To want this stopped?!

[Notasperfectasallothermners]

Dd started secondary school in September. Loves it, really settled well - no worries regarding peers /work etc. However, had an issue with food tech last week where dd (vegi entire life) was given pre measured out ingredients to make biscuits, as dd didnt know what lard was she used it and brought the biscuits home. All dc sat and ate them, will admit they were nice! Until she mentioned lard and Googled it herself. Not a happy dd! Told her things happen and not to worry, not lovely to drop down in a heap this once sort of thing.
Rang the school to remind them she is vegi etc, mistakes happen - don't expect head on a platter etc...
Then yesterday she gets home, salad wrap for lunch, server wearing gloves to handle ingredients makes hers - after handling ham to the previous dc in the line! Rang school again, they will be speaking to the caterers today. Fed up.

[FaveNumberIs2]

@Pepperedbeef sorry I missed your question there.

At comp level, children will be expected to self regulate their food intake if they have intolerances, (or lifestyle/religious choices) but, that being said, ALL the kitchen staff, especially the ones serving the food, should know what is contained in what they are serving. So any child at any point, should be able to say to the server, "does that dish contain nuts?" And be told either yes, or no.

We had a pupil who from the age of 5 to 7, he told our sweet server every day, "I can't have cows milk" and made his pudding choice after the server then said, "ok, today you can have either grapes, melon, or cake without the custard."

Now, the server sees him coming and tells him what he's allowed before he has the chance to say he's not allowed cows milk.

It's about due diligence.

[djillanne]

Absolutely not being unreasonable. I'm sure the people saying you are wouldn't be happy if the cross-contamination involved fish or a strong flavour like curry. Plus cross-contamination is a health issue and if the servers are not following protocol then there could be dire consequences.

[SilverySurfer]

If the OP's DD has been raised as a vegetarian rather than it being a personal decision, I wonder how long before she gets tempted by a Big Mac?

A family I know were strict veggies and raised their 2 DC the same way. When they became of an age to go out on their own with friends, they ate everything, McDonalds, KFC, kebabs etc, and continue to eat meat now they are adults much to the disgust of their parents.

[Shockers]

All the children who I know who grew up veggie, still are.

[ShastaTrinity]

At least half of my girlfriends were veggie as a child or at least as a teen. Only one of them still is, everybody else is back to eating meat.

I do know a couple of veggie who eat chicken, so the meaning of the word does vary a lot

[SilverySurfer]

Chicken eating vegetarians! If fish eating ones are pescatarians I guess chicken eating ones are chookatarians

[ShastaTrinity]

It's true though! For some people, vegetarians = no red meat. It's a free country I suppose, but that probably doesn't really help the debate.

[Whisperingpoopoo]

hellloooo why do you say the busy caterer is pig headed and lazy and can't be bothered to change gloves? As I understand it they didn't refuse a request to do so

[poppy54321]

All the people saying handling veggie food with meaty gloves is OK are just plain wrong. It is so rude and inconsiderate, would you do this if a vegetarian came for lunch? We always use different spoons if we have a veggie dish, wouldn't dream of cross contaminating. People think they can get away with things with children and treat them differently but it isn't right. More respect required.

[noplease]

For those who are saying it's not the same as religious belief, actually being vegan/vegetarian is a protected philosophical belief and hold the same protections as religious beliefs.

[NEScribe]

My daughter is vegan and I am not sure I would complain about this just because of that BUT if they are handling different foods like this then it suggests it could cause a real problem in the event of a food allergy.

Maybe you could write a general letter asking what their policies are for handling different foods to take account of allergies/ vegetarianism etc.

I suspect they will have written policies (and the dinner lady was simply in a hurry) but addressing it in this way will raise a flag without (hopefully!) anyone losing their job because of a specific incident?