Non-Foods Not Having Allergy Warnings On Them…?

I received an email from another Mother who has a child with a peanut allergy. This parent was telling me about Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste having trace amounts of peanuts in it. What alarmed me the most is what she told me next. That GlaxoSmithKline does not have to put any kind of “ALLERGY WARNING” on any product that isn’t food…? I called GlaxoSmithKline this morning, Thursday 08/03/2006 and advised them of my concerns regarding the allegation of Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste being contaminated with some form of peanut or nut oil and this product not being properly labeled with an “Allergy Warning!” I was told that GlaxoSmithKline has received numerous phone calls regarding this issue and I was told that they tested all of the Aquafresh Toothpaste products and everything came out fine and did not show any trace amounts or contamination from peanuts. However, the lady I spoke with couldn’t give me a positive answer that the Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste wasn’t contaminated with some form of nuts and she told me that they aren’t promising that Aquafresh Kids is Peanut FREE either. This is scary and if there is a chance that a product could be contaminated with peanuts, nuts or other known allergens it should have an “ALLERGY WARNING” label! There should not be any exceptions for any companies regardless if the product is food or not!  Companies should want to label their product especially if it could make someone extremely sick or kill them…?  Brentson and I both are allergic to peanuts and nuts! What concerned me the most is that these companies aren’t regulated to put an “Allergy Warning” label on their products due to these products are not food. There has got to be something done to make all companies put ”Allergy Warning” labels on all products that might contain any and all known allergens. Regardless if the product is shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, hair spray, make-up, eye liner, lotion, etc. The key to living with a severe anaphylaxis allergy is strict avoidance, but if these companies are not informing the consumers that their product could contain known allergens someone may die. There has got to be legislation preposed to inform and protect everyone who is having to live with severe anaphylaxis food allergies about products that are non-foods too!

Sincerely,

Laura & Brentson Duke

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!

“Brentson’s Law” becomes “THE LAW” in the State of Tennessee on Tuesday 06/20/2006!

June 20, 2006

Principal C.L. Hayes & Metro Nashville Board of Education:

June 20, 2006 the date “Brentson’s Law” became ”The Law” in  the state of Tennessee to protect “all children” with anaphylaxis food allergies. The same children that Metro Nashville Public Schools ”refused” to protect in September of 2005 following ”Brentson’s Duke’s” near death experience at Taylor Stratton Elementary!
Do any of you at the Board of Education &/or Principal C.L. Hayes remember what you were doing on 09/12/2005 around 10:00 am?  

You probably don’t but let me refresh your memory. This is ”The Date & The Time” that I received a phone call telling me that my child was having an allergic reaction. This is “The Day” that my child and I will “Never” forget! This is “The Day” that my child almost lost his life due to a severe anaphylactic reaction that he had at Taylor Stratton Elementary by him unknowingly coming into contact with someone that had eaten peanut butter! Does 09/22/2005 ring a bell for any of you? Well, this is “The Day” that Principal C.L. Hayes finally returned my phone call from Monday 09/12/2005 when my child almost died at Taylor Stratton! Principal C.L. Hayes finally gets t he time to return my phone call “Nine Business Days” after my child almost died in her care! However, she only returned my call after Dr. G. Patterson (with the Metro Nashville Public School System) made her and only after News Channel 2’s Heather Orne started calling the Board of Education! My mother taught me at an early age that an ounce of compassion goes a long way. Evidently, no one at the “Board of Education nor Principal C.L. Hayes” were taught this by their parents. Therefore, due to the lack of concern by the Board of Education for the welfare and well being of “all” of these children led me to the decision that something had to  be done!

What was done is “Brentson’s Law!”

June 20, 2006 the date “Brentson’s Law” became ”The Law” in  the state of Tennessee to protect “all children” with anaphylaxis food allergies. The same children that Metro Nashville Public Schools ”refused” to protect in September of 2005 following ”Brentson’s Duke’s” near death experience at Taylor Stratton Elementary!
 

I bet “You All” will remember “This Date!”

Sincerely,

Laura & Brentson Duke

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!

The Speaker of the Senate Signed “Brentson’s Law” on Thursday 06/08/2006.

Information on this page is generally current to within an hour.

