When you are done reading this, you need to go to the follow up story: See! I Told You So!
UPDATE: It seems a little silly now, but here is the original post that started the great peanut debate of '07. (Recovery made possible by Google Cache. Thanks Goog!)
Alright. Let me bring you up to date. I blogged a little something that went like this:
I'm pissed that peanut products are being banned from my daughter's school because someone there ~might~ be allergic to them.
Allergy Moms picked up the story, as did another well known Houston area newspaper. This resulted in an enormous amount of traffic and hate mail being generated. The site went down. I had to restore from a backup.
The general message of all the email and postings can be summed up like this:
1. I'm an idiot.
2. I should feed my kids soy because someone else's kids are allergic to peanuts.
3. I need to think about the children.
4. I need to be more tolerant.
5. The rest was just a bunch of unintelligible kooky gibberish.
Well, I've got the site running again. Almost everything is back the way that it was. And, I've installed a "throttle" to keep that from happening again.
With regards to the messages, I have one which I would like to reply to.
--------------------
Paul writes:
My 13 year old daughter died last year from her peanut allergy. The menu of the restaurant she ate at is 99.61% peanut free and guess what– the careless food preparer still cross contaminated her sandwich with trace amounts of peanut butter cookie. We miss her dearly every day.
--------------------
Dear Paul -
I am sincerely sorry for your loss. I hope that other parents of peanut allergic children use this information to learn that no matter how safe you think you are, the worst may still happen. I am sure that you would not have purposely put your daughter in harms way. Did your daughter attend a peanut-free school?
--------------------
This has been such a hot topic on the website, I am going to dedicate the lion's share of my talk show to this subject. I'm looking forward to a lot of participation.
NOTICE: Please pay special attention to the names of the people who posted comments. Their comments are theirs. My comments are mine. If you are an anonymous loser, and you want your replies to comments to be understood, I suggest you get a user name. No email address required. No spam from me - guaranteed.
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Peanut Allergy daughter
I would just simply like to say that I have a 4 year old daughter who has a life threatening peanut allergy. I know it is an inconvienence to others to not bring peanuts around her not have them in her classroom, but it is a life changing event for me and my husband. As a mother I know all parents love their kids and want to try to keep them safe. I truly believe if people were more educated about the seriuosness of this allergy and knew that it is the most leading cause of food allergy related deaths that people would be more open to not having peanuts in the school.
do you realize
do you realize how ridiculous you sound? one person's life is not worth avoiding peanut butter but maybe more would be? but i suppose you expect these kind of reactions when you post something like this. let me just suggest something that my help, since as a rational human being I understand BOTH sides of this debate. SOY NUT BUTTER. Google it.
just some thoughts
my 3 year old son is allergic to peanuts. although we have not yet had to deal with school i am certainly greatful for other parents "paving the way" for his school age days to be safer by requesting peanut free schools. i do, however, understand the frustration of not being able to eat certain things since i deal with this on a daily basis with his allergies.
i expect your type of reaction because i realize that it is only a handful of students or even just one that all these changes are being made for. what frustrates me most is how parents are handling this. look at what we are teaching children! by reacting in anger we are telling them not to be tolerant or understanding to someone else's safety and special needs.
so, since it sounds like this is a permanent change in your child's school, why not take this opportunity to teach your child tolerance by finding other food alternatives. soy nut butter is a great alternative that your child can eat at school. it does not mean that they have to eat it at home. it also tastes similar to peanut butter. i wish this was discussed more but as humans we tend to just focus on the negative.
anyways, i'm sure i will not change your opinion on this subject but maybe you can be a little more tolerant. on a lighter note (and of course not to downplay the seriousness of life threatening food allergies) here is an article i thought you might find humorous... an example of when we, as a society, TRULY go too far.... http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/ODD_TAG_BANNED?SITE=COCOL&SECTION...
You cannot be serious!
