O.K. here is a question. Background: About 4 months ago my son developed hives after eating a piece of nutter butter. He is allergic to peanuts and milk and soy. He is possibly allergic to egg. I have avoided peanuts and may contains in our home. So today we went to a family gathering where my aunt put out some peanut butter for my cousins children. She had lots of other food out too but did place on the buffet a jar of peanut butter. I mentioned he is allergic and she expressed a desire to make sure there was plenty for him to eat. I did not ask her to take it away. My son has not ever had any contact reaction, however, he really hasnt been around any peanuts at all since his first reaction. We dont have them at all in our house. No one ate peanut butter but should I have asked her not to serve it? She would have with no problems, she just doesnt know but she is really sensitive to allergies because he husband has very severe food allergies if eaten.
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Lalow
James 2yrs NKA
Ben 17 months PA,MA,possible EA, and SA
This is kind of tricky. But, I think that I would have asked that it not be served. I would just be too nervous with kids walking around with it on their fingers, etc. Plus, I do worry about mix ups with knives, etc.
I really like it when family gatherings are just totally *safe* places for my kids.
I'm not saying I'm right, though. Many pa people have grown up just fine being around pb.
[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Miriam
lalow, I basically agree with California Mom. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] If you feel as though this Aunt is someone that would have understood and not been offended, I would have asked her to put the pb back in the house and away. You're probably going to come across enough family gathering situations where the person isn't as receptive re PA (and other allergies), so if you can make the one Aunt's place somewhere that your child can be "safe", I think that would be cool. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/cool.gif[/img]
I have heard too many horror stories about the cross contaminated knife, so, again, if your Aunt is someone you can approach, I would.
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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If you anticipate this again, maybe you could bring a small jar of sunbutter or soynutbutter (if your child is not allergic to those). I think most kids would be open to trying something new that looks and smells alot like peanut butter.
Personally, I'd bring my own knife for the jar too.
I would have asked if she would mind putting it away. If one of the children did start eating it, then what would you have done? It's better just to not have it available, in my opinion.
I am expecting to go through things like this when we move back to washington as my whole family is there and we do have alot of family gatherings. I am however, in the process now of buying them all sunbutter so they can all try it and hopefully like it and switch over. Since if I can get my sister to do so, we can be over there several times a week comfortably. My mothers home if I can switch her would be less often, but would be nice to know it was safer. However, I don't know what to do about my grandma's. Ugh...I don't think she will ever understand, and she is in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
I know I would make the request not to have that served especially at the first family gatherings in hopes that it would just come natural to them to not serve at such gatherings. I know before I had a child with allergies my aunt said she was allergic to onions so I made sure I had a dish of salad I was making with not trace of onions in a special dish for her. Mind you this wasn't as serious as the PA my child has, but I know my family will try harder but still wont' be good enough for me to take their word. Guess I should stop rambling, sorry.
Cindy
ryan's mom, what a great idea! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I would never have thought about it because I haven't been able to bring myself to try soy butter or sun butter (but that's just me [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/rolleyes.gif[/img] )
I'm also moving within the month closer to family and friends and I haven't had to deal with any situations with family really in six years. So it should prove to be very interesting.
Best wishes! [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
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