Mansfield (MA) schools ban cupcakes

Mansfield schools ban cupcakes

MANSFIELD - Snack time is over.

Saying they pose a health and safety risk to children, the school department Tuesday banned birthday cupcakes, celebratory snacks and other class-time food rewards and treats.

The move had been in the works for years, and follows trends toward similar health-conscious school food policies across the country.

"It's a tough place to be in," Superintendent Brenda Hodges said. "We don't want to take all the fun away from our children, but we have to take some precautions."

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2011/05/18/news/9571809.txt

ridiculous.

so many parents are convinced that their little darlings are allergic to nuts, gluten, dairy and anything else just because little Madysen once had an upset tummy or got a rash after eating a strawberry.

almonds in the stuffing one thanksgiving. The pieces were so small that you could not see them.

I woke up at about 2am that night with the inside of my mouth so swollen that I could not breathe through my mouth, speak, or swallow. I could barely breathe, but only very slowly, through my nose, with my mouth closed. It was impossible to take a deep breath. To do so would start a coughing spell, which would simply make the situation worse. because a cough requires a deep breath first. And so, you have to consciously fight the urge to cough.

As an adult, the inability to breathe normally like this is scary enough, but as an adult you don't panic. It is hard, but you can will yourself to calm down. You can mentally stop coughing. You can supress the urge to call for help (which also requires a deep breath.

Kids can't do that.

I'm sure that some parents are overly concerned as you suggest. But if you are that kid ... the one who is really allergic, this matters.

Most school districts handle this in a simple way ... they ask that you only bring store bought cupcakes to school events because those include a list of ingredients on the package.

This way, if a kid has an allergic response, they can quickly tell what caused it.

our Health Dept here in Az has banned any type of homemade baked goods for children long time ago. If parents want to bring a treat for a birthday it must be packaged. I agree with this for health sake.

Halloween... :rofl:

bakery is going to be any healthier. Yes, commercial facilities are supposed to be able to pass inspection, but how often are they inspected? At least with home kitchens, there are fewer people handling the food and you can have cupcakes with frosting that actually tastes good.

but seriously we don't know the cleanliness of those who bake them. Did they wash their hands before baking? Did they clean off their counter after the cat sat on it? I for one was working with young children and welcomed this ruling.

I'd rather eat cat hair than some of the unpronounceable things in the ingredients list on store bought stuff.

on the package? Most parents bring store bought cupcakes from places like Walmart, which no longer even bake their prepackaged cupcakes on grounds.

My daughter wanted cupcakes for tomorrow, the last day of school. I went to the area grocery stores and to Walmart. They were pricey and they looked unhealthy. The Walmart cupcakes have a shelf life of July 2. The cookies last even longer.

(There are no bakeries in town except for the stores so that's not an option.)

I made yellow cake cupcakes today, from scratch, with no mix involved. They have a quick and easy 7 minute frosting on them, some of which was left white and some which I tinted in different colors to pipe around each cupcake.

I can guarantee that what I made will taste better, is fresher, and healthier.

of packaged snacks either contain peanuts or have the weasel words ("manufactured in a facility which also processes peanuts") on them. I often bake for her class parties.

:rofl:



:applause:

Just assume everyone is a terrorist and life will be just grand

I remember all the cupcake deaths when I was growing up

You are being silly. How about something healthy like cheese and crackers? Actually young children don't need the cupcakes, they ccan get that at home. There are so many other ways children can share on their birthday at school. I just don't understand why people have their panties in a wad.

The panties in a wad goes both ways

Kids need to be kids, this country is trying to put kids in bubbles

Freedom and choice - we don't need to keep controlling people and limiting their choices. What's next, outlaw abortion?

Cheese and crackers should henceforth be banned from all schools! Think of the CHILDREN!

:sarcasm:

:shrug:

I wonder if they also removed the soda and candy vending machines in the schools?

When they took the soda vending machine out and replaced it with a sports drink vending machine. The resident cop (from the in-school substation) stowed the remaining cases of sodas and proceeded to sell them from his office. Needless to say the next item of business for the board was censure and replace the cop.

It's too bad. We have so many of the old farmer's wife style recipes that people pay decent money to try.

The last bake sale I made shoefly pie, chess pie, and peanut butter and jelly cupcakes. They were gone within a half hour, as were all the veggie breads and canned goods that some of the older women would bring for sale.

Lets say some homophobe hears that Heather has two mommies and decides that Heather should be taken away from those two Mommies. So she/he puts a little extra something in the cupcakes, hoping to make Heather sick and then claim that the kids got sick because Heather's two Mommies brought in tainted food.

You may think the above is farfetched but we've had deranged mom's in the past try and kill kids who compete with their kids over cheerleading squad positions. We just don't live in the same society that we used to and if I'm not gonna let my kid (which I don't have) eat a candied apple at Halloween, I really don't want my kid eating cupcakes baked by someone else.

Why not have each parent bake some cupcakes at home and the kid brings their own labeled cupcake to school the next day. Then you don't have to worry about the kid eating allergens, getting poisoned, etc. and the kid gets extra cupcakes at home. It's a win-win situation.

is it takes pressure off the parents who work multiple jobs and/or don't have time or money for class parties.

It's more than the fact that the cupcakes are really a treat the children don't need in school. But there are some parents that really can't do this kind of thing for their kids because either their parent(s) work long hours or perhaps their parent(s) really can't afford to bring treats in for a birthday.

I'll be honest, I never remember anyone's parents being allowed to bring in snacks for their kids birthday and I graduated awhile back.

Many schools have gotten rid of recess or anything else they think will take time from standardized test cramming

but we're more rural.

We're supposed to bring in store bought goods but I always bake for school parties. Technically they are supposed to refuse it but no one does-I used to work as a baker and the teachers know it, so they have no problems with what I make. They also know I always ask about allergies at the first of the year and will either not make something or will make something special for just that child.

Personally, I don't allow my child to eat much of the crap that most bring to the parties. It's usually from the bakery at Walmart, which is some of the worst I've ever tried. It's nasty, unhealthy, and full of preservatives.