Published: January 23, 2006 03:18 pm      

How do you protect your children when the enemy is peanut butter?

Allergies to foods such as peanuts, eggs and milk are increasing and researchers don’t know why.

Anne Munoz-Furlong, allergist and founder of Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, said 11 million people suffer from allergies to foods, and 1.5 million of those are allergic to peanuts.

“We know we're becoming more allergic as a population but nobody knows why,” said Munoz-Furlong. “Peanut allergy appears to be increasing at the fastest rate. That’s often a lifelong allergy and responsible for severe to fatal reactions.”

From 150 to 200 deaths each year are attributed to food allergies, Munoz-Furlong said.

Because of the increase, groups such as hers are supporting a bill introduced in the House of Representatives that would provide guidelines for schools to handle students with allergies. The bill will be in the Senate this month, she said.

“Not all schools have a policy in place,” said Munoz-Furlong. “All schools should have a policy. If they don’t already have a child with a food allergy, chances are they will soon. Studies show many first-time reactions occur in schools.”

Linda Griffin, nutrition director for Limestone County Schools, said the biggest food allergy problem she sees in her job is dairy products intolerance.

She said district wide there are 20 to 30 children who have special dietary restrictions and for whom they must prepare an alternate menu, but only three of those have peanut allergies. With 8,500 students in the county system, this is not a “big issue,” she said.

“We make sure their food doesn’t touch anything that has nuts in it,” said Griffin.

Griffin said that each student with food restrictions must bring a written note from his or her doctor.

“Each school has a school nurse who can administer an EpiPen,” she said. “The doctor can order this and if a child has a reaction she can give them the shot.”

EpiPen is the brand name of the most common type of autoinjector of epinephrine (i.e. adrenaline). Because they can be self-administered and are very fast acting, EpiPens are commonly carried by people with severe allergies and a risk of anaphylactic shock. In the United States EpiPens are regulated medical devices and require a prescription.

Griffin said that county school menus rarely include anything with peanuts.

“Once in a blue moon we’ll serve a peanut butter cookie, but we also have other things to offer,” she said.

Griffin said that the system receives walnuts as a food commodity and they are occasionally used in desserts such as brownies. But again there is always an alternative dessert for those who can’t have nuts.

Munoz-Furlong said the eight most common food allergies are to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, wheat and soy. Ninety percent of people allergic to items in that group are allergic to peanuts, she said.

“Most children outgrow allergies to all of those except peanuts and tree nuts, which tend to be lifelong,” Munoz-Furlong said.

The Web site for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network at www.foodallergy.com

includes Web pages for children and teens.





KELLY KAZEK and KAREN MIDDLETON write for The News-Courier in Athens, Ala.