Peanut Bans in Schools

[TPARose]

I've seen schools with "nut free classes" and "nut classes". I think that seems pretty sensible. Another requirement that a lot of schools institute is only allowing sealed store bought goodies (cupcakes and cookies and such). Even if you don't put nuts in your brownies, there can be cross contamination.


It's a pain for the parent's of allergy-free students, but far less worse than if a child were to go in to anaphylactic shock. And I've heard of cases where even peanut dust can set a person off, so in those cases, it's better to be safe than sorry.

It's just bizarre to me. What are we doing different today that wasn't happening 20 years ago? I know we never thought about these things in grade school, and I didn't know a soul with a peanut allergy. And don't say it's vaccines!!!

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by TPARose

I've seen schools with "nut free classes" and "nut classes".

I'm sorry - this made me laugh. "You're in the nut class? So... you're nuts?"

I used to volunteer at a temple that ran a religious school. There was one child who was apparently VERY allergic to nuts of all types including peanuts. Every year, in addition to noting the allergy on her son's medical information form, his mother wrote a letter to the school informing the teachers and staff of her son's allergy and demanding that no nuts be allowed in the building. So the entire temple was a nut-free zone ... I don't think they were even allowed to serve foods containing nuts after Friday night services (typically snacks, soda, and coffee were available after services, so attendees could have a nibble and chitchat).

I don't recall this being an issue at all when I was a child. Kids often brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to school for lunch, and when kids brought peanut M&Ms to class, the only reprimand they got was, "Did you bring enough to share with the whole class?"

[ColdInCanada11]

I worked in a massive day camp for 4 years, and there was a nut free policy. However, if a child brought something with peanuts/peanut butter then an instructor would eat with them outside the room. The logic was why should the child with allergies always have to be removed from the situation. I'm not sure if I agree with this 100% but it worked for us.