This year Wakanda Elementary School will have several children enrolled with severe allergies to peanuts. As you probably know, this can be a life-threatening condition. We are distributing this letter to all Wakanda families so that we can ensure a safe and worry-free year for all of our students. Wakanda became a nut-free school in 2006. NO peanut or tree-nut products are allowed in the building. Wakanda has published a nut-free snack list. Knapp and Downsville Elementary also have some similar restrictions.
It is important for parents of other children understand that a child does not necessarily have to ingest or eat the food to which they are allergic. Rather they can be endangered if a classmate touches/eats peanuts or peanut products and later touches a surface that the allergic child comes into contact with the allergic child. A child can also react to trace ingredients in a product manufactured or prepared in a location where something containing peanuts was prepared. For example, a child can react to bedding used for hamsters, skin products containing nut oils, or eating something that was prepared with utensils that had prior contact with a nut product. It is a concern that must be taken very seriously.
I know you will join me in wanting Wakanda to be a safe school. The guidelines that will be put into effect will have some impact, hopefully minimal, on your preparations for the school year. The list of guidelines and changes are attached for your review. If you have any questions or concerns, please stop in to see me, on orientation day, or call the office at 232-3898. It is important that all families have this information. Thank you!
ALL-SCHOOL PEANUT-FREE GUIDELINES
The following information will help families to follow safety guidelines in a nut-free building. Most of the guidelines are building-wide procedures. Additional information will be provided in some classrooms. The majority of Wakanda students participate in the hot-lunch program. Cold lunch students/families are also asked to safe guard the peanut-free environment.
√ The hot lunch program at Wakanda is peanut-free. Most often, minor adjustments are made in the menu items to ensure no peanut products are served. If a menu refers to an item such as P and J sandwiches, another popular menu item is automatically substituted on the menu.
√ Cold lunch participants should not bring peanut butter or peanut products to school.
√ ALL snacks brought to the school must be peanut/nut free. Parents are asked to check label ingredients carefully. Staff members will also check and, when in doubt, may substitute a product. Teachers will also provide more information about the district’s wellness policy at orientation. The policy also restricts some high sugar/high fat snacks.
√ All school events (i.e. PTO, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, field trips, etc.) must also be peanut/nut free.
√ Pet visits, to some classrooms, will be affected. Many pet foods contain peanut products. Please ask about the pet visitation form.
√ If peanut butter or peanut products are eaten at home for breakfast, we are encouraging hand washing and tooth brushing prior to leaving home. Peanut residue can be life threatening for another child.
Trace elements of nuts/peanuts
May contain trace peanut product
Beer nuts
Peanut oil
Groundnuts
Mixed nuts
Peanuts
Peanut butter
Peanut flour
Peanut protein
WAKANDA ELEMENTARY SNACK/TREAT LIST
Updated 08/24/07
** Please note: Product ingredients can change without warning. Labels should be checked EACH AND EVERY time a product is purchased.
The following products should be AVOIDED:
Cupcakes/Cake or other bakery items (packaged or from a bakery)
Cookies (packaged or from a bakery
Ice Cream
Granola Bars
Chocolate Products
Brands with Good Labeling Practices: These companies follow good labeling practices, including “warning labels”. Products by these brands can be used if labels are read appropriately.
Great Value Brand (Wal Mart generic)
General Mills (including Betty Crocker)
Keebler
Quaker
SNACK IDEAS
Dairy, Fruits and Vegetables
Any fresh fruit and vegetables should be brought to school whole
(cutting and washing should be done at school)
Yogurt (Yoplait, Great Value)
Cheese (slicing should be done at school only)
String Cheese
Shredded cheese (Great Value, Kraft, Cascade Farms)
Cheese slices (Kraft, Great Value, Cascade Farms)
Applesauce (Great Value)
Canned fruits (check labels as almond flavoring sometimes appears)
Cereals
Malt-o-Meal Cereals (dry cereal in a bag –Except Honey Nut Scooters)
Examples: Scooters, Tootie Fruities, Honey Buzzers, and Marshmallow Mateys
Snacks and Crackers
Graham Crackers (Great Value, Keebler, Honey Maid Graham Crackers)
Snack Crackers (Great Value, DARE Brand, Keebler)
Pretzels (Barrel-o-Fun, Old Dutch)
Tortilla and Tortilla Chips (Mission, Barrel-o-Fun, Great Value, Old Dutch)
Popcorn (Barrel-o-Fun already popped in bag, Old Dutch already popped in bag, ACT II microwave popped at school)
Miscellaneous Snacks and Candy
Pudding Cups (Swiss Miss)
Fruit Snacks (Betty Crocker, Great Value)
Fruit Leather (Stretch Island Fruit Company)
Popsicles (Philly Swirl Brand Products available at Wal Mart)
Freezer Pops (Jet Sert Brand)
Tootsie Roll Brand Products
Charms Brand Products
Just Born Brand Products (except Peanut Chews)
Smarties
Gum (most brands)