Peanuts are one of the top 9 commonly allergenic foods in the U.S. Schools can manage food allergies in a variety of ways and the CDC recommends using a comprehensive plan to manage all food allergies, including peanut. While experts do not recommend using food bans to manage food allergies and most schools serve peanut foods successfully across the country, when schools do implement bans, peanuts are the most commonly banned food.
In this session, attendees will hear why peanut butter is one of the most useful foods schools can have on the menu during these increasingly difficult times because they are shelf-stable, affordable, and nutritious. Peanut allergy facts, including busting common myths, will be shared, followed by two case studies. Case Study 1 will follow one school district’s efforts to keep peanut foods on the menu in the face of advocates asking for bans. Case Study 2 will show how a second school successfully brought peanut butter back to the menu after a 15+ year ban.
Attendees will learn practical ways to address misperceptions about peanuts in schools and important keys for safe food allergy management.
Earning CEUs
- SNA CEUs: 1.0
- Key Area 1000: Nutrition
- Key Topic 1100: Special Diets, Including Food Allergies\
- Subtopic 1160: Food Allergy