Did You Receive Any Unsafe Food Gifts This Holiday Season?

No, last year we did receive a lot of Harry & David and other similar gifts. I know one tower of treats was well over $100. I just tell people not to send me stuff like this because it is unsafe for DS. None this year!!!!

Don't think I received any unsafe food gifts. DS did get some *may contain* chocolate in his stocking -- but since it is allowed in my home and he's not the one with the allergy, that's OK.

I got pork chops. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/eek.gif[/img] They were not under the tree (thank goodness). Anyway, definitely, safe pork chops.

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Alt to M, my husband often gets flack because he doesn't eat my allergens. He does eat *may contains* but not the actual allergen. Most people just sort of shrug with a look. But a few - especially this one absolute jerk - constantly tells him off. "Are you still doing that sesame seed thing?" [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/rolleyes.gif[/img] He just doesn't *get* how serious it is for me. As for Grandma saying you shouldn't be deprived -- I think she doesn't *get* why you have the safety zone you have, and was actually trying to be nice to you. (Of course, right now, I'm in one of those moods -- I'm thinking the best of everyone. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] )

We get at least one unsafe food gift every year, including from people who definitely know better. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/rolleyes.gif[/img]

One year I got a bag of pecans from a friend who had visited Georgia. Now, in my past life, I would have whipped those up into a yummy pecan pie faster than you could blink. Needless to say, I passed them on to someone who could use them.

I just sort of shake my head, and realize that other people have more on their minds than what we can and can't eat in my house. They have their own problems. It's the thought that counts.

Amy

We got a plate of homemade cookies that went straight into the garbage (after I thanked the neighbor who gave them and he left). DH also got "may contains" One box of cookies, and one of candy. But those were business gifts. They go into a special, high-up, out-of-the-way spot in the pantry, and we eat them after the kids go to bed.
My mother was very good this year. Vermont Nut-Free, not just for DS, but also for DD, and for my neice and nephew (the cousins open their presents from my mother together).

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[url="http://www.the3day.org/boston07/deedaigle"]http://www.the3day.org/boston07/deedaigle[/url]

Yes. Can of peanut brittle - too bad as it was a lovely Christmas tin, but I couldn't see being comfortable using the container even after a good washing, some Frango stuff (may contain)and some other cookies (may contain). Tossed the peanut brittle and "re-gifted" the rest to DH's office.

Tons of them and we gave evey single unsafe gift away or my DH never even brought the stuff home.
Peg

At least 10 boxed items- cookies/candies etc. Took them all to the local nursing home to be used as game prizes/ gifts for the residents that could have them

Ditto what Peg said. Exactly.

It was the usual gifts this year, all much appreciated...I received many boxes of chocolates with nuts/peanuts in the chocolate, many plates of (unsafe) home baked cookies and homemade chocolate. Also received handcream with nut oil in it...The food was left at the office or given to the local food drive, the handcream was given to my co-worker. I did bring home the bottles of wine and liquior [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

There were no unsafe gifts from family or close friends.

Ali [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/cool.gif[/img]

Yes--with DH's job we always recieve them. We don't use them but are in the process of writing thank you notes.

DS does receive safe cookies each year, and we do allow those.

We received almonds from someone I was surprised gave them.

We received a gingerbread house kit--homemade. The family had made a house out of graham crackers and had assembled it with frosting. They included the same frosting, some unsafe candy, minature candy canes, and interestingly Kissables in their kit.

DS used the frosting and our stuff (the red, white and green kissables), our gummy stuff to make the house. And he found a blue pixie stick from Halloween and used it for snow! It ended up being a fun project--as a project.

Um...I would say a big YES! My friend brought over a 'lovely' snack tray today with peanut brittle, poppycock (with cashews), chocolate with nuts in it, honey nut cheerio snack mix and truffles with a peanut coating. Everything had nuts. Not just traces...full nuts. She is a sweet dear friend...but obviously doesn't 'get it'.

Yes, we received a container of peanuts! LOL ... I just brought it directly over to a friend whose husband enjoys them.

And my SIL, of all people, gave us a tin of cookies with a peanut warning on it. (She said she was so focussed on the picture on the tin, that she didn't even think to look at the ingredients.) We thanked her for the gift but said unfortunately we couldn't even bring it home, so we left it at the IL's. She understood and was very apologetic.

Our good friends who know all about the allergies gave us a few things with nuts. Also our sitter gave my husband and i a box of chocolates that has nuts to be eaten out of the home (she said to us when she gave it to me )

I got a bag full of PB cups & other candy at work! Gave the non-nut stuff to my kids I am the PA one) and regifted the pb cups.

My dad (who knows and is usually pretty careful) gave me 4 boxes of almond cereal for my bday recently?!? Still waiting to donate it somewhere when I am out.

