West Newton Elementary School

Food allergies, not just limited to peanuts, are a growing concern in schools across America.  Millions of children- children who are perfectly healthy and normal in every other way- must watch every single bite they eat, or risk suffering a severe or even life threatening reaction.  In fact, food allergies claim an estimated 150 lives and are responsible for more than 125,000 emergency room visits each year.  A major health issue such as this must be taken very seriously, and it has always been the policy of the Yough School District to make the safety and well being of our students our top priority.

We know that many parents like to celebrate birthdays and other occasions with special treats.  We encourage parents to celebrate with non-food items such as stickers, pencils or other trinkets rather than food.  If food items are sent in to share with other students, we strongly suggest, for the safety of our students, that the food be pre-packaged and contain an ingredient label.  If a specific ingredient label does not accompany the treat that is brought into school, that individual treat will be sent home with each of the students and will not be consumed during the school day.

This can be a learning process for all of us, but we trust that you understand how deeply important it is to respect and adhere to these guidelines.  To learn more about food allergies, you may visit the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network’s website www.foodallergy.org.