Herald Sun: As schools and kinders grapple with spiralling food allergies, some are advising parents that even certain fruit and vegetables should be binned. Point Cook P-9 College has urged parents to avoid sending bananas, watermelon, soy, wheat, eggs, dairy, and nuts in lunches due to minor allergies and life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Professor Katie Allen said there were rising rates of food allergies and intolerances around the world, and fruit was one of the rarer ones. She said allergic reactions could only develop from eating the food, and banning items was not the wisest choice, except for young children in childcare centres or kinder. “Instead we say not sharing food is the best public health message to send, for a range of reasons.”