Sorry folks, my sense of humor leaves when it comes to this subject. There is NOTHING to joke about with allergies. My grandchildren have severe nut allergies, and my grandson is also allergic to eggs. He has had three emergency visits with epi-pens needed, and none of them occurred when he was being watched carefully by his family. Both children know since a very young age, and I mean VERY young,that they are allergic to certain foods. They eat nothing without first making sure it is safe for them and getting permission. Is this really so different from teaching a young child about something being kosher or not? Fortunately,while certainly not a GOOD thing, accidentally eating traif won’t necessarily send you into anaphylactic shock. Eating a tiny piece of a cookie that was produced in a facility that also processes nut items, potentially can and WILL.
BTW, just as an FYI, which we have learned to listen to scrupulously, the so-called “heimish” brands not only have no kedusha/shemirah attached, but can be lethal to an allergic child, as they do not necessarily list that the items may have been processed in a plant which also makes other things containg traces of nuts. Our frum allergist who wanteed to impress the severity of the allergy on us, told us of one of his young patients who unfortunately went into shock from eating such a cookie at a birthday party. The company’s response when he confronted them on behalf of the parents? It is easier to settle a lawsuit than pay to re-label all their packaging. Seriously??????????
Please do not make jokes about this extremely serious issue. Not to someone who has a loved one who is allergic. My daughter makes all the snacks she sends with her children, or buys known safe items. Yet, she and we STILL read the labels EVERY time, on even products known to have been of past safe use, because formulas are changed all the time. Look at how certain products are now made on dairy equipment, though they contain no dairy ingredients. A child who is allergic to milk could react to even that item.