baklava, pralines, nougat, gianduja, turrón, and possibly cereals, crackers, cookies, baked goods, candy, chocolates, energy/granola bars, flavored coffee, frozen desserts, marinades, barbecue sauces, and some cold cuts, such as mortadella),
wheat (including bread, waffles, pancakes, rolls, biscuits, cakes, cookies, crackers, pizza, buns, many cereals, pretzles, muffins, et al.),
fish, shellfish,
soy (edamame, miso, natto, shoyu sauce, soy (soy albumin, soy fiber, soy flour, soy grits, soy milk, soy nuts, soy sprouts), soya, soybean (curd, granules), soybean butter, soy protein (concentrate, isolate), soy milk, soy sauce, tamari, tempeh, textured vegetable protein (TVP), tofu, also possibly :chocolate, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), flavoring (including natural and artificial), canned chicken broth, vegetable broth, gum, protein, and starch, bouillon cubes (beef, chicken, vegetable, etc.), lecithin, caramel color, mixed vegetables, vegetable oil, methylcellulose, vegetable fat, vegetable oil, "natural" flavors, mono- and di-glycerides
Lunch today will be leaf lettuce and water. Tomorrow we'll be bold and have steamed rice.
By the way, we're also asking that you keep no cats, dogs, rabbits, or horses, flowers, grasses, molds, or perfumes in the houses of school children, as they will invariably bring some of this to school with them. It is possible that some of the other children are allergic to these things, and we cannot have any of that.
Should baseball stadiums stop selling peanuts as well should grocery stores have allergen free isles
The most common food allergies are: Milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish, shellfish. There are also allergies to wool, latex, certain metals, grass, and dust among many others. Where is the logical place to draw the line? Do we allow allergens that cause only mild irritation, or nausea or slight difficulty in breathing, or do we eliminate all known allergens out of fairness? What happens when the child becomes an adult? Do employers, banks and grocery stores have to ban the allergens as well?
It's unfortunate that illness and allergies exist, but they do. It's not practical, nor logical, nor ultimately beneficial to the allergic child to force all others to adjust to the needs of one. The child must adjust to the world. We don't turn off the lights for blind people or stop talking for the deaf. There are only two options: those with disabilities adjust or those without disabilities adjust.
I say we ban school all together, and work, social interaction. We can build giant bubbles that only those we trust can live in. We will be a society built on the principle of "Saftey First", no allergies will get us!!! True we will eventually kill off our population, but good riddance. We are no use to this planet at this point. We are given a food like peanuts, which can fullfill your daily nutritional needs, and we want to ban it because some little kid has an allergy??? Turns out I am allergic to kids, when I am around them I feel annoyed and stressed. I say we ban kids.
Wow, I really feel sorry for the kids with severe food allergies. But I think the real issue here is the bullying. Schools and parents need to address that – and schools should not need to dictate what parents feed their children. If schools can't afford adequate supervision in the lunch room, then maybe parent volunteers are the answer. Parents and teachers alike, please educate the children to understand the allergies that are becoming more common each year and to have a little compassion for those who suffer from life threatening allergies of any kind.
Banning peanut butter in school? Really? Who cares? On the list of things we have to worry about in this nation, I believe whether or not we should ban peanut butter in our schools belongs on page 9 after "are we eating too much garlic as a people?". I'm only 17 so I don't have kids of my own but if I were a parent I'd make sure my kids knew to avoid peanut butter at any & all costs provided they were allergic to it.
really? WHEN you do have a child and he/she is "blessed" with a peanut allergy, how do you plan to ensure that he/she does not share/swap food with other kids at kindergarten?
If you don't care, I'm not sure why you would bother to respond. If it affected your life, you would care.
I agree with the poster who said that allergies this severe are nature's way of weeding the weak out of the gene pool.
Look up the term "Mass Psychogenic Illness."
The reality is that only about 100 people per year die of peanut allergies. Banning is overkill- have a different lunch period for kids with the allergy if they feel they really need it. There are people with seafood allergies, wheat allergies, soy allergies, nut allergies, etc, but you can't start banning foods because one or two people in a school of hundreds or even thousands of children have a sensitivity or an allergy- it just doesn't make sense.
Peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches should be a regular staple in schools nationwide ... as long as you don't have allergies, that is. It is the BEST, bar none.
I am not writing this out of anger, but out of a deep sadness to what I've read here. I am a father of four, two of which have severe food allergies to multiple foods. I've read most of the comments on this page, some of which I cannot even fathom that a human being would write. Would you be that callous with me face-to-face? I can assure you, that if you had an allergy that could kill you within minutes you would be singing a different tune.
Take a minute, think, then try to see with different eyes.
We've come up with coping strategies and have educated anyone we come in contact with (school, parents, etc.). What I have issue with is people's flippant attitudes about the whole thing. Would you have your child treated as a leper, segregated and shunned? I think not. These are normal, loving, feeling human-beings who just happen to have a food allergy.
I agree, life is not fair and we've made peace with that. But the indifference and cold-hearted comments speak volumes of this society we live in. I feel sorrow and pity for you, not hate.
Sorry, I don't care about your peculiarity enough to change my life because we might meet, and you might die. Stay home.
That says a lot about you. But I digress...
Yep, it does. And I don't speak for just myself. Take heed.
there are wasp and ants and drugs around schools that needs to be eliminated
a lot of people have reactions to stings, bites, and bad drugs...
JUST A ADULT THOUGHT.. I MIGHT GET A "D- " FOR THIS COMMENT
Children with allergies need to be educated by the parents about those allergies and the consequences if they eat, get stung, etc. To ban a food at the school is not teaching the child to be responsible for their "problem." You ban peanut butter because of nut allergies... what about someone allergic to tomatoes? No spaghetti, ketchup, tomato soup, green beans in stewed tomatoes (should definitely be outlawed). The child should wear an alert bracelet if the problem is real serious, the school should have it in their records. A ban in the cafeteria.... no way!
I think our children can decide on their own. When my son was in 2nd grade, he made friends with a child that has peanut allergies. Joey said he couldn't bring in anything with peanuts or peanut butter, or cooked in peanut oil. His school never told him this, he told me that it was not fair if he ate things in front of his friend that his friend couldn't eat. Our children have more empathy about this topic than we give them credit for.
Sorry if this sounds bad but take care of yourself. It's like saying that if one child is afraid to take the bus that we should ban all school trips. Why should all suffer because of one.
Yes, it does sound bad. Being afraid of a school bus is CLEARLY NOT the same thing as being KILLED BY A PEANUT.
If your child could be killed by a peanut, then you are one sick parent for sending your kids out into society where they could be so easily killed. Instead of demanding that everyone else take care of your kid, you should grow up and do it yourself.
I am sick of the "My kid is allergic so you everyone has to change things to suit us" Nazis. If your kid is that damned allergic keep him at home and home school him. Why on earth, if you love your little spawn so dearly, would you risk sending him to public school?
dont ban peanut butter because of a couple of wimpy / pathetic / panzy kids whoose parents baby them. kids have ben having / eating peanut butter in excess for decades. it is not the peanut butter that is fattening or bad for t hem it is the laziness / lack of any kind of stimulation that makes kids the way they are today. i mean come on a dumb kid 20 years ago would be a genius today
Wow, pretty depressing that so many people are missing the point. And you call yourselves parents? These are CHILDREN we are talking about. They are LIVING, BREATHING, YOUNG and VULNERABLE people. I can't believe that everyone wouldn't want to keep these children safe. This can be a very serious allergy and I can't believe how many people would so selfishly, proudly and knowingly put a CHILD in harms way. Really sad people. Just very sad. I have children without any allergies and I would GLADLY restrict peanut butter to my house alone if just one child at my school had an allergy of this nature. Is it really worth the risk to the child with a possibly deadly allergy? Do you need a child to die to understand the tragedy? Why don't you take just a moment to figure out how grossly backwards and uncaring your priorities are. Suck it up, teach your children some compassion and find something else affordable and nutritious for your child to eat... FIVE meals a week is all we're talking about people!
Well said, I am amazed at the callous comments. I think people forget these are children, like their own fathers-mothers-sisters-brothers...they just happen to be deathly allergic to some foods.
Our solution has been sending our kids to private school. We've worked with the teachers and faculty one-on-one to help make their jobs as easy as possible and at the same time make our children as safe as possible @ lunch/snack time. Most have been VERY understanding, unlike many who have posted here.
Charles, you are a disgusting piece of white trash. You should be smoking marijuana and beating your children instead of posting here amongst the real parents and regular, hard-working people who are trying to support their family.
I have a son with a life-threatening allergy to peanuts. It is an airborne allergy, so we have had to make many adjustments in our lives to keep him safe. His (public) schools have been wonderful–they worked with us for nine years to come up with a safe place for him to eat and learn, and yes, the kids in his class have had to make some adjustments. However, In all of this time I have never heard or "heard of" a child having a problem with accommodating his allergy–it is ALWAYS the adults. The kids are empathetic, supportive, compassionate and understanding. They have willingly given up peanuts to eat with my son. Parents have told me that their children have them read labels on their schools lunches and snacks as early as kindergarten so they can help keep my child safe. One parent said her child, who previously only ate peanut butter sandwiches, happily gave them up so he could be with my son. It's been a tough but eye-opening experience and I couldn't be prouder of my son and his friends.
Kids have no problem because they don't like eating their lunches. Now they eat even less. C'mon Johny eat your toffu sandwhich or ice cold soup. If you child is allergic as they are, I think it is crazy to put them in such a risky situation.
When your kid grows up, are you going to sue his employers, to force them to provide a peanut-free environment, and only hire other employees who do not eat peanuts? Are you going to sue the city, and force them to provide peanut-free buses, ridden only by people who do not eat peanuts? Your attitude that the rest of the world must provide for your child's problems is not tenable.
Have you even bothered to try immunotherapy? It provides a cure to 80% of those with peanut allergies.
If not, then you have absolutely NO RIGHT to be demanding that the rest of us alter our lifestyles to accommodate you.
Oh pull up your pant, your ignorance is showing! The immunotherapy for PEANUTS is not AVAILABLE yet. It is still experimental and the experiments are only being done in certain places. YOU have not right bullying parents of allergic kids, you selfish inconsiderate person. Especially when you don't even know what you are TALKING about. Don't you think parents with kids would do immunotherapy in a SECOND if there was a treatment available? Ignorant jerk.
@your mom, it's been available for 20 years, so quit lying and do something for your kid.
There aren't any therapies that are approved by the FDA. In fact, the one you are referring to is not
approved. There have been deaths in the trials. You really should have your fact straight. I'm a health
professional. You clearly are not.
What is this country coming to? -_-
The amazing thing here is the amount of people commenting on allergies who have no knowledge of them. To the person who said we should have adrenaline shots for kids with allergies...HELLO WE ALREADY DO! To the one who says we should have our children treated by a doctor....HELLO WE ALREADY DO OR THEY MIGHT NOT BE ALIVE! To the one who says parents should handle it...HELLO WE ALREADY PACK SEPARATE SNACKS, LUNCHES, PREPARE ALTERNATE BIRTHDAY TREATS FOR SCHOOL, MEET WITH SCHOOL NUTRITIONISTS AND NURSES PRIOR TO THE YEAR STARTING. To those who say no accommodations should be made for the child with allergies...HELLO THE TEACHER ACCOMODATES A LOT OF STUDENT NEEDS AND PARENTS TOO(DID YOU HAVE ANY SAY IN YOUR CONFERENCE SCHEDULE?), DOES ANYONE GET FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH?, DO OTHER CHILDREN GET HELP WITH INDIVIDUAL NEEDS? YES THEY DO. THE SCHOOL SHOULD CREATE AN EXTRA LUNCH HOUR FOR THEM? THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE LEGISTICALLY FOR SCHOOLS. WHAT IF WE HAVE ONE CULUTURAL GROUP HAVE A DIFFERENT LUNCH BECAUSE OF THEIR CULUTRE? I BELIEVE WE CALL THAT DISCRIMINATION! Could we have a separate area for kids in the lunchroom who have major allergies...we could but that would involve a lot of training to avoid bullying, but it can be done. Now the amazing thing about this is that although I am really irritated that people are so cold, I don't believe that all schools should ban peanut butter. I think we should go on a case by case basis. My son is allergic to wheat, but it isn't a problem for him if other children in the room have wheat...But my pediatric allergy specialist said that some kids can't even handle it around them. That is the doctor's words not mine. He is highly respected by the children's hospital specialists in my state as being one of the best pediatric allergy and asthma specialists here. You don't have to take my word for it, take his. So what do we need? A good dose of knowledge, compassion, and compromise. Should your child have to go without peanut butter their whole school career? No. Should they go without it during the time they have a child sitting next to them who is severely allergic to something..maybe. Does someone have the right to smoke and exhale in my face? Some states say no, because it infringes on my rights...adverse affect on my health. This is a similar idea. Those of you who spew hate at least get the facts so you can sound intelligent. Then we'll know that you are just cold hearted.
