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Breakwater School is Becoming Nut-Free

Following the lead of many schools around the country, as of January 4, 2010 Breakwater will officially be a nut-free campus.

The rationale for peanut- and nut-free classrooms and schools has to do with the somewhat unique nature of these allergies. Most people with food allergies -- even severe or life-threatening food allergies -- can manage their health by simply not eating foods that have their allergens in them. They read labels, don't eat food if they don't know its origins, and ask questions to stay aware of cross-contamination.

People with peanut and tree nut allergies follow all these steps, but there are limits to this approach in a school setting. Some students are simply too young to safely manage their allergies without their parent on site. It is possible for people with these two allergies to react to traces of nut dust in the air and nuts are full of natural oils that leave residues. These nut residues can be generally removed with common household cleaners, but in a school setting, it would be difficult or impossible to clean tainted tables, walls, doorknobs and classroom materials throughout each school day.

Because of these issues, and because peanut and tree nut allergies can be life-threatening to some of our students, effective January 2010, Breakwater is going nut-free. For parents who are new to packing lunches or snacks that are safely nut-free, here are some rules of thumb that may help:

• Under federal law, peanuts and tree nuts have to be clearly identified in a food label if they're used as an ingredient. Look for the word "peanuts" or a particular type of tree nut -- macadamia nuts, brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, chestnuts, beechnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts (pignoli or pinon), gingko nuts or hickory nuts -- in the list of ingredients, or following the word "Contains."
• Also look for labels which list peanut or other nut oils as an ingredient. Products containing nut oils are an equal health threat to our allergic students.  All nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, etc.) pose a threat to our students with nut allergies as do many “alternative spreads” made with sesame seeds (including Sun Butter and tahini).
• Note: Foods that pose a possibility of manufacturing cross-contamination -- that is, where nuts were processed on one line and then another nut-free food was made on the same line -- are still acceptable to bring to school. This includes any packaging with warnings like "may include traces of peanuts" or "manufactured on a shared line with tree nuts."

Be aware that manufacturing formulations and practices sometimes change. Even if you've bought a safe snack before, take a quick look at the label each time you buy it to make sure the ingredients or cross-contamination warnings haven't changed.

So what kinds of snack and lunch foods are good to bring to a nut-free classroom? Click here to find out! And be sure to send your ideas to Meredith Jones at mjones *at* breakwaterschool.org - and you'll see your ideas online and in Newsbreak!

“When my child’s classroom went nut-free, I finally had a great excuse for serving Peanut Butter and Jelly for dinner!” - A Breakwater parent

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