[Apswel] Peanut & Nut Allergies

[West Elementary School Mailing List]

August 24, 2007


Dear Parents,

	As many of you may already be aware, there are a significant
number of children in the Andover Public Schools who have allergies, in
particular, peanut/nut allergies.  Peanuts and tree nuts are the cause
of most food allergy fatalities, and it only takes 1/44,000 of a peanut
to cause a fatal reaction.  An allergic reaction, and even a fatal
reaction, can occur not only through ingestion but also by touch and/or
inhalation.
  
To reduce the risk of exposure to our children, we currently have some
peanut/nut free classrooms and a peanut/nut free table in the cafeteria.
However, the incidence of allergies is on the rise and more and more
children matriculating into our school have life-threatening food
allergies, particularly to peanuts and tree nuts. 

The teachers in these nut free classrooms must be very diligent in
making sure no peanut/nut products enter their classrooms. Students,
however, are not confined to their classrooms, so all school personnel
must constantly monitor that that these children are not accidentally
exposed to peanuts/tree nuts. 
 
We realize this will be an adjustment, but, we hope that as you are
educated about how life-threatening this allergy is, you will make the
effort to find alternatives to peanut/nut products. We are unable to
provide a current list of products that are peanut/nut free due to
frequent changes in manufacturing labels. However, ingredients to avoid
include
peanuts, nuts, ground nuts, earth nuts, monkey nuts, mixed nuts, peanut
butter, peanut oil, arachis oil and ground nut oil. 

Please note, peanut/nut free snacks are required if your child is in a
designated peanut/nut free classroom.  

Please feel free to contact the school with any questions.  We
appreciate your effort to keep our schools as safe as possible for all
students. 

Yours truly,

Charles M. Friel						Rita
Casper
Principal							Director
of Nursing

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