It’s time to purchase school supplies! But did you know that some standard classroom items contain milk? You work diligently to keep allergens out of your child’s diet. Those efforts shouldn’t be wasted on non food items. From contact allergens in finger paint to inhaled ones from chalk dust, we’ll cover the things to look out for on your shopping list for dairy free-school supplies and in the classroom.
Milk Hazards in Classrooms + Tips for Dairy-Free School Supplies
Pencils, markers, and notebooks aren’t a big problem with milk or other food allergens. Most of the potential issues are going to be in preschool and the earlier years of grade school. But there are a few concerns for all ages. I’ve outlined primary nonfood hazards below, but please comment if there are others that you’ve confronted.
Allergen Notes: Ingredients are subject to change at any time, and all products are at some degree of risk for allergen cross contamination. Always read the label and research the product ingredients before purchasing or using. This post is for informational purposes only. Only you can decide what is safe for your needs and those of your family.
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Chalk
Don’t be fooled by the name of dust-free, dustless, or anti-dust chalk. These types of chalk are sometimes made with casein (milk protein), and a study found that it did shed enough dust to induce asthma symptoms in milk allergic kids. Make sure any chalk they will be handling is dairy-free. This can include the teacher’s chalk. Some low dust brands that state they contain no milk include:
- Colorations Dustless White Chalk
- Colorations Dustless Colored Chalk
- Crayola An Du Septic Anti-Dust White Chalk (per their allergen statement)
- Crayola Anti-Dust Assorted Chalk (per their allergen statement)
Did you know? Chalk is a type of rock that is made of calcium carbonate. Some people confuse calcium ingredients with dairy, but it’s a mineral, not milk. The issue is with milk based ingredients that are sometimes added to dustless chalk.
Paint
Casein in paints is nothing new. Archeologists have even discovered ancient milk-based paints in prehistoric cave paintings. The use of milk in paints phased out a bit with the introduction of acrylic paints in the mid 1900s. But the rise in the green movement has prompted milk to make a return. Now it isn’t uncommon to see finger paints and finer paints that are milk based. And for kids with a contact milk allergy, this can be a real concern.
For older kids and teens, you should be able to find a good selection of acrylic paints. They are water based, and are usually made without top allergens. But of course, verify with the manufacturer. For all ages, watercolors can be a great option. Crayola and Lakeshore make a school-friendly selection of watercolors without milk. For younger kids, Crayola Washable Finger Paint and Lakeshore Washable Finger Paint are good options for your dairy-free school supplies list.
Hand Soap
Hand washing stations work overtime these days, and some brands or specific types of hand soap do contain milk in one form or another. For example, most varieties of Soft Soap and generics are made without milk. But options like “milk and honey” have become more popular, and they do usually contain milk. In some cases, it’s not even clear in the name on the label. Always check the ingredients.
Glue
Milk, and specifically casein, has been used in the adhesive industry for quite some time. In fact, “casein glue” is a real thing. And a Google search will yield many recipes for glue made from milk. Fortunately, school glue rarely, if ever, contains milk these days. But it’s still one thing to keep an eye on as more “natural formulas” arrive.
Milk No More: Elmer’s Glue was released by the Borden Company in 1947. (Yes, the makers of sweetened condensed milk!). Adhesives were a natural fit for them, since the primary ingredient in glue was casein (milk protein). But with the introduction of cheaper synthetic substances, their formula changed. Consequently, Elmer’s glue is now completely dairy free and has been for many years. Elmer’s also offers great gluten-free alternatives to items that often contain wheat, like paper mache or craft paste.
Musical Instruments
Mouth blown instruments, like recorders, are often used communally in grade schools. In theory, they would be washed, but there is still a risk of cross contamination from another child’s lunch on the mouthpiece. You can request that the teacher set aside a dedicated instrument for your child.
Celebrations
Birthdays and holidays are celebrated in some classrooms. Some teachers even like to do food rewards. You can bake cupcakes, frost them, and freeze them. Place the frosted cupcakes in your freezer for about one hour. Then remove and wrap them in plastic wrap (the frosting should be solid then). The cupcakes can be kept in a freezer at school and given to your child when there’s a celebration. In some cases, parents have reported being able to store a few cupcakes in the freezer in the nurse’s office. If this isn’t feasible, find out any celebration schedules from the teacher, so that you can send along something for your child. If they do food rewards, find out if the teacher will accept some safe non-perishable treats for your child.
Craft Projects
Household items are often used for craft projects in schools. In some cases, you’ll be able to provide required to provide the crafts for your child. But if you aren’t, or if your child might be interacting with another child’s supplies, it’s best to make sure that the class is using allergen safe items. Here are some things to keep an eye out for.
- Milk cartons – You can ask the teacher earlier in the year if these will be used, and perhaps wash and set aside dairy-free milk cartoons from your own household. You might be able to stockpile enough to supply the classroom.
- Yogurt cups – Just like the milk cartons, you might stash enough overtime to share with the teacher in class.
- M&Ms – These might be used for art projects or for counting. Believe it or not, there are several dairy-free M&M alternatives now. But you could also suggest using beans or nonfood items, like buttons.
- Food jars – Baby food jars and other types of food jars are commonly used for crafting projects. This is another situation where you can save up jars to share with the class.
- Butter – Making butter has become a project in some schools. You can send along supplies, a recipe, and give directions to the teacher for your child to make a dairy free butter.
More Essential Reading on Milk In School
Milk and the School Lunch Program
High Risk Dairy Foods at School
Back To School Food Allergy Tips for Parents And Teachers
