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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder what is dangerous about my child’s lunch

567 replies

NameChangeAK · 22/04/2024 20:20

I received a message from school today saying my child’s lunch contained a prohibited item and to please review the policy “as there are children with severe allergies and it’s dangerous not to comply”

I don’t usually provide packed lunches - DC has school meals, but they did like todays meal options.

Ive responded and asked what the item was but waiting for a response, but I’m confused - it’s clearly a nut free school but I can’t see anything else anywhere about other banned foods

the packed lunch contained:

  • ham sandwich (with butter) on brown bread
  • apple
  • frube (strawberry flavour)
  • carton of own brand apple juice
  • Pepperami
  • babybel

any ideas what could be the problem or Aibu to think they’ve mistaken the ham as peanut butter or something ridiculous?

OP posts:
Sweetpotatofalafels · 22/04/2024 23:23

Could your child give any clues? Did they take the 'offending item' off them?

awakeatnightmare · 22/04/2024 23:20

Pepperami

GingerPirate · 22/04/2024 23:18

How stupid, the whole thing is being taken to a different level. 😕

Apolloneuro · 22/04/2024 23:13

VeraForever · 22/04/2024 23:03

Ask the school?

Read the OP?

RedToothBrush · 22/04/2024 23:12

NameChangeAK · 22/04/2024 21:04

Fair enough if they don't think it’s healthy that’s one thing, but totally different to them suggesting it’s “dangerous” - they need to be clear what the problem is. A packet of haribo is 100 times better than a packet of nuts if they are talking about allergies/dangerous even though the latter is much healthier.

Show quote history

Strawberry allergies are one of the more unusual allergies which commonly can develop to anaphylaxis level.

Haribo are an issue for strawberry allergies so please don't say they are 100 times better cos it's bullshit.

BirtyDird · 22/04/2024 23:11

Surely they can't ban a juice carton for lunch as unhealthy. I understand most schools request water only during lessons/breaks, but juice is normally allowed at lunch time. I wouldn't have thought it would be that, if it was I'd ignoring that anyway.

milkysmum · 22/04/2024 23:11

My dc used to go to a holiday club were all strawberry products were banned due to a staff member having a severe allergy. All bags used to get checked. We were all notified though and signs were up around the building.

Stigglet · 22/04/2024 23:07

Probably the frube. It has more sugar than a chocolate biscuit. Flavoured yogurt is very unhealthy.

Librarybooker · 22/04/2024 23:05

I’m not sure, but pepperami might have mustard in. If so, if you are allergic it can be like nuts. I’m a borderline case myself, but once worked with someone who had a severe allergy.

VeraForever · 22/04/2024 23:03

Ask the school?

TTPD · 22/04/2024 23:02

LoveBluey · 22/04/2024 22:58

Would be much easier if they told you rather than having to play the guessing game.

I know we have some dairy allergies at school but I'd really struggle if they enforced a no dairy rule as my DD refuses meat (and a whole range of other food items) so lunches often contain cheese and yoghurt to get the protein. We alternate between cheese sandwich/wrap and hummus with veg sticks and breadsticks for lunches.

I don't think schools really do that with dairy. With nuts they do because it's pretty easy to say no nuts. No dairy is a lot more difficult for parents (and school dinners) to manage.

Boxerdor · 22/04/2024 23:00

It’s ridiculous that they haven’t told you what it is

MissMelanieH · 22/04/2024 22:59

I'd put money on the message being sent in error. Possibly they objected to you sending a packed lunch as a one off (ours have to commit to one or the other) and meant to send something to that effect. The lunch sounds normal and inoffensive to me so if they have a problem with it they really need to explain properly rather than making you guess.

LoveBluey · 22/04/2024 22:58

Would be much easier if they told you rather than having to play the guessing game.

I know we have some dairy allergies at school but I'd really struggle if they enforced a no dairy rule as my DD refuses meat (and a whole range of other food items) so lunches often contain cheese and yoghurt to get the protein. We alternate between cheese sandwich/wrap and hummus with veg sticks and breadsticks for lunches.

ViscountessMelbourne · 22/04/2024 22:49

.Ham and pepperami are carcinogenic of course, but I don't imagine that's what they're getting at.

It's possible there's a random strawberry allergy and you missed the note

Rainraingoaway21 · 22/04/2024 22:46

Sounds like a standard message they send. Possibly the frube, they're banned at ours as a possible choking hazard believe it or not. Some put the tube wrapper all in their mouth to get the last bit of yoghurt out. Horrible things imo.

TTPD · 22/04/2024 22:40

How ridiculous to just send a message saying "check the policy" rather than just stating clearly what the item was that isn't allowed.

5foot5 · 22/04/2024 22:34

chattyness · 22/04/2024 20:50

I would have rang them & told them to clarify and also tell them to be clearer and just say what it blooming well was in future instead of pussy footing around like this

Exactly this.
Bloody stupid of them to tell you that you have sent in a prohibited item without telling you what it is.

Golftennis · 22/04/2024 22:25

Wrong parent?

ColinFuckingRobinson · 22/04/2024 21:05

Possibly the strawberry frube. There was a child with severe strawberry allergy in one of my DC's classes.

CelesteCunningham · 22/04/2024 21:04

Maybe it was the juice and they copy pasted the wrong info from an email to someone else who sent in peanut butter. Confused

Original poster
NameChangeAK · 22/04/2024 21:04

SunSparkle · 22/04/2024 20:55

I reckon it will be the apple juice. they will want them having water or milk only I think.

Fair enough if they don't think it’s healthy that’s one thing, but totally different to them suggesting it’s “dangerous” - they need to be clear what the problem is. A packet of haribo is 100 times better than a packet of nuts if they are talking about allergies/dangerous even though the latter is much healthier.

OP posts:
CelesteCunningham · 22/04/2024 21:03

Perhaps there's a particularly severe allergy in the classroom (likely to milk if it's a problem with what you've packed) but if there was an allergy that severe surely you'd be inundated with reminders about it. Nut free schools aren't advised any more, it's thought to be better to put in place measures to reduce the risk of cross contamination.

parkrun500club · 22/04/2024 20:56

SunSparkle · 22/04/2024 20:55

I reckon it will be the apple juice. they will want them having water or milk only I think.

That's a healthy eating (drinking) point though, not to do with allergies.

But I agree, it could well be that. But in that case, say so!

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