Mom Demands School Go Peanut-Free For Allergic Child

[Honeycombe8]

368. It's not about PEANUT BUTTER! Peanuts are ingredients in LOTS & LOTS of foods!

http://www.childrenscolorado.org/wellness/info/parents/30263.aspx

That's why the responsibility falls on parents to make sure their child doesn't eat and isn't exposed to foods with nuts or peanuts.

When reading labels, avoid these ingredients:

food additive 322 (also often listed as lecithins)
arachis (an alternative term for peanut)
hydrolyzed vegetable protein (which may be found in some cereals)
arachis oil (peanut oil)
emulsified or satay (which could mean that the food was thickened with peanuts)
natural and artificial flavoring (which could contain tree nuts and are used in many foods, including barbecue sauce, cereals, crackers, and ice cream)

Foods to avoid include:

peanut butter
mixed nuts
crushed nuts in sauces
African, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Mexican, and Vietnamese dishes (which often contain peanuts or are contaminated with peanuts during meal preparation)
pesto (an Italian sauce made with nuts)
marzipan (a paste made from ground almonds and sugar)
mandelonas (peanuts soaked in almond flavoring)
health food bars
artificial nuts (which could be peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut, such as pecan or walnut)
all cakes and pastries with unknown ingredients, particularly carrot cake, pumpkin cake or pie, and fruit and nut rolls
bouillon and Worcestershire sauce
praline and nougat
muesli and fruited breakfast cereals
vegetarian dishes
prepared salads and salad dressings
gravy

Doctors also advise peanut-allergic patients to avoid chocolate candies, unless they're absolutely certain there's no risk of cross contamination during manufacturing. Many candy companies are very aware of nut and peanut allergy issues. Some even make sure they manufacture candies that contain nuts separately from those that don't, so people with nut allergies can still enjoy their products. To be sure a candy is nut- and peanut-free, log on to the manufacturer's website or call the toll-free number listed on the package. Most companies have customer-service representatives that can answer nut and peanut allergy questions accurately.

Even nonfood items can contain ingredients that could cause a reaction in a nut- or peanut-allergic child:

Hackysacks, beanbags, and draft dodgers are sometimes filled with crushed nut shells.
Bird feed, dog food and treats, hamster food and bedding, livestock feed, some cosmetics (especially moisturizers), secondhand toys and furniture, and ant traps and mousetraps could even contain nuts or peanuts.
It's important to be vigilant about your child's food allergies, even during simple, everyday activities. Here are some basic tips allergist Sandra Gawchik, MD, gives her patients:

Avoid baked goods you didn't make yourself - anything with an unknown list of ingredients. Stay away from baking mixes, chili mixes, etc.
Be careful when eating at Asian or buffet restaurants - spoons often go in and out of various bowls that may contain nuts or seeds and could easily cross contaminate foods.
Don't be cavalier about food allergies - tell everyone who handles the food your child eats, from waiters and waitresses to chefs and bakers. If the manager or owner of a restaurant is uncomfortable about your request for peanut- or nut-free food preparation, don't eat there.
If you're unsure about whether a food or candy is nut and peanut free, log on to the manufacturer's website or call the toll-free number listed on the package. Most companies have customer service representatives that can answer nut and peanut allergy questions accurately.

Encourage people not to feed your child. Don't take food from strangers. Make your own snacks and treats to take to parties, play dates, school functions, and other outings.

Talk to the daycare supervisor or school principal before your child attends. Then talk to your child's classmates or send home a note explaining that your child has a severe allergy to peanuts or nuts. Ask parents to refrain from sending in snacks that contain peanuts. If your child's school doesn't already have one, talk to the school principal, your child's teacher, or cafeteria personnel about setting up a nut- and peanut-free table in the cafeteria.

Keep epinephrine accessible at all times - not in the glove compartment of your car, but with you because seconds count during an anaphylaxis episode. It's a good idea to also keep epinephrine in your child's classroom (not just in the nurse's office), or in your child's backpack, depending on your state's laws on carrying medicine in classrooms.