Last week my son brought a WowButter sandwich to school...something that both of my children have done one or two times a week for the last 4 years.

He was sent to the office with his lunch and I was contacted by the principal and told that the product was not allowed at school.  I was surprised but was told that this policy had always been in place and that for the last 4 years it was simply my good fortune that no one had noticed that my kids had been brining it.  The principal explained that the policy is in place because it causes confusion among lunchroom supervisors who can't tell the difference between peanut butter and nut-free alternatives.  I explained that his sandwich was clearly labelled with a "nut-free" sticker, but the principal of the school was unwavering.  

That evening, my son brought home a note on board letterhead that the principal addressed to me outlining the policy.  I noticed that the board does not ban the substance, but rather 'requests' that it not be brought to school.  My son was very upset because he had been segregated from his peers to eat his lunch and felt embarrassed and as though he had done something wrong.  Even if I chose to ignore the 'request' and sent it again, he would again be separated and embarrassed. For this reason, I know that he will not eat it again if I send it.  It will remain at the bottom of his lunch bag and he will be hungry and cranky for the afternoon.

It is completely understandable that peanut butter should not be brought to school; the number of peanut allergies in classrooms is alarming.  However, WowButter exists because it is peanut free. Unless there is a soy allergy in the classroom, there is no reason why it should not be allowed, provided that the sandwich is clearly labelled as school-safe.  

My own child is dairy-free.  He cannot have cream cheese, milk, yogurt, and any number of products that contain dairy in his lunch.  His protein options are a bit more limited than other children. He is quite aware that he is not to share food with classmates.  Both of my children are also picky eaters...and WowButter was something that I could count on them to eat in order to fuel them for learning.  Surely other parents out there experience the same predicament; when lunch options are limited, it seems wrong to ban a substance that is perfectly safe for the classroom.

WowButter is gluten free, dairy free, non-GMO and Kosher.  It has a short list of ingredients.  It is enjoyed by many children and it is produced in a completely nut free environment. Further, it is manufactured in a small Ontario community and I felt good about supporting a local business.  It is reasonably priced and offers parents a school-safe lunch alternative.  Why should it be forbidden?

The company produces stickers that come with each container of the product.  If a sandwich is labelled clearly with the company sticker as being SCHOOL SAFE, then it seems unreasonable to embarrass a child for bringing it to school, to make him eat away from his peers, and to say that it can't be brought into the classroom.

Attached is a link addressed to Principals and School Staff that is available on the WowButter website, which provides more information.

Please remove this board 'request', it is not a reasonable one.