You think this is about tolerance??? I think you people have lost your mind because of your proximity to the situation. This is the case in point for the colloquialism "You cannot see the forest for the trees."
You're advocating tolerance yet you IMPOSE your situation upon everyone else's lives and want them to be more understanding about it. If your child has a death dealing sun allergy, should we ban light from schools?
It is extremely unfortunate that people have different tolerances to certain foods, conditions and environments but it is not the responsibility of the rest of the world to stop their lives because of it.
You want others to be tolerant? Start by setting the example yourself and not terrifying an entire school by sending someone with a death dealing sensitivity there.
If this ends up being a lifelong condition then it is smart to start establishing the need for caution right now, not trying to pretend like the child's situation is normal by trying to integrate them into a life threatening public environment.
It is your responsibility to protect yourself, not the world's.
So, because kids can't bring
So, because kids can't bring peanut butter sandwiches to school, you think that is "stopping their lives"?? Are you kidding me? Nice.
Also, you think peanut-allergic children should not be afforded the right to a free and appropriate public education? You think we should not send our children there b/c it scares others? Get a life.
peanut allergy
Please tell me you are not that stupid!!!! If you are a parent, I hope your child never encounters an allergy to any food or bee sting... But, your comment that we as parents of pa should not send our child to school due to his/her allergy is absurd... I do not believe anyone has ever died of lack of peanut butter. If you feel your child MUST eat peanut butter everyday, by all means feed them a PB sandwich when they return home. I would hate to think my selfishness could harm or even kill a child. Parents of pa are not asking for a lot, just that our children are not made to think that they are freaks because of a allergy. My child is taught that he is special because of his allergy, but some children are very embarassed by the problem I am thankful my child is very proactive with his allergy and will speak his mind to anyone that will listen, much like his mother... I just ask that before you speak do a little research......
allergy mom
The problem, from my point of view, is pushing my difficulties onto others and therefore taking away their rights.
Before you say I don't understand, consider:
My wife has partial lung function and is on oxygen. She is very sensitive to perfumes in colognes, aftershave and hand lotions.
When we go out and we are trapped in an elevator with a perfumed person her breathing starts to fail. Sitting near a perfumed person in a movie theater can cause failure.
My question to you, and to others: are you willing to give up your perfume and hand lotions on the off chance that you will meet my wife and cause her distress or death?
If not, why not?
We have taken responsibility for our actions and do everything we can to minimize her difficulties. However, the problem is ours, not yours.
The problem with your child is yours, not ours.
It is unfair to all to insist that rights are given up on the off chance that someone somewhere might come to harm.
On a final note, depending on who you ask, soy is the 9th or 10th most common food allergy and can be fatal. Please be careful what substitutes you recommend.
Thanks for listening.
I am sorry to hear about
I am sorry to hear about your wife disease. I would imagine a simple plane trip is just as scary for her as it is for us. This also makes me surprised regarding your strong feelings on peanut bans. I would think that you would be more understanding and tolerant of other people's disabilities. But that is the beauty of being a human being, the ability to have our own feelings and opinions.
Also, soy is one of the top 8 allergens and a legume, like peanuts and peas. I was simply giving you an alternative to peanut butter since it is no longer allowed at your child's school.
Please answer my question
Are you, today, going to stop using perfumes of any sort so that my wife is no longer at risk should you meet?
Is my wife not as important as your child?
If you are not willing to do so, why should I care what happens to your child?
I am serious about this. From this point forward, every time you put on perfume or use perfumed hand lotion you give me permission to ignore the risk to your child.
No, I probably wouldn't
No, I probably wouldn't avoid perfumes and/or lotions in general if I didn't know your wife. However, if I worked with her (i.e. your child going to my pa child's school), I would most certainly avoid all perfumes and lotions so that your wife wouldn't be in danger.
