Glen Rock Parents Nuts Over Proposed Peanut Ban [Poll]

A normally fun, jubilant event turned to a panic-inducing scare for Allison Bloomfield's elementary school-aged son earlier this school year.

The student had been celebrating a birthday party in class, and like most other classmates, had eaten a treat. But after another student told him it smelled like peanut butter, his mood turned – he's allergic to peanut products and his life may have been in danger.

"My son went to the nurse having a panic attack, and she [the nurse] had no way of verifying what ingredients were in the product – therefore no idea whether he might go into an anaphylactic attack," Bloomfield said at the Feb. 13 Glen Rock school board meeting.

Bloomfield's story is just the latest in Glen Rock. Several parents are intent on banning peanut products from the schools, particularly at the elementary school level. Opposition has emerged, with other parents charging a policy change would place additional liability and stress onto parents and students alike. Detractors also claim such a policy would represent a slippery slope – what about gluten allergies? What about dairy? Where does it end? they ask.

Should Glen Rock make the move, it would likely be the only public school district in the state to do so.

"We’re not aware of any New Jersey districts that have an outright peanut ban; they may exist, but we simply aren’t aware of them because no one tracks this kind of issue in this level of detail," said Mike Yaple, a spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association. Many use peanut-free tables that are cleaned to avoid contact with oil, he said, adding: "There is no trend toward peanut-free schools because peanuts are so nutritious and the food is stable in a school lunch bag, [and] does not need refrigeration."

More students being diagnosed with food allergies

According to Dr. Patrick Parin, an allergist who works at Hackensack University Medical Center with a private practice in Teaneck, the rate of diagnosed peanut allergies has risen phenomenally over the last decade, by at least 25 percent. 

Citing a study that points to greater exposure to peanuts at a young age resulting in lowered rates of diagnosed food allergies, Dr. Parin said numerous factors contribute as to why some develop the peanut allergy, which is linked to the "IgE" antibody. In short, higher levels of the anti-body result in a higher likelihood of developing an allergy.

"It seems that the earlier they've been introducing them to it, the less trouble there is with peanut allergies," he said. "We may actually be doing a disservice by withholding peanuts or allergenic foods at a young age."

Some suffer reactions only when ingesting peanut products. Others can merely be touched. "Anybody can die, regardless of the sensitivity," Dr. Parin said.

It's a plight known all too well to parent Erin Leonard, whose two children both have peanuts allergies. Leonard praised a  first grade teacher for "saving" the life of her daughter after she inadvertently ingested peanut products and went into anaphylactic shock.

Are staffs prepared to handle reactions?

She's since led the charge for a ban, stating her concern stems not from some of the professional staff equipped with the training to handle the incidents, but those less familiar.

"After I drop off my daughter and son, I worry from 8:35 until 3:15 that I'm going to get a phone call that my child is in anaphylactic reaction," she said. "I worry that there's a substitute school nurse or substitute teacher who potentially does not know the signs to look for."

Dr. Parin agreed the lack of training for non-classroom or lunchroom staff should be a concern to districts.

"About 20 percent of reactions occur outside the classroom or cafeteria," he said. "It could be in the school bus, it could be on the playground. School districts need to make sure the ancillary help responsible for overseeing these kids are prepared to deal with an accidental ingestion."

The emotional issue has flooded Superintendent David Verducci's office with pleas from both sides. Verducci has said the district will be discussing policies at the individual school level and hopes to have newly-written procedures this school year, but thus far he's made no commitment to banning peanuts or tree nuts in school.

Meanwhile, the debate continues to reach a boiling point for parents. Citing parents and district sources, the Glen Rock Gazette reported a physical confrontation between two Hamilton School mothers over the issue, though details were scarce.

Policies "not being followed" says one parent, others say living with peanut exposure can be learning experience

Bloomfield, speaking at a recent school board meeting, said policies urging parents to only bring in packaged food with clearly visible labels are not being followed, and that's the genesis of the problem.

"When a parent puts her child's birthday or holiday party snack above the health and safety of another student in that classroom, and the teacher and school district condone it, the message to students in jeopardy is loud and clear," she said, arguing it creates a sense of exclusion, loneliness and a lack of compassion.

Yet other parents see things differently.

Denise Mangone said it's those supporting a ban that are often lacking in compassion. "They are coming out very aggressive, in a bullying way," she said.

Mangone believes parents "demanding" she and others list every ingredient when bringing in a snack is "unacceptable."

"God forbid one thing is missing and that happens to be the thing that child is allergic to," she said, adding the tenor of the debate "has to change."

Linda Buckwalter, a mother of an elementary school student and a middle school student, said the policies at Hamilton – which call for a peanut-free table – are working. She further questioned how a policy could be enforced in the sometimes-chaotic middle school cafeteria.

Citing conversations she's had with parents whose children have allergies, Buckwalter said many have expressed a desire to keep peanuts in school, as the exposure can be a positive learning experience in a world that is not peanut free.

Can a ban be enforced?

Asked if he would support an outright ban, Dr. Parin rebuffed. The fundamental problem, he said, is enforcement.

"Are we going to be checking everybody's lunch box? Are we going to be checking all the possible cross contaminations at school? Are we going to be checking all the arts and crafts at school?" he asked. "It would be difficult to enforce and would pit parents against parents."

"The bottom line is education, education, education in having an action plan," Dr. Parin said.

"We need to really microscope this and look at this because it is going to be a very big situation in this town," Mangone added. "I hope there's some form of resolution where we're not segmenting both sides."