Peanut is in a lot of food items, not just peanut butter sandwiches. I give my kids granola bars which also contains peanuts. Don't forget peanut M & M's, that you may not buy your child but your child may find a way to get the peanut candy. It's extremely hard for schools to regulate this. It's up to the parents to educate their child and their child's friends about the consequences of an allergic reaction.
So, when there are kids who allergic to bee stings, we will terminate outdoor recess?
Common sense has to be the rule sometime! I am getting really tired of the rights of the majority being trampled because of the wants/needs/desires/rights(?) of the minority.
And, oh by the way peanut butter is not the only food containing peanut products.
The bullying issue, on the other hand is very serious and needs to be addressed period, not just as it relates to food allergic kids. Banning foods is just a cop-out on a bigger issue. Attach real consequences to bad behavior.
For anyone that is so adamant about not banning peanut butter and posting rude comments about kids with allergies being weaklings, consider this. How adversely do you think it would affect your own child, if their peanut butter sandwich sent one of these "weaklings" into anaphylactic shock? You want them to have to live with the guilt of nearly killing one of their classmates?
I don't know about banning it. Peanut butter sandwiches are an easy and most of all cheap. For a parent already working to make ends meet, it might be the best option. Extreme answers are never good ones.
If my kid had that horrible of an allergy problem I'd home school them.
Parents who have kids with allergies...you chose to have the kids. And if you didn't plan on it well you still chose to keep the child. Therefore it is YOUR responsibility to deal with his or her allergies/issues. Not anyone else's.
This is hilarious! I live just outside Toronto, and peanuts and all nut products have been banned in schools and most daycares for a while now.
Canada only gets to exist in a spineless, excruciatingly PC state is because it is our neighbor. We don't care how you do it up there, because you only get to do it that way because of us.
I do agree this is a major issue. But banning a group of foods that people may be allergic to is not the answer. I will hate to see the day when kids have their bag lunches searched to see if they have any unwanted type of food. And if they do have the said type what will happen then? Will they send the child home or throw away the lunch and more of less force them to have no lunch? And if the school provides a lunch for the child will the charge them for it? This will need to be looked into more deeply than just banning something. Maybe an allergy section of a lunchroom is the answer. But I will agree with the school's kitchen, not carrying things like this. There is too much of a chance of cross contamination with places like that.
As someone with allergies, and a deathly allergy to peanuts, I think that it should be banned from schools. You never know when a child is allergic to the stuff and even the SMELL (in my case) can send them into anaphylaxis. Numerous times I had to sit in the class room and eat lunch by myself when peanut butter was being served in the school cafeteria...that was hurtful in more ways than one, I couldn't be with my friends and it sucked! Finally, when I entered 7th grade, my school stopped using peanut based products and it took care of everything!
I'm sorry that you have an allergy. But it is something you have to deal with, it is not something that society can handle for you. What would you expect a school to do if they had you, who could die if exposed to peanuts; Billy, who could die to citrus; Jane, who could die to wheat; Zhang, rice; Margaret, shellfish... Someone out there is extremely allergic to ANY food you can think of. The only way to eliminate risk is to make schools food-free entirely.
Myself, I am extremely allergic to whatever goes into a fair number of perfumes. When some of the girls in high school started coming in drenched in the stuff, my airways literally closed. With the help of my teachers I was able to get myself seated by the window, or simply transfered into another class if a solution was not possible. And some of the girls voluntarily stopped wearing strong perfumes after they saw what it could do to me.
What I didn't do is have my parents come marching in and demand that the school become a fragrance-free zone.
Ouka, if I were your parent I would walk in (not march) and request (not demand) that we try to work together to come up with a solution. I'm sorry to hear that your parents didn't advocate for you. My parents never advocated for me either. I do advocate for my child though, and you would do well to think about how life would have been different for you if you had learned that you were worthwhile enough for someone to consider that your PHYSICAL SAFETY is more important than a number of individuals fulfilling their fashion desires.
And I'm sorry that your children will never learn the importance of self-reliance and instead learn the lesson of self-centeredness. The world does not, and should not, cater to your individual needs. Society cannot bend to accommodate every last individual need. That simply reduces freedoms to the lowest common denominator.
Well said. And I would reiterate that, in considering banning peanuts in schools, CHILDREN ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ATTEND SCHOOL. It's not a choice, so they can't just walk away as with other public venues and events. (And those of you who think we should just home school: Although some do that, it's not typically an option.)
my former employer had a child with severe peanut allergies (couldnt even eat a sandwich at home and then come into the office w/o brushing my teeth – that bad). you know what she did, home schooled her child and then found a school that caters to kids with allergies – those schools are out there, but im willing to bet most parents dont do the proper research and try force their child's predicament on others
As a nurse I am absolutely shocked to hear so many negativities out there on this topic. If you had a child dying in your arms from a simple peanut I think you would all change your minds. It's life-changing. Obviously, for all of you who have the thought that it's your right to have peanut butter at school have no one in your family with a peanut allergy. For some people all it takes is a simple handshake after eating peanuts to send them into anaphalactic shock. Really sad.
I think the kids who are not allergic can decide what to do. When my son was in 2nd grade, he made friends with a child who had peanut allergies. Joey told me he could not to bring anything with peanuts, peanut butter, or even things cooked in peanut oil because his friend was allergic. The school never told him to do this, he did it because he felt is wasn't fair to his friend if he ate anything his friend couldn't. Our children have more empathy on this subject than we give them credit for.
PEANUT FREE ISLAND
There is no doubt a severe allergic reaction to peanut protein can kill someone; however, the same can be said about a severe allergic reaction to stings as well as number of common medications. I have a daughter with insulin dependent diabetes and one of her friends has a peanut allergy and given the wrong type of situation both children could easily die. It is something they have learned to live with, but they also carry an epinephrine pen (peanuts) and glucagon pen (diabetes) which can be used in an emergency. Neither have asked for special regulations, rules, or special favors...only that people understand their condition and take a few minutes to learn what should be done if an emergency should arise. In the two examples mentioned, neither banning peanut butter or preventing a diabetic child from going on school trips is not the solution, which is quite simply a matter of educating those in contact with them regarding what to do in am emergency. Of course, there is always the risk of dying in a car accident on the way to school, but I really believe the present system of educating drivers is better than banning cars.
We had a nut-free table in middle school, and barely anyone sat there; unfortunately it was like the geek table :(
Since I hate peanut butter, my answer would be yes.
@Michael, I think you are going a bit far calling a peaunut allergy "a disability". I have money and I'm educated and I think it's up to the parents to make alernate arrangements if their kid has an allergy. After all, this is life. I suppose you can get the school to cater to your child's 'disability' but what about after that? You can't get the world to cater to them. What happens when the kid goes to college, or gets a job or flies in an airplane. You can't control everyone around them. This is something THEY are going to have to deal with their whole life so they have to deal with it at sometime, the sooner the better.
You do everything you can, but at some point you've just got to let some kids die. Are we at that point with banning peanut butter? I don't know. But the survival of any species can't continue when the weakest are allowed to pass along their sickly genes.
HARSH DARWINISM (Even 4 Me)
I bet you might feel differently if it was your kid that we should just "let die". Wow
Banning peanut butter from a school seems more than a little extreme. While some kids are deathly allergic to peanuts, the VAST MAJORITY have only a mild or moderate allergy. Thus, unless the school is dealing with a deathly allergic child, the school should not make any special arrangements for allergic kids. That responsibility should be left to the parents (and the school should be notified of what the parents want them to do in case of a reaction). We don't prevent kids allergic to bees/wasps/hornets/etc., from going outside, nor do we prevent entire schools from having outside play time because of one (or a few kids) bug allergies. This is no different.
The schools have no choice but to ban it and for a very simple reason. If they don't, then some parent who's child has an allergy and comes in contact with peanut butter will sue the school. Plain and simple. That is the way we are heading in this Country, isn't it? Everybody has to cover their back sides regardless of the logic because there is always someone looking to sue, and there are always lawyers looking to exploit situations, and there are always courts who favor the weak and stupid.
AMEN!
There are too many individual food allergies for any sort of systemic government ban to work. If YOUR kid has a severe allergy to something, then YOU work with the school to find a solution that does not unduly impact the other 99.99% of the kids. Maybe you get to come in at lunch time and your kid eats with you in your allergen-free car.
It is completely unreasonable to expect the rest of the world to cater to your individual needs. Your kid has severe peanut allergies, I'm sorry. But Sally has severe allergies to Almonds. Tim goes in to shock if exposed to wheat gluten. Bobby could die if he get's close to someone peeling a citrus fruit. Zhang, ironically, is deathly allergic to rice. And Margret's airway swells closed near shellfish.
Just what in the hell do you anti-peanut crusaders expect SOCIETY can do for food allergies at large? If you banned all the foods that someone could be allergic to, there wouldn't be any food left for anyone to eat.
here, here!
At least have the guts to say, "I don't care about your kid," rather than, "I'm sorry." It wouldn't really change your message but you'd be more honest.
Again, it's not valid to say we shouldn't ban peanuts because it's impossible to protect everyone from every morsel of peanut every day of their lives. That reasoning would indicate that we don't need seat belts - you can't protect everyone from dying in EVERY car accident. Intelligent people understand that seat belts REDUCE the number of fatalities. Do you see the difference? "Reduce." No, we can't protect a kid from peanuts 100%. But we can reduce the risk. If enough people give a shit. Unfortunately people like you see everything as black and white, and zero sum. It's either all or nothing, and if they help the kids by banning peanuts then that's going to hurt me.
At this point all I can do is ask you to please not have any children.
Tim – We can reduce the maximum speed on cars to 10 mph. We won't stop people from driving their cars, we will just make it incredibly irritating in order to protect pedestrians and cyclists. Great argument. Well aslong as you and your child ins not inconvenienced.
Bob (again!) - You really think banning peanuts from schools is equivalent to instituting a 10 mph speed limit? Come on man.
Apparently you fail at reading comprehension. Peanuts were not the thrust of the post. Try reading again.
If i could, i would post a video of a child having an anaphlactic reaction while their airway swells shut within minutes. Maybe then you would be able to imagine how scary it is to send your child off to school. My daughter is only 2 yrs. old so no school just yet. But, god help her with all these morons walking the planet. A young child doesnt always make the best decisions - no matter the parenting. As they mature, sure, its a parental issue at that point but not until then.
Thank you Mr. Peters. Apparently some people don't realize that 2 year old can't think for themselves and unfortunatley, we can't all stay at home all day and keep them in a bubble either.
While I am so thankful that I do not have children with allergies to peanuts, I also have an enormous amount of sympathy for those parents that do have this issue to deal with both in and outside of their home. I do not think, however, that banning peanut butter in the schools is the right answer. I think education for everyone concerned is what is needed. These kids will eventually become adults who will face the “peanut’s” of the world every day, in many situations so teaching them at the earliest of ages is essential. My son is asthmatic. He was taught about his triggers, how to know when and when not to use his inhaler, etc. before he started kindergarten. By the time he started school at 5 years of age, he was able to self medicate and control his asthma as if he were an adult. While of course, his issue with asthma was completely in his/our control and not associated with anything that another student might have in their lunch bag, it still is about the education. Kids with peanut allergies need to know at the very earliest of ages that this could essentially kill them. The schools need to accommodate the allergy to the extent that they are ready in an emergency and ensure that all the kids within the school understand that this child or these children could die if they come in contact with peanuts. Even having, as the poll online states, a dedicated table where no peanut or peanut butter eater may sit is an outstanding idea and should be mandatory in every school just like handicap parking spots are within parking lots. I see so many intolerant people commenting on this situation and it comes from BOTH sides of the fence. For those that do not have kids with peanut allergies…have a heart. For those that do….be practical and ensure your child is educated about their allergy.
We found out the hard way that my daughter was allergic to peanuts when she was 2 years old. Her first blissful taste turned into a nightmare when she went into anaphylactic shock after 1 bite. Luckily we lived less than a mile from the nearest hospital. Each of her days is a struggle just to survive. At 9 years old, she has been thru 10 epi-pens, 10 emergency room rushes, and dozens near misses from the careless acts of other. Yes, peanuts are a glorious gift from GOD that all SHOULD be able to experience freely. However, put in the wrong hands, they are a dangerous weapon. I mean it would be great to be able to say each kid for him/herself or that it's the parents responsibility to keep them from harm. Look, if I was at school all day with my kid, you better believe that a peanut cell wouldn't get within a mile of her. The fact is that there are so many occassions when CHILDREN just don't know any better and it's going to turn out bad. Here are several examples of reasons why peanuts should be completely banned from school and other public places.
1. Sagebrush Steakhouse has a barrell of them in thier lobby where toddlers can reach in and grab or better yet, some putz in line tries to hand them to your cute kid like they are candy.
2. Schools sometimes provide sack lunches where they have PB&J sandwhiches. Even though your kid has a dietary order stating that they aren't supposed to have peanuts, some substitute is not going to read it or they are going to write the wrong name on the wrong bag and your kid is going to take a bite before they realize wuts happened.
