MENTONE — The Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation Board of School Trustees has a new food allergy policy following an animated discussion between parents and board members during the regular meeting Monday evening, Sept. 14.

The topic had been tabled following the last meeting when concerns arose from parents of students with a variety of food allergies.

While peanuts may seem simple enough, peanut allergies can be dangerous. Just a brush of fingers that recently held a peanut butter sandwich can be enough to send a child to the hospital.

With this in mind, the board’s initial plan was to make all schools in the corporation peanut-free, across the board. However, concerns arose from parents whose children are allergic to many foods except peanuts, or whose children have medical conditions and have found peanut butter to be a good, immediate source of protein.

Some parents presented statistics, stating that only a fraction of a percent of students have experienced dangerous allergic reactions while at school. Another pointed out that more students have died from sports injuries than food allergies during school.

Board members were also divided, with some in favor of going entirely peanut-free but others preferring a school-by-school policy.

“I was under the impression that this was going to be school-by-school,” board member Stan Miller said after viewing the recommended policy, which initially had peanuts banned at all Tippecanoe Valley schools, across the board.

Other board members and several parents commented that they believed it impossible to be entirely peanut-free. One example given was that a student may have peanut butter in the morning, then board the bus and come into the classroom with the peanut oil on their hands.

Some wanted to know about other nut allergies, prompting the board to consider changing the policy wording from “peanut” to, simply, “nut.” However, one parent pointed out that, while the FDA requires food packages to list any peanut and nut ingredients, it does not require manufacturers to list whether their products are made alongside foods containing potential allergens.

In the end, the board approved an amended version of the recommended policy that would ban peanuts from the corporation’s cafeterias on a school-by-school basis. Students who pack lunches will sit at a separate table to avoid exposing other students to peanut oil.

Students who consume peanut products during lunch will be required to wash their hands to keep from spreading the allergen to classmates who could have a severe or deadly reaction.

The kindergarten area at Akron Elementary School will remain peanut-free for the safety of a student there who has a severe form of the allergy. This is something the board and the schools will examine case-by-case as new students come in who have the allergy.

The policy also allows for peanut products during after-school activities, like sports events.

The original proposed policy can be viewed in full here, minus the changes made at Monday evening’s meeting.