While I am sensitive to allergies, if my six year old son had been singled
out like that he would have been embarrassed and heartbroken... and that
would have made me angry.
I agree that the privacy policy seems silly... why would they WANT it to
be a secret in the first place?! My daughter is allergic to dairy, peanuts
and tree nuts and I have made stickers (from address labels) that I put on
her whenever I feel it is appropriate (like at a party) that say "No dairy
or nuts please". Personally I feel that the burden is on me to educate
myself, her caregivers and to some degree her (my making her aware of her
allergies and to ask the person offering the food to her what it
contains). I do allow other children in the preschool that she attends to
eat dairy and peanuts (The director asked me if I wanted them banned and I
said I did not feel it was necessary or fair on the other parents/children
as long as the teachers took appropriate precautions around my daughter).
I would consider asking the parent of "the child" (in an anonymous note if
necessary) for snack suggestions.
Good luck!
~Suzie