3. Some kid in daycare is going to bring in some peanut M&N's and start handing them out w/out permission.
4. Some kid in school is going to bring trail mix that looks like candy in at lunch and try to trade for something your kid has.
5. The school is going to let something slip that may have peanut by-products in it.
6. Your kid is going to go to a neighbors house and eat some fried chicken that was fried in peanut oil.
There is NO WAY an adult can keep peanuts away from thier child 100% of the time. How can you expect a child to be able to fend off the constant barrage?
I mean, come on now, what if it was your kid?
Really? I shouldn't have access to a peanut product anywhere "in public" because of your kid's problem? Man, you make me want to scatter peanuts everyplace I go. Sounds like a gene pool that needs to be drained.
Read the stuff at the top again you moron. "Schools." Not "public." Again, one of the saddest facts of life is that stupidity doesn't hurt enough to keep people away from computers.
This is what Chelsea said up above: "Here are several examples of reasons why peanuts should be completely banned from school and other public places..." You're the ignoramus here.
Uh, oops. You're right, she did. Sincere apologies for my post.
It's high time people take responsibility for themselves. I realize there are allergies to peanut butter, but there's allergies to wheat, milk, fish, eggs, etc. If you ban everything a person could be allerigic to what will the kids eat? A child knows that they can't have something so they stay away from it and it's ok to let the school know of an allergy. But why punish everyone for a few. If the child is being bullied by other students because they can't eat something then that's another problem and should be handled not be tolerated by the school.
YOU MISS THE POINT I DO NOT WANT TO CATER TO YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN SO JUST LEAVE AND LEAVE ME ALONE. IF I DON'T LIKE IT SOMEWHERE I GET UP AND LEAVE-WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT THAT I DON'T HAVE FRIENDS I DON'T LIKE WHY SHOULD I LIKE YOU
I'm allergic to Pine trees, can we cut down all Pine trees please.
Can you just try to avoid them like you avoid the question mark key.
Peanut Butters on the market such as the ones that are mass produced for institutional purposes should be banned for reasons to do with hydrogenated oils – not due to nut-related allergies. Children who have allergies of all kinds: gluten, dairy, nuts etc. will need to learn to avoid these foods for the rest of their lives. I do not think that we should only serve foods that have no known allergies. That would not be fair to kids without those allergies. Overcoming the growing issues to do with obesity in this country , to me, would be more pertinent than avoiding known allergies, since allergic foods will need to be a learned process in order for those children to get to adulthood. But feeding EVERYONE foods that have hydrogenated oils that are known links to obesity and subsequent illness – is that what we want to serve our children?
Hey from recent studies the PB allergey is due to non exposure to peanuts in young age, 2-3years, so feed them some PB & no allergy..... Hey I am allergic to TUNA Fish, I barf when it crosses my lips & puke smelling it, should it be banned, no walk away, just say NO......my last air flight cancelled the in flight snacks (peanuts) because some little PB allergic wimp complained, drive dude, dont cheat me out o'mi nutz....
Peanut butter allergies are interesting not for the rise of this once unheard of allergy but instead of the world adding yet another chapter in "The Emperor's New Clothes"
Reporting your child as having a peanut butter allergy immediately prompts an overwhelming response from the school and requires that all other parents notice you, your child and additionally change your routine out of respect for the situation.
I think certainly a large number of peanut allergies are outright hoaxes or exxagerations to garner attention by parents. No one sees beyond what they are told.
People always love attention, are over sensitive about children, are ultra concerned about social pecking orders and additionally being a hypochondriac runs rampant in America. Guess what – My child has a peanut allergy! How terrible?! What can we do to help?
There is likely no increase in the number of real peanut allergies – but there is a remarkable increase in the number of reported peanut allergies!!
No one questions whether these things are true and its any easy way to garner petty sympathy and attention from the community.
A certified exam from a allergy doctor certifying to the intense and life threatening allergy should be a requirement before parents are permitted to request these accomodations, peanut or otherwise.
Well, that makes sense. As the parent of a six year old with a peanut allergy, it never actually occured to me to take him to the doctor. I have to admit, you've pegged me. I'm more interested in creating a disturbance at my child's school and stigmatize him at the same time, for the sake of garnering a little attention, than I am at leading a normal life.
OK, all sarcasm aside: As difficult as it may be, you are officially the stupidest person to post on this forum. Congratulations.
Tim, Tim, Tim... Tsk...Tsk. It's ok to be so narrow minded about this issue, but let's keep civil. Your replies all result end in rude insults. Just because some disgrees with you, it doesn't mean you need to be rude you dumb ar$e. LOL
What can I say Bob? I love my kid with his peanut allergy. (And all sarcasm aside, last time I checked he actually has a peanut allergy. I'm not just trying to get attention.)
Maybe the reason so many children are allergic to everything under the sun is because their parents have protected them from everything under the sun?
It's possible that the increase in food allergies in recent generations is related to how much more we keep ourselves clean and avoid things that aren't clean, as a society. However, children are born with food allergies so parental overprotectiveness is not a consideration.
Tim, you are wrong on this one. Research proves, just as being too clean causes one to be more susceptible to germs; lack of exposure to allergens can causes one to be sensitive to it.
I am a school teacher who has had many students with these allergies. One was so severe that my student could have died if peanuts even came near him. Simple solution, peanuts were not allowed in MY classroom. The school did not become peanut free. Parents were great and used alternatives for their children's lunches such as soy butter, sunflower butter etc. Classrooms where allergies were not a problem were peanut OK zones. But as always teachers, students and parents were aware of the children with allergies and always took precautions such as handwashing etc. A little empathy and understanding by the school community went a long way and everyone was happy.
The focus should be on the children bullying others bc of their allergies. They need to be repremanded and educated about the consequences for their actions.
If you can ban PB from schools why can't you ban Muslims?
I'd rather ban the BIGOTS.
I, too, have a child with a nut allergy and I started training her at age 3. I also had to train well meaning teachers who thought she was being fussy. IF there was a bully I showed both my kids how to stand up and speak for themselves. BANNING foods is a slippery slope. You ban steak because a baby can't chew. C'mon folks. The peanut allergy is a dangerous allergy and education is the key to saving lives.
It is sad at how embittered these boards are. Always, there is so much anger at everything here in the US lately. Even a damn peanut allergy discussion has people ready to go to blows.
Pathetic what we have become.
Look folks, just talk to your children, ok? They're not as stupid as you think... If they have an allergy, they simply won't touch the nutty stuff...
Wake up, parents! It's not like they're sneaking peanuts into the food or anything... Stop whining and communicate with your kids!!!
I forsee soon the 28th amendment to the Constitution to protect the children with allergies:
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the cultivation, processing , sale, or transportation of peanuts or peanut products within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for any purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
(if you look closely, it is heavily based on the 18th amendment(ie prohibition) With this amendment there will soon be a large underground organized crime network in the trafficking of peanuts and peanut products with peanut speakeasies and essential repeat of the rampant organized crime of the 1920s
I think we should ban guns in school. Oh wait, they already did that! And kids still manage to get them there and kill people with them.
As the parent of a child with SEVERE food allergies…including peanuts…I believe that it is my responsibility to keep my child safe. Although the school is aware of her allergies she has been trained from a young age to read labels and identify the foods she can not have. This is something that she needs to be educated on more than anyone…because she will deal with it all her life. We are lucky that her school has made the choice to educate teachers and students but in the end I am the one who takes full responsibility for her food…sending lunch and snacks that she can safely enjoy.
what about kids with severe bee sting allergies? are they not allowed to go out for recess?
My kid is allergic to bees. Am I going to demand that a glass dome be erected over the school? NO, that is just how it is. I have educated her on what to do if ever stung by a bee, I'm not leaving it up to others, nor am I going to demand that every flower be eradicated from the planet.
You better teach your kids better ways to eat and not to eat things u didn’t prepare for them… Explain them how important is know what he eats and I will like to know if you take all that cause allergies of the kitchen then you better close the school… lest be realistic… I did grow up allergic to sea food.. I know since I was a kid.. One of my brothers to peanuts’… My mom always say that I have to adapt to the world, never try to change the world because my allergies… good luck on that and my opinion if you still not understand me is NO do not take it out of the menu…
I missed many a day of school due to the triggers in the classroom that set off my severe asthma attacks- came close to being left back as well as almost dying once or twice from it- we don't know how I survived. I live with this illness- have it for 47 years. It is my problem & I learn how to handle it no matter how difficult. The school arena for me triggered worse reactions than my friend with peanut allergies's kid has ever seen & I hope never sees...we can educate these kids, their friends, their teachers- they can help (they tried changing MY seat a few times) but let's not hurt others at our expense. Banning is downright not fair to the mainstream healthy. I suffered but didn't make others do the same for me and my illness...
Peanut butter should be allowed in schools. I it is one of the most nutritious foods available for people. If some kids are allergic to it, they should be taught not to eat it by their parents. There are many different kinds of food sthat people or kids are allergic to. Milk or dairy for example is one of the top foods that people have reactions to. Should we start banning MILK in schools?... I don't think so!
unfortunately...people don't understand until they see their own child suffer a reaction...so for one minute i ask you to reconsider your stance if it was your child that was having an anaphylactic reaction (a severe life threatening reaction...something my son has had 11 times before he was 2 yrs old) to a food. it's so sad that people are quick to judge and quick to respond with these harsh statements when it comes to children and their well being.
Leti – I would not send my kid to school because it could happen even with the ban. I would never take that chance. As you can see from the responses that lots of people don't care or disagree. Kids eat peanut butter at home at breakfast and lunch. Accidental contamination could easily happen. I feel for you, but ther is too much at stake.
Schools teach and help prepare children to be productive adults.
Children who expect their environments to cater to them may not be prepared for the workforce or outside world.
Would be good to teach children to wash their hands and brush their teeth after eating, cover their mouths when coughing/sneezing, keep their mouths closed when eating. This would keep airborne food particles and germs down and be a benefit to themselves and society.
#1) Thank god I went through school before this was an issue.
#2) Thank god I don't intend to breed so I won't have to worry about it in the future either.
I think the bigger question is...why are we seeing all these peanut allergies? Too much antibacterial soap? Too many chemicals in the water? Weakening gene pool? Didn't they used to put kids like this in plastic bubbles or let them die off?
Banning peanut butter in schools is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard for several reasons. First off referencing that peanut butter should be banned because there are healthier alternatives completely misses the point of American and growing up: you are responsible for your own decisions.
Secondly it should be the parents responsibility to educate their children on how to care for themselves. That is what being a parent IS! Parents of allergic children should educate their children to stay away from peanuts (and tell other students they are allergic if it is brought near them) and the allergy should be documented by the school so if something does happen they can respond correctly. If kids who are allergic need to have their own table, that's one thing but telling someone else what they can and cannot consume for lunch is going too far.
I sympathize with people who have allergies. However, schools and the rest of the world cannot be changed to accommodate every possible allergic condition. In addition to peanuts, there are allergies to gluten (in bread), shellfish, and milk products. Some people are also allergic to pollen, dust, mold, synthetic fabrics, perfumes, etc.
There is no practical way to eliminate all the potential allergens from schools or anywhere else. People with allergies have to come up with coping strategies – just like people with pacemakers have to avoid microwave ovens. Individuals who are at risk have to take the responsibility to look out for themselves.
I'm not trying to be mean about the situation. I'm trying to be realistic. It might not be "fair" – but it's the way life is.
Peanut allergies are very serious and it's up to all parents to educate their children on how to be safe whether your child has an allergy or not . The problem I have is that schools are misleading parents with children who have these allergies when they decide to become "peanut-free". There is still going to be that random kid that comes to school with peanut butter on his fingers from breakfast and spreads it on the table next to someone who has an allergy. Outright bans are no fun either. If you're going to ban peanuts than you might as well ban playground time because there is always that chance that someone with a bee allergy might get stung by a bee. I think that education is the best answer as well as making it known to students and teachers who has the allergies so everyone is aware and prepared if something happens.
Ther is a ban on PB in all schools in Ontario. What a problem that has cause me!
Neither of my kids eat anything but peanut butter or nutella. Both are banned from our schools.
Try explaining to a 5 or 6 year old why they are only getting bread and butter (neither eats jam. fish or cold cuts) for lunch with fruit and veggies.
My niece has to carry an epi pin due to her fish allergy. She obviously is not as important as fish is still allowed in schools.
I think that ther should be a room set aside for those with sever allergies to eat in and allow kids to be kids and eat their PB
Eric, I know its difficult to sacrifice your own interests for the sake of others but thats what makes this world go round. Im sorry to inconvenience your peanut eating desires. Its hardly a debate when were talking about sacrfificing peanut products, in trade for the well being of 'our' children. My guess is that your divorced, overwieght, self-indulging, and teaching your children the same 'critical thinking'. Go back to work, or are you unemployed as well??
