Our area has a new School meals provider, who have set up a new system for DCs with any allergies or intolerances, which involves filling in a form & then getting a Doctor to sign it confirming the intolerance/allergy adding a covering letter & - if you don't get this your DCs won't be given School meals  - DD is intolerant to food chemicals - sweeteners, colours & Benzoate preservatives & lactose - that means for School meals purposes - dairy is okay so long as its cooked

 - & as School meals previously stood, the rest wasn't an issue.
Up until recently a simple note to the School, give by the office by the cook worked fine, we've never had a problem before, but it all changed when the old Cook left.
Having given up on School meals completely in the more recent past due to DD TWICE being made ill & missing School as a direct result of being given the wrong foods - foods already in her notes & have never had a problem in the past - resulting in my putting a complaint in writing - as did other parents after similar incidents  

Lots of tooing & froing & unnecessary stress over short deadline, lots of reasons why it was important it was sorted out - but after going to the top, we DID manage an extension - then followed by cook not understanding DDs intolerance & refusing to feed DD anyway, despite us having already checked menu & know its okay - resulting in my TWICE being called to the School with a packed lunch mid morning  - 


Anyway, I could bore you & go into more detail, but basically now they have DDs Medically signed forms & yet another letter saying what she CAN & CAN"T safely eat - which bar the lactose has never previously been an issue as all the food was additive free anyway
I have just today received a colour coded updated menu for DD detailing what the cook needs to substitute, & what she mustn't give DD

IMHO unless the School Meals provider is sticking chemical additives in a LOT more foods than I was told over the phone & a LOT more than I suspect the HT knows about as its a "healthy eating school" & previously there were no additives in the food at all, - then my letters & forms have been completely ignored/misunderstood by the companies dietician, EG: DD amongst lots of other things won't be allowed Custard, yoghurt or any sauces?.or boiled potato or peas  - all of which SHOULD be fine for her IF additive free as has always been the case in the past.
She enjoys sitting having a hot meal with her friends & TBH what with recent run of bad luck with illnesses, accidents & hospital, being able to put her in for School meals has been a Godsend.
I have asked for clarification of the menu restrictions for DD, as it should really only be cold milk & uncooked cheese UNLESS they have also changed the additive free policy - without telling anyone - waiting on the reply - but TBH getting pretty fed up of all this letter writing & phone calls & instructions to speak to the cook - as its starting to feel like a full time job -
I CAN understand & applaud them trying to get it right, but I just don't understand why it needs to be so complicated & potentially excluding kids from School meals - I mean what if they are on free meals & it/s their main source of food for the day & they have this sort of problems :(
Thoughts please :) -- & is anyone else having this problem??
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Allergies and intolerances
School Meals & Allergy/Intolerance Anyone else hit a problem with a New School Meals Provider??
5 replies
rockinhippy · 29/09/2011 14:26
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