Navigating Allergies in Beijing’s International Schools

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Upon deciding we would relocate to Beijing, my first thought was not where we would live or what school our child would go to but rather, what will she eat in China? My child has multiple food allergies which we have lived with since she was a baby. After a reaction to kiwifruit at 9 months old, she then tested positive for peanuts and tree nuts a little while later.

Around age 2 we discovered she was allergic to eggs – the reaction occurred at a birthday party which subsequently landed us in the Accident and Emergency ward to stop her profuse vomiting. Another reaction at age 4 while we were visiting relatives in Florida resulted in a trip to the hospital with an unconscious child who had to be given an IV – this time we experienced a very real kind of fear that only occurs when you realize your child is in serious danger. After each episode, your nerves are shot for a few weeks and you just want to wrap your child in cotton wool and never let them leave the house again.

How many people suffer from food allergies?

According to www.foodallergy.org, around 32 million Americans suffer from food allergies including 5.6 million children under age 18. This translates to one in 13 children or roughly two kids in every classroom. Across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK around 10 to 15 percent of the population – and in some cases 20 percent – are affected by food allergies.

According to the World Allergy Organisation, “Food allergies are increasing in both developed and developing countries, especially in children, and the severity and complexity of food allergies are also increasing. Food allergy can be fatal, and appropriate diagnosis is essential as is the need for food labeling worldwide.”

Across Asia, food allergies are less common, representing some 3.5 percent to 11 percent of the population, but still considered comparable to Western countries.

What are the common food allergies?

Common food allergies include peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, wheat, and fish. In Asia, allergy to shellfish is most common.

My daughter is currently a Year 4 student at Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing), and for obvious reasons, I’m exceptionally concerned when it comes to what food is provided in schools.

How do international schools in Beijing measure up when dealing with food allergies? Are they allergy-aware?

As international schools continue to welcome foreign students into their communities, teachers and staff can expect to have children with food allergies in their classrooms, some of which may be severe and/or result in anaphylaxis. Being able to provide a safe environment and a high standard of care for these students is imperative.

Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) for example, has a food allergy policy in place and its canteen provides options for people with allergens.

At YCIS Beijing, the canteen food is nut-free and the chef is very accommodating. However, given the complexity of our child’s allergies, the safe option will always be to bring a lunch from home. Upon special request, class birthday cakes were banned last year.

Beyond the physical and sometimes life-threatening effects of allergies are the less recognized psychological effects of living with allergies. Imagine being 6-years-old and having to sit in a corner of the classroom by yourself while your peers devour a cake for someone’s birthday. Not once, but repeatedly. In fact, every single time someone has a birthday, which could potentially be 25 times a year! Add to that the other special occasions people gather for food – whether it be Halloween, Christmas, or Chinese New Year.

As my child so simply put it, “Mummy, I’m tired of missing out.”

So tired in fact that I recently kept my child home from school on a day that I knew Santa would be visiting to hand out candy. I wanted to spare her the small heartache that comes from being left out yet again.

Importance of inclusion

When my child was very young, bringing her own food on outings and to restaurants was pretty straightforward. However, once she started kindergarten she began noticing that the other kids were able to eat food that she couldn’t. Don’t underestimate the desire all children have to belong and to be included.

Watching my child cope with exclusion on a regular basis not only in educational settings but also at any social occasion was incredibly hard but also awe-inspiring as I watched her take it in her stride.

Over time, I have become deeply grateful to the friends of mine who, in going out of their way to make a dish my child can also eat or who delay giving their own child an ice cream until after mine has left, display their incredible empathy for us.

Advice for parents of children with allergies when choosing a school

Choosing a school in a foreign country is fraught with anxiety. Add into the mix a child with allergies in a country where allergies are not well known and if you didn’t already have anxiety you certainly will now.

• When visiting schools let them know about your child’s allergy and ask how they keep the children with allergies safe.

• When your child starts school, set up meetings with the subject teachers to ensure they are all aware. Read up on the local culture where teachers may still try and hand out candy randomly to students.

• Vocalize your needs to give yourself peace of mind and ensure your child’s safety. For example, I asked for birthday cakes and food to be banned in my child’s year level. To have my child feeling excluded and upset every time there was a birthday was too much to handle.

• Send a packed lunch! While our school’s cafeteria is nut-free and has tried to be very accommodating to our situation, the fact that my child also has other allergies made it unrealistic to expect them to cater. And knowing what my child is eating when I am not around helps me relax also!

• Be prepared to advocate for your child’s safety on an ongoing basis. Even if an agreement was reached with the school in a previous semester, don’t assume that this will be continued in the next semester or with a change of teacher and staff.

• Encourage the school to see the value in giving non-food rewards to the children such as stickers, small toys, erasers, or house points. It is not only safer but also better for their health – candy and cookies are full of sugar!

Bringing a child to Beijing with allergies is doable! It is hard but doable. I went so far as to introduce an allergy education program into my daughter’s school – thankfully they were receptive to it! While there may still be a certain level of ambivalence towards allergies, awareness is definitely increasing.

If you'd like to get in touch with Nicola, email her at [e-mail]

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