Since 2011, Gables has been implementing a ban on foods containing peanuts in order to ensure the safety of students with peanut allergies. Unfortunately, this policy neither strictly enforced by teachers nor followed by students. Many continue to bring peanuts in some form to school, not realizing how their actions could gravely affect others.

“I don’t think the policy is an effective way of ensuring the safety of students with peanut allergies because it isn’t enforced. A lot of people eat food [with peanuts], like peanut butter, at school,” sophomore Judith Ramos said.

Even though we may not be aware of it, some people have serious food allergies that can potentially put them at risk every day. With the crucial enforcement of the peanut policy, students with the allergy would not have to constantly worry about coming into contact with specific foods – which limits the chance of accidental contact and makes our school a safer learning environment for all students.

The purpose of the peanut policy may be questioned by students who view the ban as a restriction to what they are allowed to eat in school – almost as if it were a uniform policy for their food. Some students don’t even know the policy exists.  Not to mention how some teachers set bad examples by eating foods that contain peanuts in class, and create the impression that the ban has no effect on what is eaten in school, since there is no way to strictly enforce it.

“When I eat at the cafeteria, I always see people eating peanuts or other foods containing peanuts,” freshman Christian Balsera said. 

Complying with the peanut policy should not be seen as a chore, as it is not difficult to follow. Luckily, there are some students and faculty that do understand the risks of allergic reactions and believe in the peanut policy’s enforcement. Some teachers feel so strongly about preventing allergy-related situations that they are always prepared with EpiPens in their desks.

The peanut policy deserves enough respect to actually be followed. Hopefully, it will be enforced more effectively in the near future. By doing so, it will ensure that students with life threatening peanut allergies can feel safe going to school everyday. A student’s craving for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch is not worth someone having a potentially fatal allergic reaction. Those without peanut allergies can enjoy eating as many peanuts as they desire at home, where no one is put at risk.