Oh- he also brought a pie in at Thanksgiving and when dh asked what kind it was, he was joking around saying it was a surprise (he didn't make it and couldn't remember what the person had told him) and then my dh yelled, "Does it have nuts?" And he said, "oh, oh, I see, I forgot about that! Yeah, I think it is peanut butter! I'll take it back to the car!" He wasn't trying to be sneaky, he just forgot...

I also am a non drinker who got a bottle of kahlua, a bottle of wine, and a bottle of Jack Daniels?!? Will probably regift the wine & Kahlua, but the only people I know who would drink the JD are all alcoholics and I would not feel comfortable giving it to them!

No other gifts, but my mom had nuts everywhere at her house for Christmas this year! She knew I wasn't going to eat, so she didn't worry about adapting her menu but-- come on! She had nuts in the cranberries, the sweet potatoes, the stuffing, the cookies, the desserts, the cheese balls. I don't think there was one thing- maybe the pickled herring- that did not have nuts. Even my kids thought it was ridiculous. Turns out a friend of hers who came by for dinner also can't eat nuts (not an allergy- I don't know why) & she forgot & felt kinda bad!

It was kind of funny, because just a month before we were talking about reactions to touch and I mentioned how I used to get a rash whenever I worked with one of my kids and after they stopped feeding him pn cereal in the am, I stopped having the rashes.

It did look like she kept peanuts out, though. Even the many bowls of mixed nuts seemed to be pn free. And she didn't make her That was nice, I think. Maybe she *was* trying, then.

Anyhow- I allow may contains in the house for the kids & dh. FOods with PN or TN go in the trash or are given away quickly and never leave my entryway. I don't say anything but thank you when I am given something unsafe, though, because obviously the person didn't know me well enough to know better.

Tara P

I am also a non drinker, we all are here. DH brought home a bottle of Tequila. Instead of tossing it down the drain I made Tequila lime chicken that would KNOCK your socks off. I am glad I have that tequila now.

Peg

Yes we did but nothing we couldn't just get rid of. People that know me only to see me in the halls at school and would really not know Chris but were very friendly and thoughtful gave me gifts. I just said thank you and ate it in the class that we are in. MInd you all there are 7 non allergic special ed children that wouldn't have touched it and gotten it on me anyway. Chris isn't home when I get home and I always change when i walk through the door and wash anyway. Take care claire

My sister's boyfriend is from Alabama and he brought up some chocolate-covered pecan candies. We graciously thanked him and left the tin in my mother's freezer so the girls could have some when they sleep over.

I got chocolates, Panetone, and Stauffers star shaped chocolate covered grahan cookies (which now label for nuts), and taffy which I gave away.

DH's company (which is large, nationwide branches) normally gives the branch managers a lot of gourmet peanut brittle. He received an email from someone in human resources that since his son had PA (his boss had informed them of this) would we accept gift certificates to Omaha Steaks instead? Heck yeah!!! Very nice and very classy of them, I thought...we got 6 burger patties and 4 steaks in the deal...much better than peanut brittle any day!
Melissa

We had in the past also received Harry and David tower gifts and of course we were not able to share most of it with our son. My next door neighbor was very happy to take this off of our hands though! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

My daughter (not PA) got a easy bake oven for her birthday this year and a few packages of the baking mixs. The baking mix clearly stated may contain peanuts, so we wound up throwing these away as I know that my son and daughter would want to do this activity together.

Peg541, could probably use a shot of that tequila right about now. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]

At any rate, the reason I raised the ? was I wanted to see WHO was giving the unsafe gifts - family, friends, acquaintances, what. I mean, some are more forgiveable than other's, I think. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/confused.gif[/img]

See the one BIL I mentioned, it's his first time making up a gift basket in 9 years I believe, so I get it with him forgetting. With Ron's Mother, no, I don't "get it" because she deals really well re PA (I think) and then her comment about me being deprived kinda added insult to injury.

Anna Marie, yes, it would be lovely to think that she was saying it in some kind of *nice* way, but no. I'm glad you're able to give people the benefit of the doubt, but even though I recognize the disconnect she has between her mouth and her brain, I also know that most of what she says is said to elicit some response (even if it's to send you hurtling into a deep depression). However.

Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

I got a lot of boxes of chocolates. I guess people don't get it. I end up re-gifting and giving to someone else or give them to the food bank.

Pam

One year, many years ago, my in-laws gave us a "nut basket" of unshelled every kind of tree nut. I don't remember if there were peanuts in it, but come on, the only tree nut I can eat is walnuts. My husband and kids ate them all.

I still can't convince my husband of nearly 40 years that peanuts are not necessary to life. Just yesterday, he came home from the store reeking of peanuts.

Some people just don't get it and never will. We just must be constantly on alert. The world will not change to accomodate us.