Food allergies

Food allergies occur when the immune system attacks a protein from a particular food. It is not known for sure why some people have food allergies, but they seem to be getting more and more common. Some people think this it is simply because we are getting better at finding food allergies. Other people think that it is related to our environment or our diet. Food allergies are more common in children who have other allergies, eczema, or who have family members with food allergies. Food allergies can change throughout a person’s life – someone may develop new allergies or outgrow existing ones.

Food allergies are often diagnosed after a person has a reaction to a particular food. A doctor may also do a skin test or a blood test to identify allergies. The most common foods that cause food allergies are peanuts, tree nuts, egg, seafood, milk, soy, and wheat. A person may be allergic to one food or to several foods.

If a person eats a food they are allergic to, they will have an allergic reaction. Reactions can range from mild to severe and often start very soon after eating the food the person is allergic to. Symptoms of food allergy reactions may include rash such as hives, tingling in the mouth, swelling of the face and throat, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a “funny” feeling. A severe reaction in which several of these happen all at once is sometimes called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. This can be life threatening and requires immediate medical treatment. People with severe allergies often carry epinephrine, such as an EpiPen, which can help them during a severe reaction.

Here at CPSC we have policies in place to help protect food allergic children. If your child has a food allergy, make sure his or her teachers and the school nurse know. With your help we will make a notice to post in the classroom as a reminder about your child’s needs. Twice a year, we check in with families to see if there have been any changes in food allergies.

We are a nut free center. That means that we do not serve any items containing peanuts or tree nuts. You can help us keep our center nut free. Please make sure that the foods you send for your child do not contain nuts or nut products. Some foods that may contain “hidden” nut ingredients are multigrain breads, baked goods such as cookies, some African and Asian dishes, and granola bars. Please double check these items before sending them to school. If you do accidentally send an item that contains nuts we will set it aside to be taken home.

Please note that many chocolate products are made on shared equipment with nuts or in a facility that also processes nuts. Because of this, we ask that you not bring chocolate items to school.

Food that is shared for birthdays and potlucks may be eaten by children who have food allergies. If you are bringing in a treat for a special occasion, check with your child’s teacher to see if there are children with food allergies. The teacher may be able to help you choose a treat that all the children will be able to enjoy. Please make sure that any food brought in to share does not contain an allergy warning such as “may contain nuts,” “made in a factory that also processes nuts,” or “made on shared equipment with nuts.”

I know it can be frustrating to follow all these guidelines, but for our children with food allergies, it can prevent a serious reaction or even save their life. Thank you so much for helping us to keep these kids safe.