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Children's allergies a slippery, chewy, nutty slope
for schools Published: Monday, October 06, 2008 Source of Article: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/164/story/276988.html
Tom Beck has added lactose-free milk at the "It's
a little bit more expensive, but all the kids can drink it," he said.
The district also buys a sealed, pre-packaged peanut butter and jelly
sandwich so the school cafeteria staff won't have to personally handle peanut
butter near other food. "We
find more and more students with food allergies today," Beck said.
"Among the most common are nuts and dairy, things common in school
lunches. If we can do little things to make it easier for us and the
students, the parents appreciate it." A
newly revised state law requires school districts to develop policies for the
management of food It all seems very
reasonable, until schools try to put it into practice. Then it can seem,
well, nutty. Recent student and parent complaints in a Many people still
don't understand that a food allergy is nothing to sneeze at. A severe
allergy can put a child into anaphylactic shock. Food is the primary target,
but bee stings, chemicals and cleaning products also can endanger an allergic
child. The
guidelines don't require districts to remove specific foods or items but
suggest they "consider the benefits and ramifications of serving and/or
removing allergen-containing foods." Other
recommendations include creating allergen-free tables, or allergen-full
tables. Picture a cafeteria divided up based on what people eat, or don't
eat, and you'll understand what got The
guidelines do not just apply to the cafeteria. School nurses must be closely
involved, and even teachers must take precautions in the classroom. The
guidelines cover cleaning procedures, field trips and the school bus.
Finally, there is a reminder that teasing a student with an allergy
constitutes bullying and advises against labeling a child in a way that might
lead to them being harassed. Beck
said the process must begin at home, with parents who make sure the school is
notified of any allergy issues. New debit card systems allow parents and
schools to code allergy information so cafeteria cashiers can see if a
student has an allergy and watch what they put on their tray. "Communication
is key," Beck said. "We all work with the
parents and the school nurse, but we have to know what we're dealing with.
Kids will still try to sneak things." |
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