The Cookie Monster - Sarah Palin Strikes Again

I recently wrote a post on Sarah Palin and her shameless tweet on the proposed banning of sweets amongst Pennsylvania School Districts. If you are not yet familiar with the Palin cookie controversy spreading across social media, nutrition and food allergy blogs you can read my previous post here. For those of you who already read my post, here is an update:

Apparently, Palin wasn't listening when the overwhelming responses to her controversial tweet came flooding in asking that she not bring the cookies and requesting that she further educate herself in the issues that initiated the treat ban, Palin disregarded them all.

A second comment was made from Palin the following day stating, "2 PA school speech; I’ll intro kids 2 beauty of laissez-faire via serving them cookies amidst school cookie ban debate;Nanny state run amok!” It seems as though Palin feels she has some sort of political obligation to prove the PA State Board of Education wrong. We are talking about cookies and in a public education environment. I don't believe this is a situation in which the government is trying to regulate the decisions we as parents make in regards to our kids nutrition, but rather a school system that is  merely trying to look after the health and safety of their students. Needless to say, Palin did attend the event with 200 sugar cookies in tow. She was also later quoted by ABC News as saying, "I had to shake it up a bit...I brought dozens and dozens of cookies to these students".

Though many may deem Sarah Palin and her actions as inappropriate, she is not alone in her efforts to support cookies, cakes, and other such items in the classroom. For many of us these confectionery goodies were the sole focus of school celebrations growing up. On a nutritional basis, I have to a agree that an occasional cupcake is more then acceptable. The problem lies with what is considered occasional to one parent may differ from another.

Looking at this from the point of view of a mother who has a child with life-threatening food allergies I would have to strongly disagree with these "special" treats being brought into the classroom. For the nearly 2.2 million school-age children with food allergies, these treats could be deadly. Even a trace of a child's allergen in something they either come in contact with or eat could send them in to anaphylactic shock, a sudden, severe allergic reaction characterized by a sharp drop in blood pressure, urticaria, and breathing difficulties which may result in death. Simply reading a label on a food item is not adequate due to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCP). This would not only pose too high a risk to the school staff, but also to the allergic child as well. Another problem is home made treats brought in by a parent who may not understand not only the risks of cross-contamination, but also how to prevent it. Lastly, there is a "Sarah Palin" it seems in every school. The ones who think that the rules do not apply to them and their children. I cannot afford to put my trust in someone who I feel likely to avoid proper precautions when bringing in safe treats for my son.

Every child should be entitled to their fare share of cookies and cakes but it is not fair for one child to have to sit out while the others indulge in cupcakes, and candies. A school celebration should be just that. What happened to games? Are these treats just an easy way out? These kids should be able to use these "party days" as a time to participate in special play and/or activities. If food is required, why not sweet fruit? Leave the other stuff for home. Chances are your child won't even miss it.