From the Clinic:
Thanks to all of you who are diligently trying to help the Bellflower community remain nut
free. Although, we have students with allergies other than to peanuts or tree nuts, I’d like
to focus on providing you with some helpful information about allergies, resources
available, and some suggestions for snacks or lunches for your student.
Food Allergies:
Food allergy reactions cause more than 200 deaths and 30,000 visits to emergency
rooms each year.
Food allergy is a disease of the immune system that makes the body fight harmless
food proteins as if they were dangerous viruses or bacteria. This over-reaction leads
to symptoms ranging from sneezing, skin rashes or digestive problems, to a life
threatening multi-organ reaction call anaphylaxis which can lead to death.
More than 11,000,000 Americans have food allergies.
Food allergies affect children and adults of all races and ethnicity and can develop at
any age.
Even though heredity seems to be a factor in whether you will have food allergies or
not, 10-15% of those with food allergies do not have a parent who has these types of
allergies.
Between 1997 and 2002 the prevalence of peanut allergies in children doubled.
While any food can cause allergies, 90% of all food allergic reactions are caused by:
peanuts, shellfish, soy, egg, wheat, fish, milk, and tree nuts.
There is no cure for food allergies.
The following are some ideas of what you can prepare your child for snack or lunch. It is
difficult to provide a list of safe foods/snacks because manufacturers can change
ingredients without warning.
Use a thermos to keep warm foods warm, or an ice pack to keep cold foods cool.
Soup Stew Stir fry
Mac-n-Cheese Pasta w/ sauce Meat Sandwiches
Salad Crackers Fruit
Veggies and dip Yogurt Sliced chicken
Cherry tomatoes Melon balls Pasta salad
Tuna Miniature meatballs
Pack taco salad ingredients in separate containers and let your child put them
together at school.
Crackers with cheese and pepperoni/ham/salami/etc.
Resources:
www.foodallergy.org (Food Allergy Network)
www.aafa.org (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)
www.foodallergyinitiative.org (Food Allergy Initiative)
www.aap.org (American Academy of Pediatrics)
www.acaai.org (American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology)
www.kidswithfoodallergies.org
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Burton, the school nurse at 255-4212.