Allergies at High Park Alternative
FROM SCHOOL WEBSITE
Allergies: A gentle reminder for the HPAS community that we have both staff and student allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and latex. Please check labels on products to ensure they are free of these ingredients. We appreciate the attention and effort that goes into ensuring the safety of our students, staff and parents!
DO NOT bring or send any of the following to High Park Alternative School, or any School-related event. There are children in the school with life-threatening allergies to these foods, and even second-hand contact with the oils in these foods can be deadly to those children:
Allergies: A gentle reminder for the HPAS community that we have both staff and student allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and latex. Please check labels on products to ensure they are free of these ingredients. We appreciate the attention and effort that goes into ensuring the safety of our students, staff and parents!
DO NOT bring or send any of the following to High Park Alternative School, or any School-related event. There are children in the school with life-threatening allergies to these foods, and even second-hand contact with the oils in these foods can be deadly to those children:
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Sesame Seeds
- Latex (commonly seen in balloons, band-aids and surgical-style gloves)
- "may contain"
- "processed in a facility..."
- "made in a facility..."
Official Anaphylaxis Policy
High Park Alternative School and Annette Public School take allergies and anaphylaxis very seriously and we rely on all staff, parents and guardians to do their part in keeping our children safe.
Several children in our school community have severe life threatening allergies to PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, and SESAME SEEDS. To ensure their safety, these items are prohibited from school, school property and school events and trips off school grounds. This includes items that may be at risk for cross-contamination. Please note that we also have a staff member with a severe latex allergy.
Some examples of Tree Nuts are; Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews, Walnuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Hazelnuts, Chestnuts, Brazil Nuts and Shea Nuts. Examples of common items containing latex are; balloons, gloves and band-aids/first aid products.
An individual can develop an anaphylactic allergy at any time, therefore any of our children could develop a serious anaphylactic allergy and be at risk.
Our policy below applies to our school grounds as well as events and trips held off school grounds.
Please read our anaphylaxis policy below for more detailed information on how we can work together to keep our children safe.
Several children in our school community have severe life threatening allergies to PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, and SESAME SEEDS. To ensure their safety, these items are prohibited from school, school property and school events and trips off school grounds. This includes items that may be at risk for cross-contamination. Please note that we also have a staff member with a severe latex allergy.
Some examples of Tree Nuts are; Almonds, Pistachios, Cashews, Walnuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Hazelnuts, Chestnuts, Brazil Nuts and Shea Nuts. Examples of common items containing latex are; balloons, gloves and band-aids/first aid products.
An individual can develop an anaphylactic allergy at any time, therefore any of our children could develop a serious anaphylactic allergy and be at risk.
Our policy below applies to our school grounds as well as events and trips held off school grounds.
Please read our anaphylaxis policy below for more detailed information on how we can work together to keep our children safe.
Anaphylaxis (pronounced anna-fill-axis) is the most serious type of allergic reaction. It can progress very quickly and may cause death without proper medical attention.
An allergen is a substance which can cause an allergic reaction. Foods such as Peanuts, Tree Nuts and Sesame are a few of the most common allergens. More on Allergies
Cross-contamination is when a food that is free of an allergen is prepared on a surface or comes into any contact with an allergen (e.g. prepared on a surface that had the allergen on it, stirred with a spoon that touched an allergen). Cross contamination is a very serious risk for children with known allergies as the allergen is invisible.
When can an individual experience anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis can occur when an allergen is ingested through food or drink, or by means of cross contamination such as a food for an allergic individual being prepared on the surface that an allergen came into contact with (e.g. a knife used to make a peanut butter sandwich is then used to make a jam sandwich for a person with a peanut allergy) Anaphylaxis can also occur when an allergic individuals skin comes into contact with an allergen (e.g. picks up a nut with bare hands or touches a toy that has come into contact with an allergen).
Best Practises
Only send safe foods/drinks
All food and drink must be Peanut, Tree Nut and Sesame Seed Free.
Do not share food/drinks
Teach children that food and drink are not to be shared.
Wash up
If your child has handled or eaten something containing Peanuts, Tree Nuts or Sesame Seeds for breakfast or while at home for lunch, please ensure hands and face are washed well and teeth are brushed before coming to school or attending a school event or trip.
Be Mindful of cross-contamination
When preparing lunches, snacks, food or drinks, ensure all prep surfaces are washed thoroughly. Food that is prepared on a surface that came into contact with peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame seeds is at high risk for cross-contamination and can pose a risk to children with these allergies. If you are unsure, use a clean plate or designated cutting board to prepare food.