Mr. Peters – Lost of kids are allergic to milk and milk, wheat, eggs, sea food and soy products – all common food allergies. Why don't you check the ingredients out on most products. So no milk, no cheese, no yogurt, no bread, no crackers, no tuna sandwiches, no samon sandwiches, no pudding, ...what the hell are kids suppose to eat ? Bark?
Give your head a shake.
Mr. Peters, from the sound of it you're one of those self absorbed parents who thinks your little Johnny is god's gift to the world and that he deserves and A in class no matter how poorly he does just because his Billy got an A for the best work. In your twisted world it's not fair that others do better than your child, because he also should be the quarterback. Allergies are difficult, but the world is not going to rid itself of peanuts and bees and bully's and smarter kids than yours. Grow up Mr. Peters and with a little work, perhaps your kids can as well.
Why not just ban eating from schools? Kids are too fat anyway and it should be the responsibility of the parents to provide them with meals that are catered to their tastes and allergies.
Natural Selection FTW!
love it!
cool. this is great...also, there are kids allergic to water. Now everyone will have to do without water because there are some people actually out there with water allergies. So now no one can have water just as those with peanut allergies can do away with peoples' rights to give their kids peanut butter.
I am a mother of a 6 year old child who has a LIFE THREATENING peanut allergy. I am saddened by some of these comments and the fact that people would take the life of my child so lightly. I would never for a moment talk about another child as I hear some people here talking. My husband or I go to school everyday for lunch to ensure that our child is safe. We are the advocates for our child and do what we can to make sure that he is safe. I have not tried to "ban" pb at his school, but this year we have successfully established a peanut/nut free table and that is working very well. I do not try to force anything upon anyone about this topic when some people are so close minded, but I am always very open to talking about it when someone approaches me. If anyone is interested in learning more about the seriousness of this...we have experienced it first hand. And yes, peanut particles can be in the air and can be life threatening. I am also involved in an allergy support group which helps me to deal with this. I recommend for anyone that has an allergic child. Thank you so much to those of you who do show compassion for other's children...
I am sorry that your child has to go through this. And I am sorry about the stress that this causes you and your family. But what about the kids with wheat allergies, shellfish allergies?? Should they ban all those things as well?
ditto
In my post, I do state that I have not tried to ban peanuts at my son's school. I believe that the parents of children who do have other life threatening allergies should try at their school to enforce an allergy free table. It took me over a year to establish one at my son's school. The thing is the parent has to be the one to head it up and build good relationships with the school staff, principal, school nurse, etc. I have made sure that everyone knows my son and has put his face with his name. This is what I do to make sure that my child is safe. Sorry for the long winded answer...
Its serious and that is fine to have a peanut free table. With that said, if there are airborne particles and your child is that allergic, he could still be at risk. I dont think that other kids rights should be infringed upon if it is as serious as having a reaction to airborne particles. If this is the case, I would strongly consider having the child home schooled because of the severity of the condition.
you are right...home schooling could be an option, but at this time it is not something that I feel we need to do. we fortunately have not had an episode because of airborne peanut particles. i was just stating that it is a fact that can affect some individuals because some of the posts have stated otherwise.
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_allergy#Prevalence
Peanut allergies kill about 100 in the US each year. You'd be far better off, statistically, banning driving your children to school.
Idiot. So do you think we should only ban the one thing that causes the most problems? I don't know about you but I can walk and chew gum at the same time. Here's an exercise for you: Go find the thing that kills more people than auto accidents among underage drivers. Then go find a web site where people discuss how to make teenage driving safer, and tell them that the thing you found kills more people than teen driving. God, you are so friggin' stupid. STUPID. Does logic play in, you moron?? Do you think before you open your stupid piehole? God I am so tired of stupid people.
I HAVE A SOLUTION FOR ALL OF YOU IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE HERE GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I WILL EVEN PAY YOUR WAY
What about the kids who are alergic to wheat products? Should they ban bread, chips, and everything else? There is a term for this type of thinking. It's call the "Pussification of America."
They have a word for people like you: Stupid. Actually more than one word: Moron and idiot too.
They have words for people like you, too. Nazi and Fascist come to mind.
After reading so many of these responses and looking at the results I only have one thing to say. You Americans are selfish. I am Canadian and we work together meaning.. if it takes us to ban peanuts because it would save the life of one child then that’s what we do, and it s worth it. My son does not have any allergies. I don't get to send him to school with peanut butter sandwiches like I was able to when I was a kid. I do make them for him at home. Remember it's not the kids fault he is allergic. He was born with it. It's not like he has a choice in the matter. Don't deprive him of a childhood because of it. Life isn't always fair but together we can make life that much more comfortable. Stop being selfish.
Not driving cars would save hundreds more children's lives. So why are you Canadians still doing that?
Typical pompous Canadian response. "We all agree and think exactly like I do."
GTFO
So you are only reading the posts made by the jerks? All the people who are posting statements in agreement to you– they are not Americans? You have quite the ego. Some of us are selfish, yes. But not all of us are as smug as you, it seems.
Yes Denis.. Ill admit it.. IM SELFISH... I like my freedoms... I have been raised to cherish my freedoms from control freaks that want to dictate every aspect of my life. I like having the freedom of speech that you Canadians lack... You can't even publish anything that may offend anyone without fear of being arrested. Well... I hope you enjoy living like that. I will NOT EVER tolerate that. These little things where a small group attempts to DICTATE behavior of the masses is where it all begins. Again... it is the MINORITY that is demanding that everyone else change their behavior that are the SELFISH ones. So.. enjoy your semi-free life in Canada and I hope you dont offend anyone and end up in jail.
Please don't lump all Canadians under your banner. Although there does need to be some protection for kids with food allergies, blanket bans are not the way to go about this. As has been mentioned earlier, allergen-free tables are usually a sufficient protection for kids, while enabling the other kids to exercise choice in their dietary needs. This is particularly important for low income families, where nut butters represent a inexpensive form of protein for their kids. Saying "Ban all nuts" is all well and good, but will there be a supplemental food program for those affected?
As to the persecution that children with allergies face; the answer to this lies with the parents (usually of the other children). If a child forces contact with an allegen on another child, treat it as if it were a physical assault and discipline your child.
The way we build up a tolerance to things is by being introduced to them while our bodies can adjust (i.e., when we are young). Some doctors even advocate, under supervision, introducing allergens to people in small increments until their bodies build up a tolerance.
The problem is that we would rather complain and avoid the situation than have our children learn to deal with it. They won't be able to hide their entire lives, and I would hate to read someone's tombstone saying: "I died from a goober because my momma and daddy couldn't simply teach me how to survive."
This is a case where the line between compassion and stupidity is being crossed with regularity.
FYI, the therapy you are recommending (feed the allergen small doses) hasn't been approved by the FDA
because there have been deaths within the study. You really should have your facts straight before recommending
something like that.
OMG so many ignorant people and responses I really don't know where to start. Honestly are you all that stupid and that insensitive? God help us all if that is the case. I have a son with a peanut/tree nut allergy he sits at the peanut free table with others that suffer from peanut allergies. It is very common now. However, we are lucky because he is ok as long as he does not touch or ingest it. I have heard of others who can not even be in the same room as it. I wish people would educate themselves and be sensitive to others. OUr world would be a better place. For those who refuse to do that – maybe one day you or someone you love will experience a life threatening food allergy and then you will know what it is like – chances are this will happen.
I keep trying to convince myself that there aren't so many stupid morons in the world but forums like this keep making that a futile effort. The "don't bother me with your problems" mentality reveals the animal in so many people.
And people like you, who think that YOUR problems are the responsibility of everyone else, but not you yourself.
WHY LIMIT THE BAN TO JUST SCHOOL??!!
BAN PEANUTS ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!!!!
I believe that every child has a right to attend school and if the peanut allergy is the problem then ban the peanuts.
There was a child in my district that couldn't attend school because of his airborne peanut allergy.
Give me a break, there are a ton of food choices on a school menu. No child HAS to have PB & J. If teaching your
child compassion for others is against your beliefs, then shame on you.
Let's ban all foods that cause allergys; strawberrys, peanuts, milk, wheat, eggs, fish, shellfish, to name a few; Do not allow these foods in schools; feed the students tofu and carrots (if they are not allergic) I have allergys, but I take responsibility for them my self; and try not to inconvience others, Teach the kids about their allergy and how to manage it and leave the others alone.
Let's just home school all the children. Between food allergies, bee allergies, car accidents, bullying, drinking, the flu. It's obviously too dangerous to allow these kids out in public. I know a mother who won't let their kids in the woods because of tic born disease. These kids are precious to allow them exposure to the worldly elements. If the peanut allergy doesn't get them, than it will be the cashew nuts or the wayward snickers bar after the holloween where Jason and witches are banned.
From kindergarten through sixth grade, I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch at least twice a week and, SURPRISE, none of my schoolmates died because of it. Maybe we need to stop living in a state of constant fear.
"Fear is the mindkiller. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration." – the Bene Gesserit
i haven't been to school in years, but i distinctly remember having a lunch card. at the time, it was a punch card but i'm sure there's a more technologically savvy lunch card now that can be swiped or something.
any way we could have a notice to the lunchlady printed on the card, or even show up on their screen that flags them as to what this particular child may be allergic to? let's leave it up to the lunch staff to determine whether a child should have something or not.
and at some point, the child will learn, whether they like it or not, that they cannot have something when they are restricted from it by a higher authority. if schools want to serve lunch to children, the staff should be responsible for the goings on in 'their' lunchroom.
or go back to the 1800s where kids brought their own food. i assure you, it would be MUCH cheaper for families and schools alike to have the parents provide a sack lunch for their kids. that way the parents KNOWS what's going into the lunch bag and can decide how they want to feed THEIR children.
I think it is ridiculous how people think that others should change just because they have a problem. If a child has a nut allergy the parents or guardians should be the ones that are taking the necessary precautions to assure the child's safety. They shouldn't expect the school and everyone around them to accommodate their child's nut allergy. Also, the parents should do their best to educate their child about their allergy. If the child knows that nut products can cause a reaction which could kill them, hopefully they would have enough common sense to stay away from it!
For many food allergies, the threat is hidden. Food that wasn't properly removed by cleaning. Food processed in plants that also process the allergen. It's not possible to simply stay away from an allergen in an environment where that allergen can be on the underside of the table, in the air, on another person's clothes, etc.
You can always find someone who thinks ANYTHING is reasonable... but once you start, where do you stop? First peanut butter, then other nuts, then eggs, and so on Ad Infinitum. And to make things REALLY interesting, what happens when someone decides one child is allergic to another child? And finally, are you raising these children to protect themselves in a hostile environment, or to assume someone will always be there to make the hazards go away??
A comment about what kids are capable of: I have a six year old son with a peanut allergy. A couple of weeks ago I took him to a birthday party at a public facility. He made friends with a kid he did not previously know. When the time came for cake, I gave my son the cupcake we had brought for him, since my wife had determined the cake was not safe. My son's new friend naturally asked about the cupcake and my son told him the reason for it.
Several minutes later my son's friend shoved his cake in my son's face.
So to those of you who think it's as simple as educating our children to be safe: We need to educate YOUR CHILDREN too. A six year old, seven, eight, ten... 12? 15? Kids that age don't get it. People under 20 have been shown in numerous studies to not have the cognitive ability to understand risk and consequence. Most kids adolescent age and younger don't understand what death is, and most have never been seriously hurt. THEY DON'T GET IT. That's why we discuss the idea of making universal rules about what's allowed and what's not: BECAUSE AN INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH is sometimes the only thing that really creates reasonable safeguards.
You can thank Cass Sunstein for this and more to come because he thinks were all Hommer Simson and someone to control and tell us what is good for all.
Dear God I wish we could ban stupidity.
Well, that would certainly eliminate most of the posts on boards such as these.
Since when do schools only have a single option at the lunch counter? I agree that if a child is alergic to something they should not be forced to eat it. I believe that for food safety that peanut butter should be prepared in a certain area where it will not contaminate other foods. I really don't see a need to ban peanut butter. Instead we should probably ban bread. It is clearly evil and cannot be trusted in the hands of children. For that matter, what about celery? It has that stringy stuff in it.
I don't see a need to ban peanut butter in every public school nationwide. However, if there is a child that does have a life-threatening allergy, then I think it's up to the school to handle that on a case by case basis. Nobody should be complaining about making adjustments if there is a real and immediate threat. I have been on airplanes before where there were no nuts allowed because of a passenger's peanut allergy. Nobody kicked and screamed about being deprived of peanut butter for the hourlong duration of the flight. I like peanut butter too, but not enough to KILL for it, for heaven's sake.
It's a slippery slope to start banning certain food items from children's lunches. Many children have food allergies to items other than peanut butter, and it would create chaos to ban all of these items. The better solution is for parents to educate their children about what they should and should not eat.
My daughter is in 3rd grade. In her school, there are separate tables for children with food allergies. That means I can send her in with PB&J for lunch. The system has worked for as long as she has attended. Also, all lunchroom staff and teachers are trained to recognize when children go into distress due to food problems – this includes choking as well as allergic reactions.
