The MSTA Blog

Spicy snack food draws ire

MSTA's associate editor Rachel Webb shared this post on a snack-food craze has administrators and educators in numerous school districts seeing red. 

At least three states have banned Flamin’ Hot Cheetos at the class, building or district level this fall, after what administrators say is excessive consumption by students. Flamin’ Hots have made educators and nutritional experts hot under the collar because of their high fat and salt contents and nutritional delinquency. In addition, the snack food has inspired a fanatical devotion among some students, more so than regular chips. Some school officials, like those quoted in this Chicago Tribune article, have even described students’ obsession with Flamin’ Hots in terms similar to an addiction. 

The product is a migraine-inducing red, hot and spicy version of Cheetos, introduced by Frito-Lay about 20 years ago. Flamin’ Hots have gained a fanatical devotion in recent years, with students sometimes consuming multiple bagfuls daily, occasionally in place of regular meals. It remains unclear why the snacks have become such a trend, or why anyone would eat them under any circumstance. 

In response, schools and classes in several states have taken measures to keep students from bringing the spicy snacks to school. A high school in Chicago held a Flamin’ Hot Free Day in October, during which students pledged not to indulge for the day. More than 400 students earned a free apple by taking the challenge. 

Public school districts in Rockford, Ill., and schools in Pasadena, Calif., have also banned sale of the snacks. One teacher at a New Mexico middle school wrote to parents asking them to discontinue sending them to school with their children, due to both the nutritional delinquency of the snack, and the bright red fingerprints left by the Flamin’ Hot residue, according to this Huffington Post article.         

Do you see your students downing bags of Flamin’ Hots? Is it causing a problem in your school or classroom?

Food allergies in your school

Image from: 5dollardinners.com

I have helped a few members over the years with issues related to students with food allergies in their classrooms. There is never an easy solution to the issue. A parent with a food allergy kid just wants to protect them the best they can. On the other hand, other parents don't want their children's nutritional choices limited. I think this article does a good job of presenting both sides of the issue.

Many of you out there have had to wrestle with this in your school.

How have you handled the issue in your classroom and your cafeteria?

What policies and procedures are in place to protect students?

What advice can you give to teachers that may have to deal with this in the future?