Keeping Children Safe at School

Megan Schaper, SNS

August 15, 2007

What is an Allergy?

A food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by your body's immune

system.

Allergic reactions to food can sometimes cause serious illness and death.

What ISN’T an Allergy?

Adverse reactions to food that do not involve the immune system are not

allergies. These may be:

Food poisoning The inability for digest

certain foods (Lactose Intolerance, PKU, Celiac Disease)

I think I’m

lactose

intolerant!

Quick Facts

11 million Americans have food allergies.

Food allergy occurs in 4 to 8 percent of children under the age of 4 and 2 to 4

percent of adults.

The prevalence of food allergy is increasing.

Quick Facts

Food allergy causes roughly

30,000 episodes of anaphylaxis and

100 to 200 deaths per year

in the United States.

Anaphylaxis: a severe, sometimes life-threatening, allergic reaction that occurs within minutes of exposure to an offending substance

Quick Facts

Peanuts and tree nuts, such as

walnuts, almonds and

cashews, cause most cases of

severe food allergic

reactions.

Quick Facts

Currently, the only ways to manage food allergies are to:

avoid the foods that cause reactions

treat the symptoms caused by allergic reactions.

The Big 8

The most common food allergens are:

• Peanuts• Tree Nuts

• Fish• Shellfish• Milk• Eggs• Soy• Wheat

Food Allergy Triggers

People with food allergies can experience a reaction as a result of:

• Ingesting the allergen

• Touching the allergen

• Inhaling the allergen

A reaction can be induced by as little as 1/5,000 of a teaspoon of the allergy causing food.

Symptoms of a Reaction

Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after a person has been exposed to the food.

Every child is different and will react differently.

Tingling sensation in

the mouth

Swelling of the

tongue and throat

Difficulty breathing

Hives

Vomiting

Abdominal cramps

Diarrhea

Drop in blood

pressure

Loss of

consciousness

Death

Symptoms of a Reaction

Managing Allergies in the School Cafeteria

Identify the Student & Allergens

Know What to Avoid and Substitute

Read Labels

Avoid Cross Contamination

Know What to Do in the Event

of a Food Allergic Reaction

Identify the Student

Parents provide a physician’s statement outlining the foods to be avoided and appropriate substitutes.

An allergy plan, provided by the parents and including a picture of the child, is posted in the kitchen and reviewed with all staff.

An allergy alert is added to the child’s POS account.

Know What to Avoid & Substitute

The parent reviews the menu and ingredient listings with the food service director to determine what foods to avoid.

If food substitutions are required, the parent provides a monthly menu with modifications noted.

Reading Labels

Federal law requires labels to clearly identify the source of all ingredients that are — or are derived from — the eight most common food allergens.

Manufactures may change ingredients often and without warning – re-check the label each time a product is served.

Avoid Cross Contamination

Change gloves and wash hands each time a new food item is to be prepared.

Thoroughly clean production areas between the preparation of each menu item.

Designate an area/cart for making peanut butter sandwiches. Don’t use the area for any other food production.

Avoid Cross Contamination

Do not reuse cleaning clothes after they have been used to wipe up potential allergens until they have been washed in a washing machine.

Wash utensils thoroughly after they come in contact with potential allergens.

Dispose of any food items that have been cross contaminated.

The Three Rs for Handling a Reaction

Recognize the symptoms

React quickly - Contact the school nurse so that the student’s allergy action plan can be implemented.

– In an emergency, dial 9-911.

Review what caused the reaction and how well the emergency plan worked

Initially mild symptoms may not be an indication of the severity of the overall reaction.

Student Safety Is In Our Hands

It is the law. But more importantly…

It’s the right thing to do.