Wowbutter still a risk for students with allergies, says parent

A woman who has a child with a severe peanut allergy says allowing a peanut butter substitutes into schools in the province could cause confusion for some students, and would pose a potential risk.

The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District recently issued a directive to schools in the eastern region to remind administrators and teachers that peanut butter substitutes, like Wowbutter, aren't allowed in schools with a peanut- and/or nut-free policy.

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The president of Wowbutter Foods said this rule is frustrating and disappointing for his company, which he said creates a healthy, nutritious and safe alternative to peanut butter.

But Colleen Kielly says this ban is warranted, as it would be putting the allergic students like her daughter at a potential risk.

The issue then is that you have a sandwich that's like peanut butter, and you may potentially may have a sandwich that could be peanut butter.- Colleen Kielly

"I'm not disputing the fact that the company is marketing this as a healthy alternative for nut-free sandwiches. However, the issue here that I'm rebutting is that it's not really safe to have this in schools because there is such a potential for risk and confusion," she said.

"If you bring this product into the school setting, the confusion and the risk is there to have the product not be identified sufficiently. Teachers cannot man the total amount of sandwiches that are brought into a school setting."

Labelling not enough assurance

Scott Mahon, the president of Wowbutter Foods, told CBC News last week the company encourages parents to print off a letter, provided on the Wowbutter website, to give their children to bring to school explaining the product. He added there are also stickers provided with the packaging, so parents can label their children's school meals as peanut-free.

However, Kielly said a simple sticker isn't enough to guarantee her child won't unintentionally come into contact with peanut butter.

"The issue then is that you have a sandwich that's like peanut butter, and you may potentially may have a sandwich that could be peanut butter. The school in and of itself cannot be expected to monitor all lunches that go into the school setting, and particularly with the risk of confusion would be at a primary and elementary grade level where students don't always speak up for themselves if they see this type of product brought into the school," said Kielly.

She said it's the responsibility of the school to ensure children receive an education in a safe and caring environment, and allowing products like Wowbutter would prevent that for some.

"They cannot guarantee that the product would not pose a risk for students."

Kielly said the school board should institute a district-wide ban on peanut and nut products in schools, even though some schools may not have students with allergies.