To think allergy mum is OTT

[Boogiewoogieanddance]

I genuinely don't know if I am or not, this is a genuine question as I thankfully haven't got any experience in having a child with serious allergies. I am, of course, happy to do what I can to prevent a reaction.

There is a child in my DDs class who is allergic to a list of things so we aren't allowed them in pack lunches. That's fine, I have no issue as I know kids can be careless and gross about their food hygiene. My issue is with the nuts, literally anything that says "may contain nuts" or "may contain traces of peanuts" is not allowed... if the occasional time I don't realise and send something (These are not nut flavoured things or anything with nuts in the ingredients, but I assume are just made in the same factory as nuts.) it is sent home unwrapped and she hasn't been allowed to eat it.

But is it really possible that an allergy can be so served that something that may contain nuts could cause a reaction if opened in the same room.

Many thanks!

All the people who say it's not a big ask have clearly never shopped for a party or something for a child who can't have "may contain traces of" items.

Nearly all biscuits, cereal, crisps have the warning. But also random things like pizza, chicken nuggets, frozen chips. It's a nightmare.

I was taught it could take 1/44,000 of a peanut to kill someone with a particularly severe allergy to peanut protein.
To be honest if my child was severely allergic I'd probably want to bring them home to eat lunch, to keep any risks to a minimum.

Unwrap them and put them in a tub - problem solved! It’s unworkable if you’re allowed to take homemade cake and sandwiches made in a kitchen with a jar of peanut butter and a bag of nuts in it at home.

We give our son (who is severely allergic to peanuts) food that says it may contain nuts. His diet would be incredibly limited otherwise. Some foods more specifically state that they may contain peanuts, so we don’t give him those.

I wrestle with my emotions on the matter and do worry that it’s careless. We always have epipens to hand (also in school) but I would never forgive myself if something happened.

No to contains nut products, ok, but may contain traces means it's made in a factory within also makes nut products and it's a disclaimer. I think it's utterly OTT including those products. I highly doubt the parents never, ever take them to a restarting or a food court, which may also contain traces of nuts.

My kid's school is nut free. Think there is maybe one kid with a severe allergy. No issue making sure things are nut free, dont think we're on 'may contain' as far as Im aware. Allergic reactions can vary/worsen over time, often nut so it makes sense for the school just to be blanket.
My kid is allergic to egg, not as severely now and will hopefully grow out of it (on the 'egg ladder') but all other parents are very contentious on play dates, parties etc, probably more so that us! I suppose if the reaction is severe you'd want to be reassured as parent that all possible steps had been taken to ensure your child's safety....

there are many brands on the market that I no longer eat because they contain peanut traces. This includes all m and s chocolates and most of their biscuits for example. So I take the “may contain” very seriously until I’ve had a little test bite without issue.

Then the parents of the child with the allergy need to step up their game and not push for this rule. My child knows not to share food for this very reason and it's been drummed into him for years.

IgE allergies really can be that bad. Youngest DS at he age of seven weeks ended up in A&E simply because I had sat near someone eating a cream cake. That was not fun. One of his friends through the hospital clinic had such a severe reaction to peanuts being in the same room that the school had a blanket ban on them. [As in the air ambulance had to be called as child would crash and each time it happened aid child ended in PICU]
IF it’s similarly severe then the school are doing what they can to minimise risks.

I doubt little Timmy is going to have an anaphylactic reaction to Johnny throwing a biscuit at him that may contain nuts. It's such an overreaction.

This ^

I agree with you op. Unless the school has had this advice from the child's doctor direct (in some very rare instances people are that allergic)

My children both have multiple severe allergies and have had anaphylaxis several times.

But their allergies aren't to nuts (well, they do have nut allergies too). No school is doing to ban milk products, for instance, so we send them in every day knowing they will be surrounded by their allergens and by children who have just eaten their allergens..

School still ring me every time a child brings in a peanut butter sandwich by mistake. But they didn't bother to ring me when I a child threw a whole slice of cheese at my son

If I was the parent of a severely allergic child, I would likely want to home-school them instead of worrying about the possibility of exposure every day. How do children and adults who have these allergies function in society ? One could be exposed on public transportation, stores/businesses, malls, restaurants, cinemas, employers, and on and on.

It is possible for an allergy to be so serious. Almost everything says 'May contain nut traces' or something like that on it though.

We had this at our school for years and years. Eventually the kid did eat a peanut butter cookie by mistake when he was about 16 and did not react. After testing it transpired that he had grown out of the allergy. The mum was always super careful though. I would be too.

Remember that girl on the plane who ate sesame seeds (or something) and died. It was only a few years ago. Had bought it at pret I believe.

If your child eats something with a trace of nuts doesn't wash her hands then holds hands with allergy child. That could cause a reaction. So it might be over cautious to you. But it's a child's life we are talking about here.

Does the school check every snack/packed lunch that the children take in?

I’m not actually sure if you’re serious or not, so apologies if I’m missing a joke, but what?

This can happen to my son with cheese.

I can't imagine any school banning dairy products though.

Why the double standard?

(He's allergic to nuts too.)

Well his name was not Timmy

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/02/boy-with-allergy-died-cheese-flicked-at-him-london-inquest-told

However throwing isn't the only potential shite that kids get up to is it.

@BellaBlossoms I honestly think they do because I am careful and as a result of this most of what I send in it fresh, albeit sandwiches, fruit and veg that have been prepared in my kitchen. But the few times I've sent something in without realising it's been sent home. It must be so time consuming.

The issue isn't with something that contains traces of nuts, it's with something that MAY contain traces of nuts or peanuts.

Fully behind stopping kids bringing in food that DOES contain traces of nuts. It's banning the MAY contains that is contentious.

I wonder how people with nut allergies cope on planes as they do not guarantee planes will be nut free zones.

Do children, as they get older become less susceptible?

Thinking about school dinners when older and uni canteens etc.

Do any MN know….just interested.

I am excruciatingly familiar with the Karanbir cheema story.
He had cheese thrown at him. Heartbreaking

My son has had cheese thrown at him at school. (Thankfully it missed)

My son has bad reactions on touch contact with cheese.

I don't see any school agreeing to ban dairy products?!

They carry epipens!

My DD was ok sitting next to her dad who was eating crunchy nut cornflakes then she wanted some. He gave her a small spoonful and within minutes we had to call ambulance. This was the first and last time she’s ever had them. We didn’t know she was allergic to nuts.