To wonder what is dangerous about my child’s lunch

[NameChangeAK]

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?

Only thing I can think of is that they've put a recent notice out about another anaphylaxis allergy that you may have missed, and it was something in the lunch?

You’ll have to read the policy. People can be allergic to all sorts and presumably it’s something specific. If you don’t know where to find it email them and ask?

Maybe the babybel as this was banned from our pack ups when my dds were little

Possibly the cheese or the yoghurt ?
Best thing is to ask them. Something may have changed recently and they've either not told parents or you missed the message.
(Edit: I see you have asked - hopefully they will reply asap. If they don't - ask again!)

Is the policy not on their website?

Was it a seeded bread?

In our class it would be the babybel/frube, as there are two severe dairy allergies in DS's class. But if you can't remember being told something specific like that and it isn't written in the general policy then you'll just have to wait for the school to respond.

Thanks, yes it could be babybel or yogurt - but I’m pretty sure these are ingredients in the school provided lunches we select. Though yes it could be they’ve updated recently.

policy on website today only says:

• Strictly no nuts. Please check all ingredients.

• please select healthy lunch choices and don’t send sweets, chocolate or fizzy drinks

ive asked but waiting for reply.

Is pepperami on the choking list due to its shape? Might need slicing lengthwise.

I’m not sure - I can’t see anything about banned foods due to choking risk either. The message indicated it was a severe allergen.

I'd be responding "I think this has been sent to the wrong parent" and ignore it and carry on as you were.

I'm another one thinking it could be the bread if it was seeded.

The bread was normal wholemeal, no seeds…

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

You need I know what it is

Would also be doing this.
Dairy is a staple food group for very many households, I can’t think it is fair to stipulate a dairy free packed lunch for all children?

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!

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.

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.

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

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

Wrong parent?

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

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