Nuts.

[goodbeans]

DS had this message in his nursery diary: 'Please can you avoid pesto because of nut allergies within the nursery'.

This was in reference to him having been sent in with pasta and green pesto (DH on lunch duties, he forgot the rule). I did find it annoying though, as pesto is made with pine nuts, which are seeds and not nuts, despite the misleading name. (I know that some red pesto is made with cashews, and so I would never use that in food intended for nursery, although I suspect that most staff wouldn't question it as it could easily be mistaken for a regular tomato sauce...)

Anyway, I would like to send a note to the following effect back: 'We always avoid sending any food into nursery that contains nuts. However, pine nuts are seeds (despite the misleading name!) If there is a child with a seed allergy at nursery then we will of course be careful to avoid sending any seed containing foods in DS's lunch.'

AIBU to reply like this to nursery? Or is this weird kind of blanket ban (based on a misnomer) normal?! If it is then I will just suck it up, but it is frustrating given that it doesn't seem to have much basis in common sense.

What you are actually saying is my child's right to pesto overrides any other child's health which is really arrogant

Hyperbole much? That's not what the OP said at all - she said if there is no seed allergy in the nursery then there's no point banning pine-nut-only pesto, and if there is, then she needs to know about it in order to avoid seeded breads and pastry.

A kid who likes pesto doesn't sound like a fussy eater.

lljkk into evidence I would like to enter DD2. Ever so fond of pesto, but won't eat mashed potato.

I sigh with you.

Didn't read the whole thread but does the OP also send in peanuts as they're legumes rather than nuts?

I have a close friend with a "nut" allergy who also reacts to peanuts, pine nuts and coconut.

P.S. Don't send the note. At best, the nursery staff will laugh about it for years to come. At worst, they'll never take you seriously again.

i get why they are being cautious because my sons girlfriend has a nut allergy and she has to avoid all nuts /seeds .they will not be willing to take the risk .and sending a letter just sounds rude

my sons girlfriend cant even use almond oil in any products .

Your DS is eating 5 meals out of 21 at nursery. Is this really a battle worth fighting? My DS's schools are nut and sesame free so I don't give them those things. I think when DC are young it is really hard to avoid cross contamination so I can understand why nurseries and schools take the easy option of blanket bans.

Others have said it; make that pesto!!

DS is allergic to soya and dairy (and egg) so shop-bought pesto's a no. As pp said though if you're avoiding nut-like things you can make pesto with any leafy green veg such as kale, or even broccoli in there with your basil, garlic and oil. I make up a batch and freeze it in ice-cube trays so you can just pop out a cube when needed.

Lunch-box pasta salad - done!

I'd just write a note back saying "Thank you and my apologies, we didn't realise that seeds like pine kernels are also part of the ban and will make sure we avoid these in future."

That's a good call re making your own basil, cheese and oil paste. Mmm. Even though it usually means destroying a healthy basil plant to do so.

Lljkk- Pesto is a basic common food. I would assume all kids eat pesto.

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tut

My four year old DS loves pesto, hummus, olives and advocado. Can't hack chocolate or biscuits and literally gags at the sight of Haribos. Would rather have a carrot stick anyday. Do you think it might be a good reflection of my amazing parenting skills (tosses hair hopefully)? Or my ability to lie through my teeth (tosses DS another Jaffa Cake whilst on MN)?

Cheap pesto often made with actual nuts. Nursery cannot/should not be expected to police every lunchbox every day. How hard is it to avoid using pesto? Imagine the stress on parents with kids with severe allergies knowing that pesto can sometimes contain nuts and you see kids eating it (usually messily) in the vicinity of your allergic child. Really, just give your kid a sandwich and save the pesto for home.

YABU. Almonds fall under drupes which includes cashew, pecans and walnuts. All tree nuts. Unlike peanut which is a groundnut. I react to all of them. And to pine nuts too. Most allergy specialists would include them all as nuts.

DS2 is allergic to nuts and can't have (shop bought) pesto because of the cashew issue.

We have also been told to avoid seeds such as sesame as he is likely to be allergic to those too.

If a child in his nursery ate cashew-based pesto, got some on their hands (likely!) and then put their hands near DS's face, this would be enough to make him very poorly.

I don't agree with banning foods from schools, etc. Surely children need to learn to police their own allergies and that the world won't bend around them forever.

The younger they learn what they can and can't eat, the better for them. That includes keeping wipes handy, etc, and using them often.

You shouldn't expect others to change for your child; it won't happen in the real world and if it's not instilled in them from early on, it will be much harder for it to become 2nd nature.

It's ridiculous to expect everyone else to bend to suit your child; pretty much everything nowadays states that "it may contain nuts". It doesn't really leave much else.

The only reason it's gone so far with places banning nuts, etc, is because these places are scared of being sued if someone has a reaction; not because they think it's the right thing to do.

Omg, would you be happy for a nursery to leave the children in their charge to learn to be responsible for their own safety with free access to roads, fire and hazardous chemicals, or do you think that maybe an average two or three year old doesn't actually have that level of understanding and self-control yet and needs to be supervised around life-threatening hazards?

omgnotagain good point I never thought of teaching my allergic 1yo to police his own allergies.

DC is due to start nursery in January (the children take a packed lunch) and this thread is making me feel ill.

If I uploaded a picture of my beautiful baby after being exposed to pesto containing cashew nuts then maybe you would understand. But probably not.

No one wants the world to 'bend to suit their child' it's not a preference, I just want to keep my child alive. Is that ok?!

Omg you would think very differently if it was your nursery or primary school child who could have a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock from nuts.

I've only every heard of nut bans in nursery and primary schools, by the time they reach secondary they are expected to have learned how to be safe.

Wow Omg wow!!!

My 4 yr old is well aware of what he can & cannot eat. I did not ask the school to ban food, this was their decision based on my sons allergies.

My son does not accept food or drink from anyone other than whatever adult is 'in charge' at a particular moment in time.

Would I trust another 4 year old to be responsible enough to clean their hands before touching him - no I wouldn't!!!!

I would not even expect my son to fully understand the potentially fatal outcome if he was to eat or touch something.

If you have children, would you leave bleach, or other dangerous things just lying around.

People like you are what makes children grow up to be irresponsible uncaring little pricks .

What about children who have contact allergy with nuts?

Or even air allergy with nuts?

Actually, there are plenty of allergies within my family: aspirin, penicillin and coeliac to name but a few. Not that I should have to justify myself to anyone.

It's not other ppls problem to police their allergies. They've been taught from a young age to do it themselves. Obviously, the adults around them help when they're too young to do it themselves; but I would never expect them to ban others from using/eating these products. The ones with food allergies know not to accept food from others ever and to use wipes regularly to ensure their safety where it's needed.

We don't want them to ever be complacent and rely on others to look after their needs. It's impossible anyway, the world is not a sterile place and they have to be able to live in it. They need to learn that as early as possible in order to be safe.

Nessie, just because I have a different opinion to you, doesn't give you the right to call me names. I haven't called anyone names; I've just expressed a different opinion, which I'm entitled to do. What a boring place the world would be if we all had to have the same thoughts and opinions.

Sobriquet
Air allergy to nuts is a myth

Pretty sure the risk of anaphylactic shock from aspirin in a child's nursery lunch is fairly limited. You're creating a false equivalence to make yourself seem less ridiculous.

Erm omg coeliac is not an allergy.

And I don't think 2 year olds being penicillin in their lunch boxes