Its just crazy. Schools should simply provide lunches if they are going to become so fussy.

I agree that it is important to be cautious but I think they are going a bit over the top these days.

THank oyu for the great read!

Calling it the “food police” is a bit rough when we’re talking about keeping kids safe from potentially life threatening incidents.
I think a bit of inconvenience for some parents is worth it to ensure all kids are safe. But the focus on not sharing food is also important to avoid that “false sense of security”

It can be a hassle but think of the families who have a child with a severe and potentially lethal allergy. If it is that serious, I don’t think there’s a problem in banning things though I did not know you could have a severe allergy to things like spinach or grapes (but I wouldnt know). If it’s not a severe allergy, I think a more reasonable course of action is just educating parents and kids on healthy lunchboxes and not sharing potentially allergy causing items from their lunchbox.

I think if it’s life threatening, yes definitely it shouldn’t be allowed, but for minor cases, maybe assess individually.

What a load of garbage!

That eliminates so many foods. The school and kinder here have a ban on nuts due to the teacher being allergic, and that already is enough. Bananas are a big favourite among the kinder kids. Would be a shame to not bring them, but if it was necessary she’d just bring apples. Hopefully not getting sick of them!

I think it needs to be fair and relative to individual cases and classes. How can we go on about obesity and then ban fruit? Admittedly, I don’t have a child with food allergies, so I can only imagine how hard it must be for a family to deal with. However, I agree, that we need to teach children to be mindful and not to share their food. In the big world outside of school, food sharing and choices will need to be managed, so best to start it in school.

I don’t see why these foods have to be banned. Just tell them not to share their lunches. It would be harder for little ones but not for the older children. Things are starting to get a bit ridiculous when you can’t give your child the food they love to eat at school

It’s starting to get a bit ridiculous now!

I honestly don’t know a lot about allergies but surely eradicating things from an environment isn’t the solution. I would have thought education is the key.

This is a really tough one to comment on . On one hand I am outraged that the children can’t eat fruit at school and on the other hand I wouldn’t like one of my grand children coming home with an allergic reaction to what they had eaten at school.

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  • • june replied
    • 22 Feb 2016 , 8:54 pm

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  Or if the allergic reaction is severe perhaps they wouldn’t get home at all.

My daughters creche has a no nut policy. I think a no sharing policy is a great idea

My step brother has two children with a variety of food allergies. He always sent them with food that was safe to eat and most differently inquired about what was being served at parties, so his children could either attend with warnings or not go.
The problem was they got lost at a park when they wandered off, police found them and did not know about the food allergies. The children had been taught to consider all foods poison and only have bottled water if offered. When their parents arrived at the station they had to explain why the children thought all the food offered was poisoned. After being told it was a way for the children to make sure they did not have anything that could harm them. They were 3 and 5 at the time. So children can be taught not take food that they should not have.
It is hard for parents and the school as they are responsible for the children while in their care.

At the school from my kids is a “no-nut-policy” and a “no-sharing policy” but you should see how much is shared…scary just scary ! But luckily most of the time those who have the severe allergies will not join in with this behavior.

Two of my kids can’t eat Ladyfinger bananas because it sets off their asthma. It took me a while to get my head around that one but they are aware themselves not to consume them when they are away from home and I will only buy other varieties for them. We’ve had a child visiting us that couldn’t eat citrus fruit but we made other fruit available. My son has a classmate with a severe nut allergy, which the school made us aware of. Imagine someone taking a peanut butter sandwich in their lunchbox and then not washing their hands properly afterwards, then touching them or something they will use and leaving traces of nut behind. I think it is more of a risk in the younger years, because the children will be aware of not sharing foods etc when older, but in younger years it is harder.

Iv’e heard of the no nut’s policy but never heard of anyone allergic to fruits, nor have i received a letter about any child having these sorts of allergies

I can understand this my children went school with a girl who even if she sat near someone after they had peanuts she had a severe reaction,she was really bad and the girl was taught what to do and how to do it and she NEVER shared, and yes it is hard for everyone but we don’t want the children to feel outed either for what they already go through.

The challenge is what constitutes an allergy and how severe does it need to be – otherwise their won’t be any foods we can send with our children.

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  • • mom94125 replied
    • 28 Feb 2016 , 9:15 pm

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  yeah someone was saying that we should teach our kids to eat their own lunch, not others, but kids will always want to try their friends food.