Food Shared as Treats and “No sharing Food” rule

The “no sharing food” rule is about children understanding that they do not give or receive food from others, without teacher or parent knowledge, as some children can become sick if they eat certain foods.

At times parents provide a birthday treat for their child and for the class. Due to food handling regulations, children who have allergies and food choices families make, parents who wish to provide treats are to provide individually wrapped, commercially produced food with the ingredients description and the use by date presented with the food to the classroom teacher. If for any reason you do not want your child to have the birthday treats shared throughout the school year, if and when they are offered, then please see your child’s classroom teacher.

Cick here to view Healthy Eating and Oral Health Policy

Anaphylaxis and Epi-pen

Anaphylaxis is a generalised and potentially life threatening allergic reaction, which often involves more than one body system (e.g. skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular). A severe allergic reaction usually occurs within 20 minutes of exposure to the trigger. Anaphylaxis can be caused by accidental ingestion of a trigger food or exposure to a situation, plant or product. The most common causes in young children are peanuts, eggs and cow milk, but children can be allergic to a variety of things, including bee or other insect stings, and some drugs. If a child experiences a severe allergic reaction then an Epi-Pen is administered to the child and an ambulance is called. Prevention is better than a cure so the rule for children at risk is the “no sharing of food rule.” Children at risk are only to eat food supplied and, or, prepared by parents or guardians and therefore no cakes, lollies or treats are to be accepted from other children. There are also risks for children through the use of containers that contain or have contained allergic foods, with products such as play dough, shaving cream and sunscreens, which may contain traces of the allergic foods. There are children attending Star of the Sea school who are at risk to life-threatening allergic reactions.

An ALLERGY MANAGEMENT PLAN is to be provided to the school if your child is at risk of an allergic reaction and has medication at the school. All medication is to be kept at the school office.

To be supportive of these children please ensure that your child understands:

• the “no sharing food” rule. Children are to understand that they do not give or receive food from others without teacher or parent knowledge as some children can become sick if they eat certain foods.

• the importance of washing hands after eating.
• that they are to sit while eating and do not wander around. The children usually sit at their tables in class to eat their fruit, play lunch and lunch.