Peanut-Free Schools Invading America
According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, over 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies. Since I too am an allergy sufferer, my family completely relates. So, when my son’s school sent home a letter last year notifying all parents of their new “Peanut-Free” policy, I took it in complete stride. Studies show there are over 30,000 schools in American currently operating under a “Peanut-Free” policy. There are a multitude of dangers associated with food allergies and because of my own peanut allergy my family doesn’t bring any peanut products into our home due to the risks.What I didn’t know is the incredible outrage this school letter was causing within other school families. In fact, many parents were so furious over their inability to pack peanut butter sandwiches in their child’s lunch, they went on full strike. They wrote letters of disgust, called school board officials and even turned their children into “allergy-bullies”. The outcry was so intense the school was forced to keep the child who was at the root of this letter completely anonymous, to avoid bullying.
The truth was, one of the new Kindergarten students was deathly allergic to peanuts. His allergy was so severe, if he was even in the room with a peanut butter sandwich, he would react dangerously. Thus, the school board’s risk management team decided it was safest for the child to completely outlaw peanuts throughout the school. While I’m sure it was a question of legality and liability, I’d love to believe the risk management team really was looking out for the best interest of the student.
When the furious parents were asked why they were so upset, they offered two responses. First, they were confused and irritated they could no longer pack peanut butter sandwiches in their child’s lunch. They claimed their children would eat nothing else and the transition would be difficult for their child. Secondly, they felt as if their children were being punished. They felt because their child wasn’t allergic, it wasn’t fair to ask them to comply with a food restriction.
After I heard these “reasons” for the uproar, I wanted to scream!
Did these parents not realize what could happen to this five year old child if they were even in the room with their child’s peanut butter sandwich?
Did they not realize this child could die, right in front of their own child?
Did they not understand the panic the allergic child’s parents felt each day their child was anywhere peanuts might be present?
Wasn’t this child allowed to attend public school in an environment safe for them, as well as for the other students?
Could their child really suffer from refraining from peanut butter for a mere six hours out of the day?
Was their child’s addiction to peanut butter more important than another child’s life?
In an attempt to offer upset parents solutions to their dilemmas, the school sent home packets of information on food allergies and risks associated with peanut allergies in children. In addition, the school’s PTA sent home a list of possible lunch substitutions.
Some of the most popular food substitutions included:
- Fresh fruit
- Cheese and crackers, cheese sandwiches
- Fresh vegetables (baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, etc.)
- Applesauce
- Raisins
- Pudding cups
- Popcorn
- Lunch meat sandwiches
- Yogurt and graham crackers
- Healthy sweets
- Juice or water
- Chips
Not only are schools choosing to ban peanuts, but one New York City nursery school has banned eggs and dairy from one classroom. In addition, a school in Charlotte, North Carolina has also banned eggs along with peanuts. “One life lost is too many. We think this is a reasonable accommodation to make,” stated Cabarrus County Assistant Superintendent Jim Amendum. ”
Thankfully, after reviewing the information and lunch suggestions most of the angry parents backed off. Perhaps they got tired of arguing about an issue which they couldn’t change or maybe they really did learn the seriousness of food allergies. To date, the school has been peanut-free for two years and will likely continue to be until the child is off to a local peanut-free middle school. While it was a true struggle and adjustment initially, it has become a regular “school rule”. Other students now have no problem with their school’s change and are capable of explaining to others the reasoning behind the peanut exclusion.
It makes me excited to know six hundred children are now more aware of the seriousness of food allergies as a result of this ordeal. While parents were livid over the change, their children were taking in new information, realizing the reality of risk associated with allergies and becoming more sensitive and empathetic to their peers!
