Food allergy law “absurd”?

Comments

Author:

Scotty


Written:

January 10, 2011





Very interesting. This doesn’t state how old Catherine Campbell is, but I can understand how a 64 yr old man wouldn’t “get” how serious this is. The number of kids…and PEOPLE IN GENERAL…that have developed food allergies has skyrocketed in the past decade or so. It’s NOT like it was when he was in school or raising his own kids. He, and Ms. Campbell, obviously have not had a family member suffering with food allergies….yet. It is becoming more and more common to develop new allergies as one ages nowadays. So, its not just a child issue anymore. BUT, something does need to be done to help protect our children so that no other child is needlessly lost at school, as the young lady in Chicago!

Author:

Kate Mackenzie


Written:

January 10, 2011





I feel actually kind of lucky right now… our school system here in CT has had food allergy protocol in place for several years. Our 2 elementary nurses actually have children with food allergies, and they are great resources for parents.

While I can still find places where they can improve – they are trying, and listen to suggestions. I would be dumbfounded to have these people leading my school board. Their ignorance and intolerance is beyond words.

Author:

DM


Written:

January 10, 2011





This is shocking. I read this article with my mouth hanging open the entire time. The uncaring attitude of these board members is nothing short of reprehensible.
I am lucky to have a school district that is current on food allergies and has a good policy already in place. However, I also have family who does not understand the full extent of the allergy, tho I have tried to educate them. The majority are on board but there’s a couple hold outs.
One thing these people don’t understand is that they are supportive of the laws for things to assist children with learning, developmental, or physical disabilities. However, they do not understand that while these supports if not given will not ultimately lead to the death of these children. With food allergies, it may very well, as in the case noted in the story. They have also obviously never witnessed a child gasping for breath as their throat closes due to an exposure to an alergen.
I worry every time my girls walk out of the house bc I dont know what they may breathe while not in a controlled environment. Peanuts and other nuts and legumes are treated like toxic waste in our home – bc that is just what they are to our girls.
The comments of those board members needs to be made public nationally and they need to be relieved from their duties. Apparently they are not well enough educated on current safety for children…nor do they care to make themselves so. This is blatant disregard for human life and child safety, the very things they are elected to ensure.
SHAME on both of them!!

Author:

AEPaul


Written:

January 10, 2011





How’s this for the polar opposite from Dedham, MA:

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/dedham/2011/01/schools_to_tackle_food_allergy.html

Author:

Angie


Written:

January 10, 2011





And these people are still serving the school district because??? Obviously not for their love of children. This just sickens me!

As a parent of a child with multiple food allergies, I would only put my child in a school that has guidelines and policies in place for food allergies. I take my daughter once a week to an ECFE class at our local Elementary school, and they have snack time (which I hate!). I’ve had issues with one of the parents thinking I need to bring a different snack for my daughter, and I’ve had one of the teachers suggest we leave the room during snack time. At that point I complained and said I was going find somewhere else to take my daughter, because the last thing I want to do is segregate her or make her feel different. After I spoke up things have changed and when we’re there they only put out snacks that are allergy friendly. With that said there is no way that I would enroll her into the school once it’s time for Pre-School or Elementary School. I will be looking into schools that are more willing and capable of handling allergies.

Author:

AiXeLsyD13


Written:

January 11, 2011





The biggest detriment here is that people refuse to believe that food allergies are as serious of an issue as they are.

I try to equate it to telling the non-afflicted that “maybe there’s some rat poison in the kitchen, and maybe it could have spilled on their food…” but it doesn’t quite work with some groups of people.

@AEPaul, I like the link to the MA article. It’s nice to balance the bad news with some good.

While personally I feel that legislation ought to be a last resort with food allergy issues, and it needs to be consumer driven… I don’t see how programs in schools for training teachers & staff about food allergies would be all that costly. Providing Epi Pens could be like vending machines… just let the pharmaceutical company donate them, but put their name all over them.

