As the mom of the child allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish, I would like to respond to your comments. (a) While it poses challenges, I would not call it "awful" but thank you for your compassion. Stress results from the implication that he should manage this by himself.  He is a child who needs support & guidance from the adults around him, especially at school where he spends most of his day. (b) all of his allergens are not restricted in his school.  Together with the school staff, we have applied strategies that reduce his risk of exposure to allergens. Each child's needs are different & 1-size-fits-all approach is not the way. Factors such as age, maturity, where kids eat (cafeteria vs classroom) should be considered. Steps to limit risk of exposure & education are not mutually exclusive; to be effective they need to go hand in hand. The issue is the lack of guidance to Boards and schools about practical and realistic steps needed to keep kids safe.