Do People Get Annoyed with Parents Requesting "No Artificial Dyes" in School?

There is a child in my son's first grade class who is allergic to green food coloring. Her Mom send in acceptable snacks, if the snack brought in my another parent contains green food coloring. The other parents all try to accomodate her food allergy, but occassionally someone forgets. But, there is a "backup" snack ready to eat if the need arises.

S.

I would not be annoyed. I would actually be thankful for the request. I do not give my child anything with artificial coloring in it at home, but do not usually make the request when we are anywhere else. I would be very happy knowing that his snacks at school do not contain red dye 40.

I think it is great that you have made this request....The teacher prob. thinks it is a great idea too!! This way she doesn't have a class of hyper kids running around...LOL...most parents understand that kids are sensitive to certain foods....It would not upset me at all...

Sorry, but yes I would be put off by it. I grew up on Koolaid and oreos and we're a junk food family. I know there are a LOT of moms who post here often who are organic and/or vegtarians and/or health food eaters -- some have mentioned/bragged that they don't give their kids sugary foods. Yay for you for being picky about what you feed your children, and I don't mean that nasty at all. I really think that's great that you chose a lifestyle you believe in and pass that on to your kids because of the way you want to raise them. I chose to raise my kids on MnMs and brownies and Doritos and other yummy fun food alongside their fruits and veggies and fish and whole wheat bread and other healthy foods. I respect others' choices and don't meddle in others' lives so I appreciate it when others don't meddle in mine. My niece has problems with sugar and my sister has told the teacher about it. She has not asked the other parents to change what they feed their own children at school -- she has just asked the teacher not to allow my niece to eat it. She is in preschool now, but as she gets older my sister understands that she will have options-- she will either need to be there for class parties to monitor what her daughter eats, keep her home on those days, or trust her not to eat the wrong things and deal with the consequences if she does. At my children's school, for class parties they ALWAYS ask for carrots, grapes, cheese and crackers, AND cookies. Parents who don't want their children to eat cookies should decide how to handle that, not take the cookies away from the whole class because they don't want their child to have it. Sorry for my rant, but so many people were agreeing with you that I wanted to speak up for those of us who disagree with you because I know I'm not the only one. My circle of friends tends to have things like soda and koolaid at their children's birthday parties-- and boy do we have fun!

***Comments added later***
I wanted to thank the moms who have sent me personal messages to thank me for speaking up. I wish more of you would open your mouths, too, so I don't sound like the lone crazy lady! I am soooooo curious how many of you other moms were raised this way -- by parents who read all of these articles about food additives and get so paranoid that they bought you something laughable like "natural oreos"-- that term makes me really belly laugh, by the way---- or how many of you were raised on koolaid and double stuff oreos like me. I am not disputing the "facts" about food dyes, but I'm sure I can search and find articles on how other foods effect our children's bodies (like gluton) and before you know it the list of what we can't donate for class parties will be very long. If you have a preference for your child, more power to you-- send him/her their own snack and teach them what you don't want them to eat and why, and please stop telling everyone else how we should raise our kids. If I read it correctly, the original poster just asked the teacher not to allow her son to eat certian foods (good job, if that's the way it went) and it was the teacher who decided to ban certain foods from her classroom. Again, it makes me laugh, because while she is banning certain foods from her classroom, my daughter's teacher down the hall is giving kids Jolly Ranchers for being helpful. Any parents who aren't happy with that can let her know not to give any to their child, but boy would I be ticked off if a parent told her she couldn't give them out to ANY kids anymore because they didn't want their own child to feel left out because they aren't allowed to eat candy.

And to the person who said what's the difference between this and a peanut allergy-- peanut allergies can be INSTANTLY LIFE THREATENING if an allergic child is anywhere near a peanut, so yea, big difference between that and something that makes some kids hyper

Hello C., I just wanted to let u know U go Girl! I cant believe how much sugar and dyes and chemicals r in the food we eat! Since i have a son with some behavior issues I have had to watch everything he eats. Also because I'am doing things the alternative way.I have always tried to watch everything i eat also and feel much better knowing Iam watching food labels very carefully! I also feel better for it & my son is a very healthy child. Good Luck!

