Why are penuts banned from school?

[ShadowSoldier]

This may come off as me sounding like a dick, but I don't get it.

Just because people are allergic to nuts, the rest of the people have to suffer? I mean, for me, when I was going to school, I didn't like having meat, I just had penut butter and jelly sandwiches. And now that nuts and everything is banned, I have to suffer for it because people are allergic?

The way I see it, just don't come around me when I'm eating my lunch. A lot of people are allergic to different things besides nuts, yet none of those got banned in school. So why should the rest of us have to suffer and change our diet and lunches just because some people are allergic? I really don't think it's fair.

...Because the allergy is very common, often sensitive, and life threatening?

Banning all peanut butter is extreme, sure, but the rationale is understandable. Plus, I love peanut butter as much as the next non-allergic guy, but are you really "suffering" from just having eat something else for lunch?

Again, some kids (like my older brother and sister when they were in school), don't eat meat for sandwiches, they wanted penut butter and jelly. Not really a whole lot of other alternatives out there.

Ask, and ye shall receive.

And I know that sucks, but (from the school's POV) what's the greater inconvenience: some kids have to find a replacement for their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or someone dies?

If someone is allergic, what's stopping them from just staying away from the penuts? If they're making the students find an alternative, then the school should have to supply the alternative.

 

[Sicklyboy]

Cheese sandwich, egg salad, tuna, veggie, jelly (no peanut butter)... take your pic.

Also the myriad of other foods that aren't sandwiches. We had pizza the night before, my mom would send me to school with two slices in a plastic bag.

In my elementary school, there were a few tables where foods containing peanuts weren't allowed. Every other table was fair game. Past that, it was on you to take care of yourself.

Edit:

[...] If they're making the students find an alternative, then the school should have to supply the alternative.

Again, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not the only lunch items in existence. Most foods can be eaten cold, so dinner leftovers from the night before are good; give the kid one of those pre-sealed cereal bowls, have him buy a half pint of milk from the lunch line; salads; soups in a Thermos; the list goes on.

 

[iFish]

I know in high school(7 - 11) for me, peanuts weren't banned but they were in elementary school(K - 6).

I think it's because once you reach high school you know better about not touching others with the allergy or if you have allergies you know to avoid the things.
Like, when you're 6 - 9 in age, you don't really know better or know how serious it can be. But at that point, they can't just say certain grades in the school can eat this because it wouldn't be fair.

Well, that's probably not the real reason but that's what I always thought. Besides the obvious stuff that's already been said.

 

[mthrnite]

Not really a whole lot of other alternatives out there.

There are a few. There are other nut butters, macadamia, sunflower, etc.. also soy butter. If avoiding meat, a grilled cheese sandwich, though better hot, is a treat if you make it like I do. Also hummus is good. I felt like you did about the peanut thing until I found out how serious it was, still, there is plenty of reasoned dissent where food bans are concerned, even amongst parents with allergic kids. Here's a network/organization that proffers alternatives to food bans, mainly through education, training of staff, and access to epinephrine.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

Cheese sandwich, egg salad, tuna, veggie, jelly (no peanut butter)... take your pic.

Also the myriad of other foods that aren't sandwiches. We had pizza the night before, my mom would send me to school with two slices in a plastic bag.

In my elementary school, there were a few tables where foods containing peanuts weren't allowed. Every other table was fair game. Past that, it was on you to take care of yourself.

Edit:

[...] If they're making the students find an alternative, then the school should have to supply the alternative.

Again, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not the only lunch items in existence. Most foods can be eaten cold, so dinner leftovers from the night before are good; give the kid one of those pre-sealed cereal bowls, have him buy a half pint of milk from the lunch line; salads; soups in a Thermos; the list goes on.

Schools here didn't have lunch lines until much much MUCH later. Also, people like me, didn't want leftovers from dinner, me and my brothers and sisters were all the same. We wanted penut butter and jelly and a pack of cookies. Cheap stuff considering you know, we didn't have a whole lot of money to actually get the lunches that every other kid gets.

We also never had pizza when we were all living home as we couldn't afford it. Unless it was the horrible store bought stuff that.. well, you should know, was not good at all and the last thing we wanted was leftovers.

But again, there's no reason we, who aren't allergic to penuts, should have to change our lunch styles or eating habits or whatever just because some people are. Just stay away from the lunches.

 

[Gahars]

This may come off as me sounding like a dick, but I don't get it.

Just because people are allergic to nuts, the rest of the people have to suffer? I mean, for me, when I was going to school, I didn't like having meat, I just had penut butter and jelly sandwiches. And now that nuts and everything is banned, I have to suffer for it because people are allergic?

The way I see it, just don't come around me when I'm eating my lunch. A lot of people are allergic to different things besides nuts, yet none of those got banned in school. So why should the rest of us have to suffer and change our diet and lunches just because some people are allergic? I really don't think it's fair.

