My name is Cathy Pierorazio. I have a 10-year-old son with severe food allergies to Dairy, egg peanut and tree nuts. I take offense to the editorial’s lackadaisical comments on how "fear surrounding peanut allergies is propagated by notions that have not been supported by science." I can assure you that there is no medical journal or scientific study that can better describe living through the experience of an anaphylactic reaction, a VERY common and often deadly reaction to peanut allergy. The editorial writer has clearly not done his homework regarding this very sensitive topic. Perhaps he should consult with one of the family members of the over 200 people who died last year from food allergic reactions.

I also take offense to the comment concerning skin contact with an allergen. Maybe the writer would like to come to my house and see what happens to my son’s face when someone kisses his cheek after eating a piece of cheese. The last thing I would ever allow is for some quack to spread peanut butter all over his arm to prove a moot point. He uses words like "casual exposure to peanut butter is unlikely to elicit a significant allergic reaction." In my world unlikely doesn’t cut it. And what exactly is a significant reaction? All allergic reactions are significant. There is no reason for me to EVER, EVER put my child in an unsafe environment. What could the writer’s agenda be to be attacking the policies schools put in place to protect children and keep them safe? These policies and plans took years to implement.

I have been fortunate so far in that my child has not had a reaction in school. I believe the reason he has remained safe is that I have been diligent about working with his school nurse, the 504 Coordinator, the principal and all of his teachers. I have painstakingly raised awareness to people who, like the writer, had no clue about the seriousness and dangers of accidental ingestion to an allergen. This is not to say that I have not carried my son into the emergency room while he gasped for air. Accidents do happen, no matter how diligent you are. And that is why there are provisions in school. That is why these children eat separately from others. That is why people like the writer should not express opinions about things they have no knowledge about.

To learn more about food allergies, visit www.foodalergy.org or www.foodallergyinitiative.com

This not an opinion or a view…this is reality from a family that lives with life threatening food allergies every day.

Cathy Pierorazio
Food Allergy Activist
Norwood