We have a number of students at our school who have severe allergies to nuts and nut products (e.g. peanuts, peanut butter, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds, nut oils, coconuts, coconut oil, etc.) Any minimal contact with these foods and their derivatives may cause anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction) and unconsciousness within a matter of minutes. In such a case, the allergy may even cause the student’s death.

School staff has been informed of the situation and has been trained in taking appropriate measures in case a student suffers an anaphylactic shock.  In the classrooms of allergic children, we have also taken preventive measures to reduce exposure to nuts or nut products during eating times. However, discussions with medical professionals have indicated that we need to improve our efforts. Because even the slightest residue and in some cases even the odor of these allergens may trigger a life-threatening reaction, we need to make the whole school as allergy safe as is practically possible. 

We ask your co-operation in order to reduce the risk for those students who are allergic to nuts and nut products. Specifically, we are asking three things:

 

 

Although this sounds simple, it means that we are asking everyone not to bring nut products such as peanut butter sandwiches, baked goods containing nuts or nut oils, granola bars (Please note that even Quaker Oats peanut free granola bars contain coconut products and therefore should not be sent to school ), candy bars, etc. to school. It means that we are asking you to read the ingredient labels of packaged foods so that you put only nut-free and coconut-free products in your child’s lunch bag. Our concern is for situations where cross-contamination may occur through nut or coconut residues left on playground equipment, on water fountains, on washroom fixtures, in the gym, in the library or in other common areas.

We realize this request poses an inconvenience for you and your child; however, we wish to express sincere appreciation for your support and understanding of this life-threatening allergy. While we can never create an environment that is 100 percent nut free, we are hoping that with your help we can greatly reduce the risk to allergic students. 

 

Teachers will be discussing the nature of severe food allergies with their class. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.