K12 On Demand: New developments into peanut allergies and schools that may surprise you

For some time now, an accepted (though some would say knee-jerk) reaction to students in schools with peanut allergies is to become a “peanut-free” campus. Could that become a thing of the past?

While of course keeping the safety the priority, many foodservice pros are questioning the wisdom of cutting peanuts—and peanut butter—from the menu. In this video, we get the latest information on peanut allergies from Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RD, LD, consultant registered dietitian with the National Peanut Board. We talk about what researchers have found, including a method for keeping those with peanut allergies safer by taking a small amount of peanut (in pill form) each day. Collins has been working with schools for years and has some fascinating research from the last decade to share. We also talk about how peanut allergies differ from other food allergies. To take a deeper dive, learn more and stay informed, Collins points us to these great resources: PeanutsInSchools.org, ScienceDirect’s guide on prevention and management of allergic reactions in schools and a peek into what peanut farming is really like on YouTube.