Is it reasonable for 10 children to tuck into a peanut containing lunch at nursery?

[bobbybob]

Ds is allergic to eggs, latex, peanuts and bananas (and some other stuff).

I recently found out that the new vegetarian nursery menu relies heavily on peanuts for it's protein. I complained and said it was not suitable for any child under the age of 2 to be eating peanuts, it certainly wasn't suitable for 20 of them to do it right next to my ds.

here are an extract from their response.

"we do not believe that the removal of all peanut based products from our meals is justified or in the best interest of all the children that we care for."

I'm in NZ so the law will be different, but some massive buck passing is going on here. They are saying that the inclusion of peanuts was to satisfy the heart foundation for an endorsement.

Anyone got some points for me to make in my response, suggestions for what to do next, or articles that back up that children under 2 simply should not be eating meals based on peanuts?

Oh and yes, I have found my MP. Thanks.

Weirdo fuss maker you're not! But I understand why you don't want to get the press involved.

What if they won't change, even after a letter from your MP though?

Do NZers want children to experience everything, INCLUDING allergies?! Incredible...!

I've got a list of options in this order

Heart Foundation (waiting for response)
Doctor
MP
Allergy Specialist
Woman's Weekly (already done an article on Bob)
Other Press (and then I would only do this through a PR representative (who is a friend))

Excluding him is NOT an option - I would have a devil of a time trying to find another nursery that would go entirely latex free.

Doctor has written a statement saying that the nursery should be peanut free, I can pick it up tomorrow.

He thinks they are mad to put themselves in this position.

Can't believe they'd go latex-free for gorgeous Bob and not understand the peanut thing!

Glad the doctor has written a letter - hope it works!

The old centre director was a woman who nobody would mess with, she made that decision herself and told HO that was how it would be. Food gets dictated from HO.

Just to offer my support

I have a large Walnut tree in my garden when prospective parent phone about childcare I ask about nut allergies - as I won't let a child with a nut allergy in the house.....to feed babies (that's all they are) peanuts seems criminal

We had a large Walnut tree in our garden too- one of the reasons we moved. Doctor is being excellent - writing letter for free and allowing nursery to contact him with questions. Bear in mind we don't have free healthcare here and that's a pretty great thing for him to do.

Glad to hear you are getting support from your doctor.

Do keep us posted.

Update: Heart Foundation have called me, discussed issues. I have sent them the medsafe link from below (thank you tatt)to prove I am not a neurotic mother, and the lovely lady there is phoning the HO, and will email me with the result. I think that this and the Doctors letter should be enough, but I will talk to my regional allergy support person about campaining with my MP to make all Education for under 5s peanut free.

what a lovely doctor. They can even charge for writing letters here but I'm pleased to say we have never been charged for the letters to take on planes

Bobbybob if they don't immediately withdraw the menus going to the press about the general issue of safety for allergic children would at least allow other mothers to make an informed choice. At the moment they may not realise what is happening or the impact it could have on their children. If the menus are already in use it could already be too late for a few kids

If they don't immediately remove the menus then my son can't stay and as I have said before him leaving is not an option - so I will go to my MP and campaign for all preschools to be nut free places (in the same way they all have to be smoke free). Let it be the MP that takes all the credit (and flack)in the press.

I know it's serious, but I have enough on my plate making sure my little man is safe. Of the people I know who take their kids there 100% of them give their kids peanut butter. Do you think I'd have many friends if I criticised them for that?

That sounded stroppy and I don't mean it that way, but I can't change the world, I just want to make sure that Bob's bit of it is safe.

Nobody can blame you for wanting Bob to be safe - it makes me very and that the nursery are being so stubborn about this.

Do you think they're being so awkward because peanuts are cheap to feed the children?

No the tins of this stuff cost more than the same size tofu or cheese, and certainly TVP or lentils. However, I think there may be a HO deal that the individual nurseries know nothing about with the manufacturer. Let's just say that the one brand looked very over represented.

I think it was a genuine oversight that they are now covering their butts over.

BTW the pig sperm link helped with this enormously. First laugh in a week.

wasn't actually suggesting you change the world, just that there is a way to involve the press without being seen as the mother who doesn't want everyone to have something because her kid can't. A sympathetic reporter - like the one who did the article - could present you as a mother trying to ensure no-one else was in your position.

