How careful are other parents following safe snack list?

I am not big on the safe snack lists, but sometimes better than nothing. Are you talking about a snack list for other children to eat in the classroom daily or for group treats?
I do not allow DS to consume May Contains, but do not worry about others eating it in his presence.
I find that many still do not understand the cross contamination and may contains part of labeling.
Maybe your child's teacher can send home a note about Label reading for food allergies. My son's teacher did this last year. I provided copies of labels that had different statements and she included a short lesson on label reading for food allergies.

Hi Pitterpat,
I would never trust another parent in my child's class with this issue. I believe it was my first week of kindergarten with older PA DS that a mom tried to convince me and the teacher that Kit Kats were safe. There was a clear warning on the package. I pointed it out after the women settled down and she was rendered speechless. The day after another mom said that I should remove my child from this school, it is an inconvience to her and her daughter. Since that time I have supplied MY child with his own snacks/treats etc... I have been room mom for all their class's since. That way you can help pick a menu for a party, help pick a field trip etc...
Both the boys and the school/teachers now know that they are NEVER to accept ANY food unless Dad or I have approved or sent it in. For us there is NO exception to this rule. It has worked for us going on 7 years now.
[This message has been edited by perpetually perplexed (edited August 14, 2006).]
[This message has been edited by perpetually perplexed (edited August 15, 2006).]

Hi there,
Well after 2 years of pre-school, our experience is that most parents "try". And I would even go as far as to say they "try hard". BUT I do think that the list goes into the pile of unfindable papers for the most part. So they go to the store and try and find something that is probably peanut free, but most likely has a may contain warming on it.
We always sent DD a treat + an extra treat (sugar:-) in case she could not eat the treat brought in. That way she did not feel as bad.
Sorry this had to happen at the beginning of the year. I hope that it gets better quick!

Quote:Originally posted by perpetually perplexed:
[b]Both the boys and the school/teachers now know that they are NEVER to accept ANY food unless Dad or I have approved or sent it in. For us there is NO exception to this rule. [/b]
This is the rule we follow, in our 504 it states that my son is to only eat food from home, period. No exceptions. I would never feel comfortable trusting another parent to read labels, nor would I be 100% confident in the teacher being able to either. I've found that having a hard and fast rule has really helped drive home the seriousness of the allergy.

Parents have been careful (most anyway). Why? Because any snacks sent in with a "may contain" or peanuts actually in the ingredient statement will not be served and sent home OR exchanged with a "safe" snack from one of the Kindergarten classes. Ryan's classroom has always used the Kindergarten snack model because it is easier to monitor snacks coming into the room.
The parents have a specific list from which to choose safe snacks to send in ONCE/month for the entire class. (For example, two boxes of plain Oreos would feed the entire class once/month with two cookies each). The problem will stem from generics or parents who just don't read the list. So the plans must be in place beforehand how your school/classroom teacher will deal with this and the administration must be the backbone of whatever plan is implemented.
It has worked well for the past four years and we are now entering our 5th year with this model. Next year our snack policy might just change to no snacks at all because Ryan will be going to the Intermediate school for 5th, 6th, and 7th grade.

I'm still confused. Up to fourth grade, children are supposed to pack a snack along with lunch to eat in the classroom in the morning.
Are you talking about a list of okay food for others to pack for the snack? Or are you talking about birthday/special occassion treats?
Our 2nd grade classes last year were supposed to bring in a healthy snack and fruits, vegetables, yogurt were encouraged.
My son had a bin of safe treats for him to consume if he needed one for a special occassion.
He is not allowed under any circumstances to eat anything other than what I pack for him or what is in the safe bin.

Quote:Originally posted by saknjmom:
[b]I'm still confused. Up to fourth grade, children are supposed to pack a snack along with lunch to eat in the classroom in the morning.
Are you talking about a list of okay food for others to pack for the snack? Or are you talking about birthday/special occassion treats?
Our 2nd grade classes last year were supposed to bring in a healthy snack and fruits, vegetables, yogurt were encouraged.
My son had a bin of safe treats for him to consume if he needed one for a special occassion.
He is not allowed under any circumstances to eat anything other than what I pack for him or what is in the safe bin. [/b]
Many schools have "community snacks". Every family sends in a snack, enough for the whole class for one day a month. This way, no one goes without.
I choose not to participate in this for my PA son. He eats only what I provide for him.

Just this morning I gathered up a safe-snack list per teacher's request. I just walked thru the grocery store and read ingred. and wrote down what was safe. I will be updating the list quite often. The teacher is sending it out to the parents and also helps her during snack-check time. I didnt do this last year so I am hoping it helps out.
------------------
Helen
Mom to Alyssa (PA, age 6)
Mom to Theodore (age 3)

Quote:Originally posted by pitterpat:
[b]
I am not willing to have a rule that dd cannot eat something I did not provide. For us, that is not workable.
I
And this is all good with me.
how many of those parents disregarded your requests entirely or just couldn't "get it" and sent a may contain.
Thanks
Patty
[This message has been edited by pitterpat (edited August 15, 2006).][/b]
Hi Patty,
This has been on my mind most of the afternoon. I tried this approached at first in DS preschool. (He had his first ana reaction there--it was how we discover it). It worked, sort of. Most parents will declare ignorance, "OH I forgot to check" or "I didn't HAVE TIME to get the right thing", I cannot tell you the number of excuses I have heard over the past 7 years. It truly baffles me.
A part of me got real tired explaining this to the idiots whom really didn't want to hear it. YOu have to ask yourself how much educating to you have in you. It is an ENDLESS job. I found it best all around to develop our current protocol. It has lasted since preschool and now this year at a new school. It works well for us as my boys kind of automatically know that they are not suppose to have that. I am proud of them because I know it is hard to watch someone else have something you cannot have.
Some things you might want to consider or keep in mind....A mom bakes all her cookies, (peanut butter too) on her pampered chef baking stone. They are not suppose to be washed with soap. Where does the peanut protein go? Another experience I had was the mom who tried to pass off bakery cupcakes and cookies as her own. Didn't believe it when she came over and whispered it to me. I am amazed to no end what other parents that don't have to deal with this will do.
It is also a lot of stress to put on the teacher. They have enough to do especially in the elementary grades. This is only preschool, wait until kindergarten or 3rd grade...It is pretty much the same.
I hope I didn't come across as meanspirited. I really tried to word it correctly. Hang in there and I am sure you will figure out what is best for you
PP