Yesterday, a facebook posting in a private group lead me to the National Peanut Board’s Peanut Allergy Facts website and this statement: “Whether your child has a peanut allergy or your children need to eat their favorite peanut products around others who are allergic, you’ve come to the right place”. Let’s chat. I clearly have some issues with this statement and even more with one video I watched on their website in which parents tips on finding accommodating environments for their food allergic children are given. I’m concerned that some of this data might send the wrong message and cause harm. Therefore, it’s worth talking about.
- I enjoy peanuts.
- I eat them when ever I am traveling-especially in ice cream or in candy. If my son was not allergic, I would most likely eat peanut candy.
- The National Peanut Board should support and sell their products, we live in a democratic society and their product is safe…for many.
- I applaud the fact that this group shares that their organization has donated over $10 million to food allergy research and education.
- I believe this board should consider a new PR firm.
My concerns with the statement, “need to eat their favorite peanut products around others who are allergic”…
- This is one issue we struggle with in the school setting. Parents who insist their children can only eat PB&J often feel that their child’s culinary need trumps a life threatening health issue. Thus resulting in resistance and push back on 504 plans accommodations or other true health related requirements. I personally believe that none of us need to eat an item in the presence of someone that can be harmed by it. Period (insert stubborn Leo face here).
- I teach my children tolerance and that supporting a friend’s health need trumps taste and convenience in the spirit of friendship, safety and community.
- There are situations when a child truly might need peanut butter if there is financial hardship involved. I love my Sunbutter but peanut butter is cheaper–I get this and know this type of situation can be addressed for success too.
- I feel this statement is mis-leading and might be better improved by noting that age and health status of the “others who are allergic” need to be taken in consideration by speaking to the allergic person or their parent. For example, if my toddler needs his PB&J, is it okay for him to sit with his peanut allergic pal? Can we safely confirm they will not lick each other, eat other’s foods, etc? Also, I know several children who have medically confirmed airborne allergies. This needs to be noted as well.
Allergen Study. On the same page, the website goes on to review a study from 2004 regarding the Distribution of Peanut Allergen in the Environment. The message I received from the website was that peanut was found in limited areas within the preschool and school setting. Soap and water will remove the allergens and thus all is well. Here are my questions regarding this study:
- Ten years ago, when the study was conducted, where the classrooms used in the study as crowded as they are today–ten years later-increasing the prevalence of more allergens?
- Were the classrooms used to consume daily meals, snacks or only for celebrations?
- Preschools were studied, but I still can’t confirm that a toddler can avoid their allergen. Can you?
Confused Protocol. I watched a short video presented by a gentleman who was a chef and registered dietician. It appeared that his goal was to provide tips for parents to find accommodating environments-including school. Bless him for trying, but the food allergy 504 accommodation boat left the dock without him. He urged parents to speak to the teacher-first (?), principal and then district. He forgot about the school nurse, 504 plans and seeking out established school anaphylaxis or allergy management policy. He suggests parents speak to the teacher first? Generally, many of us begin with the 504 plan process and meeting with the school nurse or counselor, who then acts as the point person and coordinates the teacher and principal as part of the discussion. Every district in the United States has varied food allergy and anphylaxis policy, therefore a parent’s best bet is to call the district and ask about the protocol for managing life threatening food allergies.
Solutions. I appreciate the right of this organization has to market their products and try to send out a message that peanuts are safe for many. BUT, giving confusing information will simply frustrate all involved and ,I believe, cause consumers to eat other items. I hope this board asks one of the other organizations that they list as a resource to review their site and take advantage of this great opportunity to educate others on food allergies and to offer viable, useful suggestions for schools, dining out, etc.
Peanut is not the enemy to me. Peanut is poison to my son, but not my daughter. To keep her from becoming allergic, I give her peanut often–away from home, in a safe setting using our established protocol. We manage peanuts, outside of our home and environment safely and with respect to others.
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..
Fantastic perspective, Caroline. The “need” angle is something I’ve had teachers tell me about – I have heard about parents telling teachers their child will “only” eat peanut butter as a way to counter a request from an allergic family to avoid them in a setting such as the classroom. I am not brave enough to eat nuts – I am not allergic but I haven’t had one since my daughter’s diagnosis. I don’t view it as the enemy, but I just don’t want the worry and the alternatives are so yummy. Thank you for this post!
Homa, thanks for your kind words. Oddly enough, tomorrow’s blog post is about adult onset allergies and my own allergist suggesting to me that I continue to eat peanuts and trees, but MORE OFTEN! Over date night! I also have not had a sesame seed in years and I need to eat those too. Apparently, some adults with allergic children are developing their own FA possibly due to their own avoidance. I hadn’t eaten a peanut in years and actually vomited when I finally did. Yum, too much information? We’ll talk more in tomorrow’s blog post.
Sounds like we both need to go have some halva together sometime soon. I do miss that!
Homa, I have not had Halva in 12 years. I think it is time.
All valid points- yay Gratefulfoodie! It is difficult that so many companies seem to (try) to intertwine food allergies with their products now but are still just kind of missing the boat,just a tad. And although, for some, it may be safe to simply have a peanut product nearby without touching it, for so many others it’s something as simple as that which could lead to an instant disaster.
Our family is peanut allergic but not almond allergic so we stick to only that. On the occasion that we decide to have nuts, we keep everything on a completely different shelf in the pantry and we wash our hands multiple times. We do not, however, put them out for anyone visiting as they may not understand how easy it is to reach for a nut and then reach into something else and contaminate that safe food.
Thanks for jumping on this article and for being one of our voices 🙂
Nutrimom, exactly–there are good workable solutions out there and sometimes we just say, “no for right at this moment”.
“Need”???? Yeesh! Yes, kids cannot survive a few minutes without eating or drinking…sigh.
Sarah, I think it goes far beyond nuts, but foods in general. Even my own daughter complained about her teacher pushing them to eat snacks and food constantly. I think that it is sometimes easier to give food instead of working out whatever issue is at hand.
I teach my children tolerance and that supporting a friend’s health need trumps taste and convenience in the spirit of friendship, safety and community. This statement says it all.
Very well said. Did you contact the peanut board directly with your thoughts? I think they need to hear what you have to say!
Libby,
Check out the rest of these comments, the CEO of the National Peanut Board joined our conversation and he did update their website too. Isn’t that wonderful? I’m pleased to see their interest in supporting our community. Did you read my blog today? My doctor wants us (hubby) to eat peanuts, tree nuts, sesame and poppy seeds to make sure we don’t sensitize ourselves. Crazy right?
Caroline…thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on our new website. With food allergies on the rise, our goal is to demonstrate how people with allergies can safely co-exist with those who don’t if proper planning and precautions are taken. For that to happen, we believe it’s important to present science-based information and resources and counteract misconceptions. Your point about the “need” to consume a peanut product (vs. the “desire” to do so) is certainly in keeping with the tone we want the site to take, and we have changed that statement. We would love to continue the dialogue with you, and will reach out to find a time to connect. Thanks again. Bob Parker, President & CEO, National Peanut Board
Thank you Bob for joining our conversation! Truly this is a journey that all of us are on together – as an entire community. I believe we all need to come to the table, and work with fact based science, statistics and information. I look forward to more conversation in the future and truly appreciate your time and energy. Thank you again and I hope you enjoy the rest of a wonderful week!