personally with multiple allergies , it would take a great deal for me to let the nursery provide the food. only a fantastic allergy policy, and visable signs of policy in action would only give me confidence.
its not just the chef cooking in a seperate area, not mixing , cross contamination issues, etc, esp chefs are not normally allergy trained , unless they have completed a seperate couse. ( label reading is often a problem, it takes time for us to understand what a label means and assess risk, so its worth asking a few questions about this and asking to pop into the kitchen to pick up a packet and explain labels. )
then the childrens food goes on the trolley and gets delivered to the nursery room. then a group of 2 or 3 staff hand out the food, if its a good nursery, they a have assigned two members of staff to sort out yr childs food (two needed if one is absent /ill etc) and make sure that the food doesnt cross contminate.
for eg, staff cutting up the portions of food in bowls. Place mats with photos , names for all children, can lesson risk of the wrong food being given to the wrong child. names are not enough, as many children have the same name....
then of course the staff must watch in case another child dips a hand in allergic childs food. and assigned staff must not help with other kids , e.g if someone starts to throw up or has a accident, and assigned staff jumps up to help, that leaves allergic child unobserved and cross contamination may happen.
a good handwashing system, with indvidual face clothes/wipes, and not shared in same bowl, and a good solid policy for cleaning up food spills etc.
for instance, if baked beans were served to other children, who spread them on the backs of chairs etc, that would need to be removed before all the children , including the allergic child got down to play.
I do feel that infants with a high staff ratio are normally cared for with less risk. if milk allergic, again good bodily fluid hygeine does lower the risk of cross contamination,( and of course milk partially digested and 'possited' by infants is less of a risk toa milk allergic as proteins are changed.) its also easier for assigned staff to sit away from other infants and give safe 'milk' feeds. If aprons are used by staff, they are often disposable ones, so again are less of a cross contamination risk.
as is good active hand washing policies.
milk kitchens in day nurserys do often have one member of staff mixing formulas, and without children to distract , can make up safe formulas for allergic infants.
however a parent may feel happier doing this at home. and that should be a option for the allergic child.
if you supply your childs food daily , it may be worth having a long life food alternative in case you forget to bring the food, or that you are delayed getting to pick up your child from the nursery. esp as staff will not be used to providing safe food for your child, and may have no idea what to give them.
indivdual actions policy for a allergic reaction must be in place, and the staff must be confidant that they can deliver and recognise the warning signs, and give epi pens and call for help. This can be difficult for parents, and staff are normally sent on a afternoon course for this, and that helps esp if parents are asked to attend. This team work will support the child and family if settings work this way.
its worth considering that just because you have discovered one allergy or two, new ones may be discovered. so daily avoidance plans and emergency action plans need to be reviewed and updated regularly.
just a few thoughts from my work history of management in various childcare settings and being a parent of a multiple allergic child.....