Article about Calif School Banning Peanuts

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[b]***BEYOND OBSESSED***[/b]

Its the school in South Pasadena that was mention in an earlier thread, no new info really.... let me post it real quick so all of you dont have to register to read it...

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[b]For the Lunch Bunch, School Will Hold The Peanut Butter[/b]
Sunday, September 19, 2004; Page A02

Parents at Arroyo Vista Elementary School are going to have to get a little more creative than the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwiches they pack in lunchboxes.

Four percent of the school's students are allergic to peanuts, and school officials aren't taking any chances. Peanut butter and any other food containing peanuts have been banned from the South Pasadena, Calif., campus. School lunches, snacks and classroom treats will have to be peanut-free.

Arroyo Vista Elementary School in South Pasadena, Calif., has banned foods containing peanuts from its campus because some children are allergic to them. (Los Angeles Times)

In a letter sent to parents, Principal Julie Jennings said that the new rules "may seem a bit extreme" and be "difficult to get used to," but that it was necessary to protect the 20 students who suffer from the potentially life-threatening allergy.

Some parents who are upset with the "no-peanut zone" say the chance of students coming in contact with peanuts accidentally is too small to keep all of Arroyo Vista's 550 students from bringing the nut on campus.

Some people who are allergic to peanuts suffer only a slight rash, but others can go into anaphylactic shock, which can cause death in minutes. School staff members have identified the allergic students and have been trained to inject EpiPen -- which counteracts the reaction -- if one comes into contact with peanuts.

-- Kimberly Edds

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[b]Allergy Patrol[/b]
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Lisa, Mom of:
Samantha 6 yrs NFA
Robby & Becky 3yrs NFA

I am a mom of two students who are at the school in South Pasadena that has become peanut free. It has been an interesting month. Really, only one family has been opposed to this ban, but the media is really trying to stir it up. Both my children have severe food allergies.

Valerie,

Welcome! Glad to hear that you were about to get the school behind you.

We went through similar pain last year when DS entered Kindergarten (here in No. CA). Some parents raised a fuss, and media was all over it. Things should die down in time.

One thing that helped us was a reporter who really seemed to understand/empathize. Over time, she did a few articles that raised awareness, and assisted in educating the commmunity about the seriousness of food allergies; perhaps you'll find someone like that down there....

[This message has been edited by Nutternomore (edited October 12, 2004).]