>>If schools are really doing this banning of peanut products, I think
they're setting themselves up for having to do the same for those allergic
to milk or wheat or eggs or other common food allergens. After all,
they're supposed to treat all the students equally.<<

Not necessarily.  Peanut protein can become airborne, as can some seafood proteins such as shrimp protein. Milk protein does not become airborne as far as I know.   That's why the peanut bans are occurring--not only can skin contact and accidental ingestion be a problem, but the mere *smell* of peanuts can send some severely allergic peanut allergic kids into anaphylaxis.

Severely food allergic children are covered by applicable federal disability laws, and as such, public schools are mandated to make "reasonable accommodations" to make sure these children can participate in school to the fullest degree possible.  If a peanut allergic child's health and welfare is jeopardized by airborne peanut proteins then the school has to take whatever appropriate measures are needed to protect that child.   Because the disability laws also direct that schools not exclude children from things unnecessarily, singling children out to say, eat alone or in a separate location is not following the spirit of the laws.

I've got a severely milk allergic child who has actually gone into anaphylaxis at school.  Believe me, this is something that one cannot prepare for enough.  If banning peanuts minimizes such a risk for other children it is a small price for the rest of us to pay .  

I must add that school planning is absolutely essential.  In addition to accommodations in the cafeteria, many other plans need to be addressed in advance--ranging from party and field trip involvement to making sure crafts don't include allergenic food products to an emergency allergy management plan and having all emergency medicines on hand. 

I can tell you for a fact that my son's emergency allergy plan saved his life--when he went into anaphylaxis, the nurse pulled out the plan, and went into action.  Epinephrine and albuterol by nebulizer was initiated while other designated individuals dialed 911 and waited for the ambulance to arrive.  We can try to minimize accidents by advance planning but we can't guarantee than one won't happen.  So, we have to plan and plan well.  We can never be too careful for our children while at school.

Lynda