Banned — milk, yogurt, chocolate, cheese, eggs: Are allergy-based food bans no longer reasonable?

National Post ^ | January 14, 2014 | Jen Gerson

[rickmichaels]

An Ontario parent says the list of allergenic foods prohibited from his daughter’s Grade 1 class is so long that it has become almost impossible to make a nutritious lunch in the morning.

Fearing the risk of anaphylactic shock among one of its students, the Toronto-area school has made a list of prohibited snacks, including peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, sesame seeds, melon, avocado and all dairy products.

Tony Perfetto has taken to making jelly or margarine sandwiches for his seven-year-old daughter. “It’s just a little bit of jelly with two pieces of bread, for now. But how long before gluten is banned? Because everybody and their brother is allergic to that now,” he said.

[workerbee]

A lot of people never know it. Same with lactose. Lots of people have “stomach problems” or other digestive problems well into adulthood. It isn’t necessarily an allergy but a food intolerance that makes them suffer various symptoms that’s hard to pinpoint a reason. An Italian family I know has a daughter who hated pasta and pizza, said they made her sick (”what’sa matta witch you, your Italian!”) and it wasn’t until her late teens that they finally investigated and — voila — gluten. IMHO gluten is something that’s just now getting some attention, maybe from advancement in research? I don’t know. I do think lots (too many) people sort of “latch on” to whatever the new allergy du jour is, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of legitimate cases.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Are allergy-based food bans no longer reasonable?

They never were reasonable. People have allergies. If you do then keep things out of your mouth to which you are or may be allergic.

[GeronL]

pretty soon they will sit in a circle and eat gluten-free crackers for “lunch”

how long before they just band these things at grocery stores?

[Girlene]

I don't know...it does seem there are more people affected by food allergies. In this article, Skin, Food Allergies On The Rise In Kids it's claimed that the more affluent a family is, the higher incidence of food and respiratory allergies. Go figure.

Speaking of experiencing the death of a relative in your home.....it WAS more normal. At my great or great-great grandmother's death(not sure which it was)....the family had an official portrait of all her children with her in the death bed. (kinda icky if you ask me.)

[Pontiac]

I don't know...it does seem there are more people affected by food allergies

Well that may be true. Check out this article. The poor frequently have more parasites.

Parasites in Your Gut Actually Help Protect You From Allergies .

[digger48]

My niece first developed an allergy to nuts when she was in her 20’s.

Can’t fly coach due to the possiblity of just being close to someone eating nuts

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Genetically modified foods. It’s in everything now. 95% of US soy is now genetically modified - and soy has been added as a cheap filler to many foods. Try buying a can of tuna WITHOUT soy — it’s quite a challenge. The reason why it’s on my radar as Mr. Peel has an allergy to genetically modified soy.

[Girlene]

Interesting....thanks.

[chaosagent]

...The article says that peanut particles have to become airborne to have a severe reaction, not just smelling them. ...

---

And exactly what are you smelling if you’re not smelling airborne peanut particles?

[S.O.S121.500]

Believe anaphylactic shock is another way Mother Nature tells Mrs Jones to “Try again”.

[S.O.S121.500]

This is ridiculous. Where did all these allergies come from?

---

Inadequate prenatal/preconceptional nutrition.....

[Boogieman]

That’s because the majority of people claiming gluten “allergies” today are full of it. The instance of people with real issues with gluten is much lower than the number of people who report that they think they are sensitive to it. It’s mostly a fad.

[caww]

I have a family member who has serious gluten reactions. Spent a month in the hospital before they determined the cause.....one sick fellow let me tell you. Lost allot of weight going through that ordeal.

[ozaukeemom]

I know a person who is a cook in an Italian restaurant. They offer gluten-free food. He calls the people who order it glutards. The reason is that they will order the gluten-free pasta with the breaded chicken or whatever. As you said, it is a fad that many have latched onto. Yes, there are folks who really cannot handle it, but....

[CorporateStepsister]

They’re largely a bunch of spoiled brats who have emulated celebrities and want to be catered to like they are celebs.

[count-your-change]

I tend to agree. What next? No more peanut ads on t.v. lest a picture cause a deadly reaction?

[faucetman]

I remember in the 50s & 60s in the school lunch rooms all the sick & dead kids. Also all the other ones that were puking and pooping their selves. You all remember this don’t you?

It was an epidemic. I’m so glad that today we are able to recognize and avoid these horrors. SARC

[lucky american]

Young children are no longer allowed to come in contact with foreign bacteria and helpful microbes . Outside-in- the -dirt play is less commonplace and is detrimental to their ability to fend off allergies. 30 years ago you never heard of a child being allergic to peanut butter . Today it is in epidemic proportions.

[Girlene]

And exactly what are you smelling if you’re not smelling airborne peanut particles?

You are smelling their scent.