School Safe Soy Butter -- why no love?

[marguerite_26]

I just had the most bizarre conversation with the principal of my childrens' school.

As many of you know, we’ve been struggling with my youngest's eating issues since he was about 6 months old. After years of professional help, things are much improved but it’s a constant struggle.

Like most schools here, our school is nut-free/peanut-free – I have no issues with that, and not looking to debate that decision. We accepted that even though peanut butter was one of Littlest's staples, once he began school we’d need to find alternatives. Throughout last summer we very slowly introduced new foods to him and transitioned him onto several food that while not as nutritious as peanut butter, they were 1) stuff he was willing to eat and 2) appropriate to bring to school.

Then some brilliant soul pointed us to School Safe Soy Butter. This stuff is amazing. The tastes isn’t exactly right, but it smells like peanut butter and looks like peanut butter and is comparable nutrition-wise. But most importantly the kids will eat it as if it were peanut butter.

We transitioned him (slowly) back into eating ‘peanut butter’ for lunches. We included a note with every lunch, explaining what the product was.

Now! I just got a call from the principal saying that “as this soy product is getting more popular, all school boards across Ontario are recommending that parents stop sending their children to school with it.” Apparently, there is confusion around this product and children are going home and telling their parents that other kids are taking peanut butter to school. The parents then say ‘great!’ and send their kids to school with REAL peanut butter. To avoid all this they have decided to discourage the use of any soy butter at school.

So I say: “That is ridiculous. Your issue is communication and education. The product is a godsend for parents.”

To which he says, “We know you have a ‘special situation’ –“

“No. This has nothing to do with my ‘situation’ – this has to do with the fact that you have an excellent solution to a significant problem that many parents face, and instead of embracing it, you are banning it. And by ‘you’ mean the school board, of course. I don’t shoot the messenger.” (because I don't).

So then I asked for the email address of every person involved in this decision making. LOL.

*off to type up emails*



I usually only post stuff like this under flock, but as this is all about education and communication, I figured I would practice what I preach.

Am crazy behind on comments, apologies ahead of time.

Comments

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

...

nut-free/peanut-free schools????? That's the first time I heard about that. Why? Because some kids may have allergies?

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

It's pretty much the norm in Canada, I believe and a good portion of the states??? Yanks, correct me if I'm wrong?

But yeah - it's about kids having allergies and (at least around here) was triggered by a little girl who died after sharing a lunch with a classmate (I believe).

It's controversial, but yeah. It's life right now.

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

Yanks, correct me if I'm wrong?
it varies widely area to area and by age. Our local public schools aren't, but I know some of the private preschools are (much more touch feely at that age). I've heard of a lot of schools having a nut free zone/table.

[starduchess.livejournal.com]

Some of our school districts in Texas are now peanut free. Some people really are that highly allergic. I have a friend from college who can't even eat off the same plate that had a peanut-butter sandwich sitting on it. She will go into anaphylactic shock. It is that severe.

I like the idea of having a nut-free zone rather than the whole school being affected. When we run hospitality suites at conventions we always have a nut-free platter for preparing foods (it's a different color) so there is no possibility of cross-contamination. Sounds like moderation to me. ;)

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

nods, yep, nut allergies are typically that severe - just contact w/the oils can cause the anaphylatic reaction. Most carry epi pens, but you've only got a few minutes to administer. Scary. My niece has a peanut allergy and she's had some scares.

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

Believe me when I say that in Germany at least such a general ban will be filed under "OMG, those Americans" (or Canadians ...). I actually just went to see if there is anything like this in Germany, but all the school and nutrition for children sites only laud the high nutritional value of nuts.

God, your principal like to make you the "special" problem when he is unwilling/unable to communicate, doesn't he?

*pets*

[jamie2109.livejournal.com]

Same here. None of our schools have things like this. Here, it's the responsibility of the parents to ensure the children know what they are allowed to eat - ie teach them that they don't eat other children's food, only eat what they take for lunch and snacks etc. And of course the school knows about kids with allergies and are all trained in dealing with allergies etc and they do keep an eye on them.

