Food parties

NurseBeans, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 22, 2017

Our district instituted a ban on anything for parties that is not packaged. That way we have a way of knowing ingredients. I review records every fall and determine which classrooms have to have "peanut free" or "nut free" parties, and send letters home accordingly. It seems the least restrictive way of protecting those allergic, and maintains privacy (I don't name names on the letters).

What drives me crazy is the parents who insist their child is allergic to something, and allow me to restrict the classroom parties, then send their kids in with that something in their lunch. Seriously? You are inconveniencing entire classrooms of parents for a fake allergy? WHY???

Or the parents whose kids have a documented allergy in medical records, then find later that it is no longer a concern, but don't bring in documentation, and wonder why I won't just take their word for it that it's no longer an allergy. Umm, liability?

Flare, ASN, BSN · Feb 22, 2017

Food parties are still permitted in my district. I make my food allergies well known to the teachers and tell them that I am more than willing to assist them in reading labels, but also make it clear that I cannot be expected to read every label in the short time that they set up all the grades for their individual class parties for all classes, all grades. To be honest, they don't really ask me too much beyond the things that I know to be fact - the local Shoprite Cupcakes are peanut free and peanut safe, the names of the local bakeries that specialize in nut free, gluten free, etc. As a rule of thumb, we discourage peanut/ nut inclusive treats from being brought in as party snacks and encourage things like fruit, veggie trays, cheese, ect.

BeckyESRN · Feb 22, 2017

We have parties with food twice per year. This year, by the grace of God or whomever, the HSA decided that we are only doing Skinny pop popcorn and water/apple juice. Skinny pop has a bunch of flavors and all of them are dairy, egg, gluten, and nut free. No outside food is permitted at any other time. Of course, teachers ignore this and give out snacks, but they coordinate with the parents to send in safe snacks.

AdobeRN · Feb 22, 2017

In my district everything must be store bought and have the ingredient/allergen label attached. Parents are allowed to send in cupcakes, cookies etc for their kids birthday celebration - the items are handed out the last 10 minutes of class or as the kids are walking out the door, no more parties like we would have back in the day. Teachers are responsible for checking the labels before handing out food in their classroom - I do not check food labels unless asked to do so by a teacher if they are not sure about a student.

We have 3 classroom parties during the year - Holiday, vAlentines & end of year parties. The last 2 years our PTA has been planning them -they will get together and decide on the food/drinks & activity (sometimes the activity involves food - at the holiday party they decorated gingerbread houses and cookies). They then run it by the principal he approves it then passes it to me. I then will send out an email to those parents that have notified me of food allergies/intolerances etc letting them know the food/drink that will be served and if they do not want their child to participate (eating or handling) to let me or the teacher know and that they are welcome to send in an alternative food item for their child only.

I find it irritating that I have several kids with all these different food allergies/intolerance issues and parents have made a big stink about certain things regarding the allergies, the teachers and myself have worked hard to make sure the environment is safe - but when it comes to classroom parties it is now ok for them to eat whatever during the party. I sent out 60+ emails for the Valentines party and only 4 parents contacted me and the teachers to say they will provide an alternative food item or that it was ok for them to handle the food for the activity but could not eat it.

OldDude · Feb 22, 2017

Like there really is such a thing...we are NOT a peanut free school, also require store bought packaged food to be eaten in the classroom for birthday parties, etc., and we have after school "dances" for 3rd grade and up a few times throughout the year where PTO sells everything under the sun. I get the list of kids scheduled to attend and personally talk to everyone of them who has "whatever" allergy before the school day ends to warn them there will be something sold at the dance that they are allergic to. I'll also inform the parents of these kids as well. There are obviously real life threatening food allergies out there but I don't think it's as prevalent as reported. On the flip side, we had a 4th grader with no history of allergy eat a store bought cupcake in class at the end of the school day last Friday. His mom picks him up after school, he was in anaphylaxis and respiratory distress from the time he walked out of school until he got to her car. Fortunately an ER is about a mile from school and she took him straight there. Go figure!

KKEGS, MSN, RN · Feb 22, 2017

Our nutrition department is very careful about the food they order for the cafeterias. My elementary school is peanut aware and we have a separate lunch table for kids with food allergies. There are no nuts at that table but other kids are allowed to bring in peanut butter and such but they come to the health office after lunch to wash their hands. We do have a couple of kids who are so sensitive that we have signs outside their classrooms banning nuts entirely and we send letters home to parents with kids in those classrooms stressing how important it is to not send anything with nuts with their kids.

I personally would LOVE if we went food free for class parties and such. I work in a different district than the ones my kids attend. Our home district is food free for parties and birthdays and things. It's so much less stressful.

AdobeRN · Feb 22, 2017

I personally would LOVE if we went food free for class parties and such. I work in a different district than the ones my kids attend. Our home district is food free for parties and birthdays and things. It's so much less stressful.

My district tried with eliminating all extra food brought in for birthday celebrations but it didn't last long...apparently here in Texas there is something in the educational law books that state they can't do that.

Windchaser22 · Feb 22, 2017

Thanks everyone.

WineRN · Feb 23, 2017

Our nutrition department is very careful about the food they order for the cafeterias. My elementary school is peanut aware and we have a separate lunch table for kids with food allergies. There are no nuts at that table but other kids are allowed to bring in peanut butter and such but they come to the health office after lunch to wash their hands. We do have a couple of kids who are so sensitive that we have signs outside their classrooms banning nuts entirely and we send letters home to parents with kids in those classrooms stressing how important it is to not send anything with nuts with their kids.
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Everything above, plus we don't have food parties. It just started this year so some of the parents are still angry but most get it. For Valentine's Day, any kids who's parents still sent food had to leave it in their backpacks.

Our kindergarten class has snack time and two with peanut allergies so our teachers (or me when there is a sub) check every snack and any that have peanuts or are made where peanuts/tree nuts are have to eat in a different room.