Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school? Updated for those interested

I was just wondering how the teacher handles it. Do they give food you haven't approved? If so, does it continue after you asked them not to?

I really don't want to be "that parent" but there were several food items served last week that I suspect contained the allergen, I sent in a letter about it on Monday and got no response, which seems to be par for the course with this teacher. They made a project this week where he was touching a different food item that contains the allergen and I'm really annoyed since I explained at back to school night and in the letter this week that his allergy is at the severe end of the range and we really need to be careful about cross-contamination and I'd prefer to prepare and send in any food he needs for class.

On the positive side, I now know where the contact rash he's had on his hand all week came from.


UPDATE: I spoke with the teacher and she said that she thought it was just an ingestion issue but he was still able to come in contact with the allergen. So now she'll be extra careful and not have him touch it either.

I guess I feel better (but there's still some anxiety there to be honest) and I spent a lot of time this weekend reminding DS that it's good to ask about food before he eats or touches it if Mom and Dad aren't around.

Message edited 11/15/2010 1:08:22 PM.

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

Is this a public school? If so, they shouldn't be feeding a child with a food allergy ANYTHING at all, nor should they be letting him handle any foods, not just suspected foods.

I usually have a student or 2 every year with an allergy, and our policy (as well as most other districts) is that a child with an allergy eats and touches ONLY what the parent supplies.

You should put a policy such as this in effect immediately. They are playing Russian Roulette with your child's health and safety.

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

That doesn't sound right..I assume it is your son's preschool. I thought they were suppose to be super strict when it can to food allergies (from my camp experience there). In my son's preschool, they had 2 childen with allergies and they were very strict about snacks. No sharing, peanut free, etc. Lunches were scanned for allergens and at parties the kids were only allowed to eat snacks provided by the child's parent who had the allergy. They kept snakcs from the parent in the classroom for b-day parties and such. I know they did projects that involved food and I had heard the teacher asking the parents once if those items they planned to use were ok or not...even gave them a list to check out. Just recently a parent gave out treats during the Halloween show (given straight to the child - not to a parent or child) that was not approved by the school (they had no clue the parent did it - she was trying to be nice and she didn't realize..innocent mistake). The school sent home a letter reminding the parents of the school's policies on food.

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

It's a private pre-school. It's our 4th year there and the first time we've ever had a problem like this. I feel like the teacher is not listening and I'm really getting frustrated. The first day of school I sent in a case of cookies for them to keep in the closet for him to have on birthdays, class parties, etc. so it's not that there isn't a safe alternative available to them.

I'll have to talk to the directors on Monday, I feel better knowing that I'm not being unreasonable.

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

I would go to the director. My son has a banana allergy. They don't put it into the fruit mix they give all the kids. Some kids have peanut allergies. The school is 100% on top of it. If the teacher does not seem to understand, I would ask to either 1. have my kid moved to another class, 2. have the teacher reprimanded by the school and or given a warning that should she give your kid the allergen again she will be let go if you think it's warranted. In this day and age, there should be zero tolerance for something like that when she was explicitly notified.

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

I'm a teacher in a private school. We have an airborn treenut allergy in the other classroom (on the other side of our door). Our entire facility is nut free.

For snack parents gave $ & the allergy parent bought acceptable snacks for us to give out. The child can either eat that snack or fruit...nothing else.

At lunch we walk around & check for obvious things (pb&J, bagels, granola, etc.) & if we find it we take it from them & send a note home that the food is not acceptable. We have a cafeteria so we then would provide something for the child.

The allergy is taken VERY seriously. For any party the parent can only bake & then bring in the label showing it is made from acceptable mix, etc. The allergy parent provided background on her child at the start of the year & how they handle it. She also gave a list of acceptable lunches/snacks, etc. (We eat in our classroom).

Yet what is happening where your DS goes to school is NOT acceptable. I would definitely speak to a director.

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

our preschool/daycare was nut free - we could not bring in anything, unless stated nut free. I can see how it just makes things easier for everyone.


the school I work in is very strict about parents having something for the allergy student. There are some cases where the school nurse will look at the ingredients (ingredients must always be supplied) and talk to the parents.


My son's classroom is nut-free (and DH sent in cashews ). For his VIP day, I got ingredients and called the corporate office to make sure it wasn't shared equipment. His teacher told me I went above and beyond, but that would be normal in my school. so my home district is more lax.

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

I would speak to the teacher in person again one last time and then go to the director.
I sent in a snack for DD to have when they have parties in school so she gets that. She is 3.5 but she realizes that if I never gave it to her that she can't have it so she will turn down anything they offer that she never had.
Is he vocal about what he can and can't have? Maybe teach him that if mommy never gave it to him that he can't accept it or even touch?

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

Re: Does anyone have a kid with a food allergy in school?

Update: I spoke with the teacher and she said that she thought it was just an ingestion issue but he was still able to come in contact with the allergen. So now she'll be extra careful and not have him touch it either.

I guess I feel better (but there's still some anxiety there to be honest) and I spent a lot of time this weekend reminding DS that it's good to ask about food before he eats or touches it if Mom and Dad aren't around.