Peanut Policy Letter

After receiving some good feedback from our parents and completing our own careful research with the American Academy of Pediatricians, the American Medical Association, the NAEYC, and the AAEYC we have decided to slightly revise our strict no peanut or tree nut policy. Fortunately, we believe that we have found a way to implement a policy that will keep our allergic students safe while respecting the nutritional needs of our other students.

Peanut/Tree Nut Policy is as follows:

1. Snacks provided by Starbright will remain peanut and tree nut free.

2. Parent provided lunches will be allowed to have peanuts or tree nut products.

3. AND Parents are required to notify teachers if their child’s lunch contains nut products.

a. Visually: with a sticker (provided by Starbright) on the outside of your

child’s lunch box (see below).

b. Written: On the Sign In/Sign Out sheet (see below).

4. Teachers will check lunch boxes and seat children with allergies at a nut-free table to ensure no cross-contamination.

5. Starbright’s No Food Sharing Policy will continue to be strictly enforced.

6. Surfaces that have come in contact with nut products will be thoroughly cleaned

immediately after use.

7. Children’s hands and faces will be carefully cleaned of any nut product immediately after eating.

8. Birthday Circle snacks must be labeled if they contain nuts in any form.

9. Parents of children with allergies should send an alternate “special” snack for

birthdays or Starbright will provide a nut free snack.

How to notify teachers of a lunch containing peanuts or tree nuts:

1. Mark the “Nut” column on the Sign In/Sign Out sheet next to your child’s name

2. Mark your child’s lunch box.

a. Place a sticker on the top of your child’s lunch box where it is clearly visible to indicate that it contains nut products.

b. Stickers can be found in a basket by the Rainbow deck door.

If you are interested in where we got our information to develop this policy please check the following web links:

• http://www.foodallergy.org/.html • http://www.aap.org (American Academy of Pediatricians) • http://www.ama-assn.org (American Medical Association)

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the office.