Some individual classrooms have identified children with nut allergies. If there are none identified to the parents, there are no restrictions on what the child can bring in for snacks. There is a restriction on bringing food to the classrooms for birthdays, which I can understand. What I find ironic is as a PTA we are not allowed to sell home baked goods at bake sales because of potential food allergy/dietary law restrictions. Given this, how did my generation ever survive to adulthood without Big Brother watching over us?
More hyperbole. Joe, not everyone from your generation survived. And I would submit that some from your generation who died died because of things that could have been prevented. Also, the rate of peanut allergies in children was almost unheard of back in your generation. The rates have increased dramatically in only recent years.
Tim I think you are on to something! It is these over coddling parents.. that dont allow their children to eat certain foods or only allow them to eat vegetables... or make them constantly bathe in the purell hand sanitizer lotions that are causing the problems to explode..... they try to be 'healthier'.. however... they are doing the exact opposite and making these allergy issues even worse. We have gotten along just fine until this point...
You got Peanut Butter in my Chocolate.
I think we should take a state like say....Utah. Put a 12 foot high barb wired fence around it and put all these PB allergic kids inside the fence with their own schools, churches, shopping malls, etc. where they can live out their lives in total harmony without fear of allergic reactions. Parents can visit on weekends and holidays.
To everyone saying water allergies do not exist, please check your facts. No, there is no actual allergy against it that causes a histamine release (as in allergies to peanut butter, etc), but there is a disorder that causes extreme hypersensitivity to it, causing someone who comes into contact with water to develop severe rashes closely resembling those of an allergic reaction. It is called Aquagenic urticaria. I wish people would stop spouting things off on here without knowing what they're talking about.
I'm 19 years old and can't imagine growing up without eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch at school. Sure, lunch meat is okay for some kids, but there are actually people who seriously do not like cold cuts. There is also the question of vegetarians who don't have much choice for protein besides peanut butter. I don't understand why this is becoming an issue now when people have been allergic to peanut butter for centuries. People have made it work since the institution of the public school system. I hope kids with allergies are safely guarded against peanut butter or anything else, but that is the responsibility of the parent.
Quite honestly.. I think any parent putting lunch meat on a child's sandwich should be thrown in jail... Also.. any parent feeding their children hot dogs... chicken nuggets... or any processed meat food for that matter... should be prosecuted for child endangerment. Peanut butter is much healthier than any of those aforementioned items. It would be a travesty if we let .0005% or whatever it is... banish peanut butter from existence. LOOK.. Im sorry for their allergies.. but pack em in a space suit and send em to school.
Right from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease:
"Any food can cause an allergic reaction, but only eight foods cause nine out of ten reactions. They are milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish."
Are we going to ban all of those foods from schools? According to the NIAID 0.5% of children under the 18 have legitimate food allergies (vs food sensitivity). So if we're going to ban peanuts, we need to ban milk, soy, eggs, wheat, tree nuts, fish and shellfish too. If we're willing to do that for .5% of the population, then we should also ban from schools any other food a child attending that school is allergic to.
Based on the National Center for Education Statistics, the average American elementary school has 402 students. Based on that, on average, 2 students in the elementary school have an allergy to the aforementioned allergens. If two students are enough to ban an allergen, then we should also be able to ban an allergen if simply 1 student is allergic to it.
Any one else see the insanity when you think of the numbers? I understand that parents want to keep their children safe, but short of sticking your child in a bubble, you cannot protect them from everything. With that said, I do believe that is the parents who should take precautions to protect their children. According to the NIAID, only 2000 people a year are hospitalized from any type of food allergy and only150 people a year, die from all food allergies combined. From the NHTSA, over 35,000 people die a year from car accidents. For all of those people who are saying that peanuts need to be banned in schools because they could kill there children, I bet you don't think twice that when you buckle your child up they 233 times more likely to die on the drive to school than from any food allergy.
Problem though, you say we should take soy out of the cafeteria too, but kids need their milk right? what about that population of kids who are lactose intolerant and can only drink soy milk? How do we choose which group to cater towards if there are critical limitations that counter each other in that situation? Going blitz off paranoid is not going to help solve any problems, that attitude will just create more. A solution that fits both sides is necessary, but completely banning peanut butter from schools is A) not going to work because there is no way schools can enforce this. What are they going to do? take the kid's food and make him starve through lunch, or take his food and have to pay for the food the child needs. That's just a recipe for both disaster as well as lawsuits for child neglect. B) is ethically wrong. Though I feel for the minority who have storng extreme allergies, the fact of the matter is, as a society, we cannot allow a tiny majority, whether or not their argument has validity, control our actions.
I yelled about the people using the "Darwinism" theory last time to describe their point, this time I'll focus on the other extremists for the other side. No one here has any right to personally judge anyone else on here. No one knows who anyone else is in real life, what they struggle with and any other important details. I've seen a bunch of allergy pro parents yelling at those who say peanut butter is a cheap and healthy way to go, telling them they should just get off their lazy asses and go get jobs. Well, newsflash to all of you, getting a job isn't as easy as some of you are making it sound. The economy is a sh*thole right now, and people are getting laid off left and right. You don't know what their lives are like, so stop acting as if you have any right to judge their decisions.
An elementary school near me banned nuts and all nut products...what happened was that a flourishing black market on peanut butter cups, single peanuts, and shots of peanut butter began to explode...i mean these kids were hitting the nuts hard until there had to be a war on nuts, things still aren't the same, you drive by that school and its a mess, kids walking around shaking and crying out for just one more shot of peanut butter...ahhhh the humanity
How dare you make comments like this. You all have NO idea what this is like. I have a son with a severe peanut allergy. It is NOT bad parenting. He did NOT ask for it. The first time he ate it, he had a severe reaction. We now have to carry an epi-pen with us everywhere we go. For the rest of his life, he will never be able to have them. And yes, he even has a reaction when he smells it. It is not fair for him to keep him home and keep him in a bubble. I have never once asked a school to ban it, but it does make it easier if they do. I have heard parents complain about not being able to bring PB to school. How is this my fault if all your kid will eat is peanut butter? That people IS bad parenting. My son has no choice, yours do. The comments on this page have made me sick. For one second, put yourself in his shoes. You may not think a ban is the answer..but peanut is one of the few allergies that can cause death. I'm not talking about a runny nose..death. So yes when a school asks you to not bring it and you do anyway because your kid can't eat anything else...you are risking a child's life. Again, how would you feel if this were your child??
There is a big difference between peanuts and peanut butter when it comes to peanut allergy. The smell of peanuts and peanut butter is NOT a known allergen. Breathing peanut pieces in the air is. Peanut butter does NOT become airborne and therefore only causes allergies when eaten. I am very allergic to peanuts, but i have never once asked the rest of the world to do without them because of me.That would be stupid and very self centered. When these kids grow up they can not ask that no one bring peanuts or peanut butter to work, so they need to learn how to protect themselves just as i have. The number of deaths a year by food allergens is only 150 so let's be realistic here.
NO-peanut butter should not be banned. It is a healthy satiating food. Schools however should be prepared to handle any potential emergency. Kids who are allergic to peanuts know they are allergic as do their parents. It is the parents responsibility to make sure the child understands the significance of the problem with eating a knowingly allergic product. Separate lunchrooms would be an acceptable solution also.
all you people who are saying that they dont care about the kids with allergies, you are all selfish. i dont believe in banning pb in schools, but i do belive in taking precautions for people who are allergic. being a strong society means working together to save eachother and if you dont give a crap about others then you are wrong. im not saying that we should baby the people with allergies, but geeze... it doesnt hurt to care.you would want people to care for you in even in the slightest way, wouldnt you? its called the golden rule...learn it!
@Matt
Matt, you are an idiot.
Children sometimes get hit by cars while crossing the street. Solution: ban all cars within 100 yards of any school.
We are raising a society of panzied idiots.
Wow so many comments, too many to read. Look something needs to give, and maybe a solution in the middle should be created. No one wants to be seperated from their friends at lunch, so what do we do? I for one am 41 years old and still love PB&J. But I am not going to offer my food to anyone. So I don't understand will a kid in school force his lunch on his friend if his friend says no? Let kids eat what they can and be a good parent.
Ok, I have read a lot of stupid and hateful posts on here. I normally would not weigh in on one of these forums, but since I have a daughter with a tree nut allergy I feel like I have to. First of all, this is a very dangerous condition. How dare any of you, compare it to pet dander, mold or pollen. Food allergies are very serious. If my daughter is exposed to the slightest residue from any type of tree nut, she will die without immediate medical attention. However, she does not have an allergy to peanuts & normally eats a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. That being said; schools banning peanut butter would affect her also, but because of her condition and being educated about this she would understand. I would like to think that most parents try to protect their children and keep them from harm. This is no different. Kids don't always know or think about what they are doing. Small children like to play around, they don't alway wash their hands. The may drink out of someones cup after eating peanut butter or they may have it on their hands and touch what an allergic child is eating. Older kids may not fully comprehend the severity of an allergic childs condition and play a prank on someone, causing a severe reaction or even death. This allergy is common enough that schools & daycares should become nut free environments. To those of you who disagree & want to be hateful. What would you do to make sure your child is protected?
What would I do to protect my child: I can't say since this is a public forum and I don't want to end up on a watch list somewhere. What I will say is this: I'm sorry your child has an allergy that is life threatening and I wish the world was a different place where we didn't have to deal with these kinds of things. But the reality is that it's a big world out there and we have no way of knowing what dangers our children face. What you and many of your ilk (and I use that word deliberately to describe my frustration with ALL YALL) don't seem to get is that it isn't just the schools, it's the playground during the summer break, it's a quick stop at a friend's house and their parent doesn't know your child is allergic, it's any of a number of things that you have no control over and here you controlling b______s go trying to make everyone make you feel safe. That isn't my responsibility, nor is it the responsibility of the government. For you and YOUR CHILDREN IT IS YOU who is responsible. If you are unwilling to work with the school and your kid and TEACH THEM WELL then why do I have to protect them from themselves?
HOW DARE you belittle pet dander allergies. If I come in contact with any cat dander.. I have a SEVERE allergic reaction that triggers an asthma attack. I have almost died on a few occasions because of this. Don't you dare tell me that the peanut allergy is worse. Talk about ignorance... you should look in the mirror! You know what.. I deal with my condition and dont expect EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD to accommodate my health issues.
I understand both sides of this story, but I have had plenty of friends allergic to a variety of things, and all it takes is slight adjustments. It's just too selfish to either 1) ignore the problem because it isn't your kid with an allergy or 2) to ban it all together because of a handful of little ones. I never want to see a child get sick or be hurt, but I do think that this is America. It's not like outside of school the rest of the world is going to ban peanut butter for your child. Once they get into college and into a work environment, nobody is going to adjust their lives for the same allergic kid the school district adjusted for. Teach kids early how to be proactive, because school eventually ends. If you know your child is allergic, find the other parents of children with peanut allergies and ask that those students have a separate table together as a health precaution. Parents with healthy kids, be mindful of your children's classmates and friends and maybe just be a little more understanding. Safety is a priority, but there have to be reasonable adjustments. A ban isn't reasonable. It's silly.
I ate peanut butter every day of my life in school. As much as I hate it, I believe that one day the problem will be so bad that we won't have a choice but to ban peanut butter from school. My son is allergic to peanuts, and believe me, when people have to experience it in their own families, they understand immediately and their attitude changes. The problem is that my son has had an allergic reaction on the playground because someone didn't wash their hands after eating peanut butter, so a peanut-free table isn't good enough for some. I wonder if it would be ok to have mold growing in the classrooms. After all, MY son is not allergic to mold.
Well said.
As Tim said, well said. Now I'll ask you what I've asked others: If your child is that allergic then what are they doing outside your house? A kid on the playground with PB on their hands because they didn't wash? STOP THE F__KING PRESSES!!!!!!!!! WE'VE GOT A NEW LEAD STORY. I'm truly sorry that your child has this PROBLEM but really, you need to get a grip on teaching them to have a good life and not live in fear.
My main fear is that some kid is going to sneak in some reese's pieces to school and my kid will breathe them in....not the crunchy shell obviously but the peanut butter middle...mmmmm that peanut buttery middle...ahhhh but anyways, they banned nuts at the school but i'm worried one of these jerks will sneak something in, whose fault would that be if my kid dies from it? i'd want that little snot nosed 5 year old and their parent thrown in prison for life, for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zeig Heil mein fuhrer.
Sorry, though I was raised to be "Leftist" this is where I put on the German uniform, grow a stupid moustache and start talking about "Weaklings destroying the human race!"
Civilization, our technology, is man's greatest threat. Simply put, those that would have died in nature survive and reproduce, magnifying their inferior genes. Unless man embraces a 'eugenics' policy, one that genetic technology/gene therapy can make more merciful, man will destroy himself by making himself more helpless than a clam if his 'shell' ever fails.
