First, let me say, my daughter has severe food allergies to dairy and egg. And by severe, I mean she’s had to have a shot of epinephrine, twice. So, it’s easy to see which side of the food allergy debate I fall on.
Second, I’m so disheartened that this is a topic that even needs to be debated.
Oh, I’ve had my share of comments from people here and there.
“Gosh, it seems so strange that now all these kids have food allergies. I don’t remember anyone having a food allergy when I was growing up.”
Or, “I really do think some moms are just paranoid…not you of course.”
Gee, thanks.
Recently, a group of Florida parents protested new school rules that had been put into place for a first grader’s severe peanut allergy. Rules like having to store the children’s lunches outside of the classroom and requiring the kids to wash their hands. Wow, requiring the students to wash their hands? How extreme! (Hopefully, my sarcasm is clear because I’m laying it on pretty thick.)
They actually picketed out front of the school and some parents went as far as to threaten “smearing peanut butter on this girl’s backpack.” Really, who are these people?!
My daughter is only two and just recently started attending preschool part-time. I had to jump through hoops to get instructions from our allergist on how to administer a shot of epinephrine, how to recognize the signs of an anaphylactic response, when to just give Benadryl… I can’t imagine any parent intentionally pretending their child had a food allergy. What would be the motivation? Now, it is frustrating that many confuse food intolerances with actual food allergies, but that doesn’t mean that food allergies are a myth.
I realize that it’s difficult and inconvenient for a school to have to put rules in place to protect a minority of the population, but is it really that big of a deal? You know where I stand. What do you think?
WOW. Who are these people? I can’t imagine putting in the energy to protest a childs peanut allergy. Ridiculous. I wish all schools made kids wash their hands before eating.
My husband and youngest are allergic to tree nuts and melons and not having allergies myself it was a little bit of an adjustment on my part to learn to cook without somethings.
Agreed, Jenn. And I don’t have food allergies either, so it definitely took a little getting used to as far as cooking adjustments.