School pulls kiwifruit after allergic reaction sends student into shock
ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- Issaquah High School pulled kiwis from its menu this week after a student's allergic reaction to the fruit sent her to the hospital.
Kiwis might look harmless, but the furry little fruit can cause seizures, swelling and even death for people with kiwi allergies.
And worst of all, allergy sufferers don't even need to eat the fruit. Just a whiff can send them into shock.
That's exactly what happened this week to Rhiannon Jensen, an Issaquah High School senior with severe kiwi allergies.
Jensen was walking near the school kitchen when she realized something was wrong.
"They were serving kiwis, which I'm deathly allergic to," Jensen said. "They were just cutting it in the kitchen, preparing it for lunch and just the air molecules got to me."
Because she's so allergic to kiwi, Jensen and her family had worked with the school to create a health plan meant to keep her as far away from fruit and possible.
"That's really as simple as it gets. We just have to keep it away from her," said Rhiannon's dad, Greg Jensen.
Jensen was actually in a "safe zone" when the reaction happened, but the kiwi particles found a way to her anyway.
After learning of the reaction, the school immediately pulled kiwis from its lunch menu.
"Individual students may have individual needs and I think that's what's happening here at Issaquah High," said Sara Niegowski of Issaquah Public Schools.
Now that the policy has changed, the Jensen family can rest a little easier.
"There was a long stretch of time in there where I didn't know if I'd ever see her again," said Greg Jensen. "It was very scary."
District officials say they'll continue evaluating their policies to see if kiwis need to be removed from any other schools.
Kiwis might look harmless, but the furry little fruit can cause seizures, swelling and even death for people with kiwi allergies.
And worst of all, allergy sufferers don't even need to eat the fruit. Just a whiff can send them into shock.
That's exactly what happened this week to Rhiannon Jensen, an Issaquah High School senior with severe kiwi allergies.
Jensen was walking near the school kitchen when she realized something was wrong.
"They were serving kiwis, which I'm deathly allergic to," Jensen said. "They were just cutting it in the kitchen, preparing it for lunch and just the air molecules got to me."
Because she's so allergic to kiwi, Jensen and her family had worked with the school to create a health plan meant to keep her as far away from fruit and possible.
"That's really as simple as it gets. We just have to keep it away from her," said Rhiannon's dad, Greg Jensen.
Jensen was actually in a "safe zone" when the reaction happened, but the kiwi particles found a way to her anyway.
After learning of the reaction, the school immediately pulled kiwis from its lunch menu.
"Individual students may have individual needs and I think that's what's happening here at Issaquah High," said Sara Niegowski of Issaquah Public Schools.
Now that the policy has changed, the Jensen family can rest a little easier.
"There was a long stretch of time in there where I didn't know if I'd ever see her again," said Greg Jensen. "It was very scary."
District officials say they'll continue evaluating their policies to see if kiwis need to be removed from any other schools.
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