I applaud your attitude, Maggie, you get on that board. If the school has a ban on peanuts/pb then how hard is it to say to your kid 'I don't care what anyone else's kid is doing, the school says no peanut butter, so you're not having peanut butter.'

[onelittlesleep.livejournal.com]

Yes, my son's Montessori school is peanut-free. But that's a private school? Maybe it's not a public school thing.

[lolafeist.livejournal.com]

It really varies. It's more common in private schools than public. Since the rate of peanut allergies have gone up by a really scary percentage, it's usually worth the pain in the ass for the schools. (It often helps with their insurance, I'm told.)

My son has had another peanut allergy kid in every class he's been in so far.

[teapostal.livejournal.com]

It is common here (I'm in Canada, too). Even in my son's school - where no child in his class has an allergy to nuts/peanuts - they have a ban. There is also a ban in his after-school care, and no one currently there has an allergy either. It can be quite annoying, especially when the caregiver states that there are no allergies.

I've used the peabutter and soybutter myself, and have always sent a note with it, with no issues. But my son is not a huge peanut butter fan to begin with, so it isn't a huge thing for me.

Good for you for taking this up. I've done similar things with my son's school(s) because of things I've disagreed with. It won't change unless we speak up as parents.

[annaalamode.livejournal.com]

That's crazy and totally an example of an institution "discouraging" something instead of getting off their butts and communicating. Taking the easy road is so easy!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

I KNOW RIGHT??? I actually laughed out loud at the principal (though we've met up enough times that I'm sure he expected my reaction) He was all prepared to make 'an exception' for me but TOTALLY MISSING THE POINT! *rolls eyes*

[kjp-013.livejournal.com]

That's just crazy! So you've found an acceptable alternative that your son will actually eat (I have an autistic son - chocolate spread or nothing, I feel your pain) and the school disallows it?

Best of luck with your emails!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

yeah - Littlest is autistic, too. Lots of texture issues and transition issues. So yeah... you understand. :) Absolutely NOTHING is easy.

But really, I know so many other parents who have eating issues that would love to know that there is this alternative. I tell as many of them as I can - but a major communication from the school board would go far.

Thanks!

[kjp-013.livejournal.com]

*hugs you* ♥

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

ah bureaucracy at work... wanting to tackle the appearance rather than the issue
Good Luck! - Go get em tiger!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

ROWR!!! hee! I'll let you know how it goes. Last campaign was brilliantly successful, let's see if I can manage it again. *g*

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Good grief. That is so ridiculous. I'm glad you're going to speak up about it, because you are absolutely right. Hope it works out for you and Littlest.

[fuzzytomato02.livejournal.com]

Good for you! Email those people. Schools are crazy and I totally understand the need to have something that a child will eat. My autistic son eats a specific set of foods and I feel your pain about finding things that he will eat and have some nutritional value. (He actually just got home from school with a note saying he didn't eat breakfast or lunch.)

[superfluous-emi.livejournal.com]

??????

What the hell?

You know what I love? Having to dick around with doctor's notes/posting food exceptions confidentially/explaining over and over to parents because state licensing requires us to give certain things to children when they turn one, even when it's items parents don't necessarily want to give their kids.

Yeah, usually we just go with what the parents want and sort out the mess when we have to.

[onelittlesleep.livejournal.com]

That is absurd. Can't they just...send home a flier to parents that explicitly states NO PEANUT BUTTER, but soy butter can be used as a substitute? How hard would that be? Parents are savvy, they'd catch on.

UGH.

[teapostal.livejournal.com]

This. Though, then you get issues like my son's board, where they got rid of ALL paper communication, and are only sending e-alerts. Okay - I get it. It is good for the environment, but not everyone is me (ahem, obsessive) and checking their email every five minutes. Paper flyers would be great for something like this!

For god's sake, staple it to a report card and no one will miss it.

[leashy-bebes.livejournal.com]

Oh gawd. Institutional communication at its finest. *hugs* My oldest nephew has Aspergers, and a lot of issues around food, and his old school would do stuff like this which, as well as being plainly ridiculous, consistently undermined the hard work my sister put in to improve Sam's eating.