Read labels
Before purchasing a food or drink, even one that has been “safe” in the past, make sure to read the label. Ingredients can change without notice. Read carefully through all listed ingredients and look for warning statements referring to allergens.
If any ingredient list states “processed in a facility…”, “may contain…”, “may contain traces of…”, “made in a factory that also processes…”. peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame seeds, it is not safe. Items with these warnings will be immediately removed from the classroom as products with these statements can actually contain enough allergen to cause a serious allergic reaction.
Read every item you purchase
Even if you have more than one of the exact same item you should read each item/package carefully. Many companies have several manufacturing plants and some plants may produce foods with allergens, thus potentially causing one item to be safe and another to be harmful.
Read ingredient lists carefully from start to finish
Food companies do not have to make allergens stand out (e.g. bolding, italicizing, underlining). The allergen may simply be listed in the ingredients without any warning statement at all.
No ingredient list
A packaged food product that does not have an ingredient label is not safe.
Call the company
If you are unsure about a food item you can call the company to inquire. If in doubt, these foods should be kept at home.
Food purchased from bulk bins are not safe
Even with ingredient labels, foods in bulk bins are at a very high risk for cross-contamination.
Be extra cautious of imported products
Food labelling regulations vary by country and products may not list potential allergens.
An allergen is a substance which can cause an allergic reaction. Foods such as Peanuts, Tree Nuts and Sesame are a few of the most common allergens. More on Allergies
Cross-contamination is when a food that is free of an allergen is prepared on a surface or comes into any contact with an allergen (e.g. prepared on a surface that had the allergen on it, stirred with a spoon that touched an allergen). Cross contamination is a very serious risk for children with known allergies as the allergen is invisible.
When can an individual experience anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis can occur when an allergen is ingested through food or drink, or by means of cross contamination such as a food for an allergic individual being prepared on the surface that an allergen came into contact with (e.g. a knife used to make a peanut butter sandwich is then used to make a jam sandwich for a person with a peanut allergy) Anaphylaxis can also occur when an allergic individuals skin comes into contact with an allergen (e.g. picks up a nut with bare hands or touches a toy that has come into contact with an allergen).
Best Practises
Only send safe foods/drinks
All food and drink must be Peanut, Tree Nut and Sesame Seed Free.
Do not share food/drinks
Teach children that food and drink are not to be shared.
Wash up
If your child has handled or eaten something containing Peanuts, Tree Nuts or Sesame Seeds for breakfast or while at home for lunch, please ensure hands and face are washed well and teeth are brushed before coming to school or attending a school event or trip.
Be Mindful of cross-contamination
When preparing lunches, snacks, food or drinks, ensure all prep surfaces are washed thoroughly. Food that is prepared on a surface that came into contact with peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame seeds is at high risk for cross-contamination and can pose a risk to children with these allergies. If you are unsure, use a clean plate or designated cutting board to prepare food.
Read labels
Before purchasing a food or drink, even one that has been “safe” in the past, make sure to read the label. Ingredients can change without notice. Read carefully through all listed ingredients and look for warning statements referring to allergens.
If any ingredient list states “processed in a facility…”, “may contain…”, “may contain traces of…”, “made in a factory that also processes…”. peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame seeds, it is not safe. Items with these warnings will be immediately removed from the classroom as products with these statements can actually contain enough allergen to cause a serious allergic reaction.
Read every item you purchase
Even if you have more than one of the exact same item you should read each item/package carefully. Many companies have several manufacturing plants and some plants may produce foods with allergens, thus potentially causing one item to be safe and another to be harmful.
Read ingredient lists carefully from start to finish
Food companies do not have to make allergens stand out (e.g. bolding, italicizing, underlining). The allergen may simply be listed in the ingredients without any warning statement at all.
No ingredient list
A packaged food product that does not have an ingredient label is not safe.
Call the company
If you are unsure about a food item you can call the company to inquire. If in doubt, these foods should be kept at home.
Food purchased from bulk bins are not safe
Even with ingredient labels, foods in bulk bins are at a very high risk for cross-contamination.
Be extra cautious of imported products
Food labelling regulations vary by country and products may not list potential allergens.
Learn More:
- Anaphylaxis Canada's Anaphylaxis 101
- Usage of EPI-Pen Devices to treat anaphylactic shock