Peanut butter taken off menu

Woy Woy Public School has taken peanut butter and eggs off the canteen menu over concerns about student allergies.

Woy Woy Public P & C social secretary Ms Michelle Cairns said the decision was taken following an incident where a child who was allergic to peanut butter was accidentally exposed to it after a mistake by canteen staff.

"The child was given a sandwich that had been cut with a knife that had been previously used to cut a peanut butter sandwich and this produced an allergic reaction," Ms Cairns said.

She said another child may start at the school next year with an allergy to peanut butter that could leave him unable to breath within 20 seconds if exposed to the product.

She said that his reaction to peanut butter was so extreme that his condition could deteriorate rapidly even if he inhaled peanut butter on the breath of another student.

"Under these circumstances, we decided that it was better to take the precaution of removing products that would produce this reaction to ensure the health and well being of the children involved and any others who may be suffering from the same condition," Ms Cairns said.

Newsletter, Owen Lewis, March 31