Food Allergies in the News

I'd like to share an article I wrote for our local Patch about the situation in Florida involving a peanut allergic six-year-old.

I know this is the nightmare of every parent with a food allergic preschooler, but I can assure you that this situation does not appear to be typical in schools in our country. We have had a very positive experience with our public school system and I hear mostly the same from my fellow food allergy parents. The key is planning and open communication.

A support system via Facebook has been set up for the Florida family involved in this national news story. Feel free to lend your support and share your experiences.

Lawsuit Against Chinese Restaurant After Peanut Allergy Death

Remember the tragic story last year of the 7th grader who died after eating Chinese food served at a class party? Katelyn Carlson had a known peanut allergy and suffered an anaphylactic reaction to Chinese food brought into school for a party. Teachers say they told the restaurant of the peanut allergy. The food was later tested and found to contain peanut protein.

 

A recent news article about the lawsuit is creating another divide in our society that reminds me of the recent controversy in a Florida school. I hate to see the finger pointing and the blame. It's time that everyone accepts that food allergies are part of our society and that we all, food allergic or not, need to deal with it. Adults need to protect children with food allergies and laws need to protect food allergic children and adults.

 

I know- not as simple as it sounds, but it's time to end the blame game and for us all to act as Good Samaritans and help one another. Those of us closely related to food allergy need to continue to educate others about what having a food allergy means. Everyone else needs to open their minds and hearts and step up to do what is right.

Stories like these also serve as a reminder to those of us with food allergic kids:

• Make sure they always have access to an Epipen.
• Create a 504 plan with your school.
• Teach children how to stand up for themselves and take control of their own food allergy.

I don't know any details of the Carlson case. I do know it is tragic that a child died of a food allergy reaction.