...Because the allergy is very common, often sensitive, and life threatening?

Banning all peanut butter is extreme, sure, but the rationale is understandable. Plus, I love peanut butter as much as the next non-allergic guy, but are you really "suffering" from just having eat something else for lunch?

Again, some kids (like my older brother and sister when they were in school), don't eat meat for sandwiches, they wanted penut butter and jelly. Not really a whole lot of other alternatives out there.

Ask, and ye shall receive.

And I know that sucks, but (from the school's POV) what's the greater inconvenience: some kids have to find a replacement for their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or someone dies?

If someone is allergic, what's stopping them from just staying away from the penuts? If they're making the students find an alternative, then the school should have to supply the alternative.

As I mentioned, the school probably took this move because it's both a very common allergy and it can be very easy to set off. The reasoning is sound even if a total ban is a bit too far.

Really though, it seems like you're making a mountain out of a molehill here. As others have mentioned, there are a ton of alternatives out there. And if losing peanut butter is so great an inconvenience, take it to the school. Attend a board meeting, write an editorial or two in a local paper, etc. Just do something to get involved.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

Ummm... Aren't you like twenty years old, [member='ShadowSoldier']?

 

[ShadowSoldier]

Ummm... Aren't you like twenty years old, [member='ShadowSoldier']?

23... whats your point?

 

[Deleted_171835]

I know in high school(7 - 11) for me, peanuts weren't banned but they were in elementary school(K - 6).

I think it's because once you reach high school you know better about not touching others with the allergy or if you have allergies you know to avoid the things.
Like, when you're 6 - 9 in age, you don't really know better or know how serious it can be. But at that point, they can't just say certain grades in the school can eat this because it wouldn't be fair.

Well, that's probably not the real reason but that's what I always thought. Besides the obvious stuff that's already been said.

I think it's more that it gets harder to enforce when you enter high-school. I mean, my school "officially" banned peanut butter but no one really gave a shit.

 

[gamefan5]

I always saw food fights as an urban myth. I sure as hell never had one in my entire schooling.

I did. MANY TIMES! XD It's actually crazy and not a myth. XD

 

[Hyro-Sama]

Ummm... Aren't you like twenty years old, [member='ShadowSoldier']?

23... whats your point?

If you're not in High School anymore and haven't been for approx. 5 years then how is this a problem?

 

[Foxi4]

I'm pretty sure that it's not "peanuts" that are banned on the premises, merely "using or storing nuts in the kitchen environment". The idea is that nuts could accidentally get in-contact with foods which are not supposed to contain them that are specifically cooked for those with nut-related allergies.

Nobody is going to taze you for bringing your own PB&J - it's just the school's kitchen which is banned from using them.

 

[Sicklyboy]

[snip]

Schools here didn't have lunch lines until much much MUCH later. Also, people like me, didn't want leftovers from dinner, me and my brothers and sisters were all the same. We wanted penut butter and jelly and a pack of cookies. Cheap stuff considering you know, we didn't have a whole lot of money to actually get the lunches that every other kid gets.

We also never had pizza when we were all living home as we couldn't afford it. Unless it was the horrible store bought stuff that.. well, you should know, was not good at all and the last thing we wanted was leftovers.

But again, there's no reason we, who aren't allergic to penuts, should have to change our lunch styles or eating habits or whatever just because some people are. Just stay away from the lunches.

Still, if it really comes down to it, a jelly sandwich is cheaper than a peanut butter and jelly one (and still allowed). My little brother doesn't like deli meat on his sandwiches so he either takes a cheese and mustard sandwich or a bagel with cream cheese.

I think in the end, it's much more acceptable to have a few kids pout in the corner because they're not allowed to eat peanut butter in school than it is to have a few kids die because those other kids got their way.

Once you're in junior high onward, you're at least 12; far old enough to know the consequences of peanut contact if you're allergic, so it isn't an issue then. But when you're young, you might not know - or even truly comprehend - the risks associated with having that sort of an allergic reaction. Schools (in the US at least) have to be made aware of what kind of potentially fatal allergies the students have. If little Jimmy suddenly can't breathe because he shook hands with Mark, who just ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and never washed afterwards, like most kids (and adults), and Jimmy goes to bite his fingernails, it could have easily been avoided if Mark wasn't allowed to bring that kind of sandwich in the first place.

I'm pretty sure that it's not "peanuts" that are banned on the premises, merely "using or storing nuts in the kitchen environment". The idea is that nuts could accidentally get in-contact with foods which are not supposed to contain them that are specifically cooked for those with nut-related allergies.

Nobody is going to taze you for bringing your own PB&J - it's just the school's kitchen which is banned from using them.

