Quote:
Originally Posted by Ro
First off, thanks for sharing your story. I have been browsing this thread over the last couple days, not exactly sure which side of the issue I stand on, but stories like yours bring up a number of excellent points.
Like the one I quoted above, which I take to be a one sentence summary of what you shared (I hope that's not seen as a disservice to your lengthy post!).
So I have a question for you, partly because I am kind of stuck in the middle on this one:
Would you support a ban on peanut butter products in middle school? High school? An even broader spectrum (universities, workplaces)? Does there come a point in time when children/teens need to take some responsibility in, as you put, self-regulating their allergies?
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I am actually scanning a document put out by the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology right now, and will post a link in a minute... which touches on this very thing. But I'll tell you MY personal opinion, since you asked
For the younger ones, as I said, who cannot self regulate their own allergies, I agree that no peanuts, peanut butter and nut containing products should be allowed. (And sorry to the "picky" kids, of which I have one, but they won't die from not eating a peanut butter sandwich for lunch... but a small amount of residue from that sandwich, on a table that LOOKS to have been wiped off, could cause a life threatening reaction in MY kid.)
For middle school, highschool, college, workplaces, etc... I believe that any cafeteria food needs proper labelling, same as cafeterias in offices downtown, and colleges. The cooking staff needs to be VERY aware, or have a booklet made up of all the labels used in their establishment, for easy viewing of an allergic person. By middle school, the children should be aware enough to look after things. My son can almost do that now, and he's only 8yrs old and often lacks the impulses to say no to an offer of some delicious food
BUT he knows the risks, and how important this is, and asks to see labels, enquires about cross contamination possibilities, etc.
So no, I don't believe they should remove things. But make sure that all those around are educated... including the middle school and highschool children, on the severity of a peanut allergy. Cleaning staff needs to be using PROPER disinfecting practices in shared eating spaces. Also, well educated cafe staff that are completely aware of their food ingredients so the allergic kids/adults, etc, can make safe choices FOR THEMSELVES.