Originally Posted by
lizzywednesday
One of my Girl Scouts has life-threatening peanut allergies and her mother carries her rescue medications. I've insisted that Mom register as an Adult Volunteer so she can stay at troop meetings, even if food is not involved, because my Girl Scout does not yet carry her own meds. (I am not sure when Mom will allow her Girl Scout to carry the meds, but that's her business, not mine. Until then, however, Mom must register as an Adult Volunteer.)
We are starting camping badges tonight (virtually) and one of the activities I would like to do with the girls when we are able to meet somewhere with a fire ring is campfire cookery.
If I provide the ingredients for any thing the kids decide to make, what kinds of things do I need to be aware of when reading labels so I can protect this troop member?
Even if her parents decide it's too much risk for me to be the one providing her ingredients, I want to try to provide ingredients in a safer way for other troop members to help reduce her risk when working with the other girls. (NB: I know this is not foolproof and may vary, but if there's wording I need to focus on that would be extremely helpful.)
For example, let's say we choose to make a foil packet dessert twist on a fruit crisp/cobbler/brown betty.
In this hypothetical one of the topping ingredients is rolled oats. Should I be alert to specific wording, like "processed on shared equipment" or other wording besides "may contain: PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, DAIRY" or whatever else is on the label?
My first thought is to put this mom in charge of the food shopping for this outing. Provide a list and reimbursement, but have her shop. That may be her preference anyway.
If that won't work, then I would just eliminate anything that even mentions nuts - the may contains, shared equipment, etc. If there is a specific item that you have trouble finding, ask the mom, she probably knows which brand is safe.
Last option is for this girl to bring her own food/ingredients.
Mama to three boys ('03, '05, '07)