Great for you. When I first took my oldest daughter off of Red 40, I could not believe the difference in her behavior. Just like peanuts, it is an allergy. Some kids are affected by it more than others. My daughter was so irrational and would agrue and scream at me. She was 9 when I took her off. Over one year later, I have never had another argument with her like I used to. Eating healthy does not mean that we live a boring life either. I buy mostly no artificial, no colorings, no preservatives. My girls have fun making the healthy choice and we still eat ALL NATURAL oreos, chips, cookies, cheetos, etc. I let them have soda sometimes, but just not with red 40. That is the only one I keep out all the time. My girls know that when we are out at parties, they ask before they have something and they do not get mad if I say no.

The other parents cooperated, and thus, you have your answer. If it is a problem ever, just have your child take snacks and lunches etc., from home. On holidays, go the day before and take what you want him to have to the teacher. Good thing you have a good teacher this year, one who understands and is concerned. Remember, you made a suggestion, the teacher adopted a policy for her classroom from it. Usually if the teacher does it, they understand better and sometimes do not question. Common sense rules that they know why, this was a very popular subject some years back. I think public awareness is that people are more well informed than we give credit sometimes.

Good for you! You get an A+

I certainly would not get annoyed with that. Good for you for helping evceryone learn more about what is not safe for their kids to eat and drink! I am very picky about things like that and the more of us that stand up for making sure our kids are healthy, the better.

as a first grade teacher, it is refreshing when a parent makes a request like this. It shows that you are paying attention and really care about what goes into your childs body. I know that in my classroom (other than holidays and birthdays) i do not allow any "sweet treats" so if parents want to bring in a snack it has to be animal crackers, pretzels, and occasionally popcorn. Last year for Halloween I gave the kids cheese sticks and granola with dried cranberries and the kids liked that better than the candy because it wasn't something many of them had been exposed to. We also make Homemade applesauce every year to celebrate Johnny Appleseeds birthday and the kids love it! They call it apple week and it's more popular than halloween.
There are tons of healthy snacks that kids just love no need to give them all that artificial stuff.

I would be grateful. Most of the techers in our school say to bring in only things like pretzels, goldfish, popcorn.......healthy snacks. I love that. My kids do not need junk all day. I know the effects of Red Dye 40 myself. My cousin has a problem with it so I have seen first hand what it can do. My kids are both on Gluten/Casien Free diets to help there behavior. I think more and more people are realizing that foods can have a part in our kids behaviors.

There is a child in my son's class that has a milk allergy. She's not allergic to the point that she can't have contact with it, or can't be in a room with children who are eating products that contain milk, she just can't eat it. So the teacher asked us to bring in bulk snacks for daily snacks instead of sending in our own childs snack daily. We have a very short list of foods that we can bring that she can eat. I am slightly annoyed. I never bring in snacks because I always forget to bring my special list of approved snacks. These are 3rd graders and the girl could easily bring in her own snack or her mom could send in a box of various appropriate snacks for her and when she wants to share, she could bring something that everyone can eat. A peanut allergy that could have an adverse reaction to being inthe room is of course a health concern is worth the other kids doing without, but it is a little selfish and "it's all about me" to make all the other parents buy food off the list so this child doesn't feel "separate" from the other class. But with a food allergy you are always going to have to sometimes not have what everyone else is having, it's not like she is being excluded from class life. Kids with religious beliefs choose to separate themselves fromt he class during parties, and they don't request that all parties cease because they can't participate. Just my opinion, and other parents felt the same when we talked.
Teach your child that they aren't to have foods that you don't provide, period. This is the safest most effective way to assure that what you want her to avoid is avoided.

I wouldn't get annoyed at all. In fact, last year for my daughter's birthday, I brought in cupcakes and red cherry flavored Kool Aid. The teacher informed me prior to pouring and passing out the drinks that one child was not allowed to have the red drink. I felt bad for the child, not because she wasn't allowed to drink the beverage, but had I been informed prior to bringing anything in, I would have not minded bringing in something that EVERYONE could enjoy instead of the child feeling excluded. And just so you know, even if somebody is annoyed with this request that you have made, it shouldn't be a subject that one needs to discuss. You are lucky that others are mindful to your request and if anything, your request is benefitting the whole class, not just your child. I wish more parents were mindful of what their children consume. When I bring a treat, which is primarily for my daughters birthdays, I try to bring something that is not overyly sweetened. Because I am a health conscious mother, I bring to the class what I approve of my own children to eat/drink. I wouldn't worry or be concerned about what others think of your request.