Author:

Karmin Gaytan


Written:

January 30, 2011





As a special education teacher and a parent of a 3 year old with extensive food allergies, I have been getting fearful lately of when my son starts school. The Science labs oftentimes involve food & teachers frequently use candy as an incentive (even though it’s illegal in Texas). My son is allergic to corn (& many other things), thus pretty much all candy and snack food is out. I cannot expect the teachers to change everything for him, but I can work with the teachers to accommodate or provide alternatives for my son. He goes to speech in the schools 4 hrs a week, & his teacher does a good job checking with me a week or two in advance so we can change the lessons to accommodate his needs; his class size is only 5 kids, though. I don’t know what we’ll do if/when kids in his classes have OTHER allergies, since his food options are so limited!

Author:

cathy


Written:

February 18, 2011





I’m new to this blog, but it’s very interesting. While I think legislation can be helpful, I still believe that parents of food-allergic children will do best if they work with teachers, administration, and parents.

Both my children have multiple food allergies. One is in 7th grade, the other in 2nd. I was especially concerned about how safe my youngest would be in school. Over the years (including pre-K and K), I have found that the most successful approach is the pre-emptive one. I contact teachers in advance of the school year (sometimes even during the previous school year) and arrange to meet with them to discuss the food allergies. At that time, I provide Hidden Allergy lists provided by our allergist. This allows the teacher time to think about how he/she might rethink certain projects or assignments. When my children were younger, I provided wheat-free play dough for the entire class (though I did have to convince one teacher that it would work as well as Playdoh). I always try to let teachers know which commonly used supplies are unsafe for my kids, and then we brainstorm solutions. Throughout grade school, I provide a “snack box” for my child that stays in the classroom. Then, if there are unexpected food activities (like birthdays where the parent shows up with cupcakes), my kid can always choose something safe to eat. My kids have also passed on the treat at school and then “collected” a safe one when they got home.

I ALWAYS schedule time with the school nurse to establish a classroom health plan and, if necessary, combine that with meeting with the teacher.

I’m lucky that my kids can be in the same room with others eating or using allergens. Since I’ve always been concerned about cross-contamination, one of the most successful things I’ve done is to enlist the teachers’ help in having ALL the kids wash up both before and AFTER eating. (When all the concerns about the spread of disease, teachers are generally happy to oblige.)

Finally, empower your child(ren). Teach them what their allergies are and how to speak up for themselves–even preschoolers. Don’t hide their allergies. Let the other parents know, but start by asking for small things, like giving you a heads-up when they’re planning to bring in birthday treats. I think you’ll be surprised, also, at how your child’s classmates watch out for unsafe foods and become advocates for your child.

Author:

Brittany


Written:

November 9, 2014





I have multiple food allergies. Gluten, including Wheat, Soy, Dairy in all forms, Lettuce, Cocoa bean (chocolate), chili peppers, and pepper (as in black and white pepper) and even distilled white vinegar make me very ill thanks to the not 100% perfect distillation process, so it includes things like mustard, ketchup, sauces, etc. Even ‘natural flavorings’ and nitrates and nitrites cause me severe distress. So for any one entity to block all food allergies is impossible. Most people who are food-allergic have only one or a few of the major 8, yet I am unable to even eat salads with no dressing or even pretty much all commercially prepared foods such as in restaurants or cafeterias. I can understand the school staff being upset, but think about those of us who live in fear no matter where they go, what they touch, grocery stores are a hotbed for me to get sick from, yet I have no choice. I have to go buy food.

I am 30 years old and only JUST diagnosed with all of these. My health has been horrible my entire life. So, please, think before you respond so harshly to articles about hatred or intolerance to people with food allergies, because honestly, there is no way to stop food allergy medical problems simply by blocking the major 8 allergens. I’ve heard of people truly being allergic to water. Yes I agree it’s not nice of those inconsiderate school staff to be up in arms about the law but really, it’s not going to help everyone who has food allergies.

