I've wondered about this: Peanut Allergies as reported in Time.com

The Coffee Shop
1

I thought this was interesting since I never have really understood food allergies. We didn’t seem to “have” them when I was a kid. Here is an interesting insight on them:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1881985,00.html?cnn=yes

This quote struck me in particular:

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of U.S. children under 18 with a reported food allergy jumped 18% from 1997 to 2007, and the number of children hospitalized for food allergies has nearly quadrupled in recent years.”

So what happened? What did we do as kids in the 1960’s and '70s. It didn;t seem like anyone was “allergic” to anything. We used it as an excuse to try not to eat things we didn’t like. It never worked. It seems as though that tenor has changed.

Did you read the part about the school bus being evacuated because there was a peanut found on board?

2

This one caught my eye.

Given all the attention paid in recent years to food allergies, the number of people in the U.S. who die from them–15 to 20 a year–is relatively small. More people die each year from bee stings. “But we don’t remove flowers from schools or playgrounds,” Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a professor of medical sociology at Harvard Medical School, commented recently in the British Medical Journal.

Hmmm, another interesting section

Still, very few people with a peanut allergy die from it. In fact, a 2003 study led by Dr. Scott Sicherer, a Mount Sinai pediatrician, showed that 90% of peanut-allergic children who got peanut butter on their skin developed nothing more than a red rash; none developed a systemic reaction in which their airways swelled up. The same went for smelling peanuts. Thirty peanut-allergic children were asked to sniff peanut butter and a placebo paste for 10 minutes each, and none developed a reaction to the peanut butter. Only one child had difficulty breathing–and that was after sniffing the fake peanut butter.
Such studies are starting to suggest a more nuanced way of handling the peanut problem in schools and other places. “You are probably better off teaching the faculty how to manage food allergies than making the classroom or school a peanut-free zone,” says Dr. Sean McGhee, a pediatrician at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA. “To my knowledge, there aren’t any studies where peanut-free zones decrease the incidence of anaphylaxis.”

Great article Tom, lots more I could qoute, Does seem to indicate a big over reaction in the states.

3

There was a bit on the NBC nightly news a couple nights ago about a person who trained a dog to sniff for peanuts. The dog was given to a little girl who can’t even leave her home she is so allergic. The dog should be able to steer her clear of any danger – even touching peanut products can apparently cause a problem for someone with this level of allergy.

There’s been a lot of talk that kids now grow up in sterile environments, don’t play outside and get used to the allergens, pollens, and everything else that is outside. I know when we were kids we dug around in the dirt and spent all day outdoors. I have no allergies to pollens, flowers, foods, etc, but am slightly allergic to cats – not even all cats, just some.

4

I’m with you, this topic drives me NUTS (pun intended). I realize that there are people who have legitimate allergies, and they need to take precautions. But I think there are degrees to these things. If an allergist tests a kid and finds a violent allergy, they will tell you. But so often, a kid will have a mild reaction and the parent will go completely insane about it.

The idea of making schools “peanut-free” just seemed so overbearing. My wife and I have always packed lunches for the kids. My two boys have taken peanut butter sandwiches. Yet, in our old school district, we were made to feel like criminals because we would dare to send peanut butter in their lunch bags.

The conversation was like this:

School-“It is such a small thing for us to ask you that you not send peanut butter? Little Johnny has a peanut allergy and his mother says he can’t even smell a peanut or he might die.”

Me-“Oh, really. Has this allergy been confirmed by an allergist.”

School-“Well, we’re not sure.”

Me-“So you expect me to have to change what I feed my kids for lunch because of Johnny’s alleged allergies.”

School-“You have other options. We have plenty of choices in our cafeteria for your children.”

Me-“Listen, I don’t qualify for free or reduced lunches, but I’m not rich either. Your lunches are not really cheap at $2.75/day. I can feed a peanut butter and jelly with a banana or an apple every day to both of my kids for less than a dollar. Plus, we are strict vegetarians, and your meatless options are lackluster, unsatisfying, and they are prepared right along with the meat. I’ll tell you what. You begin preparing a meatless menu separate from the standard menu, with as many options, and I will happily cease sending peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with my kids for lunch. How does that sound?”

School-“Uh, I’m not sure that will work.”

Me-“Why?”

School-“We just don’t have that many students who would eat off of that menu to justify the cost.”

Me-“Have you asked? Do you know that for sure?”

School-“Well, no we haven’t asked. But so far there are only 2 students who have requested this.”

