Page 8 | Pesto in lunch box - nut free school

Franxie · 2025-04-28T16:52:08+00:00

I’ve got a friend who has twins my kids class, they are reception age. She doesn’t let her kids have school lunches as she doesn’t think they are healthy. Today I asked her daughters what they had for lunch and they told me a croissant, mum clarified it was a croissant with pesto spread inside, chicken, mozzarella and tomato slices. The school is nut free so I said oh doesn’t pesto have nuts in it, she said it was fine, I said it’s really not allergies can be deadly and she insisted it was fine, school never pays attention, it’s healthy and if school ever do ask she will say it’s nut free pesto. WIBU to report this to the school?

Plumberneeded · 28/04/2025 21:12

CassandraWebb · 28/04/2025 20:27

As a parent of a child with both nut and milk allergies I find the constant handwringing about nuts with no apparent awareness of the greater risk posed by milk

And I am not asking people not to bring milk products into school, but I am asking people to understand that if you care about allergy safety you will focus on good allergen hygiene (eating with mouth closed, not throwing food, not touching other people's food) rather than enforcing allergen bans

Image is from an Imperial study - I can't post links for some reason!

As a fellow allergy mother (multiple allergies) I sympathise. However, I always find it a bit strange that peanuts and tree nuts and then unknown nuts are given separate categories here. Added together they’re responsible for a high percentage of fatalities 🙁

Mumteedum · 28/04/2025 21:13

hoarahloux · 28/04/2025 17:54

Pesto usually has pine nuts in. Despite the name they are not nuts and don't usually pose a risk to tree nut or peanut allergy sufferers. They are seeds!

Nope. Lifelong nut allergy here and I react to pine nuts plus some pesto uses cashews.

Plumberneeded · 28/04/2025 21:22

nyancatdays · 28/04/2025 20:56

@CassandraWebb Ah v interesting- I take back my comment about milk being less anaphylactic then! I guess a lot more more kids have a milk intolerance, so a smaller proportion of them will be anaphylactic, but that still produces a greater number of fatal anaphylactic reactions than the ones who have the same from peanut allergies.

I wonder if that’s because peanut allergies are better known about, so it’s more likely that kids and caregivers will have an EpiPen and know what to do in an emergency? Plus of course peanuts are much easier to avoid than milk, less risk of mislabelling than if you’re trying to avoid milk which is in everything, etc.

Edited

Milk is far less of a problem than nuts are for allergic adults. So your point was right for adults, but not for children.

It’s far more likely that a child will ‘grow out of’ a dairy allergy than a nut one. That’s the reason for the difference.

LibrariansGiveUsPower · 28/04/2025 21:24

FetidMoppet · 28/04/2025 17:56

Pesto is made with pine nuts which aren't nuts, they're seeds. Sometimes you get pesto made from cashew nuts which are also not nuts, they are seeds.
so I would assume that pesto is fine too!

You’re wrong here - cashew nuts are classed as a tree nut for allergies. They are very definitely fall under not allowed under the “ no nuts” rule

pimplebum · 28/04/2025 21:25

just me who can’t believe she’s feeding her kids that for lunch but thinks school dinners are unhealthy 😃

Watsername · 28/04/2025 21:26

Please tell the school. They can check the lunchbox and speak directly to the parent. When I was a TA I sometimes found peanut butter or egg in sandwiches (both nuts and eggs were banned). The most common breach of the rules was Nutella in sandwiches. Often the parent didn’t realise as they thought it was just chocolate spread or were new to the school and hadn’t grasped the rules. They will have to stop putting it in if a staff member talks to them.

Luddite26 · 28/04/2025 21:29

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WhatsOpp · 28/04/2025 21:32

Probably not available/suitable for everyone, but thought I’d post this in case useful for those with serious allergies:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgpvzrjjdzo.amp

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/all.16493

Plumberneeded · 28/04/2025 21:38

Plumberneeded · 28/04/2025 20:25

it doesn’t matter if something is botanically a seed, it can still be included as a culinary nut for allergen labelling purposes.
Pistachio is an example.

