Free School Meals and Food Allergies

[Allergy101]

Does anyone know the requirements for a school to accommodate food allergies when providing free school meals.

My son attends a London school so all children get free meals but there are occasionally days where he cannot eat any of the meal options. He has to pick bits from the salad cart.

I think we are about to change him to packed lunches, but he doesn’t want to because he would then be separated from his friends.

So I just wondered if I just need to accept this and move him to packed lunches or if it is worth raising with the school that they need to provide a suitable meal?

Hi I manage a school kitchen and we will always provide a meal for allergies although we do require medical evidence, what is the allergy if your happy to share

@NavyTiger he is allergic to celery and tomato. The tomato is the main issue with the meals and some days both meal options have tomato in it.

I would ask to speak to the catering team to look at a terms worth of menus. There really should be a daily suitable option for him.

If you do need to move towards a packed lunch, speak to the school. There isn’t any reasons ‘dinners’ and packed lunches need to be separated based on dinner choice. The school I work at allow children to mix regardless of lunch option and it works fine.

At my kids school there is a meat option. Veggie option. Jacket potato or sandwich.

Have you asked to speak to the catering staff? Are they aware he has allergies. I know the school may be aware but are the catering staff.

With my children's school you need to contact the catering company directly for a food allergy, with medical evidence, then they will provide a suitable meal. It's not done through the school, other than obviously the school needing to be aware of the allergy and the potential medical issues that might result.