AIBU to report nut-containing muffins being brought into a nut-free school?

[AlmondFlourmuffins]

I’m really conflicted whether to keep quiet about something or not . If I say something it will be completely obvious it was me that reported.

Dd best friend always takes in a homemade muffin to school as has packed lunch. Dd had a play date and when I picked her up said that she had some and can we make them for her lunches after the half term break so I asked for the recipe.
One was a ‘Bakewell muffin’ made with almond flour and glace cherries the other was a peanut butter chocolate and banana marbled muffin. The thing is it’s a nut free school and when I said ‘oh I’m surprised you’ve got away with this’ after she shared the recipe she just laughed. Now I’m feeling like it’s wrong?

I know in the class there are no nut allergies but I have no idea obviously about the rest of the year/school. But if I say something is it going to cause a massive problem ? This is dd best friend and I just don’t know what to do ?

Yes- the sesame-allergic young woman who tragically died on a plane after eating a sandwich made with unlabelled sesame flour had two epi-pens administered by her father as soon as she began to react.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61488820

Being allergy friendly does not mean banning foods. That's not workable or needed.

The best way for a school to be allergy friendly (And thankfully Benedict's law will require this) is:

• decent allergy first aid training for all staff (ensuring they know not to move the child etc as well as how to use EpiPens)

• allergy awareness training for all staff. So they understand good allergy practice and so we can myth bust the idea that milk allergies are mild

• robust processes when using food in the classroom - detailed ingredient information to all parents each time and written consent each time (plus planning to avoid known allergens in the classroom)

• robust behaviour management in the canteen /lunch hall- ensuring food throwing is disciplined hardshly

• robust cleaning processes where food has been used or eaten

• ensuring children wash their hands (And faces if appropriate) after eating -and if they have spilt stuff on their clothes making sure it is removed

• spare EpiPens kept in an always available location

• the child's EpiPens being kept with the child not the other side of the school campus

• teachers having a meeting with the parents of children with allergies at the start of each school year

• a designated allergy lead who has substantial additional training and who ensures best practice and ensures if there is an incident that everyone learns from it

We shouldn't have needed a change in the law to have these things in place in schools. They should have been in place anyway - my children's nursery was doing all things things 15 years ago. And all the nursery staff were absolutely brilliant at not just ensuring safety but inclusion (they never did activities with the children's allergens.). If they can do it then schools can!

Did the nursery exclude any foods @Whyarentyoureadyyet?

Because the Allergy UK guidance I’ve read is different for nurseries (as opposed to schools) and does recommend this for this age group iirc.

They excluded nuts and kiwis but they clearly couldn't exclude milk and wheat (my son was allergic to all 4 things)

But even as tiny children all the children were really allergy aware - again I expect the nursery did a lot of work with them. We never had any issues with behaviour around food with his nursery friends they were all really thoughtful and helpful

Had a quick look and I’ve attached that guidance below.
https://www.allergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Early-Years-and-Allergies.pdf

“If lunch boxes are brought into the
setting, check them for allergens before
they are given to the children and make
sure all parents are aware of any known
allergens, asking for their cooperation
in avoiding these.”

The guidance doesn’t differentiate between the different allergens, theoretically they should all be treated the same.
I know that’s very difficult at a practical level though.

Yeah noone is going to expect milk etc to be banned. With decent processes and switched on staff you can still keep a child safe.

That's what's so frustrating when schools are causal about other allergies because they have banned nuts . Robust processes work much better than bans

That's what's so frustrating when schools are causal about other allergies because they have banned nuts.

It’s often down to a lack of understanding I think. Needs to change.