I wouldn't be annoyed. Now if you'd said no gluten... that's even more difficult! LOL
But, no, I think if your child has a need to avoid it, it shouldn't be an annoyance to parents who are bringing things into the classroom. Personally, I would view it just like a child with a peanut allergy... Yes, you have to pay closer attention to what you're bringing to school, but as a parent, it is our choice to bring that into school to start with.
Now if you were attending another child's birthday party (not at school) and requested the mom not to use the dye, that would be different. In that circumstance, the inconvenience would have to be on you - to either provide an alternative for your child, discuss with your child why he couldn't have what the others were having, or not attend the event. That is an optional event for your child. School is not.

I think most parents would be understanding. The biggest problem I would expect, would be if the class is constantly sending home lists for parents to provide things to class parties and the lists are filled with items typically containing red dye... (Kool-Aid drinks, candy, etc). If the lists are health minded to start with -- mini-water bottles, carrot sticks and dressing, grapes, cheese sticks, etc... then that is a non-issue anyway.

I personally wish that ALL teachers would send home a note at the beginning of the year indicating what types of "treats" are acceptable to send in or not... In the early years it seems the kids are inundated with TONs of JUNK all year long!

Probably no one said anything, because it's not that big of a deal, and people are likely sympathetic to your situation. I know someone who's child has problems with the dye. It's a little more planning to work around it, but it keeps me mindful that I should be grateful that I only have to work that way SOME of the time... not daily! :)

God Bless!

Stick with it C.. I commend you for your leadership in protecting your child. You may want to print out the article at this link and leave copies in the classroom for other parents to read. If more parents had knowledge of the proven links between food dyes, autism and hyperactivity and the damage they are causing the developing minds of our children perhaps they would make safer and healthier treat choices.

http://organicwinds.blogspot.com/2009/05/dangers-of-food-...

I think Amie G is right on the money. I would want to accomodate as I could but if it were my child, I would make sure he was educated on what he can and can't have and I would provide any thing special that was custom to his needs.

You worry too much. I would be thrilled if someone cared so much about what's put in our bodies. So many people don't and say, " you have to die of something".

I try to watch all the dyes as well; including how much sugar is put in my child's body. I tell my son, " it makes you crazy". I know that's harsh but feeding kids too much sugar is terrible. I tell him that he can only have one little piece of chocolate. My husband loves chocolate; so my son wants to join in.

I watch all the dyes. The blues and yellows aren't good either. I wish they would make the national candies without them. I feel like we're being poisoned.

So no one has said a word, why don't you start the conversation? Apparently, other parents are complying with the request to limit snacks to healthy foods, and not "gas station food", so do not hesitate to bring it up in the drop off or pick up line, the PTA meeting, etc. And continue to contribute your share of healthy snacks to the kids...

honestly, i want my child to be able to eat healthy all the time also. unfortunately, sometimes there is a cost issue and if i had a problem with cost, yes, i would be annoyed. not only that, but if i knw tht my child wld only eat certain things for snack, i wld be more concerned with what he wntd then the other children, and i feel that most parents wld agree. however, more and more parents are being particular abt what their children eat so maybe no one was annoyed bc a lot of schools are now implenting certain criteria for food.

I think it is excellent to avoid all foods with this red dye 40 if it is known to cause any health concerns what so ever. Why would anyone not want to avoid something that could potentially harm their children, right?? I think it is great that the request was made to have all snacks brought in avoid this chemical. I personally, would be very happy if this was the case in my child's classroom.
You did a great job!