SB2883 by *Haynes, *Black, *Finney, *Bowers, *Bryson, *Burchett, *Burks, *Cohen, *Cooper, *Crowe, *Crutchfield, *Fowler, *Harper, *Haynes, *Henry, *Herron, *Jackson, *Ketron, *Kilby, *Kurita, *Kyle, *McLeary, *McNally, *Miller, *Norris, *Person, Curtis, *Ramsey, *Southerland, *Tracy, *Wilder, *Williams, *Woodson. (*HB2442 by *Moore, *Jones S, *Hackworth, *Marrero, *Cobb, *Eldridge, *Favors, *Brown, *Rowe, *Turner M, *Brooks (Knox), *McCormick.)

Education – Requires the department of education in conjunction with the department of health to develop and make available to each LEA guidelines for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies; requires the LEAs to implement plans based on the guidelines by July 1, 2007. – Amends TCA Section 49-5-415.

Summary for SB2883/*HB2442

Amendments to SB2883
Amendments to HB2442

SA1173 — Amendment 1-0 to SB2883
HA0898 — Amendment 1-0 to HB2442

SA1290 — Amendment 2-0 to SB2883

SA1612 — Amendment 3-0 to SB2883

Fiscal Note for SB2883/*HB2442
Fiscal Note for SB2883 / HB2442 filed under HB2442

——————————————————————————–
Bill History Section
Actions Taken on SB2883
Action Date
Actions Taken on HB2442
Action Date

Am. withdrawn.(Amendment 3 – SA1612) 5/25/2006 Signed by S. Speaker 6/8/2006
S. Recalled from H. 5/8/2006 Signed by H. Speaker 6/1/2006
Comp. HB Subst (sends SB to dead bill file) 5/3/2006 Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker. 6/1/2006
Am. withdrawn.(Amendment 2 – SA1290) 5/3/2006 H. concurred in S. am. no. 3 Ayes 93, Nays 0 5/25/2006
Am. withdrawn.(Amendment 1 – SA1173) 5/3/2006 H. Placed on Message Calendar #2 for 5/25/06 5/25/2006
Placed on Sen. Regular Calendar (1) cal. for 5/3/2006 5/1/2006 Passed S. as am., Ayes 30, Nays 0 5/25/2006
Re-ref. to S. Cal. Comm. 4/26/2006 S. adopted am. No.3 5/25/2006
S. Reset on cal. for 4/26/06 4/24/2006 Motion to reconsider adopted. 5/25/2006
Placed on Sen. Regular Calendar (1) cal. for 4/24/2006 4/20/2006 Motion to lift table motion 5/25/2006
Rec. for pass. w/ am., ref. to S. Cal. Comm. Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 4/19/2006 Placed on Sen. Regular Calendar (1) cal. for 5/25/2006 5/24/2006
Placed on S. Ed. Comm. cal. for 4/19/2006 4/13/2006 Placed on Sen. Regular Calendar (3) cal. for 5/24/2006 5/24/2006
Action Def. in S. Ed. Comm. to 4/19/2006 4/12/2006 H. returned. 5/15/2006
Placed on S. Ed. Comm. cal. for 4/12/2006 4/5/2006 H. Placed on Message Calendar for 5/15/06 5/12/2006
Action Def. in S. Ed. Comm. to 4/12/2006 4/5/2006 Signed by S. Speaker 5/9/2006
Placed on S. Ed. Comm. cal. for 4/5/2006 3/29/2006 Signed by H. Speaker 5/4/2006
P2C, ref. to S. Ed. Comm. 2/22/2006 Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker. 5/3/2006
Intro., P1C. 2/16/2006 Passed S., Ayes 30, Nays 0 5/3/2006
Filed for intro. 2/15/2006 S. Subst. HB for comp. SB. 5/3/2006
Rcvd. from H., P1C. 3/30/2006
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen. 3/27/2006
Passed H., as am., Ayes 97, Nays 0 3/27/2006
H. adopted am.(Amendment 1 – HA0898) 3/27/2006
Sponsor(s) Added. 3/27/2006
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/27/06 3/23/2006
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/23/2006 3/21/2006
Ref. to Calendar & Rules 3/20/2006
Rec. For Pass. ref. to: Finance, Ways & Means Committee 3/15/2006
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/15/2006 3/8/2006
Rec. For Pass. by s/c ref. to Education Committee 3/7/2006
Sponsor(s) Added. 3/3/2006
Placed on s/c cal K-12 of ED for 3/7/2006 3/1/2006
Action Def. in s/c K-12 of ED to 3/7/2006 2/21/2006
Placed on s/c cal K-12 of ED for 2/21/2006 2/15/2006
Assigned to s/c K-12 of ED 2/15/2006
P2C, ref. to Education 2/8/2006
Intro., P1C. 2/7/2006
Filed for intro. 12/29/2005

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!

