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The food police have struck again, with fruit off the menu in school lunch boxes.

The Herald Sun reports some parents have been advised that certain fruit and vegetables should be kept out of their children’s lunch boxes.

Point Cook P-9 College has urged parents to avoid sending bananas, watermelon, soy, wheat, eggs, dairy, and nuts in lunches due to minor allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Principal Frank Vetere said they didn’t have explicit bans on any food, but had contacted families whose children had classmates with allergies.

“There seems to be a growing number of students with allergies, and we try to manage it the best we can with proactive measures,” he said.

“We have 20 students with allergies and they are all different.

“With every class that has a child with an allergy, we send out a letter to the families.”

Strawberries, grapes, spinach, chocolate, lollies, chips, jelly, dried noodles, fried foods and muesli bars are other items schools and kinders are ditching due to allergy and obesity fears.

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Professor Katie Allen said there were rising rates of food allergies and intolerances around the world, and fruit was one of the rarer ones.

She said allergic reactions could only develop from eating the food, and banning items was not the wisest choice, except for young children in childcare centres or kinder.

“In schools it creates a false sense of security, and you can end up with lunch box Nazis,” she said.

“Instead we say not sharing food is the best public health message to send, for a range of reasons.”

The Education Department does not advocate bans at schools but a common sense approach to ensure students are safe.

Spokesman Simon Craig said advice was continually reviewed as research emerged.

“We have a rigorous set of policies and procedures in place to help our schools minimise the risk of anaphylaxis and food allergies and effectively manage any reactions, including individual health management plans for each child who identifies as having a serious allergy,” he said.

Last year, in my then Prep sons class, pineapple was off the menu as one of the children in the class suffered allergies. It did make it that little bit harder as my son loves his pineapple, but we are also a nut free school so you soon adapt to what foods you can and can’t send quite quickly. Banana and watermelon would be a real downer though. Certainly one of the popular lunch box treats in our house.

I think if it is an individual class and not a total school ban then it is a fair decision to make. Especially in the earlier years.

Share your comments below.

  • My child has nut allergies. I send specific foods, and requested that when someone in the class had a birthday, and brought in a cake to share, that I be notified when possible, so that I can provide my child with a ‘safe’ treat, so there’s no FOMO. Lol. It’s not hard, you know? If your child has allergies, (above kindergarten age), then you just teach them that it’s not safe to share food unless you know exactly where it comes from and what’s in it. As long as you explain it to them, kids are resilient and really darned smart. They know what’s what. And if you provide an alternative wherever possible. (And if there’s an occasion where a parent surprises their birthday child without notifying the teacher, just make sure your child understands not to share, and you can ‘make it up to them’ after school, if required.)

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  • Have never heard of being allergic to fruit – but not liking it, YES!!


    • Some people – not just children are allergic to fructose – the natural sugar in fruit. Some fruit also has “furry” skin which comes off easily when touched though some people may not realise it. e.g. peaches are one of the worst culprits, also kiwi fruit. Some schools a no nuts policy. The Admin building has a large sign on it, and I know some of the classrooms definitely do. I reckon all buildings in the schoolgrounds are probably labelled. Many years ago many people died from allergies and the cause of death wasn’t known. Now we know and the problem can be controlled. Some are allergic to egg yolk but not the white. I know one Mum who had her son tested as he had a reaction and it was after he had eaten anything with eggs in it. Hayfever can be caused by allergies including food. Hayfever can also become worse and result in a person developing asthma. Some people who avoid things that trigger it may still get severe asthma requiring emergency treatment in hospital. Sometimes patients have less attacks but those they have are more severe and affects their heart. I know a boy who has exactly that problem. I also knew a Sales Representative who died from a Heart Attack while having a severe Asthma Attack.

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  • It is becoming ridiculous how we are wrapping up a whole generation of kids because of fear of allergies. I do have to wonder why we are seeing a rise in allergies, could it be that we are avoiding giving them these foods as a toddler even tho they are not allergic to them yet? Some studies I have read found that giving children small amounts of foods that can cause an allergic reaction helps prevent an allergy occurring later as they get older.
    I just can’t agree with a ban on fruit at all because for the majority of kids it is a healthy choice & a must have part of their diet. Nuts should be avoided at all times because it is a dangerous allergy to have but as far as fruit is concerned the child with allergies should just avoid eating them. Junk food should never be part of a kid’s lunch at school & not only because it is unhealthy but they can also contain fine particles of nuts depending on where they were produced & packaged.
    I always taught my kids never to share lunchbox food in case their friend had an allergy to something in it, their schools also encouraged them not to share. A regular reminder helps make sure it does not happen & our schools supervise the young children during meal times.

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  • Nut free is fair enough, that’s so dangerous. And chocolate and lollies rent nutritious, so I can accept that. I’m a bit uncomfortable with banning things like fruit, but I think I’d understand if it was because of a child with a specific allergy.

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  • Reading some of these comments I couldn’t help but think about my daughter who is anaphylactic to macadamia nuts. She must not come into any contact whatever or she has a life threatening reaction. Think about if this was your child and how you would protect them from insensitive people. Sorry to be so blunt but I felt angry with some of these comments.


    • It is terrifying for parents when their child is allergic to foods and other things. Thankfully most parents understand and happily comply as they have empathy and understand that it could be their child!

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  • Life threatening food allergies can be horrendous and the rise in allergies is alarming. I hope research does find some answers to this increase in food allergies. Watching a child react to a food allergy is absolutely horrifying. There is an abundance of healthy alternatives to send to schools.

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  • How ridiculous is this? Why should everyone suffer. Fruit is healthy. If the child has an allergy that child should be taught by its parents to manage it. It is not up to everyone at school to do it for them. Parents need to take responsibility for their own children & stop expecting the schools to raise them!

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  • I think we really need to be addressing why there are so many allergies now.

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  • I don’t like this ban at all. It’s just too much!

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  • I think for earlier years ok but for a total ban it recommendation to not bring certain fruit and veggies is just absurd. There should be further education for the kids with the allergies.

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  • Our child has a student in the class who has severe nut and watermelon allergies (to name only 2 of them). Luckily, our school only has a no nuts policy. Everything else is dealt with on a no share basis. The parents are supportive of this approach. I think open and honest communication on this stuff really helps. Educating the whole school community of how to support those with allergies, instead of creating stigmas and issues really helps both today and into the future lives of these kids.

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  • Lke gt

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  • Lke it

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  • I think care has to be taken around young children up to primary school age. Children should certainly be taught not to share their food with their classmates in case of allergies.

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