Tree Nut allergy

CampyCamp, RN · Aug 29, 2019

Ick. I think their parents should be told the situation and told to decide. Nut table with PBJ or they can't pack PBJ. No complaints, some schools can't have PBJ at all. I like that situation though. It makes sitting at the special table a choice. I've seen kids sit alone at the nut free table which strikes me as a huge "I'm different!" label and is just sad and lonely.

BrisketRN, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2019

I agree with Campy. Let parents decide PB&J at the nut table or sunbutter & J (or whatever nut-free lunch) at the regular tables.

I like the "nut table" idea. I've always disliked the nut table because my two (now adult) cousins with tree nut/peanut allergies said it felt alienating when their schools tried to force them to sit at a separate table because of their allergies.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2019

14 hours ago, NewschoolRN said:
Hello! I am new to school nursing and had an interesting question come up at a staff day today and am looking for some feedback from seasoned school nurses!! The school is pre-K to 3rd grade. The current set up for lunch is there is a nut table (as opposed to a nut free table) and apparently the teachers have a few children who have tree nut allergies but then may bring peanut butter in as part of their lunch and the question is...is it then safe for them to sit at the nut table...which would be technically required given the peanut butter sandwich. My thought is they do need to sit there but maybe with even more separation from the other nut eaters as the food they have may be tree nut variations? Any thoughts/suggestions/experiences would be greatly appreciated!!!

Oh Lort. I wish Old Dude were still here. This just opens up a crazy can of worms, doesn't it?

BrisketRN, BSN, RN · Aug 29, 2019

**I meant to say I dislike the nut-free table** too late to edit now.

rnLS. · Sep 2, 2019

I would bring up the fact that there should be NO table. What is so special about a nut allergy & why are nut allergies taken more serious than every other allergy? Anaphylaxis is anaphylaxis regardless of which allergen has triggered it. So stupid.

AdobeRN · Sep 3, 2019

On 9/1/2019 at 7:48 PM, rnLS. said:
I would bring up the fact that there should be NO table. What is so special about a nut allergy & why are nut allergies taken more serious than every other allergy? Anaphylaxis is anaphylaxis regardless of which allergen has triggered it. So stupid.

Yep - never understood this.

BrisketRN, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2019

On 9/1/2019 at 7:48 PM, rnLS. said:
I would bring up the fact that there should be NO table. What is so special about a nut allergy & why are nut allergies taken more serious than every other allergy? Anaphylaxis is anaphylaxis regardless of which allergen has triggered it. So stupid.

Agreed. I think it sets the kid up for failure later on. Our school is nut-free and snacks/lunch are provided by the school, so our kids never have to learn how to check their food, avoid foods, etc. The world isn't nut-free. Get them started at a young age checking food labels, asking adults "what's in this?," and wiping down their eating area before eating.

CampyCamp, RN · Sep 3, 2019

I posted, didn't like my post, and am struggling with a tactful way to say it.

I assume it's because of the fear of airborne particles which is rarely a fear in other food allergies. When I see kids reported as having airborne food reactions, it's almost always nuts. (I know of one reported airborne allergy to wheat and dairy.) I think I see fewer reported cases though and the research seems to go that way but I'm not an expert at all and didn't do a lit search to post this. Just throwing 2 pennies in the rationale for the table.