The Speaker of The House of Representatives In The State of Tennessee Signed “Brentson’s Law” Today, Thursday 06/01/2006!

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!

Latest Update On Brentson’s Law!

laurabrentsonduke Says:
May 26th, 2006 at 4:48 pm eInformation on this page is generally current to within an hour.

SB2883 by *Haynes, *Black, *Finney, *Bowers, *Bryson, *Burchett, *Burks, *Cohen, *Cooper, *Crowe, *Crutchfield, *Fowler, *Harper, *Haynes, *Henry, *Herron, *Jackson, *Ketron, *Kilby, *Kurita, *Kyle, *McLeary, *McNally, *Miller, *Norris, *Person, Curtis, *Ramsey, *Southerland, *Tracy, *Wilder, *Williams, *Woodson. (*HB2442 by *Moore, *Jones S, *Hackworth, *Marrero, *Cobb, *Eldridge, *Favors, *Brown, *Rowe, *Turner M, *Brooks (Knox), *McCormick.)

Education – Requires the department of education in conjunction with the department of health to develop and make available to each LEA guidelines for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies; requires the LEAs to implement plans based on the guidelines by July 1, 2007. – Amends TCA Section 49-5-415.

Summary for SB2883/*HB2442

Amendments to SB2883
Amendments to HB2442

SA1173 — Amendment 1-0 to SB2883
HA0898 — Amendment 1-0 to HB2442

SA1290 — Amendment 2-0 to SB2883

SA1612 — Amendment 3-0 to SB2883

Fiscal Note for SB2883/*HB2442
Fiscal Note for SB2883 / HB2442 filed under HB2442

——————————————————————————–
Bill History Section
Actions Taken on SB2883
Action Date
Actions Taken on HB2442
Action Date

Am. withdrawn.(Amendment 3 – SA1612) 5/25/2006 H. concurred in S. am. no. 3 Ayes 93, Nays 0 5/25/2006
S. Recalled from H. 5/8/2006 H. Placed on Message Calendar #2 for 5/25/06 5/25/2006
Comp. HB Subst (sends SB to dead bill file) 5/3/2006 Passed S. as am., Ayes 30, Nays 0 5/25/2006
Am. withdrawn.(Amendment 2 – SA1290) 5/3/2006 S. adopted am. #3 5/25/2006
Am. withdrawn.(Amendment 1 – SA1173) 5/3/2006 Motion to reconsider adopted. 5/25/2006
Placed on Sen. Regular Calendar (1) cal. for 5/3/2006 5/1/2006 Motion to lift table motion 5/25/2006
Re-ref. to S. Cal. Comm. 4/26/2006 Placed on Sen. Regular Calendar (1) cal. for 5/25/2006 5/24/2006
S. Reset on cal. for 4/26/06 4/24/2006 Placed on Sen. Regular Calendar (3) cal. for 5/24/2006 5/24/2006
Placed on Sen. Regular Calendar (1) cal. for 4/24/2006 4/20/2006 H. returned. 5/15/2006
Rec. for pass. w/ am., ref. to S. Cal. Comm. Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0 4/19/2006 H. Placed on Message Calendar for 5/15/06 5/12/2006
Placed on S. Ed. Comm. cal. for 4/19/2006 4/13/2006 Signed by S. Speaker 5/9/2006
Action Def. in S. Ed. Comm. to 4/19/2006 4/12/2006 Signed by H. Speaker 5/4/2006
Placed on S. Ed. Comm. cal. for 4/12/2006 4/5/2006 Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker. 5/3/2006
Action Def. in S. Ed. Comm. to 4/12/2006 4/5/2006 Passed S., Ayes 30, Nays 0 5/3/2006
Placed on S. Ed. Comm. cal. for 4/5/2006 3/29/2006 S. Subst. HB for comp. SB. 5/3/2006
P2C, ref. to S. Ed. Comm. 2/22/2006 Rcvd. from H., P1C. 3/30/2006
Intro., P1C. 2/16/2006 Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen. 3/27/2006
Filed for intro. 2/15/2006 Passed H., as am., Ayes 97, Nays 0 3/27/2006
H. adopted am.(Amendment 1 – HA0898) 3/27/2006
Sponsor(s) Added. 3/27/2006
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/27/06 3/23/2006
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/23/2006 3/21/2006
Ref. to Calendar & Rules 3/20/2006
Rec. For Pass. ref. to: Finance, Ways & Means Committee 3/15/2006
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/15/2006 3/8/2006
Rec. For Pass. by s/c ref. to Education Committee 3/7/2006
Sponsor(s) Added. 3/3/2006
Placed on s/c cal K-12 of ED for 3/7/2006 3/1/2006
Action Def. in s/c K-12 of ED to 3/7/2006 2/21/2006
Placed on s/c cal K-12 of ED for 2/21/2006 2/15/2006
Assigned to s/c K-12 of ED 2/15/2006
P2C, ref. to Education 2/8/2006
Intro., P1C. 2/7/2006
Filed for intro. 12/29/2005