But, no, no more "Political Correctness". Ever read "Harrison Bergeron"? No more making us all weak to save the feelings of weaklings.
If feeding your kids peanut butter is your idea of a good lunch. Or better yet those of you that say that is the only thing my kids will eat. Parents LISTENT UP!!!! STOP BEING LAZY AND GET OFF THAT DEAD ASS AND MAKE THEM A DECENT LUNCH. Why don't you eat that nasty ass peanut butter for your lunch. If you can't afford something else then get a job if not for yourself do for your kids. Or join the Obama free lunch program.
Please tell me that you are impotent and unable to procreate. If you don't like PB or even think it's "of the devil" then by all means avoid it. If someone is so destitute that this is all they have and it's what they can feed their kid then YOU ARE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO GET OFF YOUR DEAD A$$ AND WAKE THE F__K UP.
Eric they are probably a vegetarian and like water cress sandwiches... Im sorry.. Im not changing my diet to accommodate anyone else. These people are control freaks...
I do not think it is necessary to change the schools and take peanut butter out of them. My granddaughter has the peanut allery (plus many others) and she is learning that she can't have certain foods and understands why. Yes, she knows that she cannot even sit at a table where they have the peanut butter – and her friends understand that if they want to sit with her for lunch, they cannot have PBJ sandwishes and they ask their mothers not to pack that for them because they want to sit with their friend. I think here, that everyone is learning. The kids who do not have allergies are also learning about those that have and are willing to compromise. After all, everyone can eat peanut butter at home if they are able to. And they can eat it in school too, just let the people who might have an allergic reaction to it, know that this is what they have. They can move to a different table – but they have to know.
You know seriously if a child has another disability it is taken into consideration with a medical IEP and they must be accommodated by the ADA. So how is a life threatening reaction to a food that is airborne by mold spores any different. Everyone who feel that these children do not need accommodation need to look inside themselves and realize what a terrible parent you are for feeling your non-allergic child is any better or special then anyone else's child. Most of the comments from parents too lazy to consider simply sending their kid a jelly sandwich to school w/o the peanut better just really aggravate me. Save your peanut better for after school with some whole wheat crackers or celery and the children with peanut allergies will be safe. (Oh and my child has several food allergies but peanuts are AIRBORNE ALLERGIES!) Stop belittling parents and children who have a life threatening condition to deal with on a daily basis and think of someone besides yourself for once. I am ASHAMED of my generation of parents. ASHAMED!
Lets build a space suit that these kids can wear that filters the air..and protects them from any airborne allergens.. PROBLEM SOLVED. I swear.. every day I wake up.... Im finding more and more of my freedoms disappearing... what the hell is the matter with you people.
I, too, have a deathly allergy to shellfish, despite being brought up in Louisiana where they are a staple and other places on the coast. However, our constitution does not allow for the abolition of peanut products in schools. It simply is not feasible to remove a staple of the American diet to accommodate a very small minority of the public. We already struggle with enough in our schools to add one more avoidable issue for educators to combat. It is unfortunate that some of us live in fear of a cross-contaminated knife or cutting board, but it is our responsibility, or in the case of a child, the parents' responsibility to remove the child from the situation. Our country was founded on the freedom of choice, among other things, and parents of severely allergic children must acquiesce to the good of the many.
Tell you what, you tell your kid not to eat my kid's PB&J sandwich and I'll speak to my kid about not stuffing his sandwich into your kid. Sounds fair right?
The only thing I can get my picky 5 year old to eat in her lunch is a PB & J. I understand the seriousness of the peanut allergy along with others such as wheat. However, I need to make sure that my child is eating something during her lunch time and she wants PB & J and I think she should be able to have it.
I can certainly understand the concerns of a parent who has a child that is seriously allergic to peanuts, but I'm afraid you can't force others to change there habits to accommodate a child with allergies. What about the child who has a severe allergy to bee stinks, is that parent going to insist that the entire area around the school be sprayed to kill off bees and wasps?
Here's the problem – a peanut-free table wouldn't be enough. It only opens the school up to a lawsuit from people claiming to have been given a false sense of security. Way too many commonly used ingredients contain peanut oil, and for some children, the smallest amount is deadly. You're talking about an extreme menu change to promise food that is free of peanut product. If you're talking about asbestos, which hurts everybody – get rid of it! You cannot expect a school, though, to offer foods free of all items that children may be allergic to, such as peanuts, eggs, wheat, dairy, soy, etc. Parents will need to tell children what they can and cannot eat, and possibly send them to school with their lunches and snacks from home. Additionally, the school cafeteria should post a sign warning all students of the possibility of peanuts and other such items in the food. I know this doesn't seem fair to those parents of children with allergies, but a 'peanut free table' may not seem fair to the parent of a child with a wheat allergy, either. There has to be a level of reason displayed here.
There are simply too many alternatives to peanut butter that don't cause allergic reactions. There is cashew butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter. And there is also soy butter..I know soy does cause allergic reactions but it is not nearly as common as peanut allergy. Plus, how could you knowingly send your kid to school with a peanut butter sandwich knowing their classmate has a deadly peanut allergy. Would you want your child to have to live with the kind of guilt that would cause if their classmate died because you were too lazy to pack your kid something else?
Firstly, an allergic child is far more likely to be killed riding home from school in a car than from a food allergy. Secondly, I have to alter my child's feeding habits to accommodate another's allergies. What about the child with a milk allergy, what about bee allergies, should be spray the school grounds to kill off bugs? Risk is a part of life, driving, playing sports, anything can cause harm. The allergic child and the parents have to deal with these issues everywhere..airplanes, restaurants, grocery stores. If you that worried, home school the child.
I spread easy
"The problem with your horrible comment is that your kid's wayward peanut butter at lunchtime could kill a child' - If we have food flying across that table into other peoples lunch, the problem isn't peanut butter but extreme eating. Everyone has an allergy. I'm allergic to cantaloupe. Does that mean nobody can have cantaloupe? No! I just steer clear of cantaloupe. If you're so paranoid, put your kid back in his plastic bubble and call it good. Otherwise, SHUT THE H-LL UP!
This should not be such a polarizing topic. As with politics, the extreme views are getting all the publicity. But the answer lies in the middle. Should peanut butter be banned in all schools? No. Of course not. Should schools take life threatening allergies very seriously? Of course. Just like with any disability, people need to help take care of one another. I will not respond to any of the bottom-feeders that have no human compassion. Their opinions are idiotic and everyone knows it but them.
Anyway, the reason that bans are discussed at all in the lower grades (and pre-k) is that many kids in those grades are extremely messy and peanut butter can end up anywhere in the classroom without taking some precautions. As kids get older, those with food allergies do have to learn to take their own precautions in order to live a productive and safe life. To ask little four- and five-year-olds to deal with that level of awareness is simply too much. But there are creative solutions that most intelligent parents will be happy with. For example, kids with severe food allergies can eat the very first lunch of the day, when the tables are cleaned and there can be, perhaps, more careful monitoring of who sits where (at the peanut-free table or a milk-free table). Most kids will be unaffected. I do find that the children who meet food-allergic kids early on have NO trouble adapting. Kids who thrived on peanut butter only the year before, will now prefer their mom make cheese sandwiches so that they can sit with their best friend, who is allergic to peanut butter. Kids get it, most of the time. There is plenty of room in the middle of this situation, where peanut butter can easily be banned in school from certain places and at certain times, while being available elsewhere. Moderation is the answer, and certainly this type of issue needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis, with parents working closely with their allergy-aware principals to find solutions that keep everyone happy and safe. It can be done.
Amy, unfortunately the comments from the "my child is deathly allergic" crowd won't let us meet in the middle.
Eric,
You know what–my child IS deathly allergic to peanut butter, along with tree nuts and stupid old seeds. But it still can be done. You just have to have a parent who is willing work hard to find solutions and a principal who is willing to work just as hard on the other end. Each party must take responsibility for keeping the kids safe. It's so logical and boring that people must forget that it is even an option.
Sure, we will compromise. The affected kids will just sort of semi-die. If they do die, the parents can have a new kid, they will just pick one of the surviving classmates. That kid will be assigned to take the dead one's place, and the other parents can see pictures of him or her every few months. Sounds like a good compromise.
My son is allergic to having water in his lungs, causes a bad reaction when this happens. So I have told him "Do not dunk your head under water and inhale". Unfortunately, due to large amounts of water present in our childrens schools, I cannot cannot guarantee that this won't happen. I understand that my child should have to learn to deal with his water allergy, but he is just so young. The other kids may not be aware of his allergy and might playfully dunk his head under water long enough for him to need to inhale. Considering this possibility, I have been on a strong campaign to remove all water from our schools here in Florida. I admit my success has been limited however. One administrator told me that I was ridiculous when I asked him to lower the relative humidity to 0%. What gives him the right to laugh at a concerned parent? Who is he to think he knows what is safe or "best" for my son?
What about tree nuts? Those can kill, too.....almond butter, chashew butter, etc. If someone can die from being around a food item, and with limited cafeteria supervision at schools, parents can't be there every second. If there are kids at that school THAT allergic, ban it at that school and the others can eat it at home. If you dont' understand that, be grateful your child doesn't have a life-threatening food allergy.
and looking at other comments....I understand the importance of freedom of speech but outlets like this show how really self-centered, ignorant and sad a portion of America truly is.....find something else to do with your time than post comments that make no sense.
"If someone can die from being around a food item, and with limited cafeteria supervision at schools, parents can't be there every second. If there are kids at that school THAT allergic, ban it at that school and the others can eat it at home." "I understand the importance of freedom of speech but outlets like this show how really self-centered, ignorant and sad a portion of America truly is.....find something else to do with your time than post comments that make no sense."
Tell me sweetie pie, were you lookin' in the mirror when you wrote these words you selfish, self centered twit? How arrogant and condescending can you be? I'm sorry your child has an allergy, DEAL WITH IT AND TEACH THEM HOW TO AVOID IT. TEACH their peers don't DEMAND that you be given your way just because it makes it easier on you.
I am from the class of 1986
I neither heard of Peanut butter allergies or Autism back then. (maybe they are connected)
I pretty sure there was no such thing a lactose Intolerance (or at least we never heard it)
I was walking in my kids school when I saw a sign that read "peanut free zone"
How about a school where you can express yourself, and maybe a sign that reads "Politically Correct Free Zone"
Have a snickers and move on. If you kid is allergic to peanuts, they will learn real quick, not to eat it. I am allergic to shellfish. If I take a bite of the shrimp cocktail, whose to blame, me AND MY PARENTS.
Or not, make your busy lives easier, there is always riddlun
Scooter was ignorant in high school. He didn't know about it, so it didn't exist and isn't a problem now. Problem solved.
Allergies to peanuts, dairy, wheat gluten, sugar, strawberries, fish, shellfish, etc. If we ban everything that someone COULD be allergic to, nothing would be left to feed except water. Perhaps we should do away with school meals, have parents respnsible to feed their own children, and as a side benefit, taxpayers will be able to have the satisfaction of paying less money for free/reduce meals, and the moral correctness to know there is no way we can contribute to the possible allergic reaction of any child.
Micromanaging seems to be an ongoing and ever increasing problem in this day and age. Though I feel for the parents and the child who suffers from these allergies, banning certain food products in schools, especially a staple like peanut butter just won't work. Since when did Americans become so lax in their ability to try and solve a problem that all we ever do is look towards our already corrupt government to solve it for us.
While I do feel sorry for the children who suffer from moderate to extreme allergies, banning a food in school just doesn't work. Some children are lactose intolerant, do we ban all types of milk except for soy? Other kids are allergic to tomatoes, so does that mean one can no longer have ketchup with his hamburger in school? Fortunately, these problems fall upon the society's hands to figure out a solution for. I say fortunately because that is what Americans are supposed to do. But instead, most of us seem content with letting the higher ups take care of everything, while we just sit back and let them.
I have an allergy, mild as it may be, to pollen. There isn't anything I can do about it, nor if there was some drastic solution, would I take it as an option. Every spring, when the flowers bloom, my nose gets super stuffed, my eyes water and I spend about a week hacking up disgusting goo from my lungs. Not life threatening, but uncomfortable to say the least. I have no right to jump in everyone else's face and scream for a ban on flowers in public places, claiming that because it affects me negatively, that everyone else should hug me close and tell me everything's going to be okay.
I also can see the allergic child and their parent's side of view too. Having a child who is allergic to everyday items is not fun, nor is it easy to deal with and take care of. The parents have to be on constant alert, much like they do with asthma. Those issues do not make for an easy, laid back life, and keeping a steady eye on your child is becoming even harder since parents have to work more to make up for the drowning economy. It's a hard problem to solve, but there can't be a black and white solution for this.
Banning peanut butter is like banning a protest. What is the school going to do when they realize children are bringing pb & j sandwiches for their lunch everyday even though the all powerful school banned its existance. Especially with the economy, money is harder to come by, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches remain one of the cheapest sources of food avaliable that also remains healthy. Answer me this, do you really think the alternative lunchable is going to be any better for your kid?
