'No Friends Allowed' Policy at the Nut-Free Table

I received a note from the school nurse today.  In the letter it states "Effective Monday, February 10, 2014 the "Peanut-Free" table will restrict to only those students with Peanut allergies. ... Please talk with your child regarding lunchtime and assure them that they will be able to socialize with all of his/her friends during recess."

I greatly appreciate the school's concern for safety.  The demand for nut-free tables has increased due to increasing food allergies as well as understanding friends who want to sit with their food allergic friends. These understanding friends and their parents go out of their way to pack appropriate lunches so they can sit with their friends.  I think it is fabulous that seats at the nut-free table are in high demand (really this is a dream come true!!!).  

This is an easy win for the school: increase the number of nut-free tables to more than one.  Nope.  Instead the school responded by stating that friends can't sit at the nut-free table.  Really?  Why are we creating policies that segregate kids from their safe friends?  

Here is my note to the school nurse:

My name is Joanna Cress and I am Owen’s mom.  He is in 1st grade in XXXXXXXX class.  This is in response to the letter you sent home regarding the nut-free table.

Owen is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, however our doctor said it is safe for him to sit at his class table.  I greatly appreciate the placemat accommodation we have worked out with the school for the last two years and would request that Owen continue to sit with his classmates. The special placemat is a very effective alert to the lunch aids, reminding them to check the lunches of the children around Owen. His friends and the lunch aids are very familiar with this procedure.

While Owen will not be sitting at the allergy table, I do want to voice my concern regarding the new ‘no friends’ policy at the designated nut-free table.  As a lunch aid, I have observed how isolating the nut-free table can be. Of course I understand the nut-free table is required for some kids, but forcing those kids to separate from their nut-free friends highlights the allergy kids’ differences instead of uniting them with their peers. It’s an easy win to increase the number of nut-free tables, as clearly they are popular.  As a nut-allergy parent, I am keenly aware of the risk of nuts to allergic kids, and I am not advocating for an increase of risk to the nut-allergic children. I’m merely suggesting that the lunch aids continue to maintain the diligence and caution they have demonstrated for the last two years.

Lunch time is very important to children.  The friends they eat with are often different from the ones they play with. I think it is fabulous that seats at the nut-free table are in high demand.  I encourage the school to add more seats and tables to balance the nut and nut-free groups.  My hope is that the entire cafeteria would remain safe for all kids while being a place where both nut and nut-free kids have the option of being with their friends.

Thank you for the consideration.  I’d be happy to have a dialogue regarding my concerns.

Many thanks,

Joanna Cress