If no one has said anything I wouldn't worry about it. If they aren't annoyed enough to complain it's no big deal. I wouldn't expect anyone else to be grateful, but if you have a kid with a food sensitivity issue and you are therefore restricting the snacks anyone else can bring, then you should be grateful for 100% compliance. Don't expect other people to be grateful for your "educating" them on how to feed their kids in a "better" way. My daughter's day care has several peanut sensitive kids, sensitive to the extent that no one can bring any peanut containing foods. From my perspective, it's a pain, but that's the way it is and I send her with sunbutter instead. It's more expensive, but not too much, so it's not that big a deal. It's more of a deal for the vegetarian parents who have difficulties finding alternative protein options. The day care has to provide snacks since there is a huge variety of food sensitivities and preferences, and there are few snacks that everyone can have, so that makes it easier for us.

I would be grateful for sure.

OK- this is a tough one. Since my son has no special issues I tend to get a little put out by the constant list of things I can and cannot have in my son's lunchbox. At the same time, I understand you cannot expect a 4 year old to protect himself from a peanut allergy when everyone is munching on Little Debbie Peanut Butter Bars (I LOVE those things). So while it is a bit of an inconvenience sometimes, overall I think its important that we look out for the community and help each other. As far as Healthier options, I wish I could find a restaurant that doesnt sell Mac& cheese, fried chicken fingers and french fries, hot dogs and pizza as their kids menu. So, yes. The healthier the schools can get, the better. The kids are exposed to enough garbage elsewhere.

C.,
I would imagine that some parents would be annoyed, but tough! If you dont want your kids having food with red dye 40, then that's that! I wouldnt worry too much about what others are annoyed with. YOu are making this request for the health of the kids.
H.

I wouldn't get annoyed with that request, but some people that don't consider that aspect may be a little put out with it simply because they can't think of anything to bring. If I were in your position, I would come up with a whole list of fun snacks and things that the kids would like and that fit within the guidelines to give a little inspiration. Of course, they can come up with some of their own, but it would be nice to have suggestions too. Some moms don't spend their days at home, so they opt to just buy pre-made foods at the local bakery or something.

I think you will find more parents than not will appreciate your request. Please don't stop at red dye 40. All the artificial dyes are known to be harmful to the nervous system which includes the brain. Lab-made dyes are created from derivatives of coal tar and petroleum. The two largest companies who make them are located in Newark, NJ. They simply retrieves these by-products from the oil refineries located there. In addition, red - pinks - and purple are often created from Cochineal Beetles which are farm raised on the Canary Islands and Peru, dried and crunched into powders. This source is also know to be very harmful to your nervous system of which the brain is at the helm. SO - congratulations to you for starting this movement in your school. Keep it up. Email me with any questions or if you need help: ____@____.com.

My daughter has food allergies and I have never requested that other parents change what they bring for snack. I have always sent something else for my child to eat and taught her that her body can not have anything with milk, beef, eggs, etc in it. She learned quickly to say "no thank you, I can't have that" and does not feel left out at all....I would only make a request if my child had a severe peanut allergy, as that can be deadly.

I wouldn't be so worried about other people's annoyance when it comes to your child. It seems like the teacher totally agrees with you and I believe that is what counts. I'm with you on the Red 40... it's in everything and it's hard to avoid. I think that people are not educated enough in this and need to really start asking these questions. I believe that once we start creating a demand for items w/o the Red 40 - the food industry will stop making them and make alternatives. Basic supply and demand.

BTW, what's the difference between this and a peanut allergy?

Article I just showed my husband the other day about dyes:

Secret No. 8:The food additive–ADHD link
The food industry doesn’t want you to know that food additives may make your kids misbehave. U.K. researchers found that some artificial food colorings and preservatives are linked to hyperactivity in children. The additives included Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Red No. 40, and sodium benzoate, all of which are commonly found in packaged foods in the United States. While the researchers don’t know whether a combination of the chemicals is to blame or there’s a single primary culprit, you can find Red No. 40, yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6 in Skittles, and sodium benzoate in some soft drinks. Check out our list of the 11 most controversial food additives to learn what else is lurking in your meals.
http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-docum...

Good luck!

if no one had said anything, then that is good. no news is good news. but most people just accept that those are just the bounds that they need to work within and do so. i wouldn't worry.

no one should be annoyed. if they are they do not understand what is good for our bodies and what should or shouldn't be put into our bodies. my daughter is not school age yet but i have all intentions of making sure she does not ingest red dyes or sugar.