Give some respect to the parents who actually take time to prepare food for their kid instead of just sending money to the school. I spent 8 years in the public school system and the food they served there was barely more healthy than the local burger king.
To those parents that are self-righteously screaming the "Darwinism" bullsh*t, shut your craphole now! The way we act towards the environment as well as the wildlife and animals that live in it have knocked us out of the ability to claim ourselves a working part of nature. There are improvements occuring, but we have just as much of a right to claiming Darwinism exists in our society as President Ahmedinijad has claiming the Iranian people all love him.
Secondly, to that affect, how dare you say something like that? Has American society become that self centered? The world revolves about only ourselves now, the only person that matters is me, me, me? Get a life and realize that without the help of other people (namely your mother and father) you wouldn't even exist. Human life exists because we have figured out ways to help the majority, the population we live in. Pennecilin was discovered and that scientist could have just chosen to hold onto it for just himself and the ones he cared about. Instead, he released it and now every child is given that as a vaccine. The doctor helped your mother give birth to you. Had he not been there, it is quite possible that you could have suffered complications and been left with some disability of your own.
If you are so damn perfect, then start helping out the less fortunate. That attitude is what made this country great in the first place. Since when did we take our privelages and the blessings we have as things we deserve and will always have? I work in the Army, and I'll tell you, it's real hard sometimes to look at America and find a real reason as to why you are defending this country.
dear Canadian mom just think there should be no food so look at the money you save and I will bet your kids walk to school and eat Moose jerky and smoked salmon.
If my child had an extreme allergy I would elect to home school the child because I wouldn't want to put my child in danger. If the child could not administer her own antidote then she MUST not be exposed. It is not an educator's responsibility to medicate a student. The teacher's job is to teach. As a retired teacher I can truthfully say that there are too many accommodations being made for student's with special needs. We have limited resources that are being stretched too thin with programs that are unnecessary. If the allergies aren't life threatening give them their own table and be done.
I completely sympathize with parents and children with food allergies but banning something is not the solution. I have a child who does not eat meat and has basically eaten a peanut butter sandwich everyday since he was two. It's very hard to get him to eat enough protein a day and peanut butter is one of our few choices. The other week, he was guilted into throwing out his peanut butter sandwich at school because of this fear in the cafeteria due to a child with peanut allergies. Lack of education and having a good plan by the school on this issue was the problem and my son went the rest of the day without eating his lunch. Accomodations, planning and education will go much further then outright banning something such as peanut butter in schools. There are many, many other food allergies out there and we can't ban everything in the school cafeteria.
Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time!
Right now my kid's school has completely banned anything with Peanut Butter. They have also made restrictions on what the children can have as part of a Birthday Celebration at the school. The banning has gone so far as to now only give the kids one single choice for School celebrations. They can have Minute Maid Juice Pops. That's it.
My daughter and son both Love PB&J, and they are both vegetarian. The school does not accommodate vegetarian children very well (you think a 5 year old is going to eat Salad every day?). PB is a good source of protein for them. They are both very physically fit and are being penalized for enjoying a staple of their diet. Perhaps we should have MEAT banned from school or make the school setup a MEAT EATER table so they don't have to eat with those kids...Yeah, like that will happen
Lol your 5-year-old kid is a vegetarian? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Are you that arrogant that you're going to risk your child's healthy development because of a social decision that YOU'VE made? I'm not supporting the peanut ban in your school, but how about giving your kid some meat as a substitute to their peanut butter and stop imposing your social decisions on them.
Nice. It is always funny watching parents force veganism on their children. My wife had that happen to her as a child and it destroyed her relationship with her mother in the long term. Needless to say she hates vegans worse than anything else...
So ban.. peanut butter? Why not ban all the carbohydrates too for those of us who are diabetic and have to take insulin every day to live? Or all wheat products for those allergic to wheat.. and how about all the eggs for those with egg allergies? Maybe if we weren't ingesting strange chemicals in all our processed foods we wouldn't even have these problems to begin with.. So many can't even tolerate regular milk anymore.. something is definitely wrong. If you start banning peanut butter, what are the diabetic kids supposed to eat to reduce their carb intake? Pretty soon you can't eat anything anywhere!
Two of my kids have asthma and one is allergic to dairy, and yet they survived school with no special treatment. There are more asthma related deaths than food allergy deaths. Every day 11 people in the US die from Asthma. I worked with the school, had a close relationship with the school nurse and educated my kids with the signs and symptoms that lead to attacks. Just being near cat hair was enough to trigger and attack. I did not ask the school to provide a special play area because they were allergic to grass. In my opinion the US has become so antiseptic that kids don't build up natural immunity, and their bodies overreact when exposed to allergens. I am all four parents advocating for their young children but there comes a point where parents today hover too much! Helicopter parents are everywhere today and kids are not accountable for anything because mommy and daddy will fix it.
If peanut particles in the air can kill you, you need to be living your life in a plastic bubble instead of imposing on the rest of society.
No wonder this younger generation is so entitled. It isn't all about one or two kids; it is about society as a whole. We shouldn't have to bow to the needs of a tiny minority. If they can't survive in an elementary school, they have 0% chance in the real world.
RIGHT ON YUMMY. It is funny how the 'few that are dealing with the allergies' turn the tables and tell the rest of us HOW SELFISH WE ARE. I think they should look in the MIRROR and see who the unreasonable ones truly are. Again my heart goes out to those with life threatenign allergies.. but that is life.
I am EXTREMELY allergic to cats... one cat hair can cause me to have a severe allergic reaction and kill me because it triggers an asthma attack. If someone has a cat and that person sat on a chair in a lunchroom and then I go and sit there... could cause this reaction AS could simply touching a person that touched a cat. What would their solution to that be? Should I have demanded that every parent make sure they wash their childrens clothes and be CAT HAIR FREE before bringing them to school each day? OR... should each family that has chiildren attending that particular school be required to GET RID OF ANY CATS they may have? I learned to deal with it and take appropriate precautions!
I'm allergic to milk. Always have been. As a kid, I sat at a table with other kids who drank from their cartons of milk. Indeed, the schools still push milk as the healthy drink. I go to school sometimes to have lunch with one of my sons. Should I request a milk-free table? When I go to a movie theater or ride public transit do I have a right to ask the people around me to not handle milk products? No, I do not. I've lived with this allergy my whole life without ever asking for special accommodations or attention. My mother never requested anything out of the ordinary for me. "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." These kids have to learn from day 1 how to handle their condition. No one can do it for them, and no one should have to.
Actually, at my elementary school, we had whole classrooms that were deemed "peanut-free" at the beginnin of the year, the teacher would inform the parents and we would send kids who brought peanut butter lunches to other classes, until those parents learned not to. They can have it at home, its not too tough to have one meal without peanut butter..
Many of you are missing the point. The peanut allergy is an airborne allergy. You question how a child might come in contact with the allergen. How about a child that easts a peanut butter sandwhich, does not wash their hands and then touches the door know into the class room? The child that has the allergy then touches the door and has a reaction. Is a peanut butter sandwhich soo important that you would risk the life of a human being just so your child can have peanut butter sandwhich? That is one of the most selfish statement that I have ever heard.
I have two members of my family that have peanut allergies. One of them will have an allergic reaction just by being in the same room as peanuts. People need to do a little research and understand the issues before making a quick decision and assuming theat your rights are being violated.
A peanut allergy is no where near the same as a orange or red dye or any other type of allergy. It is much more severe and much easier to spread. People need to learn about compassion and not be so self centered.
I am not suggesting that peanuts be banned. I think it is the responsibilty of the parent to educate their childern to ask the right questions and know when to noteat certain foods. I know that my children always ask the correct questions. I also think that people should be aware of their surrondings and not be so self-centered that they cannot go without a peanut butter sandwhich for one afternoon.
If your kid truly has a life-threatening allergy, then it is criminal for you to even let your child out of the house, much less send them to a public school. An allergy such as the one you are talking about can kill your kid even if nobody takes peanut butter, or peanut containing products to school. You can't prevent every kid in the school from eating peanut products at home – or shaking hands with someone from a different school who did. They could pick it up on their clothes riding in a subway, or sitting in a chair at the doctor's office. It is YOUR responsibility to protect your kid, not everyone else's.
This reply is dead on. What you peanut banning nazis are suggesting is no different than banning driver's licenses because people cross the street. Or making the planet wear surgical masks and bathe in antimicrobials because some people have immunodeficiencies. Peanut allergies are unfortunate and deadly, but banning peanut products in any setting as a result is irresponsible and selfish.
Statistically speaking, fewer than 1 in 200 have any allergy to peanuts, at all - and fewer than 1 in 2 MILLION have been diagnosed with the life-threatening allergy we are talking about here. Yet, somehow, over 5% of parents claim that THEIR child is one of those so afflicted. Just because your kid broke out in hives when he ate a PB&J sandwich does NOT mean he has a life-threatening allergy, and certainly doesn't mean everyone around him should be deprived of peanut products. If your kid truly is one of those so afflicted with a life-threatening allergy (to anything) then it is criminal for you to even let your kid out of your house, much less send them to a public school.
I swear to god, so many of you are so hateful that I wonder you can even live next to anyone! The truth is that peanut butter allergies have developed over the past few years. And those who are terribly allergic are fatally so. Is it really worth the death of a child just so you can say that you have your rights, or whatever it is that bothers you so much over this issue? You want peanut butter that much? Fine, buy it for yourself and yours and keep it at home. But, become better informed, hey, better educated and certainly try to become a more decent human being. If not for yourself, then for those having to be around you!
How about an article and some research about the reason behind the prevalence of peanut allergies today? This kind of poll is like an open invitation to the trolls to come out and play.
anyone who thinks its the allergic child's parents problem and not the school's problem, may you be so blessed and never have any child or grandchild deadly allergic to peanuts (or anything for that matter) because if you did you would not be speaking the way you do. The real question here is do we place the allergic children at risk so that the moms or those not allergic to it don't have the conveniece of a quick peanut butter school lunch taken away from them or do we say those children who are not allergic to it have all the other time of the day that they are not in school + weekends to have peanut butter and no child's life should be put at risk simply because my child needs to eat peanut butter when he/she is in school. This is what's wrong with society. Do you realize what you are saying, "your child has the right to eat something in a place that should provide a safe environment to everyone even if it puts another child's life at risk." Selfish and rightous!!!!! How self-centered has society become???
It has become as self-centered as you have become. You are part of society.
so what sum pll don lik peanut butter or sum or allergic dont ban it caz of sum pll take a vote or servey
Where he at
Where he at
Where he at
Where he at
There he go
There he go
There he go
There he go
Peanut butter jelly
Peanut butter jelly
Peanut butter jelly
Peanut butter jelly
Do the peanut butter jelly, peanut butter jelly,
Peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat
Peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat
Me thinks we are all to blame for getting us to such a low point. We allowed our food to be taken over by agribusiness – Cargill, General Mills and all those types have to much control. Many of their junk products have transient ingredients and are labeled poorly, makes it tough even with simple rules to keep kids safe. Lunch rooms have hazards behind every wrapper. Honestly though, it's pretty lame that we are even considering banning such a fundamental real foods as peanut butter in schools. We have so much fake junk at every turn, real peanut butter is too good to give up. There he go.
Kids and adults need to be educated on the affects of a food allergy and the severity on some people. My 8 year old daughter who is severly allergic to tree nuts gives a presentation, including epi-pen information to her classmates at the beginning of every school year. This allows her to tell her story, her frustrations and what she does to keep herself safe in her own words that can relate to other kids her age. We have done this since she was in Kindergarten and she has never had to worry about bullying or an unsafe school cafeteria. The kids, faculty and parents are willing to work with us, especially when she speaks her mind and shows her spirit. She is confident and well educated and can stand up for herself which is something she is going to have to do for the rest of her life. I won't always be there to protect her or control her environment, she has to learn to make it a natural instinct of her own. I don't agree on a peanut ban, I do agree on education of the food allergy for everyone, kids and adults.
Finally! A REAL parent who is teaching their child to take control of the situation and not to rely on a publicly funded system to do it for her. As a fellow parent I applaud your wisdom. Kudos!
banning peanut butter is like banning any kind of food that kids eat. some childern are so picky that they wont eat the school lunch and some kids won't eat anything but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. so i think that banning peanut butter is not a big enough issue to be banned.
No, it should not be banned. I agree with others that the uptick in peanut allergies is the result of the lack of letting kids develop a healthy immune system.
To me, the correct solution is clear.
If the PARENTS of this child have a concern over peanuts and peanut butter, then it is the responsibility of the PARENTS to come and pick up their child every day for lunch, bring them home, feed them lunch in their sterile kitchen environment, and return their CHILD back after lunch. Meanwhile, all the other students are free to eat their PB&J sandwiches and PB crackers in the cafeteria.
We need to STOP inconveniencing everyone, instead of inconveniencing just the one complainer.