Pine nuts aren’t included however, so you’re right about that… but not exactly for the reason you say iyswim.

Show quote history

I should add…not included in the UK or EU lists. I think the FDA does include them in the States.

Takersandgivers · 28/04/2025 21:39

My son is specifically allergic to pine nuts, had a reaction to just eating pasta that had been mixed in a bowl with pine nuts. As they are classed as a seed and not in the top 10 they do not need to be listed in bold on the back of packaging (in Ireland). It’s scary to think parents think it’s okay to send their child in with pesto to school and we had this exact problem when he was in his first year of school and the school had to send out a message to the parents in his class. So yes I would definitely report to the school

Lorlorlorikeet · 28/04/2025 22:31

You really don’t like her, do you @Franxie? 😂

Lorlorlorikeet · 28/04/2025 22:32

Takersandgivers · 28/04/2025 21:39

My son is specifically allergic to pine nuts, had a reaction to just eating pasta that had been mixed in a bowl with pine nuts. As they are classed as a seed and not in the top 10 they do not need to be listed in bold on the back of packaging (in Ireland). It’s scary to think parents think it’s okay to send their child in with pesto to school and we had this exact problem when he was in his first year of school and the school had to send out a message to the parents in his class. So yes I would definitely report to the school

So He is allergic to pine nuts, and had a reaction to pasta that…had been mixed with pine nuts? That’s to be expected, no?

ApplesinmyPocket · 28/04/2025 22:48

"johnd2 · Today 21:07

Can't believe no one has mentioned that shop bought pesto has cashew in it because it's cheaper. And pine nuts aren't a nut really."

Oh John. Are you even reading the thread? it's been mentioned like 200 times! 🙄

StayingAnonForThis · 28/04/2025 22:51

Is the red pesto ok or does that have nuts in it too? Asking because my son has this sometimes and it never occured to me it had nuts in.

WhatsOpp · 28/04/2025 22:56

The origins of pesto are nut-based irrespective of colour. Green = basil and red = sun-dried tomato usually. There are now many variations but I’d always assume it contains ‘nuts’ unless stated otherwise.

StayingAnonForThis · 28/04/2025 23:01

WhatsOpp · 28/04/2025 22:56

The origins of pesto are nut-based irrespective of colour. Green = basil and red = sun-dried tomato usually. There are now many variations but I’d always assume it contains ‘nuts’ unless stated otherwise.

Thanks

Smelltherain · 28/04/2025 23:07

If you are concerned that there is a risk to children then report it. Some pestos have cashew nuts , the fact she has said , they don't pay attention and she'd just say it was nut free suggests she doesn't give two hoots about the risk she's posing.

Caerulea · 28/04/2025 23:08

hoarahloux · 28/04/2025 17:54

Pesto usually has pine nuts in. Despite the name they are not nuts and don't usually pose a risk to tree nut or peanut allergy sufferers. They are seeds!

Absolutely can confirm, they aren't even one of the ingredients that has to be labelled as an allergen. I know this cos I'm allergic to the bloody things (but not nuts).

That said - OP - there is the potential for cross-reactivity with both cashews & macadamia specifically. Also may not be pine nuts in there, quite often pesto has no nuts (though it should) & sometimes they use cashews cos they used to be cheaper & more readily available.

Crispynoodle · 28/04/2025 23:12

Throwaway75 · 28/04/2025 18:00

Ive been a lurker on Mumsnet for several years and created a profile JUST to reply to this.

Absolutely yes - I'd you have a nut allergy you can go into anaphylaxis through eating pine nuts.

I have a tree nut allergy.
I am severely allergic to pine nuts (in fact it's one of the "worst ones for me, only behind pistachio and cashew)
I have had a severe reaction to pesto (yes SPECIFICALLY pesto on pasta) that resulted in hospitalisation.