Me-“To my knowledge there is only 1 student who has requested that there be no peanut butter. Yet you seem to feel perfectly comfortable asking for everyone to bear that inconvenience, and without very much evidence in my opinion. I’ll tell you what, my offer stands. You provide an equal vegetarian menu and the peanut butter stays home. If you want to try and force the issue, you had better come prepared with something better than ‘Johnny’s mom said…’”

What a pain in the ass. Nothing ever came of it and I kept sending PB&J with the boys. To my knowledge, Johhny survived somehow.

Bernie

5

I am an ass and try to be as big of one as I can.

You went on for a while so I summarized it for you. Came across as “If it inconvienences me me, no way, if it inconveinences someone else, definitely”

6

I am an ass and try to be as big of one as I can.

You went on for a while so I summarized it for you. Came across as “If it inconvienences me me, no way, if it inconveinences someone else, definitely”

To me it came across like he was actually trying to get the school to think logically and act rationally. I guess to some in the anti-intellectual crowd that might look like being a PITA.

Come on–banning PB&J??–you gotta be kidding me.

7

Growing up in a sterile environment has a lot to do with it, but some of it is also crappy genes.

Your immune system needs something to do or it will get lazy. You have “to train” your immune system to be in top shape by introducing bacteria or viruses to keep it busy, i.e. opening doors, touching elevator buttons and then wiping your nose etc. If you don’t, your immune system will get lazy and when the common cold/flu comes around it won’t be able to handle it and you’ll get sick.

20 years ago, kids played in the mud and ate off the floor. Now, some parents carry their children around in a bubble and don’t let touch anything. My own sister in law supervises her guests while they wash their hands surgical style before being allowed to touch her child.

8

It came across as an ass, as he was requesting medical information for a child from a school. He then proceeded to compare a food allergy to a personal dietary choice. If I, or my child, have an allergy, I do not have to present the medical records to you to prove it. The school is likely barred from releasing such information or risk facing a lawsuit. Most likely the school has an epipen for that student, supplied by the parent. The school then makes the determination that rather than possibly face a lawsuit in the future for failure to act, and thereby raise taxes, they would rather err on the side of caution.

Having a child with a food allergy can be a worry to a parent. I have a child with one, and on more than one occasion when there have been get togethers and it has been requested to avoid the food allergen, parents come bringing food they say they checked for the ingredient. They have not, as it is clearly listed as an ingredient on the package. They simply assume since they have tasted said item in the past themselves and didn’t note the flavor, that it is not present.

On the whole PB thing…if your school bans it instead of having a peanut free table set aside, there is always the option of soy or sun butter. Personally I detest soy butter, but sun butter isn’t that bad. Might raise the $1.00 to $1.10 but not “potentially” risk the life of another child. My son eats at such a table and his friends that want to sit with him at lunch request their parents not to pack such items for them. They have the concept down in kindergarten. Apparently, the “intellectual” crowd gets their undies all up in a bunch over their perceived inconveinence. Who lives in the “me first” realm, the kids, or the parents? Seems the former can get past the allergy concerns, whereas the latter cannot and want to inflict their “freedoms” on everyone no matter the cost.

9

My kids get tons of outdoor exposure, but I know they have inhereted crappy genes.

However, having ones reality referred to as overreacting is not a correct response.

We could just as easily as point out the number of smokers that live long lives and then state that smoking should once again be permitted in all places. Pick your poison, there is always someone out there that will be able to justify why it should be their way. Kind of like that study that keeps getting referred to on these forums…

10

I’m with you, this topic drives me NUTS (pun intended). I realize that there are people who have legitimate allergies, and they need to take precautions. But I think there are degrees to these things. If an allergist tests a kid and finds a violent allergy, they will tell you. But so often, a kid will have a mild reaction and the parent will go completely insane about it.

The idea of making schools “peanut-free” just seemed so overbearing. My wife and I have always packed lunches for the kids. My two boys have taken peanut butter sandwiches. Yet, in our old school district, we were made to feel like criminals because we would dare to send peanut butter in their lunch bags.

The conversation was like this:

School-“It is such a small thing for us to ask you that you not send peanut butter? Little Johnny has a peanut allergy and his mother says he can’t even smell a peanut or he might die.”

Me-“Oh, really. Has this allergy been confirmed by an allergist.”

School-“Well, we’re not sure.”

Me-“So you expect me to have to change what I feed my kids for lunch because of Johnny’s alleged allergies.”

School-“You have other options. We have plenty of choices in our cafeteria for your children.”

