Back in the day (your day, that is), peanut butter sandwiches were a staple in the lunchbox. Not only were they cheap, but on average, most kids loved an old-fashioned PB&J. Today, however, many schools are banning this classic lunch option because it’s estimated that 1 in every 100 kids has a nut allergy. Since kids eat together in the lunchroom, and some children allergic to peanuts can have anaphylactic reactions even from the smallest exposure, many parents of children with peanut allergies are happy to see these food items banned.
However, while 1% of the kids may have this allergy, 99% do not. There are also children allergic to other nuts, gluten, red food coloring, and a host of other ingredients that kids without allergies eat every day. Should these items be banned too?
One mother in Toronto even called for her school district to cut down the acorn trees that adorn the landscape around the school because her son has a nut allergy. This, despite the fact that there is absolutely no proof or scientific evidence that coming in contact with a mere acorn shell could trigger an anaphylactic reaction.
How Far Should We Go to Protect Children?
When it comes to school lunches, are we going too far in our efforts to protect children and keep them out of harm’s way?
Recently, a principal in Chicago seemed to cross a line when he banned all homemade packed lunches from being brought to school in an effort to equalize the school lunch process. After much media attention and accusations of violating rights, the ban was lifted. The reasoning behind the ban, aside from health concerns about what kids were bringing in relation to allergies, was fairness. For instance, why should one child have to eat cafeteria broccoli while another enjoys a lunchable complete with a chocolate bar?
For many schools across the United States and Canada, holiday parties and classroom celebrations are highly regulated when it comes to food. Some administrators are not allowing any chocolate products to be served at parties if just one child in the school (not just in the classroom) has an allergy that would make consuming the food dangerous. And homemade goods? Forget about it. Many school policies now ban homemade foods altogether.
Unfortunately, while very young, elementary-aged kids may not be able to monitor the foods they eat, older children should be taught at home how to avoid allergens and which foods they are able to eat. The responsibility should not be passed on to schools or other parents.
When you consider that pre-packaged food items today come with numerous warnings about being processed in facilities that may also process peanuts or other allergens, it seems plausible that parents should take responsibility for their child’s allergy. Yet, when it comes to peanut butter sandwiches, some parents claim their child is so allergic that all it takes is sitting at a table where a peanut butter sandwich was eaten for them to suffer a dangerous, life-threatening reaction.
There’s even talk from the United States Department of Agriculture, in line with Michelle Obama’s campaign against childhood obesity, about changing the foods that parents are allowed to pack for their children’s lunches at school. Recently, a kindergarten student was denied the privilege of eating her lunch because a teacher didn’t agree with the contents. This case received national attention. So far, while the school lunch nutrition program has changed dramatically to ensure kids are eating healthier and avoiding high-allergen foods, home-packed lunches have remained exempt from these policies. However, some experts believe that this may soon change.
Seriously?! If one child in a classroom is unable to climb the monkey bars, does it make sense to disallow the entire class from trying? The mentality behind protecting kids and passing off the responsibility to the school system for a child’s allergy has gone too far. So has the involvement of outside agencies in what parents choose to pack in their children’s school lunches.
Essentially, for the 1% of children who have allergies, the children should be taught safety measures at home. Parents should stay in close contact with school personnel, including teachers, the school nurse, and administrators, so that everyone is fully aware of the allergies at hand. EpiPens and personalized medications for allergic reactions should be provided by parents to be kept at school. Labeling children’s backpacks and even their lunchboxes or school jackets with allergy information may be necessary for younger children who may not yet know how to manage their allergies. At parties or class events, efforts should be made to offer food items that are suitable replacements for the child with the allergy, rather than banning all outside foods altogether. After all, this allergy is something they will likely be dealing with for a long time, and the world outside of school will not bend and ban peanut butter or its byproducts for those with the allergy.
Some schools, rather than banning peanut butter and jelly altogether, are moving kids with peanut allergies to different areas of the cafeteria, known as “peanut-free” zones. This seems like a fairer way to address what has long been one of the most benign staple lunch foods for North American children.
