OPERATIONS
Could a peanut-aware policy in schools work better than a ban? Research and best practices are key for K-12 foodservice professionals finding that peanut awareness means seeking a balance between banning and planning, while keeping safety at the forefront.
T here are a couple of things foodservice professionals who feed kids know for sure: Keeping kids safe is a responsibility they take very seriously, and that there’s rarely a “one size fits all” solution to challenges that come up. One big challenge is peanut allergies. For some time now, many schools reacted to peanut allergies by banning peanuts altogether. Problem solved, right? Well, not really at all. Recently, research from scientists, doctors and dietitians has been showing that a peanut ban may actually be the less safe option. Plus, there’s more of a sense of urgency now. The Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act was signed into law nationally few months ago, making it a requirement for USDA BY TARA FITZPATRICK
reactions, only some redness and irritation on the skin for some. In recent years, allergists have documents placing peanut butter in close proximity to peanut allergic patients to show them that just being near it doesn’t cause anaphylaxis. Peanut bans do not work , according to quite a few studies. In a study of 567 food allergy reactions in a Canadian pediatric cohort, 4.9% of reactions occurred in “peanut-free” schools compared to 3% in schools that allow peanut foods. Authors of this study and other studies say banning peanuts may produce a “false sense of security.” This doesn’t translate to any situation in the world at large, potentially leaving peanut-allergic kids unprepared since they can’t just live in a bubble forever. The National Peanut Board, which
foodservice personnel to receive training on preventing, identifying and responding to food allergies. Different school districts are trying different approaches and there’s a lot we can learn from their experiences. There are also lots of resources available from reliable sources, and they’re linked throughout this article along with Casual contact poses an extremely low risk for anaphylaxis. (Anaphylaxis is a big part of what makes peanut allergies so scary to many people: In layman’s terms, throats can close up.) A study of 30 peanut allergic children who smelled peanut butter for 10 minutes resulted in zero reactions. Skin contact in the study also resulted in zero life-threatening studies mentioned. THE RESEARCH
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