My experience of MPs is that most of them are a waste of space. I hope you have one of the few useful ones.

forgot to ask - do you have any equivalent to a school nurse? I've found them pretty helpful, if a bit OTT at times Still I don't mind someone making me look moderate

Bit of a change from Heart Foundation - they sent an email saying that their Dietician said her advice was okay and peanuts should only be avoided by those with a "Severe" family history of allergy. Er, when you add up all the people in my Mothers group with Asthma, hayfever or eczema it's more than half.

Anyway they have spoken to a lady at the HO, but when I casually asked at the nursery who she is it sounds like she's as much use as a chocolate teapot. I will wait and see what she says and then hit her with my doctors letter when she says no.

We have Plunket Nurses here for the under 5s. I could have her have a word, but TBH I think she is a bit wishy washy.

Is a pluncket nurse like a health visitor? Mine was useles but the school nurses are trained by the allergy consultants and they see a contamination risk everywhere The one I spoke to about secondary school wouldn't give a nut to anyone under 10. I would love to hear what she says to the primary school

Here is a copy of my response. Not sent it yet - anyone got any suggestions.

Thank you for your response to my telephone complaint about the new menu.

I have contacted the Heart Foundation, who assures me that other Pre Schools have received the Healthy Heart Accreditation with a peanut free policy. I take issue with your sentence ?had the ingredients we use not been suitable for children, for any reason, we would not have received this accreditation (my italics). The Heart Foundation was only analysing the menu against a specific set of criteria, which does not include allergy.

You may not be aware that the number of people suffering with peanut allergy is around 1-2%. The risk of developing this allergy is increased with early introduction of peanut protein in at risk families before age 3. ?At risk? includes either parent or a sibling having eczema, asthma or hayfever. As you do not know the medical history of the every family of children in your care, and these 3 conditions are very common, especially in New Zealand which has a high asthma rate, I believe that you are choosing to ignore the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. I have included a copy of these for your information.

You misunderstood my comment about children and staff eating peanut products outside of Kindercare. I did acknowledge that of course I have absolutely no control over this; it is one of the risks that I have to live with, and which we try to control with a daily dose of antihistamine. My point was that there is a huge difference between this risk and Bob being sat with and spending a whole day with children that have been fed peanut products at Pre School, which is in your control and is preventable.

Your next point is that your staff are all trained first aiders and can respond ?effectively? in an emergency. I enclose a copy of a letter from my GP. I have given the original to the centre. Dr xxxxx does not feel that the risk has been ?minimised and contained?. His medical opinion is that the risk of contamination is still too high.

I believe from Allergy NZ that two of your Auckland centres are peanut free because of children attending with a nut allergy. I am confused as to why xxxxx (the nursery) cannot be the same.

To be absolutely clear, I do not object to the other children being fed meals that ?may contain traces of nuts?. I am aware that this would be impossible. I am referring to the meat substitutes that you use that contain peanut as an ingredient, including, but not limited to, Nutolene and Sanitarium vegetarian sausages.

I await your response with interest.

Do you plan to mention that you have also contacted the HEart Foundation?

In paragraph 2, I would remove the first sentence (you may not be aware that, would just start with "The number of..."

In paragraph 3 I would add an "I believe ..." before "you misunderstood", Or maybe an "I may have been misundertood with regard to... bl bla bla" instead.

Just to keep them in the mood to help.

P.S.There's no need to say that my English is not good enough to correct letters so the following is just a general suggestion: I have noticed that if you provide the people with an "escape route" from your complaint, chances are the problem can be easily solved, but plan your letter well, lead them so they "escape" to the response that you want.

HTH

BTW. I think the letter is very good

Thanks Chandra,

I mention the heart foundation first because it was their main point.

I put "you may not be aware" because I couldn't think that she could know this and still do nothing. i take your point though.

She was actually quite rude about the peanuts being eaten outside the centre. I am going to leave that one as is, as I need for it to be absolutely clear that she was wrong.

I should send a copy to the managing director so the area manager can't "loose it"

Is it actually impossible for them to serve veggie food without "may contain nut traces" or just difficult? Good letter - I've had no reply at all to my e-mail (sent from hotmail not a uk e-mail).

It's not impossible - but it's not necessary for his safety as long as he gets a meal free from the "traces of" meal.