A sharply worded email or seven is definitely the way forward. *hugs*

[shutupeccles.livejournal.com]

WHY ISN"T THIS AMAZING PRODUCT AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA???
Eldest & Youngest are both peanut butter boys (Youngest is also a nutella nut) & schools have banned all nut and egg products since 2000

You stand up for the children's right to eat food they like at school. Considering how much effort schools go to in flogging this 'nut-free' policy how hard is it to add the line: a school-safe alternative to peanut butter called [product name/s] are available.

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you have to deal with that. The soy butter sounds like a wonderful substitute. My daughter is severely allergic to peanuts, and I'm always looking for nut alternatives.

As for the no nuts in school thing, I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for parents of children with food issues, but it's nothing short of a life-or-death issue for kids like mine. My daughter has attended supposedly nut-free school for three years and yet still was served peanut candy from a parent who brought it in for a birthday party. She didn't eat it, thank Christ, but it was basically the equivalent of giving her a loaded handgun.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Go you! Idiot bureaucrats!

[katelinmr.livejournal.com]

What the hell?!

How stupid are those people?!

*hangs head*

*kicks random stuff*

yes I'm annoyed now, so sue me... *glares*

[faynia.livejournal.com]

GET IT! *\o/* I love that stuff. That and sunflower seed butter, same principle. They used it at the daycare I once worked at. THING OF GENIUS. Why would you ban it? SO DUMB.

[waltzing-mice.livejournal.com]

OMG I LOVE SOY BUTTER. I can't keep a jar in the house because I will eat the whole jar like I was on some munchie-induced marijuana high. Love the stuff, that and sunflower seed butter. YUM. So much better than boring almond butter.

Lots of nut-free, peanut butter-free, nit-free experience too btw. Thankfully the new school doesn't care as long as it isn't a contagion that causes a terrible death, moderate deaths are OK.

[amythystluna.livejournal.com]

I wish you luck with the e-mail campaign! The pre-schools I've worked in had peanut-free rooms and areas if a kid had a peanut allergy, and when I taught in South Carolina and had kids in my class who had a peanut allergy we made sure s/he had an alternative with class snacks, but man, the public school I worked at for 3 1/2 years had pb&j's as a daily lunch choice!

[nenne.livejournal.com]

I've never even heard of nut-free schools, but banning the substitute that isn't dangerous to anyone, really does sound like a very strange idea. I hope your e-mail campaign gives results.

[being-here.livejournal.com]

Idiocy is always difficult to deal with. I do feel for you. My friend's smallest is autistic and he will only eat one brand of cream cheese and apples. Fortunately they haven't banned those in schools yet - I have no idea how she would manage if they did. He will not alter his eating habits for anyone!

[ineffably-roma.livejournal.com]

The public schools tend not to be nut-free. Private schools and daycare, yes.

My kids daycare was an amazing place. They made hot meals everyday plus snacks and there was no peanuts, fish or other seafood, or pork in any of the dishes. They made incredible things, though!

Sorry you are having to go through this. I am kind of snickering at those who made the decision. I can imagine they will be getting a very persuasive, respectful note soon, which will make them feel like an idiot. And to cure that problem they will reverse their decision.

Hugs you!

[lolafeist.livejournal.com]

My son has a life threatening peanut allergy, so I get the nut bans. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN NO SOYBUTTER. WHAT TO THE FUCK, PEOPLE. It's this kind of stupid shenanigans that make it harder on those of us who have to push for peanut free situations with preschoolers and young kids who are so bad about getting food all over themselves.

I hope they work this out for you, because it's REALLY stupid of them.

Also have you tried sunbutter? I prefer the taste of it. (I miss peanut butter so much I could just cry about it at any given time.)

[scarletscarlet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think a niece goes to a no-peanuts school. Not a fan of the notion, but whatever. The school's decision to ban a useful alternative rather than, oh, I don't know, send a tiny newsletter? Ridiculous.

[overtsock.livejournal.com]

This sounds like the kind of upper-level management decision (not quite the same as school. but similar in that they are policymakers) in which they acknowledge there is a problem and make an attempt to solve it as quickly as possible by making a blanket decision. The problem with this, as you know, is that the decision often does not make sense or accomplish anything, which is what often happens when you have policies that are decided upon in committee.

