OPERATIONS
policies are essential to achieving both. “For too long, many districts have defaulted to eliminating peanuts entirely,” Urban writes. “While well- intentioned, this approach is often unsupported by research and can lead to unintended consequences.” The SFR guide lays out the differences between the peanut-aware and the peanut-free approaches: The peanut- free approach is often inconsistent and unenforceable while giving that false sense of security. And cross-contact can still occur, making things worse if there are no protocols in place. Conversely, a peanut-aware approach allows for transparency and with training, everyone is truly prepared to manage risk in real-world environments. A peanut-aware policy relies on education, preparation and communication, a move from fear- based restriction to evidence-based management. For this to work, training for everyone in the school community is essential. That means every staff member from kitchen crew to classroom
aides. Principals, bus drivers, school nurses and teachers also need to be on the same page. A successful peanut- aware policy also means transparent communication with parents, caregivers and other stakeholders in the school community. Food allergy self-management for the students who are allergic to peanuts has been part of research, too. The experts at Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) have found that different grade levels should have different expectations. For elementary schoolers in grades K-5, most students with food allergies can tell people what they’re allergic to and follow simple safety rules like handwashing. Middle schoolers (grades 6-8) can follow safety rules and understand dietary restrictions, check food labels for themselves and recognize symptoms of allergic reactions. For high schoolers, they can do all those things and also be more involved in the development of their own food allergy management plan.
offers resources for school food pros, emphasizes keeping students safe, “but removing peanuts from menus isn’t the solution. … By following best practices, schools can safely reintroduce peanuts and ensure inclusivity for all students.” When peanuts are banned, the data shows that the ban doesn’t reduce the use of epinephrine (epi pens) in schools. A study of schools in Massachusetts that restricted peanut foods being brought from home and served in the cafeteria or classroom did not reduce the use of epi pens comparted to schools that did not have peanut-free policies. Peanut aware vs. peanut free: Joe Urban, founder and CEO of School Food Rocks (SFR), is a veteran school food professional (a school food rockstar, if you will) with years and years of experience in K-12. He’s in favor of peanut awareness in schools. His organization put together a peanut awareness guide created to empower schools with the knowledge that student safety and nutrition excellence can and should coexist, and that science-backed
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QUARTERLY | Q2
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK
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