Tennessee Senate Passes A More Strict Form of “Brentson’s Law!”

The House of Representatives returned “Brentson’s Law” to the Senate last night after they passed the newly Amended parts. Now the Senate has to take a final vote (which is just a formality) and then they will send “Brentson’s Law” to Governor Bredesen to sign into law! I just wanted to let you know what happened in the House of Representatives last night.

Take Care & May God Bless,

Laura & Brentson Duke

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!

“Brentson’s Law” now is waiting for a Final Vote from Senate!

Bill Summary for HB3245 / *SB2760
This bill requires the commissioner of education, in consultation with the department of health and state board of education, to establish a model policy for the management of issues relating to food allergies and anaphylaxis in schools. LEAs must implement this policy within six months after the effective date of this bill.

This bill requires that schools provide a safe school environment and have the capability to maintain incidences of anaphylaxis in any school upon receipt of a written request from a parent or guardian seeking protection of a student from specifically-named foods or products. Written documentation from the student’s physician describing the type of food allergy, the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction, and the emergency treatment procedures required to resuscitate the child during an allergic reaction would also be required. These documents must be made available to the student’s teacher or teachers; the school nurse, if any; the school principal; and other adult persons the principal determines should be informed of the condition.

If the student participates in extracurricular activities, including field trips and before and after-school care, then trained adult personnel must accompany the child at such activities and must have resuscitation drugs with them. Such personnel would be required to be in visual contact with the child at all times.

Any medications required for emergency handling of a significant allergic reaction would be supplied to the school at the cost of the parent or guardian. The school nurse, or other appropriate personnel including teachers and parent volunteers, would receive training in the recognition of the signs and symptoms and treatment of anaphylaxis as well as the need to summon emergency responders.

This bill requires schools to consider that vending machines on the school premises not be stocked with any snack, food, or item containing an offending allergen within a reasonable period of learning of a student’s allergy. This bill prohibits schools from selling, as part of fund raising, products containing an offending allergen. Those students bringing lunches from outside the school that could contain allergens would be separated from those students who could be contaminated.

This bill also requires schools to consider providing a teaching assistant for any child with documented anaphylaxis. The assistant’s sole purpose would be to guard the child’s safety through constant supervision, monitoring of foodstuffs brought into the allergic child’s environment, riding with the child to and from school on a bus, and observing the child’s safety at all times the school has a loco parentis relationship to the child.

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!

The House of Representatives Returned “Brentson’s Law” to the Senate!

The House of Representatives returned “Brentson’s Law” to the Senate last night, Monday 05/15/2006 after they passed the newly Amended parts. Now the Senate has to take a final vote (which is just a formality) and then they will send “Brentson’s Law” to Governor Bredesen to sign into law! I just wanted to let you know what happened in the House of Representatives last night.

Take Care & May God Bless,

Laura & Brentson Duke

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!

Tennessee Senate passes a More Strict Form of “Brentson’s Law!”

The Tennessee Senate has passed a more strict form of “Brentson’s Law!” The Senate sent “Brentson’s Law” back to the House of Representatives on Friday 05/12/06, and the House will be voting on this again on Monday 05/15/06.

Take Care,

Laura & Brentson Duke

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!

Anaphylaxis Allergy Action Bill HB2442

The Food Allergy bill (HB2442) flew through the Full Education committee today, Wednesday 03/15/2006. It is on the Calendar & Rules for tomorrow. When it gets out of there, I believe it will be ready to go to the House floor! I just wanted to let everyone know the good news. 

Take Care, 

Laura & Brentson Duke 

This message is intended for where the writer posted it. Any distribution of this message in any way is prohibited without the written consent of Laura Duke. I reserve the right to pursue all legal means at my disposal to enforce my son’s and my privacy!