Posted to Op-Ed on
by Yitzchok and Bina Lerman

Op-Ed: Please Don’t Feed My Children

I have watched my daughters struggle to breathe. I stood by as they were wheeled into emergency rooms attached to oxygen masks and IV fluids. It doesn’t get easier; on the contrary, the fear deepens every time.

At an early age my daughters were diagnosed with food allergies. Food allergies affect one in every thirteen children in the USA and the statistics are growing at an alarming rate.

The time has come to bring a greater awareness of this life threatening condition to our community.

An allergic reaction occurs when the body perceives a harmless protein as foreign and attacks it unnecessarily. A potentially fatal reaction is called anaphylaxis. When anaphylaxis occurs, a shot of epinephrine must be administered immediately and the patient must be taken to the hospital.  Time is of essence.

Reactions are unpredictable; there is no way of knowing how bad a reaction will be. This past summer a thirteen year old girl in California with a peanut allergy bit into a rice crispy treat, unaware that there was peanut butter inside. She went into anaphylactic shock. Her father (a doctor) immediately gave her multiple Epi-Pens. Unfortunately they were unable to stop the reaction. Her parents watched helplessly as her airways closed up and she died.

There is no cure for food allergies; prevention is the only way to protect a child from getting a fatal reaction. Obviously, I read ingredients carefully and keep all allergens away from my children. There is however, the constant concern of cross contamination. My daughter ate a chocolate from a candy store. We then saw her rolling on the floor in distress. We also noticed that she was wheezing heavily. The chocolate had apparently come into contact with an allergen at some point and caused a severe reaction.

My daughters’ schools are constantly on alert. Both “All My Children” on Ford Street and at Mosdos have been very supportive and understanding. The directors, teachers and kitchen staff go out of their way to ensure that our children remain in a safe environment, while participating in all class activities. Mosdos went to the extent of making their school a “Nut Sensitive” environment (Ford Street is also “Nut Sensitive”). I understand that this change may have been difficult for some teachers, students and parents. However even an innocent smudge of peanut butter on any surface, could potentially send my daughter into anaphylactic shock. I am thankful that they have taken measures to keep my daughters safe.

One sunny day I took my girls to a local park. My daughter made fast friends with some of the other children there. While they were playing, one of the mothers came over with a snack and gave some to each of the children, including my allergic daughter! I ran over quickly and discovered that thank G-D it was a safe snack. I thanked the mother for the snack while explaining that my daughter has severe food allergies and in future it would be advisable to ask parents before handing out snacks to little children.

My purpose in penning this article is to bring awareness to the community. Please don’t offer food to a child without asking the parent or caregiver first. Please don’t leave Bamba wrappers on the floor. If a child has a food allergy, take them seriously. If they say they don’t feel good, or their mouth feels funny, get medical help immediately!

There is an ancient proverb that “It takes a village to raise a child”. Today it takes a community to keep a child safe.

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8 Comments

  • An idea!

    They should come up with some kind of warning icon and these allergic children should wear it Around their necks when they leave their homes like a necklace . Just a thought .

  • picture worth a thousand reminders

    In my girls’ school there is a fatally allergic 2nd grader. Her parents printed posters with her picture on it along with a picture list of many popular peanut related snacks. (I was surprised to learn that Nature Valley regular granola bars have nut flour, kids know not to bring hazelnut filled/flavored wafers, etc.)
    These posters hang all over the hallways in the school. The girls know it is their friend, or sister’s friend who is deathly allergic and take the situation really seriously.

  • A mother of a child with an anaphylaxis food allergy

    This is a wonderful op-Ed!!!!! Thank you!!!!

  • declasse' intelectual

    #1) there are medic alert items for people with medical issues–perhaps this might apply to children who have food allergies and what might be needed to be done to protect the child.

  • true story

    the granddaughter of one of our Shul regulars came for yom tov one year and was wearing a medical alert bracelet with the words food allergies. Thank G-D I noticed it as her hands were in my 2 year old’s snack bag, UI gently took her back to her mother who thanked me so much for my vigilance

  • Lifelight

    My chiild wore a Medic-Alert bracelet from the age of 3 years old, when he first began attending nursery school.

  • Chinuch

    My children grew up (are growing up) out of town. They have been trained to never take food from anyone without checking with a parent first. One of my children has life threatening allergies. Others have minor allergies.Their kashrus training has really paid off.