In response to the very insensitive Reader Rant (the hyperlink to the Rant follows my letter) about homemade cupcakes and food allergies in Sunday’s January 24, 2010 Virginian-Pilot, I sent the following:
January 26, 2010
In response to R E A D E R R A N T “Cupcakes and paranoia” By Ms. Haws of Norfolk:
You are correct, something as minor as cupcakes should NOT set you off. Food allergies are something my family and millions of other families manage EVERY DAY. My son was diagnosed six years ago with severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts and coconut. Having baked goods from a ‘well meaning’ mother could cause a reaction in my child starting with hives and itching, then progressing into trouble breathing and anaphylactic
shock. Without proper treatment, this can result into death. So yes, to confirm your suspicions, your homemade treats just may contain peanut products and harm children with peanut allergies. Your beautiful cupcakes could kill my child.
In an effort to keep my child safe, I have spent numerous hours educating teachers, caretakers, family and friends to supply correct information, not hype or ‘paranoia’ as you stated. I have found most people to be warm, understanding and responsive to the materials and support provided. Making a few considerations, keeps my child included in school celebrations, friends’ parties, sports activities and church programs.
There are many ways to celebrate birthdays and other special events and holidays, that don’t involve foods. I applaud the smart educational institution that your son attends for their no baked goods rule. Most public and private schools do not have a standard policy for food allergies. There is no consistent legislation. Many schools impose rules to protect their students as well as to cover themselves legally.
For the record, my son can eat lunch in a Virginia Beach school system cafeteria five days a week successfully. I maintain a communicative relationship with the cafeteria manager and together we keep my son safe. One important safety measure the school cafeteria takes is avoiding cross contact between foods. Let me explain. If you prepare a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, dipping a knife into the peanut butter jar and then into the jelly jar without properly sanitizing the knife first, the jelly jar then contains peanut
protein, making the jelly unsafe for someone with an allergy to peanuts. The knife must be washed with soap and water between uses, as merely wiping it off will not remove the allergens. The same principle is applied to all cooking utensils, baking sheets, bowls, and mixers, even your hands. Wiping hands off with a towel or using hand sanitizer is not sufficient.
Unfortunately, I don’t know how well-meaning parents clean or maintain their kitchen and cooking utensils, and therefore a homemade treat may be dangerous for children with food allergies, such as my son.
Interestingly enough, what you call a minority are over 12 million people in the United States which includes an estimated three million children, many of whom live in the Hampton Roads area. Last October, over 350 children and adults walked at Mount Trashmore to raise money for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) to fund a cure for food allergies. I would like to personally invite you to join our effort.
With your help, we can find a cure and our heartache (both yours and mine) would be over. If we find a cure, then my child stays alive and you get to serve your homemade strawberry cupcakes. In the meantime, I sincerely hope your family never has to deal with a tragic situation as a result of others’ ignorance and insensitivity.
Nicole Newsome
Volunteer Walk Chair
FAAN Walk for Food Allergy 2009
Cupcakes and Paranoia, The Virginian-Pilot, Sunday, January 24, 2010