Thank you you were right to post I’d have never known otherwise

Caerulea · 28/04/2025 23:12

Takersandgivers · 28/04/2025 21:39

My son is specifically allergic to pine nuts, had a reaction to just eating pasta that had been mixed in a bowl with pine nuts. As they are classed as a seed and not in the top 10 they do not need to be listed in bold on the back of packaging (in Ireland). It’s scary to think parents think it’s okay to send their child in with pesto to school and we had this exact problem when he was in his first year of school and the school had to send out a message to the parents in his class. So yes I would definitely report to the school

It's so stressful isn't it! Pine nuts didn't used to be common at all but they are on the increase. DH bought a pizza with them on by accident - thankfully my son re-read the ingredients & caught it before I ate any.

Once had a meal out & when the chutney arrived it had bloody pine nuts in it! Probably the only time I hadn't let them know about my allergy lol. Typical.

Redhotspicywine · 28/04/2025 23:18

Pine nuts are seeds so this is a non issue. Plenty of brands don’t contain cashews - and plenty of parents make their own pesto!

Slightlyperturbedmummy · 28/04/2025 23:20

WhereIsMyJumper · 28/04/2025 19:00

Everyone keeps repeating the ‘pine nuts are seeds’ bollocks and the ‘pesto has cashew nuts in it’
Yes, we know. This has been said a dozen times already.
But can’t someone answer my question above please?

Show quote history

It's a constant risk but it's nice to think kids can go to school without worrying they might die that day!

SkiAndTravelTheWorldWithMyDog · 28/04/2025 23:23

I have a nut allergy and can eat pine nuts and pesto.

CassandraWebb · 28/04/2025 23:31

nyancatdays · 28/04/2025 20:56

@CassandraWebb Ah v interesting- I take back my comment about milk being less anaphylactic then! I guess a lot more more kids have a milk intolerance, so a smaller proportion of them will be anaphylactic, but that still produces a greater number of fatal anaphylactic reactions than the ones who have the same from peanut allergies.

I wonder if that’s because peanut allergies are better known about, so it’s more likely that kids and caregivers will have an EpiPen and know what to do in an emergency? Plus of course peanuts are much easier to avoid than milk, less risk of mislabelling than if you’re trying to avoid milk which is in everything, etc.

Edited

I don't understand why you think people with nut allergies are more likely to have EpiPens?
Heaps of children (and adults) carry EpiPens for all sorts of allergies
My children are anaphylactic to milk, egg, kiwi, lentils

I am anaphylactic to lentils and seafood.

Some people have intolerances to lactose in milk (for instance) but that's not the same as having an anaphylactic reaction to the milk proteins

CassandraWebb · 28/04/2025 23:41

WhereIsMyJumper · 28/04/2025 18:43

I do wonder, if someone has an allergy to nuts so severe that a child in the same school as them eating pesto could cause a threat to their life, how on earth do they manage to navigate being in other public places?
How would you know that the packed lunch the family brought to the farm trip on the same day didn’t contain nuts?
What if they were in the cinema and someone had some salted peanuts on the go a few rows back?
Can they ever set foot in a supermarket? Or is it ok as long as they avoid the aisle that sells nuts?

The distinction for me is that when I am with my child I can monitor them for any reaction, and at the first sign of any reaction they can tell me easily. And I have don't lots of training on and learning about anaphylaxis and will feel very comfortable to make the decisions that need to be made

Whereas when my daughter had a reaction (to milk) recently in school, she first had to realise she was having a reaction, then get a friend to get help (because of course she shouldn't move), then it was a horrible stressful time for the school staff while they waited for the ambulance.

The rules (for all allergens) need to be extra tight at schools not just to protect the children with allergies but also to protect their peers and teachers from a horribly stressful situation (at best) and a fatal tragedy and the intrusive investigations that go along with it at worse

I cannot imagine what it must have felt like, and still feels like for the staff who cared for Karanbir Cheema (Milk allergy -died), Benedict Blythe (milk allergy-died), Maizy Harman (egg allergy -severe anaphylaxis but survived) and those are just a few examples. What I do know is how scared my daughter's teacher sounded when she rang me. And how relived they were when I said I could get to school quickly.