Are Food Allergies Out of Control?
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From our friends at Momversation.com
Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don’t. And sometimes a nut can make your face swell up like a balloon. Yep, today on Momversation, we’re talking about food allergies, particularly peanut allergies, and how they have changed the landscape of the school cafeteria. No longer are PB&Js the staple of an elementary school lunch; in fact, they are banned in a lot of districts. Has the world gone mad? What will they ban next? Giyen Kim of Bacon Is My Enemy asks, “Have food allergies gotten out of hand?”
Do you think entire schools should ban peanuts? Do you know any kids with a severe peanut allergy? Did you know anyone with that type of allergy when you were growing up? Or do you think the banning of peanuts is just reactionary… and maybe a little silly?
Have Food Allergies Gotten Out of Control?
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Comment by Amanda on Jan 06 2010 12:53:07:
Of course banning nuts in schools isn’t silly–ESPECIALLY younger grade level schools. It’s completely unreasonable to expect children of 7 (or even younger) to have a grasp of the seriousness of their or a friend’s anaphylactic-level allergy. As adults, it’s our job to protect children, and I’d certainly never risk another child’s life just so my kid could have a particular food.
It really isn’t a big deal. My son’s preschool is nut-free, and I pack Sunflower Seed butter and jelly sandwiches, or soy nut butter and jelly sandwiches, for him all the time. Both are just as convenient, tasty, and protein-packed as PB & J, with the added benefit that neither of these suck up nasty pesticides at the rate peanuts do. They also tend to have a lower fat content. I don’t feel like we’re missing anything with the “nut-free school” aspect.
Comment by parenting BY dummies on Jan 06 2010 02:38:26:
Yeah I was blown away by the peanut bans when my older two sons started preschool. I was one of those, really-I can’t-even-bring-cupcakes-anymore moms (our school bans all types of edible treats being brought in unless it’s a scheduled party b/c of various other allergies as well). And then, #3 came along and low and behold the kid is allergic to nuts. He’s only 1 and hasn’t even started preschool yet, but in my own home he’s been poisoned numerous times (luckily he hasn’t gone into shock, just severe hives and gastrointenstinal reactions). I can only imagine how difficult it was getting for the schools to manage. I’m as confused about the whole issue as many of you are. I don’t recall kids having so many allergies when I was a kid (maybe they were just undiagnosed like ADHD and other stuff you see more now?) and no one in my family has allergies so it’s strange that he just randomly developed such a strong one. Anyway, I guess I get it, but I also appreciate the annoyance it causes as well.
Comment by Mary on Jan 06 2010 04:03:36:
My two and a half year old is allergic to eggs and it scares me to death to think that I cannot monitor every food she will come into contact with until she is old enough to understand. Even I have a hard time reading all the labels and vetting every single food for her and I’ve been doing it for over a year. I don’t expect my daughter’s school to ban all foods with eggs in them. No cupcakes, cookies, brownies, ice cream, meatloaf, most breaded fried foods, nothing with mayo in it, certain breads, pastas… the list goes on. Her potential reaction to egg is every bit as serious as many children’s reaction to nuts. I’m not sure where schools can draw the line, but I don’t know what a better option would be either. Here’s hoping that they are able to figure out what is causing all these allergies soon and that treatments are developed so this won’t continue to be a problem.
Comment by Nicole on Jan 06 2010 06:27:00:
My 3 1/2 year old has a severe peanut allergy and I am sooo thankful that everything brought into her preschool classroom is nut free, and cannot be processed in a plant that also processes nuts. She has no clue of what foods can hurt her and it scares me to think about me not being there to regulate.
Her pediatrician said that they are starting to think that all of the recommendations out with babies now a days, like waiting until they are 2 to introduce peanuts, etc… is actually heightening the amount of peanut/nut allergies in children. I asked my Mom and she said that when we were growing up there was no restriction on when we could have peanuts or tree nuts. If perhaps we introduced these foods earlier, there might not be as big of a problem? Who knows??? I just pray that these tests they are are doing where they introduce a tiny amount of peanut protein and build on that amount weekly actually increases body defenses and eventually the body builds up enough defense to not show a reaction anymore…Here’s to research! Peanuts are everywhere!!!
Comment by AJ’smom on Jan 06 2010 01:35:12:
We found out our son was allergic to nuts the day after his first birthday. They served peanut butter at his daycare and one of the teachers gave him plain bread but there was residue on it. She called me a few minutes later to ask if he had an allergy because his eyes started to swell. Neither my husband or I or any of our family members have peanut allergies so it was a shock to find out he does. I do remember when I was nursing that he had eczema and it disappeared when I stoppped. I found out from the allergist that it’s a symptom. AJ’s three now and in another daycare and I am always worried when he’s out of my sight. It’s hard to get his teacher to understand that when she takes the childen on trips his epipen has to go with him. Even if he’s not eating, you never know what people around have been eating and it can affect him.
Comment by Natalie on Jan 11 2010 11:08:28:
My 3 year old son was diagnosed with egg and peanut allergies when he was 9 months old. He had severe eczema as a baby which is why they wanted him tested. He started at a montessori school when he was 18 months and his class was not peanut free which worried me. He had never had a severe allergic reaction but then again he had never had peanuts. He has since outgrown both allergies which is a relief. I obviously don’t know exactly why or how he outgrew them, but I have a feeling that it has to do with our delayed vaccination schedule.
Comment by Jennifer Watts on Jan 12 2010 08:37:26:
I have 5 children ages 14, 12, 8, 2, and 8 months. None of my other children have allergies but my daughter who is 8 months old is allergic to milk, soy, and wheat ~ will be doing testing to see if there are any other allergies, but is concerned about when she is not in my sight and someone feeding her something that will make her sick. Wonders what makes q