A lot of school cafeterias here in the US actually have partial/total restrictions placed on peanut butter, to the point where it can't be sold/eaten at all, or there's designated "clean zones". Granted, no teacher/lunch aide is going to go around and check every kids sandwich, it's majorly an honor system sort of thing. In my elementary school, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were prepared in the kitchen and sold to students, but there were tables marked "no peanut butter" for kids with allergies (or anyone else if they wanted to) to eat at.

 

[Deleted_171835]

I always saw food fights as an urban myth. I sure as hell never had one in my entire schooling.

Hm, I had one back all the way in middle school. I totally didn't start it though.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

Ummm... Aren't you like twenty years old, [member='ShadowSoldier']?

23... whats your point?

If you're not in High School anymore and haven't been for approx. 5 years then how is this a problem?

Because I frequently visit the highschool to chat with some of my favorite teachers and shit. And not to mention I sometimes babysit little kids where I have to get them ready to school to take them there and get their lunches all ready and stuff. But even then, when I was in my last year in school at the age of 19, the rule was still in effect. But now it's even more stricter here than when I was going to school.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

I'm pretty sure that it's not "peanuts" that are banned on the premises, merely "using or storing nuts in the kitchen environment". The idea is that nuts could accidentally get in-contact with foods which are not supposed to contain them that are specifically cooked for those with nut-related allergies.

Nobody is going to taze you for bringing your own PB&J - it's just the school's kitchen which is banned from using them.

I believe some schools have totally banned PB & J from their premises. Even the students are not allowed to bring Peanut Butter to school.

 

[SinHarvest24]

Ya but a lot of people only react to nuts when it either touches them or they come near it, like, 3 feet away. A person should have the right to eat nuts if they aren't allergic to it, just as long as they don't go near others that are.

Schools just don't want a food fight to result in actual deaths.

What schools even have food fights these days?

Have anyone ever been in a actual food fight?


I don't even get the purpose of wasting good food!!!

 

[Foxi4]

I believe some schools have totally banned PB & J from their premises. Even the students are not allowed to bring Peanut Butter to school.

That's slightly overboard then. There's being safe and there's being overprotective. Kids that have nut-related allergies know that they have them and they would not accept food containing nuts wheras the children who don't have nut-related allergies are not at risk of dying due to their own sandwich.

It's the foods that are not supposed to have nuts in them that contain trace amounts that are dangerous - they're the real killer and that's the whole point of banning nuts from a kitchen or factory in the first place. Going by this logic, shrimp and shrimp-related produce should also be banned since it can kill just as effectively.

What about snacks? Many factories do use nuts on their production lines and nobody seems to be bothered. Grab any snack out there and the label says it clearly - "May contain nuts" or "The machinery used in the production of this product may have been used to process nuts" on most of them simply to dodge persecution and liability, regardless of whether or not nuts are an actual ingredient.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

I believe some schools have totally banned PB & J from their premises. Even the students are not allowed to bring Peanut Butter to school.

That's slightly overboard then. There's being safe and there's being overprotective. Kids that have nut-related allergies know that they have them and they would not accept food containing nuts wheras the children who don't have nut-related allergies are not at risk of dying due to their own sandwich.

It's the foods that are not supposed to have nuts in them that contain trace amounts that are dangerous - they're the real killer and that's the whole point of banning nuts from a kitchen or factory in the first place. Going by this logic, shrimp and shrimp-related produce should also be banned since it can kill just as effectively.

What about snacks? Many factories do use nuts on their production lines and nobody seems to be bothered. Grab any snack out there and the label says it clearly - "May contain nuts" or "The machinery used in the production of this product may have been used to process nuts" on most of them simply to dodge persecution and liability, regardless of whether or not nuts are an actual ingredient.

The schools here, no Penut Butter at all. All the candy and snacks in vending machines are gone because they may contain nuts. Like they went full out. Even when the candy had warnings on them, they still got rid of them. I mean, the whole point of this topic is because I found out that they're trying to tell the parents "try not to let your kid have nuts at home, if they do, make sure they wash their hands for 30 seconds and arms and clothing" and all that jazz.

 

[Foxi4]

The schools here, no Penut Butter at all. All the candy and snacks in vending machines are gone because they may contain nuts. Like they went full out. Even when the candy had warnings on them, they still got rid of them. I mean, the whole point of this topic is because I found out that they're trying to tell the parents "try not to let your kid have nuts at home, if they do, make sure they wash their hands for 30 seconds and arms and clothing" and all that jazz.

That's going a little bit overboard. They're children, but they're not retarded - they know what they can and can't have once they are told so by their doctor.

The idea of a school being inquisitive enough into my personal life that they look into my sandwich is slightly unsettling - I see a huge difference between keeping a safe environment, especially in the kitchen which needs top standards of hygine and safety and actually banning something that's simply not dangerous to the parties involved.