Great post on Nut-Free schools

I wanted to share this opinion on peanut bans in schools. It's from a
parent who does NOT have a peanut-allergic child and is ... GASP ...
In favour of her child's school banning nuts, and reasons why in some
cases it's a good idea.

http://notedandblogged.blogspot.com/2010/03/nut-free-oh-we-should-be-so-lucky.html

Quaker Crispy Minis changed again

I realize that this blog has been quiet of late, but I felt it important to let people know that there have been changes to the recipe for Quaker’s Crispy Mini Rice Chips – which had been a staple in our peanut-safe classroom. They changed the recipe once before to include trace amounts of peanuts (and other allergens). Now I am happy to report that they have reduced the number of allergens in 10 flavours of this product.

Here is the notice, forwarded through Anaphylaxis Canada …

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NOTICE FROM: PepsiCo Canada

March 2010

IMPORTANT NOTICE: QUAKER BRAND TO REDUCE ALLERGENS

IN SEVERAL CRISPY MINIS® RICE CHIPS

As part of its ongoing mission to deliver healthy and convenient options that fit into a healthy lifestyle, PepsiCo Canada's Quaker brand is making changes to its manufacturing and allergen control procedures for its Crispy Minis rice chips.

The changes will reduce the number of potential allergens in most flavours of rice chips products only. Allergen labeling on other Crispy Minis products, including Crispy Minis Bite Size rice chips, Crispy Minis Delights cookies and Crispy Minis rice cakes, remains the same.

The reduced allergen Crispy Minis rice chips are now on store shelves in major Canadian retail outlets. Accordingly, ingredients listings will be changing, and precautionary labeling will be adjusted only on affected products, as follows:

CRISPY MINIS RICE CHIPS FLAVOUR	CURRENT FORMULA	NEW FORMULA
Ketchup	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients
Sea Salt & Lime	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients
Salt & Vinegar	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients
Caramel Kettle Corn	Contains Sulphites. May Contains Wheat, Milk, Soy, Egg and Peanut.	Contains Sulphites. May Contain Soy.
Crunchy Dill	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.
Butter Popcorn	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.
Sweet Chili	N/A new flavour	Contains Soy and Wheat Ingredients.
BBQ	Contains Milk and Barley Ingredients. May Contain Soy, Egg, Wheat, and Peanut.	Contains Milk and Barley Ingredients. May Contain Soy.
Cheddar	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients. May Contain Wheat, Egg, and Peanut.	Contains Milk and Soy Ingredients.
Sour Cream & Onion	Contains Milk Ingredients. May Contain Soy, Egg, Wheat, and Peanut.	Contains Milk Ingredients.

The Quaker brand reminds consumers of these important tips regarding the importance of carefully reading food ingredient labels:

• Food-allergic individuals and those buying for them are encouraged to read food ingredient labels at least three times: once when purchasing the item; a second time when putting the item away; and a third time just prior to serving the item.

• Take steps to improve your understanding of labeling regulations and their limitations. It should never be assumed that all sizes and flavours have identical allergen profiles, so check the label every time.

• Products with a "may contain" warning could be problematic for individuals with life-threatening food allergies. If there is a precautionary warning, it is possible that the product contains traces of the allergen.

No Traction

Today, as I sit in the school parking lot, it is –20 degrees Celsius here in Uxbridge – hence the inspiration for the post title. However it also explains the reason why this blog has been quiet for so many months. I knew that if I started writing about anything related to peanut allergies, too many raw emotions and soured words would bubble to the top to allow for a readable post.

Sadly, there have been no improvements in the situation at school. We are still not allowed to check all of the lunches in Liam’s classroom, nor are we allowed to check the lunches of the class that mixes with his twice a week. The school board seems to be dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s, as the last we heard from them was to ask for Liam’s allergist and our family doctor to write – in their own words – the same information that was included in Liam’s allergen avoidance policy. So … no traction there.

In the meantime …

The grand total of allergic reactions Liam has had since this all started is six. Six reactions in a matter of two months, after two years of no reactions while in Junior and Senior Kindergarten, where community snacks were still being provided by the parents. We finally decided that Liam would stay home on days when the classes merged. The final straw came through a short conversation with one of Liam’s friends from the other Grade One class.

On this morning while Liam’s classmates were presenting their lunches to Krystyne for a visual inspection (yes, this is what the board has dictated, since we can’t touch their lunchboxes), a little girl from the other classroom told her, “you’re not doing a very good job at checking our lunches.”

Questions about the lunch checks have become common since the change in policy, but this comment was a little surprising. Krystyne politely explained that we’re not allowed to check her class’ lunches anymore. Then she asked why.

“Because there are some kids eating Peanut Butter Cups for snack.”

WHUUUUAAAAAAT????

We don’t know whether it’s true or not, but we weren’t about to take any more chances. We know the girl and her family well and trust that she wouldn’t lie to us, and that would help explain why Liam reacted whenever the classes merged. Either way – true or not – we were unwilling to take any more chances with Liam’s life. So on mornings when the classes are slated to merge, Liam stays home until lunch, and the desks are washed down before he gets there for the afternoon.

Some progress at the school

There is some good news in all of this. In November the principal started a parent's advisory board on food allergies, of which Krystyne is a member. They review the school’s policies to help keep all of the food-allergic students safe. At the last meeting, they learned that the school will be putting a sink outside the primary grade classrooms so the children can wash their hands more often and more easily, rather than having to travel down two floors to the washrooms.

So, out of the frustration with this situation comes hope for some of the other parents at the school.