I don't know if that makes any sense! I wish there were a better way to do things...

[stellamoon.livejournal.com]

Nope, nothing like that here. Peanut allergies are serious,though, and of course the schools recognize this. I know that parents have to inform the school if their child has a peanut allergy , and I'm not sure just what precautions the parents have to take. I would hope that school personnel are kept informed of just who has the allergies, and what to do in case of emergency.

In any case, that's not even the point here, is it?? Does your school have something against sending out emails and newsletters?? Ours certainly doesn't. They send notices for all kinds of stuff to us all the time! Reminders of this and that policy, updates on whooping cough and chicken pox, dates to remember, and so on. Couldn't they just put out a notice like: "Attention all parents: Have you heard of this great new product..........and remember it's still against school policy to bring REAL peanut butter to school!" Gheesh! How hard can it be??

You go get 'em!

[kayoko.livejournal.com]

The things the school board does to save their behinds. Surely someone will come up and say that soy is an allergen too. When I was in school, there were no restrictions on foods. *sighs*

Then again, it's the same silly people who are pushing for full day kindergarden but don't realise how much money is required to fulfill it. More classrooms, bathrooms, cubbies, etc.

[sheswatching.livejournal.com]

I get where you're coming from about the schools banning all nut-related things EVER, 'cause it's basically the norm in Toronto. Bit difficult when all my sister used to eat was nutella, but now we just stuff her full of it at breakfast and send her off :P

I think that soy butter is a fantastic alternative and all they could do would be sending out a quick newsletter or something to fix the problem. Seriously. I hope your campaigning works.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

So weird. All the principal needs to do is send a note (or an email, after all, it is the 21st century) saying that despite the prevalence of soy substitutes, the nut-free policy is still in effect, so please don't send your kids to school with actual peanut butter.

We have the nut-free thing going on in preschools here in Boston - don't know about elementary schools. I approve of it in general, as my brother was and is very allergic to peanuts.

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Principal is an idiot.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

As several other people have suggested, he's just sending out the wrong note. Nut butters are still banned, here is a soy butter that is allowed, do not confuse the two or you will be in dire trouble.

[chantefable.livejournal.com]

Like Vaysh, first time I hear about nut-free schools. Hmmm. Nuts have many elements in them that are probably indispensable for a growing organism (i.e. child), so while I understand the bit about peanuts (BTW, why are so many people so incredibly allergic to peanuts in the US/Canada? It's very worrying. :( D'you think it's some genetic mutation due to generations overexposed to too many peanuts?), banning all nuts in all public places doesn't seem reasonable in the long-term.

And the soybutter ban you mention just illustrates the application of a faulty management principle: instead of encouraging communication and parents'/children's responsibility regarding the foodstuffs they bring, state-level school administration uses a blanket ban, thus taking both the choice and the responsibility upon themselves. So basically, instead of teaching the children about alternatives, responsible eating & sharing, etc, they pick the easier, less-time consuming procedure that takes control out of the parents' hands. I am rather inclined to say that I disagree. Parental responsibility is the answer. Go to that Board, Maggie. :)

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Apparently, there is confusion around this product and children are going home and telling their parents that other kids are taking peanut butter to school. The parents then say ‘great!’ and send their kids to school with REAL peanut butter. To avoid all this they have decided to discourage the use of any soy butter at school.

*blinks* Is everyone an idiot?

[piratesmile331.livejournal.com]

Good luck, honey! And no love to your principal for trying to make YOU the problem.

[inspiredlife.livejournal.com]

Okay, really random post to first comment on but as a school administrator, this one dinged all my buttons.

First, as a nut/peanut free school I can definitely relate to the problems of educating parents, making sure our environment remains nut free, etc. We have had parents who insist on sending in real peanut butter despite repeated warnings. WTF?

But, soy butter is awesome and completely welcome in our school - as long as parents let us know it's soy butter (which, go you for doing!). I've sent out a written note, an email and wrote a little article about nutrition in our newsletter. Haven't had a single problem since them.

So sorry you're dealing with this nonsense, sweets. I hope the email campaign is successful!

To make sure parents knew what was going