Recently, our son came home with a notice that his grade 4 class is studying Medieval Times. As part of the unit, a Medieval feast was planned. The notice stated that the meal would be golden herb basted chicken, fresh bread and butter, glazed carrots, a shield shaped gingerbread cookie they’d decorate themselves, and grape juice. We were to indicate any dietary concerns on the bottom of the information sheet. Of course, I find this very concerning from an allergen perspective. That’s too kind and soft stated: I actually find this sort of programming reckless.
We filled in the information slip to indicate “severely allergic to peanuts and all other nuts, even in trace amounts.” A teacher was going to make some inquiries about allergy safety, but we didn’t hear anything. I prefer to make my own inquiries, so I looked online at the Golden Gryphon Medieval Entertainment and Catering website, since that company was providing the food. There was no allergen information provided, so I called. I was very surprised when the owner told me that she buys the bread and gingerbread shields from a bakery that has nuts on site. Because nuts are on site, these are items that may contain sufficient traces of nuts to cause a severe allergic reaction. At our peanut and nut safe school, students are not allowed to bring “may contain” items, and I find it reckless that a catering company would knowingly provide them to students.
Upon request, the company will buy the bread from a bakery that does not have nuts on site and make the gingerbread shields in their nut safe catering kitchen. Whenever a meal is planned for students, this should be their standard procedure, whether or not an allergy mom calls them to inquire. I got the impression that I was the only person who had ever called, which surprises me, and I hope I made a lasting impression. I hope that by providing this information, it will help others make informed decisions.
It really is reckless to plan programming that involves food in the classroom. What would children allergic to dairy or wheat do, stay at home? There were two children with religious dietary restrictions who couldn’t eat anything because all the food may have come in contact with the chicken. One family indicated that their child could only eat the bread, and the family only received a $2 discount and still had to pay $13. Though many children enjoyed the event, the far more inclusive brass rubbings the class did were sufficient enrichment in my opinion. The feast did not add any value, and the risk associated with bringing food into the school far outweighs any benefit there may have been.
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