My really quick response for now ...   it does not sound like a risk to me. 
I suspect that decision was made by someone who did not really understand 
the matter fully and relied on someone else's directives.  I do know what I 
am talking about, as my own son is allergic  not only to milk products but 
to peanuts, tree nuts, and various seeds.....

Susan


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Beth Kevles" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 10:33 AM
Subject: question about severe allergy and camp policy


> Hi, Friends --
>
> A question came up at my son's summer camp yesterday which I need to
> deal with tomorrow (Wednesday).  Although the allergen in question is
> peanuts, I think the policy would apply regardless of allergen,
> provided the reaction is severe.  I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts.
>
> One child in my son's group (6-12 year olds, I think) has a severe
> peanut allergy.  We've been duly asked to not bring in peanut products.
>
> I sent in a Luna bar for my son's afternoon snack.  The bar contains no
> peanuts in the ingredient list, but at the bottom of the list it says
> it may contain traces of peanuts (among other things).  Clearly a
> potential cross-contamination issue.  In consequence of this, my son
> was made to sit in isolation while he ate his snack and then to wash
> his hands and face with soap before rejoining the group.  (He couldn't
> sit with a non-allergic child because none of the kids are allowed to
> know who the allergic child is.)
>
> My questions:
>
> If your child has a severe allergy, is it okay to sit near a child
> who's eating something like a Luna bar with its cross-contamination
> risk?  Does that provide an unacceptable risk to your severely allergic
> child?  Or do other foods also contain an (unlabelled) similar risk?
> (I'm thinking of products that don't yet have the allergen listing on
> the package, foods removed from their packaging, or foods made at home
> that get cross-contaminated, ie from a siblings' pb&j sandwich)?
>
> Is it reasonable to isolate a child who's eating the risky food?  Is
> that worth the preservation of the allergic child's privacy?
>
> If your child has a severe allergy like this, how valuable is it to you
> and your child to keep the allergy secret?
>
> FInally, if I have to abide by the camp policy (and I will if it makes
> medical sense), can any recommend an afternoon snack with the following
> properties:
>
> Allergnically free of milk protein, red dye #40, shellfish and, of
> course, peanuts!
> Non-perishable (since the ice-pack will have lost its cool by then).
> Contains protein.
> Is plausibly attractive to an 8-year old boy.
>
> Thanks for your thoughts!
> --Beth Kevles
>  Eating without Casein website
>  http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email
> and IM. All on demand. Always Free.
>