Is your child being served Peanut Butter at School
I really never thought I’d have to make a post such as this but unfortunately, it’s becoming more and more apparent that I do. Do you know for sure whether or not child is being served peanut butter or any of the other items on the recall list at school?
I have to assume that most parents/guardians assume that they don’t need to worry about this. Well, it sure seems as though that’s a bit too much assuming! I was certainly one of those parents that assumed a school district of all places would stop serving any items on the peanut-containing recall list such as peanut butter until this salmonella scare was over.
I felt pretty confident in this until I read of one school that is serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to their students. I mean wow – in that case, the school nurse wasn’t even completely familiar with the salmonella outbreak!
Of course after reading that, a quick review of my children’s school lunch menu was required. Sure enough, wasn’t peanut butter and jelly on the menu for today? Now granted – I must mention here that these menus are written up ahead of time. So there is a very good chance that these menus were created before the salmonella scare. But for as many menu change memos we receive on a regular basis – I’m quite surprised we didn’t receive one assuring us that peanut butter would not be served.
The menu also gave them the choice of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or lebanon bologna. In no uncertain terms, my children have been well advised that they must choose the latter. But should there really be a choice?
In my honest opinion – NO! Quite frankly, I don’t give a rats behind where the outbreaks were spotted and where they weren’t. There is a major peanut recall in this country and I don’t want to take any chances. Why would you?
If most parents are assuming it’s not being served and most children don’t have a clue about the dangers – what’s going to happen? Yep, most children are going to be eating those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because most children love PB&J! If everyone is assuming that it’s common sense – who’s going to know for sure?
Upon further investigation of the lunch menu, I see that we also have peanut butter sandwiches planned for two more days throughout the month of February. Only difference is – there is no either/or choices on those days. Peanut butter sandwiches are the only thing listed. I don’t see anything else that’s on the recall list.
I’m really hoping our school district was smart enough to not risk it. We’ll see what happens when my children come home. As a matter of fact, I’ll find out a little sooner. I have a meeting with my son’s school teacher this afternoon. I will certainly be asking her and voicing my concerns if need be.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are so danged easy to replace too! So, forget the peanut butter – who cares! Maybe you’ll tick off a few children but really it all boils down to – do you want a complaining child who’s alive or would you rather risk no complaints from a dead child?
Overreacting? I could be but is it really worth taking the risk? Does it really hurt to err on the cautious side? I for one don’t think so. The moment that recall went out – everything peanut-related went sraight to the trash. Do not pass Go – Do not collect $200! I will not purchase another peanut-related food item until well after the signal that all is well and good. I believe I can do without anything peanut-related for a while.
If it means keeping me and my family alive and healthy – yeah – I don’t have that much of a love affair with peanuts. Besides, it gives me the chance to try a new ice cream too!
So, I highly recommend pulling out those lunch menus! See what’s on there. Cross-reference it to the FDA’s recall list (link above) Make sure your children know what they should not be eating right now and why. And well, call that school! If your childen are being served peanut butter – I would want to know why!
Your fellow WAHM in success,
Anita
Topics: Mom Stuff | 1 Comment »
February 4th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
That is awful. Here in Canada the schools are not allowed to have anything peanut butter like or peanuts of any kind in the school. Not because of any salmonella poisoning but due to the allergy to peanuts. So many kids have this today.
My hubby’s cousin almost died when she was in college due to someone giving her something with peanuts in it and she didn’t know. Her allergy now is so bad she can’t even be in a room with peanuts or peanut butter or she gets extremely sick.
There is much better things to give kids than peanut butter anyhow.
No I don’t think you are over-reacting at all. Not when it comes to a child’s endangerment.