The only thing I can say is to pack your own food, securly, in your own lunch box or bag, tape the darn thing shut so nobody gets into it and eat away from others. I do have to carry 2 Epi-Pens with me as we all know that one allergy attack can vary in severity from another. I may end up having to use it.

I live in a household (parents and I) that constantly has dairy, and gluten products in it, my parents refuse to accomodate me even though I am finally getting healthier and more able to care for myself. Yes, I’m 30, but my health has been significantly down the toilet my entire life. They really had to take care of me even through my 20’s. But for them to keep bringing in all of my food allergens and using them daily keep me sick. So what am I going to do? Get a court order for them to stop? Force a law onto the books that anybody with a food allergy has to live in a “clean and safe environment where none of their allergens exist?” Right. Like that’ll work.

Author:

Lawrence Gregorash


Written:

September 19, 2016





I waited until after my school board service ended to make any further comment on this issue. Public service by its nature means you have to ignore comments made about you by the press and it’s poor replacement of today, social media. The quote was accurate, the unfunded mandate imposed by the state proposed school board policy was dumb. And in my now 70 years the concept of unfunded mandates for school districts is depriving tax dollars from being spent on education. As was usual during my tenure, the reporter who accurately quoted me, took my glib comment out of context. He was not a fan of me or my board service. Our school district had a policy passed by the board prior to this mandate that more comprehensive than the proposed state policy. Feel free to check. That fact is matter of public record, also mandated by federal law. Additionally, the requirement to have a twice yearly teacher and staff training on the proper use of epi pens was already part of the mandatory district employee training program instituted by the districr’s policy before the new mandate. Enough said about the state’s johnny come lately policy.
The issue was about having to change our effective policy that looked out for the health and safety of our students and staff ( many of whom, like me suffer from life threatening allergies. I have carried an epi pen for the last twenty years, and yes they are now absurdly expensive – let’s go attack that issue!). I also have to carry benadryl as I have been in the emergency room twice for severe reactions to my allergies.
So if you wish to make me poster child for your cause, put me down as an avid supporter for protecting your child and all children in all parts of our country and the world. Some of those children are mine and my grandchildren. When I taught public school for a dozen years, graduate then students training to be school administrators, and my 20+ years as an officer in the United States military, I emphatically taught those in my charge to make sure you have all the facts before you react. Social media has a validate purpose in education and information, but incomplete research leads to inaccurate information and we have enough of that in out lives from gossip and hear say. By the way, check the public record on the vote on that policy. I voted with the majority after the board agreed to edit the policy to include the stronger points that already existed in our policy. Fact checking can be long tedious and boring, but in the end you will have fact, not populist fiction. Lawrence Gregorash, Ph.D., ( Lt Colonel, USAF, retired)

Author:

Lawrence Gregorash


Written:

September 19, 2016





In an attempt to be accurate, the corrected phrase should read, while I taught public school for a dozen years, then graduate students training to be school administrators etc. For all those who were quick to criticize in support of a cause, allow me to encourage you to become active, if you are not, in your elementary school district committees, and governance. Consider serving on your local school board and in keeping with your outrage at my comments taken out of context, become involved with public service. For all the millenials reading, it is without pay, making it true public service. Listen to the involved citizenry and their concerns about issues that have a consequence on the health and safety of the students (rarely the staff). You will be both surprised and hopefully shocked at the subjects that draw public outcry. Moving a bus stop, changing start finish times that may have a substantially positive effect on learning but inconvenience the community member ( which is understandable), or anything to do with Sex Ex. You will pack the room and hear every form of public outcry. The particular night in question, ( I keep very extensive notes), would have gone unnoticed, for the presence of the reporter who was looking for controversy among several board members who tended to follow their own agendas and made for good stir the pot community press. By the way, Illinois law does not allow school board members to file suits for defamation and both board members at that time were advised by the attorney not to respond. That is why I waited to respond . Still support your cause and would be happy to help with a campaign to lower the cost of epi pens. $600 for a two pack, good for a year is bit much, don’t you think?