It's no joke! Cobb school bans peanuts (FReep the poll! Please!)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 8.7.02 | MARY MACDONALD

[mhking]

It's no joke! Cobb school bans peanuts

By MARY MACDONALD
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

The classic childhood lunch, a PB&J on white bread, will be confiscated on sight this year at one of Cobb County's elementary schools.

So will peanut butter crackers and cookies, peanut butter cups and anything else containing Georgia's top-selling homegrown snack.

The ban on all things goober is no joke. Several children entering Smyrna's Nickajack Elementary School this year have allergies so severe they are life-threatening, said new Principal Constance Carter. Some people are so allergic that even breathing peanut dust can trigger a reaction.

Carter banned peanut products from the campus, including bake sales and bag lunches carried in by children.

The action is unusual but not unheard of. King Springs Elementary School, also in Smyrna, banned peanut products for similar reasons last year. Teachers and a few schools nationwide have done the same thing for children with severe allergies.

Petra White, a Nickajack mom of two girls, thinks most parents will sympathize.

"It's not like they have to have a peanut butter sandwich three times a week," she said. "I don't have a problem keeping peanuts out of their lunches."

The habit may be hard for other parents to break. Peanut butter is a staple for fussy children and a standby in the lunchroom.

Cafeteria workers rely on it for field trip bags because it's portable protein.

"Peanut butter really is a standard," Carter said.

[Saturnalia]

What I'd like to know is why kids have such a nasty reaction to peanuts in the first place.

[evolved_rage]

But every day is Cobb Salad day ;)

[Dakmar]

Someone needs to ask these Einsteins how much peanut dust is coming from peanut butter.

[mlocher]

Cafeteria workers rely on it for field trip bags because it's portable protein

there is a clinton joke here somewhere...

[Tennessee_Bob]

A little boy in my daughter's preschool had a terrible reaction, to the point where the EMT's had to come in and evac him to the hospital. She was all of about 4 when that happened, and she insisted on no more peanut butter in the snacks I packed for preschool.

[RightWhale]

why kids have such a nasty reaction to peanuts in the first place.

Some do. In most cases where there is a reaction it is mild like a rash and depends on the amount ingested. There seem to be allergies to a lot of things these days, way more than 50 years ago. Might be junk in the air, in the water, or in the food that increases sensitivity.

[Saturnalia]

I know about the severity that effects the poor children, I just want to know if ANYONE knows the cause behind it.
i.e. pesticide reaction, genetic deficiency, other environmental exposure, etc.

[MarkL]

This is why so many airlines have gone to pretzels, rather than peanuts. I've heard of a case of someone going into anaphalctic shock from the dust of peanuts in the air of a plane. I don't know if it's actually true, or if it's a "it could happen" sort of situation.

Mark

[Minutemen]

How come you never hear of a kid alergic to Big Macs, french fries or taco bell??

[cajun-jack]

the kids that are allergic to peanut products come from staunchly republican conservative families and anything associated with jimmuh cahtah causes an adverse reaction.

[Consort]

"This will not be tolerated" "Can't we all get along?" "How about a Billy beer?"

[Fraulein]

The airlines are next!

[Not_Who_U_Think]

"Might be junk in the air, in the water, or in the food that increases sensitivity. "

I've long suspected immunizations as the possible source of increased allergies and asthma cases.

What a bummer to grow up without peanut butter.

[Dakmar]

That's interesting. I was in no way trying to poke fun at this allergy with my earlier comment, it just seems odd that peanut butter would be shedding enough dust to cause a reaction. It seems like it would be an almost infinetessimal(sp?) amount, like what would be found outside a grocery store, for instance.

[NewHampshireDuo]

At least some airlines have dropped the classic bag-o'-peanuts snack. The last few flights I've been on it's been mini pretzels, a poor substitute IMHO. I have pledged that from now on I'll carry on a ziploc full of nuts, at least until security develops a screen to detect them in my bag.

[Minutemen]

I can hear it now: "Are you declaring any peanuts or other legumes on your person?"

[Fraulein]

How come you never hear of a kid alergic to Big Macs, french fries or taco bell??

Don't know, but the poor souls are allergic to these:

[SamAdams76]

This is ridiculous. Peanuts and peanut butter are very nutritious. A peanut butter sandwich contains no cholesterol and has healthy amounts of mono- and polyunsaturated fats which are very good for you. Peanut is a "plant" food which should even make vegetarians happy.

What are kids supposed to do now? Bring in bologna and cheese sandwiches which are very high in saturated fats and cholesterol? No wonder we have such an obesity problem in this country.

So a few kids are allergic to peanuts. Just set aside a "peanut free" table in the cafeteria.

[Minutemen]

But what about the poor folks that are allergic to jelly?