Would you be supportive in an allergen free school environment?

Question

Meaning food allergies such as peanuts and wheat, even though your child might not have any allergies at all?

My son almost died when he was 8 months old from eating wheat, which caused him to go into anaphylactic shock.
He also has a potentially fatal peanut allergy.
I'm worried about sending him to school, and wanted to get a few opinions from other parents.
Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm not sure about wheat allergies but my daughter's daycare is completely peanut free. They have a few children who are, as you said your son is, fatally allergic. The director and teachers are all very strict about it and multiple violations of the no peanut rule will cause them to ask you to find another daycare. I do know however that a few of the children have dairy allergies as well and are fed alternative meals that are made in a different area. Personally I think that anyone who doesn't support allergen free school environments is slightly confused. You aren't against wheel-chair accessible schools are you? Well it's the same thing in my opinion. Kids with allergies can't help that and they need to be treated with the same respect and care as other children. My daughter doesn't have allergies but she has pretty bad eczema and her skin does a lot better in the allergen free daycares. We've also been turned down by daycares because they were ignorant and thought she was a walking contagion. People should start treating all children like they would want their own child to be treated.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, just about every food is potential allergen. Some of the food allergies of people I know; milk, wheat, eggs, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, strawberries, soy, barley, rye and chocolate. All these have the potential to develop into very severe allergies. The best you can do it talk to your child and make it very clear that she cannot ever, ever eat anything without YOUR permission. Then sent YOUR own stock of snacks to school for days other children have treats.

Answer 3

The daycare my children attend is a peanut-free center and I have no problem with it at all. I've never heard of a wheat-free place. As I understand it, people with severe peanut allergies can become sick just from smelling peanuts. However, one actually has to ingest wheat so they only have to make sure the child isn't fed any wheat. With peanuts, the child has to be kept away from them entirely.

Answer 4

When it comes to peanuts, you have to be supportive. Just being in the same room with a peanut can cause an allergic reaction so bad that a child can die if they're allergic. Wheat I would probably not worry so much about. Children allergic to wheat, to the best of my knowledge, can still be around it, they just can't eat it.

Answer 5

I'm indifferent. My son has been in daycares both with and without this policy (nut-free). It didn't really create any problems, there are alot of foods made now that are peanut free, however, I don't think you can protect your child from everything, and as long as they know about their illness, what precautions to take and the teachers are aware of it and what to do if anything happens, it is something that they will have to learn to live with. What's next, restricting your child to go to a friends house b/c there's peanut butter in the cupboard? Of course not, because you'd teach your child that that product is absolutely off limits, no exceptions.

Answer 6

Yes I would be supportive. My children don't have any allergies and I know it is a pain to monitor what is in their lunch. I would never want to be responsible for another child going through a severe reaction to a particular food that my child brought. We just have to accept that there are alot of kids allergic nowadays and be accomodating about it. If your children were allergic, you would hope that each parent would respect it. The peanut allergy can be deadly to some. I respect that.

Answer 7

No. You are then asking the majority of kids to suffer for it. Most kids eat sandwiches and bread is wheat. You just can't expect hundreds of children not to bring in a sandwich for lunch.

There are also SO many snacks that are processed on the same machinery that processes peanuts. There is no way to get around that.

You would also have to take out all dairy and soy and eggs etc. Many people are allergic to those as well.

Answer 8

I am supportive of it, but trust me there are many parents out there that are extremely IGNORANT!!
My son also has a potentially fatal allergy to peanuts, and he does go to a school that asks people to not bring nut products into the school, but almost every day someone is bringing a peanut butter sandwich or something not allowed to school.
I find that once people realize that it actually could kill your child they seem to be more understanding, but you will have to train your child very well before he goes to school.
I understand the stress and anxiety you are under, it is very scary to have to deal with anaphylaxis!!
Best of luck to you and your child!

Answer 9

My son's school does not allow peanuts. I'm not sure about wheat products. I think you can expect reasonable accomodations, but someone of it may be on you. You may have to teach your child to avoid those items - and that is probably best in the long run anyway.

Answer 10

i do believer that most schools are like that already. i teach in a school where any food that come in from the outside for parties and such, has to be prepackage with a label. no homemade foods. the cafeteria no longer serves peanut butter wither, they serve sun butter that is made from sunflower seeds. tastes just like peanut butter. none of the kids mind either.