We are a group of students trying to push for a nut-free hot lunch program in the Waverly-Shell Rock School District in Iowa. This is a class project in our sociology Communities class. We are all students at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
Mission Statement: Our goal is to increase public awareness on the nut allergy program and encourage the local population into action on the school, community, and public front.
Facts:
1. 3.5 million American have nut allergies.
2. 90% of children will not outgrow their nut allergy.
3. There are substitutes available at little to no cost for schools to use in their lunches. A substitute for peanut butter is sun butter which is made out of sunflower seeds.
4. Peanut allergy is the most common food related cause of death.
Each class member has been researching nut allergies. We have now broken into three groups: school, community, and political. In our small groups, we are going to try to gather support to have the hot lunch program be nut free so children with nut allergies can have a regular hot lunch experience while at school.
The school group has been researching the district and trying to get ahold of different officials to see what can be done. We also are putting together a petition to take to several different kinds of meetings that are sponsored through the school to gain support from the public.
The community group is trying to organize several events where we can educate the public and gain support.
The political group is going to contact members of the community who are going to run the in the upcoming city elections in November.
Please post your comments and let us know your thoughts!
I think this is GREAT that you are doing this. What you are addressing above is good.
A couple thoughts on my end...there are two key factors:
1. Safety
2. Inclusion
1. Safety-peanuts in the cafeteria and in the hot lunch program poses a danger to children with allergies from a cooking and cross contam. standpoint as well as from a students eating standpoint. By allowing peanuts/tree nuts in the food-you now have more kids eating it who might not otherwise and more kids contaminating more surfaces and potentially leading to reactions.
2. Inclusion-by law public schools must have a lunch option for all children regardless of disability. Peanuts and tree nuts in the hot lunch/cooking area might mean that severely peanut allergic kids might not ever be able to buy hot lunch due to their allergy/cross contam. This is illegal.
Take a look at the resource page from my website for more info on disability law (life threatening food allergies are a disability.)
Good luck!
http://www.bestallergysites.com/allergy101/schools-and-food-allergies-re...
http://www.bestallergysites.com/allergy101/schools-and-food-allergies-re...
Ruth LovettSmith
Founder of http://www.bestallergysites.com/
Your Food Allergy and Gluten Free Guide, and the largest Internet directory of allergy related companies, sites, and blogs.
Disclaimer: I'm a food allergy advocate and mom of a food allergic child. I am NOT an allergist. My comments are based on my research and experiences. Please speak to your doctor regarding medical concerns.
Ruth LovettSmith
Founder of http://www.bestallergysites.com/
Your Food Allergy and Gluten Free Guide, and the largest Internet directory of allergy related companies, sites, and blogs.
Disclaimer: I'm a food allergy advocate and mom of a food allergic child. I am NOT an allergist. My comments are based on my research and experiences. Please speak to your doctor regarding medical concerns.