It's not the end of the world here, people, it's freaking peanut butter. My child is anaphylactic to peanuts (and eggs, fish, and milk). He is not in school yet, but the school he will go to is already peanut-free. I don't know if I totally agree with the peanut ban b/c I do somewhat believe it gives a false sense of security. Also, he is dealthy allergic to eggs and fish; therefore, he could still be in danger if those things are servced. So, even though peanuts are banned and we don't have to worry about those, we still have to worry about the eggs and fish.
A little off topic, I know, but wanted to tell you "yes", I would avoid all perfumes and lotions if I were to be in close proximity to your wife.
The fact remains...
There is no such thing as a peanut free school.
Seriously...are you just
Seriously...are you just trying to argue here? Peanuts are banned from my child's school. That's all I'm saying.
I'm not going backwards
I've already covered most of this. The gist is a peanut ban is not enforceable. Since it can not be enforced, you can not be 100% positive it is peanut free. A peanut ban doesn't mean peanut-free.
What is to stop me from (accidentally) bringing peanuts to your child's school?
Nothing.
If I did, what would be the penalty?
Nothing.
Peanut reactions have already happened at peanut-free schools.
don't assume so much, sir. i
don't assume so much, sir. i have to avoid perfume, perfumed soap and scented hand lotion already. if you didn't know, food allergies, asthma, and ezcema go hand in hand in most cases. not to mention the possible peanut ingredients that may be in the lotion/facial moisturizer/shampoo/conditioner. i even avoid most scented candles because of fear of ingredients and causing an airborne reaction in my child. i think you will find parents of children with food allergies the most tolerant beings in regards to your concern over your wife. its people like you that you have to worry about.
Illusion of central position
All of you who whine about peanuts in school are ignoring the fact that the world is full of dangers. Cars, planes, plants, animals, people, food, can all be potential dangers to out health. So that's life. The rest of the world should not have to exit the plant because of your problems or your children's problems. You have the responsibility of protecting yourself, even though in today's liberal world view you are the center of all that is important, aren't you? Those who try to force entire schools to ban peanuts are totaly intollerant and selfish. You should respect the freedoms of others (that many thousands have died to protect) and not try to force your will on them soley for your benefit or your child's benefit.
Re: allergy moms
I'll have a PB&J to go, please.
Yes, definitely take one to
Yes, definitely take one to go....please.
You're a moron.
i think
that whoever made the "pb & j to go" comment was just trying to diffuse a tense argument. so i guess i can't blame them.
i understand your frustration because we are constantly facing stubborn people when this debate comes up. you can only be understanding and agreeable to the ban when it affects you personally or you are open minded enough to hear where we are coming from.
troy's biggest argument is that it doesn't make a school absolutely free of peanuts. what he refuses to to hear is that it reduces the chance of contact enough to make the ban worthwhile. i would never send my child, as i would imagine you wouldn't either, to a "peanut free" school and tell him to eat whatever he wants. but at least he doesn't have to be in fear every time he eats his own lunch.
the other sad part of this debate is that it is the parents whining about their children not being able to eat their beloved peanut butter. what they don't realize is that if you give a child the choice, they'd choose not to eat it at school. kids are amazing that way. adults could take some pointers from their own kids.
Thanks, but...
Making sure that my kid doesn't bring peanuts to school does not ensure that she doesn't bring any allergen or peanut proteins to school. It just makes you feel better.
weakest
Weakest of any species must die. By enabling the weakest to live and breed we weaken the species as a whole.
should then, all cardiac
should then, all cardiac patients just be allowed to die and not be given any medical intervention? how about kidney disease/failure? liver disease? cancer? or maybe just people who are ignorant. society sure would be stronger without them.
Yes.
Actually, I agree with much of what you say.
By trying to deny that there is such a thing as death we continually weaken the race. Why do we spend a fortune making sure that hopelessly ill eke out their last 5 minutes of life? Why let people with genetic disorders pass them on to new generations?
Maybe we should just let those who don't know when to use capital letters fade away.
capital letters
are just a way of conforming to the man. break free dude. it's nice here in lower case world.