My childs classroom is peanut free/ tree nut free. If I tell my child not to share it, can they still eat something with peanuts or peanut butter in it for a snack?
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 allergies — can manage their allergies 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 these steps as well, but there are two limits to this approach. First, it’s possible for people with these two allergies to react to traces of nut dust in the air (from peanut shells, for example). Second, nuts are full of natural oils that leave residues. While these residues can be removed with common household cleaners, it can be difficult or impossible to clean tables mid-morning, for example, or for school cleaning staff to know to clean oils off of tainted walls or doorknobs during the school day. Because of these issues, and because peanut and
