Gloucester County Public Schools may ban cupcakes, and other consumable treats, from classrooms due to the health risk to an increasing number of children with food allergies.

Shirley Chirch, school division environmental health and safety manager, told the board Tuesday that she has seen a 32 percent increase in food allergies among students since she began tracking the numbers in 2010. 

There were 50 new cases this year alone, according to Bethel Elementary nurse Robin Zophy, including 10 newly diagnosed cases among high school students. 

Dr. Angela Hogan, an allergist with Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, said food allergy reactions can range from mild to cardiac arrest or anaphylaxis. She said peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish were the foods most likely to cause the most severe reactions.

Hogan estimated one in 13 children has a food allergy and said 48 percent of food allergy reactions among school children occur in the classroom, compared to 1...