We just received a food allergy policy from one of the elementary schools at the Newton Public Schools in Newton, MA. What we found was shocking.  Gone are the days of having the kids with allergies sit at a nut-free table. Now they are forcing all kids that eat nuts to sit at a nut table and kids with hummus and chick peas to sit at a separate table. Has the world gone crazy?

Below is an excerpt from the food allergy policy:

“There will be a nut table in the cafeteria.  All students who bring lunch containing peanuts, other tree nuts (including some spreads such as Nutella) or sesame seeds must sit at this table. There will also be a hummus table in the cafeteria. All students who bring a lunch that has hummus or chickpeas must sit at this table.  All children will wash their hands before snack/lunch.  Children sitting at the nut table or hummus table must wash their hands after snack/lunch.  The staff will also wash all tables following snack and lunch, with special attention being paid to the washing of the nut table and hummus table. Classrooms that have a student with an allergy will have a separate table for nuts/ hummus for snack time.”