Peanut Bans in Schools

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

What do kids with severe peanut allergies do for Halloween? Do they go trick or treating & ask for no peanut candies, toss/trade the peanut candies, or only take candy if there are no peanut candies in the bowl? Or do they just not go?

We just bought candy for Halloween and it made me (belatedly) think of this thread in panic. Peanut butter cups are pretty common (and fragrant), not to mention things snickers or paydays or peanut m&ms.

The kids I know with peanut allergies do just what they tell you to do. They trick or treat with everyone else and then mom and dad go through the candy and throw out any with nuts (or if really sensitive that might be from a factory that has nuts.) It does mean they get a lot of starbursts and lollipops.

It is pretty rare to have the peanut allergy so severe that peanut dust sets off the allergy. I guess those kids can't go trick or treating or to the grocery store?

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

What do kids with severe peanut allergies do for Halloween? Do they go trick or treating & ask for no peanut candies, toss/trade the peanut candies, or only take candy if there are no peanut candies in the bowl? Or do they just not go?

We just bought candy for Halloween and it made me (belatedly) think of this thread in panic. Peanut butter cups are pretty common (and fragrant), not to mention things snickers or paydays or peanut m&ms.

Well... this was the absolute BEST thing about having a kid with a peanut allergy, quite honestly I always bought a lot of extra candy of a type she liked and when the night was over, I traded all her peanut butter cups and snickers, etc. for the candy she could have. I GOT ALL THE REESE'S!!!!!!!!!

Darnit, she's away at college now and I won't get any Reese's anymore

[thetygerlily]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Darnit, she's away at college now and I won't get any Reese's anymore

Sure you can! Buy a few bags of candy to give out, plus a bag of Reese's... And accidentally forget to put the Reese's in the bowl

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by trisigma212

I think its because of the oils in the peanuts that can cause a reaction. Same concept with an air freshener or oil diffuser. You get the scent because of the oils in the product.

Some schools have banned homemade goodies for classes, thinking that store-bought is a better option, but if it doesn't specifically say on the package that it was produced in a factory where peanut products aren't used, it's not any safer. I doubt very seriously that Little Debbie has two separate factories for ding-dongs and nutty bars.

Just about ALL schools ban homemade treats, but when that occurred back in the 80s, it had more to do with AIDS than allergies. I vaguely remember when you could bring homemade, then the next year it was banned.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Just about ALL schools ban homemade treats, but when that occurred back in the 80s, it had more to do with AIDS than allergies. I vaguely remember when you could bring homemade, then the next year it was banned.

I never heard of it having anything to do with AIDS. It was always just a more general hygiene thing.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I never heard of it having anything to do with AIDS. It was always just a more general hygiene thing.

In my area, AIDS was specifically mentioned as one of the major reasons. That info might have come from a source outside the school system, though. My mom had a contract with UofI at the time and was a clinical counselor for their AIDS clinic. There's a good chance that's where I read about those details. The myths surrounding AIDS back in the 80's somewhat intrigued me.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

What do kids with severe peanut allergies do for Halloween? Do they go trick or treating & ask for no peanut candies, toss/trade the peanut candies, or only take candy if there are no peanut candies in the bowl? Or do they just not go?

I've always made sure that my Halloween candy bowl contains things like individually wrapped Life Savers as well as chocolate and/or peanut butter treats. I figure that a child (or his/her accompanying parent) will give me a heads up if s/he has a chocolate or peanut butter allergy, and I can then pick out a few Life Savers for the child's bag. I also keep a small bowl of spare change for children who trick-or-treat for UNICEF, and if there's a major allergy problem in question, or if the child (or parents) mention that the child is diabetic, I'll give the child some change.

[mizzoumom12]

My daughter has a peanut allergy, but it is not severe. If she accidentally digests a peanut, her throat feels very scratchy & she just feels sick for a couple hours, which is easily taken care of by taking a Benedryl. She's actually allergic to all types of nuts.

Reading this thread makes me so thankful that we don't have to worry about anything extremely severe.