Peanut butter and other common food allergens will no longer be banned from schools governed by the Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM).

The French school board announced on May 30 that the restrictions placed on certain foods will be lifted in an effort to encourage children to learn about safe food habits and balanced diets.

The decision is a divisive one, leaving parents of children with food allergies concerned, while the school board insists that regulations will be put in place to protect children with severe food allergies to prevent contact and cross-contamination.

In the announcement, the CSDM states that its students will be told not to share food with each other and will wash their hands before and after every meal in order to avoid potential hazards. The school board also wants to reassure parents that all educators and lunch monitors will be aware of which children have allergies and will be extra vigilant during meal times.

The new policy will affect hundreds of students. The CSDM consists of 122 elementary schools and 24 high schools located in various boroughs around Montreal.

For more information, visit csdm.ca.