Is it weird to give a teacher gift with nuts at a nut-free school? I made a batch of granola containing pecans that I would like to gift. I'm thinking it's okay since it's not to be consumed at school.
ETA: the granola will be in a mason jar with a lid, if that makes a difference.
43 votes
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I would ask the director first. Some kids are so allergic that even touching something that came into contact with nuts can cause a reaction.
watermelon / 14467 posts
You should choose another gift. Sometimes it doesn't matter if it's not to be consumed at school. I know someone who's peanut allergy is so severe that he reacts if the dust is on something.
pear / 1718 posts
Yes, it's weird/not a good idea. Most nut-free facilities don't allow parents to gift non pre-packaged foods (so that the ingredients can be examined), let alone a food item with nuts.
eggplant / 11824 posts
"nut-free school" at our center means you cannot bring any nuts into the school. We have had a teacher and a LO have severe reactions to nuts this year alone, just from kids having the residue of nuts on their hands - not even from actual nuts.
I would bring another gift.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
Our day care is nut free and I asked the director about it last year. She said as long as it is sealed up tight and they don't open there it was fine. I told them and put a tag that said I contain nuts, please open me when you get home.
nectarine / 2115 posts
I don't think nut-free schools come with exceptions! Also, as an adult who can't eat tree nuts it's always disappointing to receive something with nuts in it. I'd do the safest thing and go nut-free.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
Sorry but sounds like a horrible idea to bring nuts into a nut free school.
squash / 13208 posts
I don't see an issue - I mean its sealed right and the teacher wont open it at school.
I gave a teacher Reese cups (her favorite) and she said she ate them in her car at lunchtime 
- it's a nut free school too
nectarine / 2180 posts
So to update, I emailed the director and she said it's fine if it's in a sealed, labeled jar.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mamaof2: Our allergist told us that the peanut protein can stay in your mouth for hours after consuming peanuts, even after brushing your teeth, so I'd be pretty upset if Logan's teacher ate peanuts during her lunch break and then came back and dealt with him. Just a stray kiss or him grabbing at her mouth could cause him to have an allergic reaction. 
pineapple / 12802 posts
@Mamaof2: Agreed. Guess we're the odd ducks out.
@adira: I don't think kissing kids is really appropriate or professional?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@.twist.: I meant kissing on the cheek. I know some of our daycare teachers kiss babies cheeks, hands, feet - that doesn't bother me at all. But it would if they had consumed nuts!!
Kissing aside - there a different ways the peanut protein can go from your mouth to my baby's skin, so I'd prefer teachers not consume it at all before or during caring for my children.
squash / 13208 posts
@Adira: not being snarky promise - but if that's the case then are the teachers at your DCP required to not eat nut products for breakfast or lunch - I would imagine most would assume no nuts at the school but if they left for lunch it would be fine (or peanut butter toast for breakfast)
grapefruit / 4321 posts
Regardless of what the director said I wouldn't do it. I don't think the parents of the allergic children would appreciate the risk when there are a million options for teacher gifts that don't present a risk to anyone.
pineapple / 12802 posts
@Adira: I'd hope they'd take it seriously enough to may wait until their shift is over? I can't imagine trained professionals are stuffing their faces with peanuts at lunch.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mamaof2: They probably aren't required to, as I imagine they aren't as knowledgeable about food allergies as I am (although Logan's infant teacher has a child with food allergies, so she is!).
But now you know, so perhaps in the future you wouldn't give a peanut/nut gift to a teacher knowing there's a risk for allergic children.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@.twist.: My comment was in response to @Mamaof2: who said she gave a teacher a Reese's and they ate it on their lunch break.
squash / 13208 posts
@Adira: wow - that is scary! I would think your Director should know the severity and require that of all teachers that come in contact with your DS!
grapefruit / 4545 posts
I asked our school specifically (nut free) and they said yes just let the teachers know it contains nuts and they'll keep it out of the classrooms!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mamaof2: I mean, maybe she does, but I don't know if that's a requirement of them or not. I've certainly shared my peanut allergy knowledge with all his teachers and they have epipens on hand for him just in case...
nectarine / 2180 posts
@Adira: My DD has a peanut allergy, but her allergist says it's up to each family to decide whether the other family members consume nuts/keep nuts in the house. In our case, we do. She said that after eating nuts, kissing could cause a skin reaction, but it would be unlikely to cause something like anaphylaxis.
In any case, I'm surprised at the very strong reactions! I considered it for DD's teachers because it will be given at the end of the day of a half day school (though some children do stay for lunch bunch), it won't be opened at school, none of the children in DD's class have a nut allergy, and parents bring in snack and routinely bring in food prepared at home. I can see that this would not fly at some schools.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Pancakes: Oh, our allergist said the same thing and we keep and consume peanuts in the house too, but we do it after he goes to bed so that we don't risk exposing him to it. And yes, on the skin it would just cause a skin reaction, but if he would to get it in his mouth (like say you kissed his hands and then he chewed on them) or his eyes, it could cause anaphylaxis. It's better to be safe than sorry, in my opinion!
pomegranate / 3895 posts
This is a little off topic, but do those of you who have children who attend nut free school or daycare not allow your child to eat peanut butter at home? Based on what @adira conveyed, I'm confused of the risk difference.
My first response was to say "heck no," but then - oddly - what @adira said made me think about it more because I definitely let my son eat peanut butter crackers and wash his hands at home then send him to school.
ETA: We are an allergy family.
pineapple / 12802 posts
@LBee: We consume more peanut butter than anyone I know. Our house is insanely fiendy for it. This is something I wonder as well...
pomegranate / 3895 posts
@.twist.: This morning he refused anything, but peanut butter crackers. I even said to my husband, "we can't send him to school without breakfast just give him the ritz crackers he wants." How's that for irony?
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@LBee: Before my son had a peanut allergy, I didn't know anything about them besides they generally seemed "severe" and were scarier than other allergies. It wouldn't have occurred to me to not allow my child to have peanut butter before going to daycare, even though they are a nut free facility. I don't expect other parents to restrict their children's diets, especially at home. But the whole thing scares me.
eggplant / 11824 posts
@LBee: We allow LO to eat nuts at home (she doesn't really care for PB but loves almond butter), but don't offer them anymore as a breakfast option following an incident described below.
One little friend in LO's class had an anaphylaxis type reaction (epi pen, followed by 911 call and ER trip) due to another friend in class having PB for breakfast at home, not washing hands and then entering the classroom and then touching the allergic child. The oils are what triggered her reactions, and now everyone in the class is required to wash their hands as soon as they get to school - which is probably generally a good practice to set up anyway!
I'll be honest - as a non-allergy family it wasn't something I would have thought to drill down that deeply on, but knowing that one of her friends is so allergic that just the oils on hands from prior consumption can cause serious issues, I don't offer any nut products as a morning option for LO at all anymore.
watermelon / 14467 posts
@LBee: We don't give nuts or nut butters as a breakfast option before school. It's mainly because she doesn't show a marked interest in it and it's so much easier for me to throw a pouch or a banana her way as we try to get ready for school.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@yoursilverlining: Oh wow, how scary!! So much 
to you for being willing to restrict your child's food to keep her friend safe.
pear / 1703 posts
As a teacher and someone from a severe nut-allergy family, for goodness sake YES, its fine!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I wouldn't, because often they're put them out to share in the lounge or office and I am not sure everyone would wash hands after consuming.
nectarine / 2667 posts
@Pancakes: as a teacher, I would say yes to a sealed jar that clearly stated it has nuts. If the director said its okay, I think you're safe.
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