Me-“Listen, I don’t qualify for free or reduced lunches, but I’m not rich either. Your lunches are not really cheap at $2.75/day. I can feed a peanut butter and jelly with a banana or an apple every day to both of my kids for less than a dollar. Plus, we are strict vegetarians, and your meatless options are lackluster, unsatisfying, and they are prepared right along with the meat. I’ll tell you what. You begin preparing a meatless menu separate from the standard menu, with as many options, and I will happily cease sending peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with my kids for lunch. How does that sound?”

School-“Uh, I’m not sure that will work.”

Me-“Why?”

School-“We just don’t have that many students who would eat off of that menu to justify the cost.”

Me-“Have you asked? Do you know that for sure?”

School-“Well, no we haven’t asked. But so far there are only 2 students who have requested this.”

Me-“To my knowledge there is only 1 student who has requested that there be no peanut butter. Yet you seem to feel perfectly comfortable asking for everyone to bear that inconvenience, and without very much evidence in my opinion. I’ll tell you what, my offer stands. You provide an equal vegetarian menu and the peanut butter stays home. If you want to try and force the issue, you had better come prepared with something better than ‘Johnny’s mom said…’”

What a pain in the ass. Nothing ever came of it and I kept sending PB&J with the boys. To my knowledge, Johhny survived somehow.

Bernie
You are awesome. Seriously, way to keep it real. I could not imagine why a school would think they have the right to tell parent’s what they can feed their kids for lunch.

11

It came across as an ass, as he was requesting medical information for a child from a school. He then proceeded to compare a food allergy to a personal dietary choice. If I, or my child, have an allergy, I do not have to present the medical records to you to prove it. The school is likely barred from releasing such information or risk facing a lawsuit. Most likely the school has an epipen for that student, supplied by the parent. The school then makes the determination that rather than possibly face a lawsuit in the future for failure to act, and thereby raise taxes, they would rather err on the side of caution.

Having a child with a food allergy can be a worry to a parent. I have a child with one, and on more than one occasion when there have been get togethers and it has been requested to avoid the food allergen, parents come bringing food they say they checked for the ingredient. They have not, as it is clearly listed as an ingredient on the package. They simply assume since they have tasted said item in the past themselves and didn’t note the flavor, that it is not present.

On the whole PB thing…if your school bans it instead of having a peanut free table set aside, there is always the option of soy or sun butter. Personally I detest soy butter, but sun butter isn’t that bad. Might raise the $1.00 to $1.10 but not “potentially” risk the life of another child. My son eats at such a table and his friends that want to sit with him at lunch request their parents not to pack such items for them. They have the concept down in kindergarten. Apparently, the “intellectual” crowd gets their undies all up in a bunch over their perceived inconveinence. Who lives in the “me first” realm, the kids, or the parents? Seems the former can get past the allergy concerns, whereas the latter cannot and want to inflict their “freedoms” on everyone no matter the cost.

Really did you read the article… It states a lot of FACTS, like the whole Peanut Free Zones is unnecessary and unproven.

12

Right, because kids have never ever in the history of the world traded food items at lunch or snack time.

Most things in life are unproven, until you can nail down the exact cause and affect for all interactions. We simply decide to say which are proven, and then try and produce facts, figures and statistics to back our own claims.

I looked at the article…

13

Right, because kids have never ever in the history of the world traded food items at lunch or snack time.

Most things in life are unproven, until you can nail down the exact cause and affect for all interactions. We simply decide to say which are proven, and then try and produce facts, figures and statistics to back our own claims.

I looked at the article…

Ok, So then I assume you disagree with the conclusions drawn? Do you have any articles or studies to support your belief? Care to share? The story seems to imply that their are none, and most of what is out there is over reaction which leads to negative results (ie. the food labeling – now food companies just label everything to cya and the warnings mean nothing.)

14

It boils down to a few things. Kids are pansies nowadays. They don’t get out, they don’t test their immune systems, and now they are allergic to more things. In addition to that, parents pamper their kids. God forbid their child should suffer any inconvenience, discomfort, or harm of any kind at any time. And lastly, we will sue anybody for anything, so schools are afraid. If little Timmy actually gets sick, the parents will undoubtedly sue, and we’ve gotten to the point that they will probably win. Take weak kids, overprotective parents, and an overly litigious society, and you get no peanut butter in the lunch room.

15

Exactly- that’s what I was thinking. I have empathy for people who suffer from a chronic problem like this, but it seems to have cropped up in the last three decades. Odd.