Your "correct" soloution is in fact, wrong. Your peanut loving kid will eat his oh-so-wonderful sandwich, get peanut butter on his hands and hair, and then when the allergic kids come home from lunch, your kid will touch them with his peanut smeared hands, and the teacher can call the ambulance and explain that the nice men shoved that tube down Joeys throat so he won't die.
If you don't understand the problem, what makes you think your kids do?
Some people's logic is shockingly selfish and ignorant. According to their thinking, we should permit the teacher to carry a loaded gun into class and place it on their desk...and leave it up to the parents to teach gun control! (I would in fact prefer that over a peanut sitting on their desk because i know they have no chance with the peanut.) ...My kid didnt ask for this allergy you inconsiderate egomaniacs. Im sorry you have to sacrifice your precious peanut butter so that i can feel confident sending my kid to school. :-(
True, your kid didn't ask for the environmental allergy, but has it DUE TO YOUR OWN BAD PARENTING. Stop attempting to punish everyone and start to accept the consequences of your own stupidity.
Hey Josh – explain how his stupidity gave his kid an allergy? A Nobel prize in medicine awaits you. I am betting against you getting the prize.
Let me get this straight. Your kid has a life-threatenng condition. If he is even in the same room as a peanut product, his life could be in jeopardy. You send him to a public school, and expect literally hundreds of students, parents, and faculty members to adjust to his condition, because you can't bear the thought that he might "feel different" by having to eat at a separate table, or in a separate room for the sake of his own safety.
Who is being selfish here? The parents who think your kid should get special accommodation to enjoy his lunch in a safe environment, or the parent of the allergic kid that demands that the entire school become a "peanut free zone", affecting the lives of hundreds of others?
Mr. Peters, you inconsiderate, insolent wart. I'm sorry your child has an allergy that could kill them. I've been blessed with a very healthy immune system and so have my children. However to say that my child can't have a PB&J in their lunch because YOUR child has an allergy is overstepping your bounds. If your child REALLY DOES have that sever an allergy then perhaps you should consider home schooling or buying them a "boy in a bubble" suit. As to your analogy to firearms, I can only hope that your child has better critical thinking skills than you do. The reality is that firearms save no small number of lives and maybe even more than they take while the same can not be said of food allergies. Your comparison is one based solely on fear and intimidation and not on useful data.
As many have said, the number of kids with this condition is very small. It's small enough that it can be handled on an individual basis. It doesn't require a nationwide ban. We had a girl with this problem in our school system. The problem was explained to all the students, very early in elementary school, and a notice was sent home to the parents. There was never a problem, and the students were taught a small but valuable lesson.
The allergy persisted, and when it came time for the Senior Class Trip, the group arranged for the airplane to be nut-free for her flight. It was no problem until the return flight, when the airline suddenly reneged on the arrangement and refused to even provide a few rows of nut-free travel. She caught a flight the next day. (Yes, it was Delta. How did you guess?)
You see, a group of children and concerned parents can do a LOT better than any big government or company.
I grew up severly allergic from the age of three at a time there were no Epi-Pens, no inhalers, no nebulizers. School days were the worst as the triggers were mostly being in dusty classrooms or among kids with pet hair/dander all over them. Lack of proper medication sent me into status asthmaticus many times. The allergies were the problem of my family and of me- not of my school or my classmates. It is still a problem as I fear being on a plane near a dog (the airports have dogs roaming in them all the time now). Nothing I can or would do to stop others- I just have to be prepared and stay away from the triggers. The medication of today is our life saver – just have to be prepared to treat OUR problem.
Wow! I can't believe what a heated discussion this it. I feel for the children who are allergic, but at some point they need to be aware of what they are or aren't putting into their mouths. My neighbor's son is very allergic to ALL nuts and still comes into our PB and nut loving home. My girls still have PB went he's here. We do make a point of washing hands after they've eaten. But he knows what not to eat or touch. He's 9 and has been responsible about his allergy for years. His parents have done a great job educating him about it.
As far as the schools go, I think PB should possibly be banned in elementary school where children are more likely to swap lunches without knowing what they're getting in return. Jr. High and High schools should be allowed PB. That's my two cents!
@Michael. You accuse everyone of being selfish and what not, but in all honesty, everything you posted thus far seems hypocritical in that sense. You sit there and say this isnt and issue but right pages worth of comments. Seriously, if it wasnt an issue for you, then why waste time commenting. In the end it is the responsibility of the parents to educate their children on what they can and cannot eat. If that child is allergic to peanuts, bread, plants, or whatever they may be allergic to should not be catered to by the public. People say that it is not an issue, well maybe peanut butter is not the issue but the giving up of rights is. At what point do we draw the line. Lets ban all sugar problems because of the prevalency of diabetes; Lets cut out recess because of the number of kids who have asthma. I mean seriously where do you draw the line. I find it a bit ridiculous that people have allowed this to become an argument or an issue but apparently it was a popular enough topic that it is. I find it disheartening that people feel the need to have to cater to everyone in every regard. Just as much as it is disheartening at those who wish ill on children who had no control of such situations.
My sons both had allergies. one has/had a nut allergy. My youngest son ate some cake containing a nut oil and had allergic attack and had trouble breathing. Luckily, he recovered. For years we had an auto-injector in case of another allergy attack or bee sting. He seems to have finally outgrown it.
That said, we taught him to not to eat nuts and peanut butter. This is the best approach because parents cannot totally control where your child will be and what they might eat. This idea that banning peanut butter in school is totally ridiculous. Even in the best circumstances, an allergic reaction might happen. Some children might be hyper-allergic to peanuts or nuts, but that is a medical issue that must be addressed. It is impossible to have a peanut free world. If your child is hyper-allergic where even the smell of peanuts might cause a reaction, I wish you the best but you will need to teach him/her how to use an auto-injector.
I agree with Christine. Education is the key. What if the child goes to a friend's house where they might have PB. What if some kids bring their lunch to school and share. You can not cover all the bases by banning PB at school. Perhaps wearing a bracelet indicating the allergy would also be good.
This is absurd, a healthy protein that kids like and people want to ban it because of a few. If you know your kids have a peanut allergy then by all means MAKE a different choice for them or perhaps they might be able to do it themselves. WOW, this banning hoo hah is getting so old. Sensitivity about EVERYTHING is at an all time high. Life isn't fair and once people GO BACK to understanding that , we will continue to suffer as a society.
My daughter is allergic to peanuts and all peanut products. When she was in school I did not consider the school responsible for my childs allergy reactions. She knew what she could and couldn't have and how serious her allergies are.
My kids are all allergic to sunbutter! what are you going to do for me !!!?
Thirty years ago, we didn't have kids in my schools that had peanut butter allergies. This is the result of overprotective parents coddling their offspring until the kids have no immune systems. We don't need to punish all children and take away one of the most popular and healthy packed lunch ingredients just to appease the parents of the rare child who has a peanut allergy. These entitled brats, (and I mean the parents,) need to grow up and realize they are NOT the only people in the world! Soy is a top deadly allergen too and no one is whining to take it out of schools. In fact, propaganda has most idiots thinking it's actually good for them. Sad.
Duh! Most Canadian schools have banned eggs, fish, nuts and peanuts years ago... Not just peanut butter! Really! It's not that complicated... Children's lives are at stake.
It's not as simple as making sure the kid with allergies has no peanut products in his/her lunch... The smell alone can be enough to cause a reaction in some kids. And what if someone shares? Yes, children with allergies should be taught not to take food from ANYONE other than their parents... We're talking about children here. My kids forget they're not supposed to throw a ball in the house at least a dozen times a day! They would quickly forget not to eat the cookies or muffins being offered by their friend!
Fear not, one gets VERY creative making lunches that exclude these products.
Those of you who think kids with allergies should be locked un up their houses, got over yourselves! What if your child was deathly allergic to strawberries and my kid brought some to school everyday?? You'd be the first on the "ban strawberries" ban wagon...
if only we could send all the stupid selfish bleeding heart parents with allergic kids to Canaduh the problem would be solved!
This is ridiculous. Seriously? There's a food allergy for every food out there. What is next? Banning food from schools? Strawberry allergies equals banning strawberries from schools? What about stress? Stress can lead to health complications which, further down the road, could kill a person. Let's make sure there's no stress in school. In fact, why have school at all? Let's do away with the education system entirely.
I completely agree with what "joe" said in that we want to coddle everybody. This is only going to lead to debilitations in their future. Pretty soon, society will fall apart because everyone is being taught that the world has to stop and accomodate their every need. Well, it's not like that.
Ban peanut butter? Please. Ban ignorance.
Cmon i cant believe theres this many responses to this uninteresting topic that no one is really gonna care about after tomorrow, i mean cmon really?? people need to get a life, go out for a bike ride or something! why dont we talk about tomorrows weather instead....hey how many people are at work actually reading this bullshit?
I think that awareness and respect are key. I grew up with an allergy to peanut oil, which back in those days, nobody had ever heard of. I learned from a young age to always ask, always read labels, and if I asked and was dismissed, to either press for an answer or not eat whatever I had. One day, my lunch got switched with my brother's, and (I was in kindergarten at the time) I knew not to eat his PB&J sandwich. I had my snack instead of his sandwich. Also, snacks were generally peanut butter on crackers, but I always had cheese that I brought to school and my teachers knew to give that to me instead. I think that what needs to happen is for people to just be aware; to teach their children with allergies how to deal with them, to inform your child's teachers or whoever is responsible for your child during the day of the allergy (I'm not saying ban every allergen from the cafeteria – nobody could eat then!)... To say that it's "their problem, not mine!" is really selfish, and I hope that those people never develop a disability that might require them to rely upon the assistance and common courtesy of another person.
My mother has a corn allergy and my nephew has a peanut allergy. In both cases a pill can be taken to offset the effects of any unintended ingestion. But the doctor gave my sis-in-law an epi-pen anyway. I think this is all a case of overreaction. If the kids have medicine at school, epipens at school, and know not to touch anyone elses food then there is no need for all these restrictions on others. My mother's office isn't "Corn Free". There is a peanut allergy in my daughters class and we cannot send peanut butter for lunch. I wouldn't send it everyday but I do resent the option being taken away from my daughter because of someone else.
Can my son bring his pet rattlesnake to school? He is immune to its venom. What do you mean it is poisonous and could kill your kid? Well too bad – your kid's weakness to venom should not limit my son's choices of show-and-tell objects. Pets are expensive, and I can get rattlesnakes cheaply. I challenge anyone to show how a case where airborne venom killed anyone. You won't be around your kids all the time and you need to teach them to be self-sufficient and avoiding poisonous rattlesnakes is a good life skill.
Sound selfish? I took arguments from other commenters and substituted 'rattlesnake' for 'PB'. Nuts will kill my son and a lot of other kids – these allergies are not a rare thing today like they used to be and are growing. Yes, we used to allow teachers smoke in school too and we got past that inconvenience for the greater good.
I've been in the ambulance with my 5 year old son asking if he is still breathing and thinking he was gone: walk a mile in those shoes Mr Tough-Love.
I have a question (because I thankfully don't walk in the shoes of a parent whose child has a severe allergy).
Since few schools have put a ban on peanuts, there are lots of kids with a severe allergy that are going through their school days near peanuts but aren't having reactions.
What if the school had a separate table just for kids who HAVE peanut products in their lunch? Isolate the location of the peanuts. That way the residues wouldn't be all over every table. I get the airborne part. But how far away does the airborne risk travel? If kids with allergies know to sit far away from the "peanut table" then that would drastically reduce risk. Right?
Plus segregating kids who have peanut products would naturally cause the kids to WANT something else in thier lunches too.
Would that at least be a step in the right direction? Versus a full on ban?
Rattlesnake is not a reasonable substitute for peanut butter. Get real, please.
There is a collective groan on back to school night when parents here that a child has a nut allergy...it makes packing lunch for my extremely picky eater a nightmare. I don't think it's fair that no nut products be allowed in the lunch room or classroom. a table for those allergic should be fine. or have the children brush their teeth after lunch if the allergy is that severe.
The other parents should not be made to suffer b/c one child has a slight allergy to peanuts. put them all in the same classroom.
Right on!
The problem is public schools. If schools were free of state monopoly, there would be nut-free schools, nut-present schools, schools with prayer, schools with no prayer, liberal schools, conservative schools, etc. It would be based on parent/child needs, not a one-size-fits-all solution. Parents would be happier because they wouldn't have to fight against policies they didn't like. Just like how shoppers can go to different stores based on their needs: Costco, regular grocery store, farm stand, Whole Foods, etc.
Hey! I know... How about home schooling your kids. Oh wait!!! Then that means parents will have to be responsible for their children instead of everyone else. I guess that will not work.
LOL! that is funny! but true, seriously if i thought the smell of peanut butter or peanut product would kill my child.....I think i would invest in homeschooling and a bubble for them to live in
Nut free table seems like the most sensible course of actions. Those who want to bring peanut butter stuff can. Those who are allergic can sit at their own table limiting their