Famous People with Food Allergies

1. Serena Williams, Tennis player: allergic to peanuts
2. Ray Romano, Actor: iolently allergic to peanuts
3. Alex Kapranos, Rocker from band “Franz Ferdinand: fatal allergy to peanuts
4. Robert Kennedy Jr.'s son Conor: nut allergy
5. Katie Couric’s Nephew - severe peanut allergy
6. Clay Aiken, American Idol contestant and second place winner: allergic to coffee, chocolate, shellfish, tree nuts, mushrooms, and mints
7. Heather Locklear's daughter Ava: peanut allergy
8. Steve Martin, Actor: shellfish allergy
9. Trace Adkins' daughter: Allergic to peanuts, milk, eggs and more
10. Britney Spears' son Jayden - peanut allergy
    

Holding my Breath

Finally we heard from the principal! Here's the status on this week's top three problems:

1. The index cards being kept by a teacher are being destroyed. No longer will that teacher rely on self-reported medical information for students in the Home & Careers class. I think the principal told us on the phone, rather than email because if she put it in writing, it would document their role in the HIPAA violation, among other things.
2. Additionally, the principal told us the Valentine's day candy sales did include candy whose label read "may contain traces of peanuts and tree nuts". The principal told us the school would be purchasing alternative non-nut candy to distribute throughout the school.
3. Now onto the bake sale, there was no school oversight nor instruction given in regards to the ingredients of the bake sale items being brought in from home and sold throughout the school. Let's hope there aren't many nut-topped treats or peanut butter bars, etc. Since the sale occurs within the hour, there is nothing to do but hold our breathe that he comes home alive.
   

Battle Gear On

From the middle school website yesterday: "... Art Club will be having a Valentine's bake sale tomorrow and Friday during lunch periods."

A bake sale?!! A bake sale where kids bring in foods baked at home, probably laden with nuts (brownies with nuts, peanut butter cookies, etc). Are you kidding me?!!!

Doesn't this conflict with the school's proposed allergy policy "... Inform parents/guardians of students with severe allergies in advance of any school events where food will be served"?

I guess the school doesn't seem to think my kid may be at risk. Time to don some battle gear....

Hear No Evil

2 emails and 2 phone messages to the principal and still no answer about what candy products will be sold and distributed throughout the school facility tomorrow.

Separate but equal?

Why is is that teachers think classroom projects are appropriate when not all can participate? Or the class exercise if fine if one student is singled out because they have to use different, separate materials?

The Home & Careers classroom project is to read food labels, but not just the labels - she uses the whole package. The teacher wants to use what she already has but can't attest to them being safe for him to handle (such as her granola bar labels which have a ton of nuts in them]. Although we asked that labels being used would be safe for everyone, she thought it best he bring in his own. So here we go again, the "separate but equal" bullshit.

Umm, are they serious?

Email from parent to school

[principal],

Thanks for responding about the candy sales. However, I still do not know what candies are being sold and distributed throughout the cafeteria and commons. If they are nut products this would be a grave concern. Please let me know specifically what food products will be distributed in school.

Also, I did not receive a response from you in regards to my concerns about a child’s self-reporting of medical history and how this data is used as a back-up to official medical records. I hope you understand there are many issues and liabilities associated with teachers using self-reported medical information from minors without parent consent. Am I to assume that this is something the school will continue to endorse and sanction? I really would appreciate a response so I do not misunderstand the school stance on this.

-[parent]

Contamination Kept to a Minimum

Email from principal to parent

Hi [parent],

I spoke to the SADD advisor, and she has changed the delivery plans for the Valentine's candy. The candy will be delivered only at lunch time and will be given to the students in the cafeteria and commons during that period. We have also discussed the need to look into future fund raisers that do not involve food.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, and please stay in touch.

[principal]