16

As the parent of a nine-year old girl with a severe peanut allergy (and less severe tree nut, soy and shellfish allergy), I’m constantly on the lookout for news regarding the cause as well as research into possible treatments. Alas, one of the enlightened Slowtwitch denizens has the answer – my daughter is a pansy! Finally the truth is out! She only does a mere 8 hours of gymnastics and dance a week, so she knows no discomfort (not like an old triathlete). She doesn’t watch TV but wastes her time practicing the piano, doing homework and reading (kids these days are such slackers). We became aware of the seriousness of the peanut allergy when she was two and a half (her throat constricted after eating a peanut-based soup that the waiter assured us had no peanuts in it). So this coddling and pampering on our part obviously started at an early age. Perhaps we should have beaten her as an infant to toughen her up.

Because soy is in practically every commercially manufactured food product (read the labels – you’ll be surprised), my daughter can’t eat junk food or fast food. She has no recollection of what the inside of a McDonald’s looks like. She does know how to read the label of everything she eats and she has been cooking with us since she was young. The one positive aspect of her allergies is that she only eats fruits, vegetables, meats, and minimally-processed whole grains. She carries an Epi-pen on her when she leaves the house and is very aware that an allergic reaction will at best give her hives and at worst, kill her.

These allergies were diagnosed by an allergist and she has biannual visits and blood tests every two years so these allergies are not my opinions (yes I know the blood tests may give false positives). And as a child in the 60s and 70s, I too did not know anyone who had food allergies. And no one would ever confuse me with a “neat freak.” Most people would probably say my wife and I are “strict parents.”

While the latest stats indicate only 20 or 30 people a year die from a food allergy, two years ago the stats were 100 people a year. And with 20,000 to 30,000 ER visits a year for this, my heart skips a beat whenever the school calls us.

I think evacuating a school bus because a peanut was found on one is ridiculous. While her classroom is a “nut-free zone” and she eats lunch at the “nut-free” table, her school is not nut-free and I don’t think it necessarily needs to be.

My fear is not a kid eating a PBJ sandwich at the next table in the lunch room. If the school is organized, the staff is educated, and the students are well-behaved, I think her chance of an accidental exposure is very small. I fear the stupid parent who thinks the allergy is all in my daughter’s head and passes their opinion on to their stupid kid who then tries to prove it’s all in her head. And there are plenty of people out there who believe that since my daughter is so allergic, I should just home-school her – better that than their kid give up their God-given right to eat peanut butter.

I’m just the father of a pansy, and probably a pansy myself. But I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

17

i’ve wondered the same thing for yrs, why as kids did none of my friends have any allergies or die from anything crazy, but now every kid seems to have something. and it seems people protect kids today from just about everything, yet they are the most out of shape generation to come along. i work for an airline known for their peanuts, we on occasion get a request not to serve peanuts due to a passenger with a peanut allergy. fine, we serve pretzels. but if you think that after 25+yrs of serving nuts on that plane that by not serving them on this flt is going to keep you free of nut dust…the customer is alway right.

18

I don’t think anyone is saying a kid with an allergy is a pansy or if they are I don’t defend that. But as a society, with antibotics in hand soaps (which do nothing) cutting boards (minimal benefit) kids plastic toys (no benefit)… we have created a generation of biological pansies. Study after study supports this with facts, like kids who grow up with Dogs, or Cats have less allergies ect…

Glad your not one of those parents who wants your city to go nut / soy / shellfish free cause your kid has this allergy.

I do wonder why they classroom needs to be nut free, yet not soy or shellfish, then there are those damn flowers attracted bee’s never heard of a flower free zone.

I do understand the concern and worry an allergy like that would give a parent, I just think for what ever reason our Media has picked up on the Peanut allergy and way overblown everyone’s sensitivity to it. My daughter has a kid in her class allergic to dairy products yet they don’t ban milk from the classroom. If a kid is bringing in a treat the mother calls and talks to the parent to find out what they are bringing. If the parents not comfortable, she has supplied the teacher with approved snacks to give her kid.

19

I’m no expert, but do you think some of the differences from the 60s and 70s might include advances in medical technology - like simple blood tests for allergies? Those weren’t available or possible to my knowledge in that time-frame.

20

“Alas, one of the enlightened Slowtwitch denizens has the answer – my daughter is a pansy!”

Please notice that I said “Kids” are pansies, not “every child” is specifically a pansy. Like anything else, I’m sure there are a handful of legitimate cases of severe peanut allergies. I don’t think we’re really discussing all the specific legitimate cases, however, so much as the general hysteria and overblown nature of people in general who think their kids are deathly allergic to something. I was making a generalization, of course, and generalizations do not, by definition, address every single specific case. No offense to your daughter was intended, because, of course, I didn’t even know you or your daughter existed before your post.