Because some children have life-threatening allergies to peanut butter, many Canadians schools don’t allow students to bring lunches containing it. But now some schools in the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador are also banning a substitute made from soybeans which looks and tastes like peanut butter, but contains no traces of it.
The argument is that the schools don’t have enough staff to monitor lunches and exactly what’s in them.
Soy product maker, parents frustrated
The maker of the soy product, Wowbutter, Scott Mahon expressed frustration and disappointment over the decision. Every jar of his product includes stickers that can be placed on sandwich containers emphasizing that Wowbutter is 100 per cent free of peanuts and tree nuts, another common allergen.
“The labelling system works when schools decide to do a little bit of education,” said Mahon, adding that he often receives calls from parents, frustrated that their school has banned Wowbutter.” They are taking it too far.”
Several foods can provoke deadly allergic reactions
Children with severe allergies who come in contact with their allergen can suffer reactions leading to death. Peanuts are not the only food that can cause such a severe reaction. Some children are just as allergic to milk, others to eggs or shellfish or other foods. There is however, no move, to ban other foods except tree nuts which are often confused with peanuts. Peanuts are legumes and not part of the nut family.
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